John Deere 310 Backhoe Loader: The Original 310 Series
Introduced in the early 1970s, the original 310 launched one of the most enduring backhoe loader lines in construction history. Simple, durable, and built for general digging, trenching, and loader work, the original 310 set the architecture that JD would refine for the next half century.
Where the original 310 fits in the JD backhoe line
The 310 nameplate is one of the longest-running designations in JD's construction equipment lineup. The original 310, introduced in the early 1970s, succeeded the 300D and established the mid-class industrial backhoe loader formula that JD would build on through more than a dozen generations of refinement, from this first machine through the current 310L.
The architecture was straightforward: a JD diesel engine, a mechanical drivetrain with manual transmission, a front hydraulic loader, and a rear hydraulic backhoe on a center pivot. Simple to operate, simple to service, and built to take the kind of work utility contractors, municipalities, and small construction crews put a backhoe through.
JD 310 Backhoe Loader - Original Generation - Quick Specs
- Production start
- Early 1970s
- Class
- Mid-Class Industrial Backhoe Loader
- Engine
- JD Diesel
- Drivetrain
- Mechanical, Manual Transmission
- Front Tool
- Hydraulic Loader
- Rear Tool
- Center-Pivot Hydraulic Backhoe
- Predecessor
- JD 300D
- Successor
- JD 310B
What set the architecture for the 310 series
- Engine. JD diesel, mechanical injection, no electronics. Straightforward to rebuild with standard service tools.
- Transmission. Mechanical manual transmission with planetary final drives.
- Loader. Front hydraulic loader with two lift cylinders and a single bucket tilt cylinder.
- Backhoe. Rear hydraulic backhoe on a center pivot, allowing the boom to swing to either side of the machine.
- Operator station. ROPS canopy on most machines, with cab options available later in the production run. Direct mechanical linkage between operator controls and the hydraulic valves.
Engine, hydraulics, and drivetrain
The original 310 ran a JD diesel engine through a manual mechanical transmission with planetary final drives. The hydraulic system handled both the front loader and rear backhoe circuits, typical of the mid-1970s industrial backhoe class where one pump drove both ends with the operator switching between them.
The backhoe mounted on a center pivot, allowing the operator to swing the boom to either side of the machine. The loader on the front was a conventional two-cylinder lift configuration with a single tilt cylinder for the bucket. Mechanically straightforward: no electronics, no electrohydraulic controls, just direct linkage between operator and machine.
Common service items on the 310
- Engine internals: JD diesel rebuild kits - pistons, rings, sleeves, bearings, gaskets.
- Fuel system: Injection pump, injectors, lift pump, fuel filters.
- Cooling system: Radiator, water pump, thermostat, hoses, fan belt.
- Hydraulics: Pump rebuilds, loader cylinder seal kits, backhoe boom/stick/bucket cylinder seal kits, control valves, hoses.
- Loader components: Bucket teeth, cutting edges, pins, bushings.
- Backhoe components: Bucket teeth, side cutters, pins, bushings, swing tower pin kits, stabilizer leg cylinders.
- Drivetrain: Clutch packs, transmission components, axle seals, final drive gears.
- Electrical: Starter, alternator (or generator on early machines), wiring harness, gauges.
- Operator station: Seat, gauges, controls, ROPS canopy parts.
Parts and cross-fit components for the John Deere 310
| Category | Common Parts | Browse |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | JD diesel pistons, rings, sleeves, gaskets | Browse Engine Parts |
| Fuel System | Injection pumps, injectors, lift pumps, filters | Browse Fuel System |
| Cooling | Radiators, water pumps, thermostats, hoses | Browse Cooling Parts |
| Hydraulics | Cylinders, seal kits, pumps, valves, hoses | Browse Hydraulics |
| Loader | Bucket teeth, cutting edges, pins, bushings | Browse Loader Components |
| Backhoe | Teeth, side cutters, swing tower, stabilizers | Browse Backhoe Components |
| Drivetrain | Clutch, transmission, axles, final drives | Browse Drivetrain |
| Electrical | Starters, alternators, harnesses, switches | Browse Electrical |
| Operator Station | Seats, gauges, controls, ROPS parts | Browse Operator Station |
Need a part for your John Deere 310 Backhoe Loader?
Call our parts team with your machine and engine serial numbers and we will match the right component to your 310.
Request a PartWhat to verify before ordering
- Serial number. The original 310 had running changes through its production. Match parts to the machine serial.
- Engine serial. JD diesel internal parts must match the engine serial number.
- Loader configuration. Standard and specialty bucket configurations had different cylinder and mounting specs.
- Backhoe configuration. Standard reach configurations differ in cylinder bore and stroke from optional extended-reach configurations.
- Charging system. Earlier machines may have a DC generator; later machines moved to an alternator.
- Cab vs. ROPS canopy. Operator station equipment varied over the production run.
Why the original 310 still earns its keep
Fifty-plus years after introduction, original 310 machines still show up on farms, ranches, and small utility maintenance jobs. The appeal is the appeal of any well-designed mechanical machine from that era: a JD diesel that anyone with a service manual can rebuild, a manual transmission that is straightforward to repair, no electronics to fail, and a hydraulic system simple enough to troubleshoot with basic tools.
Maintenance priorities on an original 310: monitor clutch wear, replace hydraulic seals as cylinders age, rebuild the engine on a sensible interval, and stay ahead of swing tower pin and bushing wear (the highest-frequency wear item on any older backhoe). Broken Tractor maintains parts coverage across the full 310 family.
