Description

John Deere 213, 215, 216, 218, 220 1999 Parts Catalog

I’ve been wrenching on farm equipment for twenty-eight years. The number one mistake I see in this shop – and I mean every week – is a guy ordering parts from an aftermarket list, then wondering why the bat reel arm doesn’t line up or the cross auger shaft is two inches too short. That’s what happens when you work from a photocopied list instead of the OEM grid. This John Deere 213, 215, 216, 218, 220 1999 Parts Catalog is the real deal from Deere & Company. 134 pages, factory grid structure, serial number breakouts. You order the right part the first time, or you don’t order at all in my shop.

Serial Number Plate – Why It Matters

Page 2 of the catalog shows exactly where the serial number plate lives on these platforms – left-hand side of the frame. There are two serial number ranges: up to 579900, and 579901 onward. The catalog gives you the model number suffix and factory code so you know which parts apply to your specific 216 or 218. I’ve had guys tell me “it’s a 220, just give me the part” – but there were rigid and flex cutterbar versions, and the bat reel mounting changed in 1982. If you don’t pull the serial number and cross-reference it to the grid, you’re gambling. And I don’t gamble with customer equipment.

Grid Index System: A, F, G, H, I, J, K

This catalog uses the standard Deere grid system. The Table of Contents lists seven major grid groups: A, F, G, H, I, J, K. Each grid covers a specific assembly – for example, grid F runs from F03 to F25 and includes the bat reel drive shaft, sprockets, and mounting. Grid G (G01 through G24) is the cross auger group. If you need a bearing for the knife drive case, that’s in grid H. The key is to look up the grid reference in the alphabetical index, then flip to that page. No scanning through a hundred blurry PDF pages. The grid number is printed right above the illustration. That’s how Deere built it, and it saves you a lot of cuss words.

Alphabetical Index: Fast Part Lookup

When you need a specific part name – say “ARM, REEL (RIGID AND FLEXIBLE)” – the alphabetical index at the back of the catalog points you to the exact grid cell. The index is extensive: it lists multiple entries for “BAT REEL ARM”, “BAT REEL DRIVE SHAFT”, “BAT REEL SLAT”, “BAT REEL SHIELD”. Each one gives you the grid letter and number. This is the fastest way to find a part if you know its name but not the assembly. Don’t waste time flipping pages. Use the index. I’ve trained every kid who comes through here to start with the index before touching a wrench.

Kits and Service Assemblies – What the Box Means

Page 3 of the catalog explains the box-enclosed illustrations. If you see a box around a group of parts with a key number, that whole assembly is sold as a service kit. Non-current parts are in a box without a key number. There’s also a specific section for JD Remanufactured Components. This is important because on older 213 and 215 models, some parts are no longer available individually – you have to buy the kit. The catalog tells you exactly which parts come in the kit and which are shown in phantom for reference. Aftermarket catalogs don’t do this. They just list a single part number and you order it, then find out it’s been superseded three times. Not here.

Source Validity: OEM vs Aftermarket

I’ve seen aftermarket parts catalogs that claim to cover the 200 series, but they’re missing entire grids – like they skipped J (the reel drive) or mislabeled the bat reel slat dimensions. This is a factory PC1558 publication from October 1999, printed by Deere & Company in Moline, Illinois. It contains the original grid index exactly as the engineering department wrote it. The copyright is 2000, but the content covers platforms manufactured from 1976 through 1987. Compare that to a third-party PDF that someone stitched together from scans. If you’re working on a 218 or 220 and you care about getting the right left-hand thread bat reel mounting bolt, you use the OEM catalog. Period.

7 Systems Covered – How the Grids Break Down

Here’s a quick rundown of what each grid covers:
Grid A: Main frame and hitch (A10-A16)
Grid F: Bat reel assembly – arms, slats, drive shaft, sprockets (F03-F25)
Grid G: Cross auger – bearings, brackets, shaft (G01-G24)
Grid H: Knife drive case, guards, and knife block (H02-H24)
Grid I: Reel lift and header height control (I02-I23)
Grid J: Platform drive and belt system (J01-J20)
Grid K: Hydraulics and reel speed control (K16-K25)
Each grid has its own part number breakdown with serial number ranges. That’s the kind of detail a proper parts catalog gives you.

Don’t guess. Use the factory grid.

Does this parts catalog include torque specs or repair procedures?

No. This is a parts catalog – it lists part numbers, illustrations, and grid references. You need the separate technical manual for disassembly and torque values.

How do I know if a part fits my 218 built in 1984?

First, find the serial number on the left side of the frame. Then look up the serial number range in the catalog – it shows which parts apply to which serial number break. For example, the bat reel mounting changed at serial number 579900. If your 218 is after that, you need the updated bracket. The catalog also lists configuration suffixes (R for rigid, F for flex). Always cross-reference your model and serial number before ordering. I’ve seen guys order a cross auger for a 220 flex platform and try to put it on a rigid 215 – it doesn’t fit. The catalog prevents that if you use it right.

If you run a shop that touches Deere 200 series cutting platforms, you need this on the bench. Aftermarket lists cost you time and money. Access the Factory Manual and get the grid that Deere engineers designed. For related manuals, check out John Deere 218 1982 Parts Catalog – OEM Factory Grid Index, John Deere 220 1993 Technical Manual – 718 Pages of Factory Specs, and John Deere 2130 Parts Catalog – Factory Specs for Correct Part Identification. Need to understand the engine under the platform? Read this Wikipedia article on diesel engines or this Wikipedia article on diesel engines.