I sold my 345 a couple years ago, and I heard at the time of a plastic gear that might fail and need replacement. I didn't really look into it at the time, but now my son is considering a used one at the dealers with a little over a thousand hours on it and wondering how tough it is to replace the gear........BTY, what is the name of this gear?
#2
Glyn Robinson
1998 was the first year that JD used only steel cams. What year is the mower?
I have a 345 and the internal fuel pump had a plastic gear, and it cost approx. $800. to repair it. They had to take radiator off, and take engine apart partly, and they replaced it with a metal upgraded gear.
It's the cam gear that loses teeth. Short story is remove engine. Split crankcase. Remove rocker covers. Remove push rods. Replace cam w/cam gear. Since it has 1XXX hours, I would also replace the water pump, check the condition of the governor and oil pump.
With the new cam, it's suggested you install new cam followers and valve springs too.
#6
TJR345
I did my 98 345 a few years ago and went through the whole engine.Any 98 and lower had the plastic cam unless your serial number was above 106.
#7
Glyn Robinson
My FD590V had 1,050 hours or so when i replace the cam, tappets, push rods, governor, oil pump, oil filter screen, water pump, and fuel pump. I done it this past spring. I decided to replace everything since i had it apart. The engine had never been touched prior.
