I've been kicking this around for a couple of weeks, thinking about it. Finally called the guy yesterday. It's on CL and the guy says he bought it new. It looks good from the pics but I'm planning on going to take a look, maybe tomorrow or Monday. He's asking $2,200 but said he would take $2,000 . My 95 LX188 runs great and I bought it new, but I'm wondering if I should buy the 345 and sell my LX188 simply because the 345 has low hours and from what I've read are fine machines as well. I am estimating my LX has around 1,500 hours based on my mowing times, and months I mow and pull my Cyclone Rake in the fall. If I do this I will sell my LX and recoup some of my costs. There's nothing wrong with my LX but I do like the 20 HP Kawi and the PS and deck lift. WWYD?
345 w/401 hrs----WWYD?
gman2304
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The only part that has failed on my 345 is the fuel pump which can be replaced for less than $100. I have never had to replace a coil so not sure how you came up with that? :dunno: I bought a 44" piranha rear discharge/mulcher deck because I wanted to. Nothing is wrong with my 54" deck :fing32:
The transaxle has a leak but is a cheap fix just takes some work and time to get the fender pan off and everything to work on it. I could just keep adding oil to it but I am picky and like things to be 100%. Some people might say I go overboard on maintenance.
My 345 is almost 18 years old and has over 500 hours on it. In that time period I wouldn't say replacing a fuel pump and having to fix a oil leak is all that bad.
The LX188 has the same fuel pump as the 345 BTW.
You have to learn about whatever machine you own they all have their own quirks. Brand new machines haven't been through the test of time, the 345 has and is a great machine.
I just urge people who own these machines to check the fuel pump and make sure its the new style or replace it if its the old style. Its not hard or expensive to do.
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1,498 Posts
Sorry my bad on coil- it was fuel pump , throttle cable, gov gear parts, oil pump gear and water pump -- and that's just ones I know about- did you replace several parts when bought unit or was that someone else?
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I replaced the fuel pump then decided to go ahead and replace my cam gear with the steel cam gear since I only needed to remove 4 more bolts and the PTO to pull the motor out after removing the hood and all the metal guards and brackets to get to the fuel pump.
I just did it to avoid having to do it later and with my luck who knows. I also replaced the gov gears, oil pump gear and water pump while I was in there. I am still running the original throttle cable also. Never had a problem with the throttle cable.
Many people will say I go overboard on maintenance but I didn't want to have anymore down time after I got it back together. Now I wont have to worry about it again.
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1,508 Posts
Gman,
Take it from someone who owns two versions of it, GO GET IT!!! I'm just wondering if all the negatives being posted here are from experience with one or just reading about them.
Take it from someone who owns two versions of it, GO GET IT!!! I'm just wondering if all the negatives being posted here are from experience with one or just reading about them.
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2,228 Posts
Javjacob.........:ditto: when you are elbow deep into something , while there one might as well do all that you can. When replacing a clutch plate..........would be stupid not to replace the $10 throw out bearing when there. Its a good maintenance strategy.
There is local 345 that is one of those burned out hulks...........considering it because the front half of the expensive "green" has been burned off it already. :sidelaugh:sidelaugh
I also have a plan B. Another 20 HP 345 not far from me is available but the owner hasn't called me back after I left a message this afternoon. It's a one owner with 700 hours and he now has a lawn service so doesn't need it any longer. I would like to talk to the plan B guy before I commit to this one. I did tell the plan A guy I would call him in the morning if I didn't hear from the plan B guy and work out a deal. I might use the plan B guy to use against the plan A guy, or vice versa, to gain a little leverage in my favor. Theres a chance I could lose both of them by waiting, but if that happens, there's more out there to choose from, and my trusty old LX is in the garage in great shape.
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2,282 Posts
gman, that squealing noise could very well be the lower PTO beaing needs to be replaced. You can change it but it could be a royal pain to get out. If not, expect to buy a new PTO which are not cheap. I just did mine recently but needed somebody with a press to help with part of disassembly.
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1,508 Posts
I got it, buy plan A and plan B. Doesn't everybody have two of 'em? :sidelaugh
Thanks all for answering alot of my ?'s. PEIDeerefan, That might explain why it was making the squealing noise while idling with the PTO disengaged, right? It wasn't screaming loud, but you could definitely hear a slight squeal. How much did you save by pressing out the bearings?
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3,419 Posts
Just a data point: two years ago I sold my well-cared-for '96 345 with less than 400 hours on it for $3000. The PowerFlow and collection cart came with it, plus a roller, tiller, and a #7 cart. And a bunch of spares and all the original manuals. It had an oil leak from the main seal. I held nothing back in the ad.
A guy drove 350 miles from the Seattle area to get it for that price. He said that it was better than anything for sale in his area, everything was junk and $1000 more expensive. 345s tend to hold their value, so you really have no loss going on here...
A guy drove 350 miles from the Seattle area to get it for that price. He said that it was better than anything for sale in his area, everything was junk and $1000 more expensive. 345s tend to hold their value, so you really have no loss going on here...
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2,282 Posts
New bearing was 12 bucks plus 10 for pressing out old bearing. New PTO here in Canada at dealer was $300 so i saved a lot. Yes, squealing was with tractor running with PTO off and it got real bad in a short period of time. Noise went away when PTO was turned on. What a difference after new bearing, totally quiet.
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1,913 Posts
Worst case scenario a new PTO is $190. Doubt you would have to replace the PTO though. There is a thread somewhere on how to replace the bearings in a PTO.
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1,913 Posts
Here it is. Post has pics and everything.
http://www.mytractorforum.com/12-john-deere-forum/751290-345-pto-bearing-noise-fix-diy.html
http://www.mytractorforum.com/12-john-deere-forum/751290-345-pto-bearing-noise-fix-diy.html
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