Blown Head Gasket - JD 345?

Tim in New York · Oct 8, 2015

Went to mow some lawn tonight and the 345 started smoking like crazy when I started it. White billowing smoke with a scent of hot anti-freeze. It seemed fine when I put it up last weekend. 1200 hrs on it. Am thinking its a head gasket - any ideas? How expensive is that to fix?

Thanks,
Tim

T.R.K. · Oct 8, 2015

That one has the water cooled Kawasaki in it I think.

It probably is a head gasket.

FYI: At Kawasaki service school they were saying 2 or 3 years ago that certain ones of those engines also tended to crack or get porous in one of the bolt holes, I forget which one, but probably where the intake manifold bolts to the block. Water then could find its way into the intake manifold and of course run through and make watery smoke just like a blown head gasket. I forget which holes to check, though.

This type of failure probably occurred much earlier in the life of the engine than yours, but is something to keep an eye out for when you pull it apart.

I also forget what the fix for this failure was, but hope it was not a new crankcase or a new engine.

Tim in New York · Oct 9, 2015

Thanks, trk. Just talked to the local dealer and plan to drop it off later this morning. Funny thing - I've been thinking about getting a compact, probably a Kubota, mainly to have a bucket loader, but also to semi-retire the 345 from constant mowing work. I found what looks like a good used one on Craigslist and been trying to get around to go look at it. Guess I better get that done also.

Tim

Blown Head Gasket - JD 345?

Tim in New York

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T.R.K.

Well-known Member

Tim in New York

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