Looking at a 345 mower

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Looking at a 345 John Deere riding lawn mower has $800 on it anybody have any experience with them at this age . I know knew they were a good more just wondering how they are as they're getting older .
 
I have a 325. It's been a really good lawnmower. Past couple years it's been in a sorta retirement. Not because anything was wrong with it I just got a decent deal on a compact tractor with belly mower. I pulled the deck out from under it and it pulls the little spreader in the yard and garden. I bought a tiller to go on the back a while ago. It's going to take some modifications to make it fit but it's always done what I've asked it to do.
 
I had one of those and I had the same good luck . I'm guessing this would be the same .
 
Do not know about the 345, as the one I have is a GX345 and has been a very reliable tractor. The GX345 has a water cooled Kawasaki (20 hp I think)with plenty of power. If I remember correctly the 345 is air cooled and 18 hp. You can check my facts just know they are not the same.
 
I too have a GX345. When I was mower shopping, I was warned to stay away from OLDER 345s. They have a plastic camshaft gear whereas the newer 345 and GX have a metal one. I THINK the change was made around the 2000 model year, but recommend doing some more research and find a SN break where the changed occurred.
 

I still have my 345 purchased new in 1998. Around 980 hours, and the only major component failure was the water pump, at about 850 hours. Unfortunately, I didn't get the plastic cam gear changed to steel, which is usually a known issue for failure in the 1000-1500 hour timeframe. I'm holding my breath that I won't have the $1200 failure, as that's the dealer cost for a cam gear change.
 
Our family owns two 345 John Deere, both with around 700 hours. One has a replaced cam shaft the other is still going. Our local John Deere dealer stated that he has seen them with 1200 plus hours and still have the plastic cam shaft. He also said they were made too well-lack of return repairs.
The cam shaft is something you may have to deal with, but IMHO worth the risk. In our area 345's with a 54 inch deck bring a little more money. Only thing I would double check is the fuel pump. The original pump failed, fuel would leak out of a small hole in the pump's housing. Not bad except the muffler is directly below the pump. Replacement pumps have a hose which extends below the muffler and will send fuel out of the muffler area if and when they fail.
Dave
 
(quoted from post at 14:53:58 04/07/19)
I still have my 345 purchased new in 1998. Around 980 hours, and the only major component failure was the water pump, at about 850 hours. Unfortunately, I didn't get the plastic cam gear changed to steel, which is usually a known issue for failure in the 1000-1500 hour timeframe. I'm holding my breath that I won't have the $1200 failure, as that's the dealer cost for a cam gear change.

I literally just replaced the plastic cam shaft gear on my 345. I did it myself and it was around $400.00 in parts. You can by a kit off of eBay for less than Deere. This really was not to bad of an overhaul. Kit includes seal, gears, water pump, etc..

One thing to look for is that fuel pump, the original fuel pumps had a vent hole that may of misted gas on to the muffler. the updated fuel pump has a drain hose to resolve this.
I would buy another 345 in heart beat.
 

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