I cut grass with this JD345 (515 hours) for 18 years, and it served me very well. It has been replaced by a Scag Cheeta 61" ZTR.
The JD345 leaking oil along the front of the engine. The plastic hood is completely dried out and all broken. AND, I'm now hearing that this engine has a plastic cam shaft with a tendency to go out at about 500 hours or so.
Besides the lack of a plastic hood and the oil leak, the garden tractor runs very well and seems to be as powerful as it ever was.
Looks like the hood cover (in 3 parts) will cost about $800. I have no idea how much it will cost for a shop to repair the oil leak and replace that camshaft. Any idea of that cost.
With 500 hours on this machine, is it worth putting all that money in it....
