You bought it 5 years ago, but how old was it when you bought it? If it's less then 7 years old, I would keep it. Where else can you find a tractor of that caliber for 2500? Make sure though that you trust the dealer with this kind of work. Also it may take a while so be prepared to use the 'toy'.

-gh

Greenhobby: I think it was two or three years old when I bought it, and it was in good shape. I'm happy to hear you say "where can you find a tractor of that caliber for 2500." I was a city boy until five years ago, so I don't know much about these things. Thanks for the advice.

I own a JD325 and like it very much. However, there is one big potential problem with the 325, and perhaps the 335, and 345's as well. That is the transmission. I have a Tuf Torque K70A transmission that works great, but is no longer in production. TufTorque says they intend to have replacement parts for about 10 years. My 325 is about 7 years old now, and they stopped using the K70A about a year after I bought it. I asked if the newer K71 could be used as a replacement. They said no. It would not fit in the tractor frame. It looks like if my transmission should fail a few years down the road, I could be in big trouble, unless I was lucky enough to find one out in the field. I expected this tractor to last many years. I always heard JD carried parts for their older tractors, but this may not be true in this case. Ask the dealer about the potential availability of the K70A transmission down the road, or if there was another transmission that would replace it. Let us know what he says. Good luck with your engine problem. Take care, Charles Ranheim

Well I would like to help on this but since I haven't the faintest idea what ENGINE a Deere 325 has on it and don't plan to look it up, I can't.

Walt Conner

Go to jimsrepairjimstractors.com , he specializes in older tractor engine replacements. There's a phone number to call, he'll talk to you and answer your questions, seemed nice when I talked to him. He's also got a full line of hydro trannys and rebuilds them too, got a lot of used parts, mainly for John Deere it looks like.

Heres another source.

Much less than $2500

http://www.smallenginewarehouse.com/RepowerItems.asp?Brand=John%20Deere&Model=325

Here is a link that might be useful: Small Engine Warehouse

vanagoner,
Don't know the brand of the engine on your JD325. The replacement cost of the engine from the JD dealership, doesn't sound out of align from what I have experienced. I have 2 deeres, 1 lil'one and one bigger one, the service calls I have had done from deere dealers are very complete and what I expected to be repaired. But they are more expensive than other routes to repair the problem just more complete and faster - (makes them better). If you do the repair yourself and buy the parts at other places you can probably do the engine swap for less than 1/2 of what the dealer is charging - the difference, you will have your time going the repair and your time in locating the parts and the down time waiting on the parts. (Time is money, whats the time worth to you?)
Deere's are expensive to buy and likewise expensive to repair (at the dealer) Sounds like you are very happy with the deere - ask your dealer what a new equivlant would cost maybe a trade of the 325 and make your decision from there. Deeres are not cheap, the worth is in the eye or pocket of the owner.

Bad news from epinions.com:

325 Long term owner
by bmnj ,Sep 27 '05

Pros: Nothing runs like a deere!
Cons: Until it breaks $$$$$!

I've owned the 325 for 7 years now. I mow 2 acres and plow snow out of my driveway. The tractor has a 17 hp single cylinder air cooled engine. (or I should say had) the engine blew up at 500 hrs. I took good care of this engine too. The only issue I had prior to the engine failure was an oil leak at the crankcase gasket at about 250 hrs. The rest of the tractor has held up well and performed well in all weather. New short block was quoted at $1700. New 20 Hp V twin was quoted at $2000 (Kawasaki JD engine are only sold to JD dealer-you can't buy a replacement engine at a place like the Tulsa engine warehouse). I told the dealer to put the new engine in. The only other parts I ever replaced were filters, mower blades,and battery. If I had to do it over again, I would buy the cheap JD from Home Depot and a walk behind snow blower. When the JD broke big, I would just throw it away and get another one!

Of the 11 opinions on this site, 8 are highly favorable, and 3 are negative. It seems if they experience a major problem, the love turns to hate.
Looks like your options may be limited to paying JD for a new Kawi or buying one on eBay and installing it yourself (or by local small engine repair shop). I've seen 17hp Kawasakis on there pretty often--of course, buying used you have no idea how long it will last.
Although I'm not entirely sure the statement is true that only JD can get these engines; www.smallenginewarehouse.com has a 17hp vert shaft Kawi long block for $1075. In the future, it would make it significantly easier for people to help you if you throw us a bone (model number, serial number, or at the very least, engine manufacturer). Just saying your 325 blew up doesn't give us much to go on.

I would start by giving the small engine warehouse guys a call (800) 321-6725.

Here is a link that might be useful: small engine warehouse

If it's the FC540V engine (17hp single), that engine was used on a TON of JD tractors. Maybe you can find a beat tractor with a good motor. Unlike some other engines, the Kaw's normally outlive the tractor. I'd keep my eye out for a 180 or 185, as they normally die due to bad decks or transmissions, but the engines are fine. GT262 or GT275's were also high volume tractors that could be a donor.

$2500 for the engine and make other repairs as necessary? What other repairs are necessary? Sounds like alot of money for an engine. That the kind of money for a new car engine...

If I was the owner of that MTD that you are borrowing to cut your grass ,and heard that you called it a toy , I would tell you to go ---k yourself.
Go ahead and stick another $2500 into that green money pit and pray that the person with the MTD is still your friend.

JD Dealer in our area charges $75 per hour regardless of what they work on which makes sense as far as what they work on. $75 an hours is robbery.

Walt Conner

If you're not going to do the work yourself, I wouldn't bother. It's not a wise move to dump $2500 into an old mower. You could buy a used GT235 in excellent condition for that much.

I would second the "I wouldn't bother" comment. You are still going to have a 10yr old machine when all is said and done. Look around see what you use the thing for, if you just mow, and mow a large area you can get into something for less money. I just did when the old JD300 shelled. Look for year end sales you could get a deal on a new tractor and still sell the old one off for parts.

Thank you all for your advice.
I decided to pay the $2,500 for the new engine.
This may not make sense to a lot of you, but I have a lot of hours on that Deere and it came with the farm that we love. I have pictures of my kids sitting on it. And I trust the local Deere dealer - Bartron in Tunkhannock, PA - they have always been fair with me.

I hope you browsed Paper Shop!

Well hopefully it will last you another 10 years. You might want to look online for a deal on a used transaxle, just to have a backup as they become more and more scarce.

Glad to hear the dealer in Tunkhannock is a straight shooter. I think my Dad will be taking his JD there for servicing (his property sits right between Beltzville State Park and the Wild Creek Reservoir, near Lehighton).

I doubt it was a bad thing to do, I am going to rebuild the old 300 over the winter. My tractor just ate the screws that hold the throttle plate in. Rattled around inside the motor, bent a valve, broke the rings, but nothing that cant be cleaned up.

That is one of the reasons old machines have the hold on us that they do, memories.

Thanks, marineguy.
I will be taking your advice and keeping a lookout for a new transaxle.
Your dad can trust Bartron.
And, a belated Happy Birthday!

Thanks, Cherokee
Good luck with the 300.

Can you put a Kohler from a LT 150 into a LT 325??

HU-412, you should start a new thread with that question.

Also, you could ask your JD dealer about it.

According to tractordata.com, the LT150 has a 1 cyl 15 hp Kohler. The LT325 has either a 17 hp Kawasaki single cylinder, or an 18 hp Kawasaki two cylinder. So off the cuff I would say they are most likely not directly interchangeable, but it's not impossible.