JD GX345 Trouble

14 years ago

I have a 2003 GX345 Garden Tractor with 200 hours on it I bought new right at 6 years ago. I've done regular maintenance every year. Never any problems until yesterday. I was driving along and heard a sudden noise from underneath for just a second and it stopped moving dead in its tracks. Smoke started coming from under the engine, but the engine seems to run fine, just nothing from the tranny forward or reverse and the hydro drive pedals feel very mushy. Turned off engine and then it restated no problem but same symptoms, no drive and smoke that smells like burning rubber. I figure the smoke was the drive belt.

The wheels are locked up, the freewheel lever seems to have no effect.

It has the K71a tranny and I'm afraid it's shot. Any suggestions as to what the problem may be and the best way to fix it. I have the factory service manual that shows how to rebuild the hydro unit. Anybody here rebuilt one of these hydro units? Any chance that JD would warranty this? Thanks, Jeff

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Comments (2)

mownie
14 years ago
You are going to have to drop the deck and look up in there to see just what has happened. Maybe you'll get lucky and find it is only an idler pulley that locked up, derailing the belt in the process.
johntommybob
14 years ago
"mowie" is right. You need to find out what happened; what caused the noise, and the smoke? The best way to start is to look under the tractor.

My first guess is it must have something to do with the transmission drive belt.

My first rule of thumb in solving mechanical problems is: Always eliminate the cheapest possible causes first.
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JD GX345 Trouble

Comments (2)

mownie

johntommybob

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