4 Most Common John Deere 345 Problems and The Solutions

Probably one of the best mower brands is John Deere. The mowers have been used by many individuals for many years. The 345 model is one of John Deere’s most popular mowers.

Like any other mower, this model sometimes faces minor problems. Then, is that model reliable? Should you buy it?

I have checked many users and reviewed their comments on the 345 model of John Deere and most of them have rated it as a reliable mower. Even the users who have faced some issues said that this mower is a great product. 

Hence, it can be said that the John Deere 345 will be a good buy for you. You can still check the pros and cons, and the specifications if that matches your requirements.

4 Problems of John Deere 345 and The Solutions:

Although this model is quite popular it has some common problems such as the engine problem, fuel problem, etc. I will talk about those in detail now.

1. Coil failure:

One of the most common problems for any mower is the coil going bad. And it is the same for the John Deere 345 mower. When you see that your mower isn’t working, one of the reasons may be the damaged coil. 

Ignition and pulser coils are included in the 345. Either of them or both of them might be harmful. There might be a problem with the igniter or high-tension wiring. Replace the plugs. If it doesn’t work, go to the high-tension wires. If the problem persists, the igniter, ignition, or pulser coils are to blame. So, it’ll be a case of trial and error to find which is the problem.

How to fix coil failure?

First, you have to check the coil or armature.

One side of the spark tester should be connected to the ignition cord, while the other should be connected to the cylinder head. Check for the spark in the tester screen by spinning the flywheel quickly.

The ignition coil is operating properly if the spark leaps the testing gap. If it isn’t, it must be replaced.

When the engine shuts down while it’s still running, what should you do? Start the engine by connecting the tester to the ignition cord and the spark plug. Keep an eye on the window as it comes to a halt.

Now if you need to replace the coil, follow the steps below-

A precise spacing between the ignition armature and the flywheel is required. Your engine’s gap will be determined by your engine maintenance handbook. .006 -.010″ and.010 -.014″ are typical armature spacing ranges. A shim is frequently included with armatures to aid with gap setting.

• Remove any batteries, if applicable, unhook the spark plug wire and secure it.
• Disconnect the old mounting screws for the ignition coil (armature).
• Unplug the coil and detach the stop button cable from the flywheel brake.
• With mounting screws, secure a replacement coil.
• Strengthen one screw and pull the coil (armature) away from the flywheel.

• Make sure the magnets on the flywheel are on the opposite end of the ignition coil (armature)
• Between the rims of the flywheel as well as the ignition armature, place the required shim. Turn the flywheel and hold the shim till the magnets are exactly near to the armature.
• Allow the magnets to draw the ignition coil towards the flywheel and shim by loosening the tight screw. Next, tighten all these mounting screws and spin the flywheel till the shim comes loose.
• Reinstall the stop switch.

2. Throttle problem:

Another problem is with the throttle and carburetor. When the tractor is cold, it starts with very little or no choke. In this heat, it will be shutting it down for a second after running it for a while. When trying to restart it, it will run quite slowly. You won’t be able to RPMs up with throttle. When attempting to throttle up, it will miss the flames and make noise. 

How to fix the throttle problem?

Now to fix the problems with throttle follow the steps below-

• Move the throttle handle to the front and backward to see if the handle is pushing the throttle wire down towards the engine.
• Remove the screws using a screwdriver or push down upon the said tabs of the air filter cover. Take off the lid. To examine the throttle choke arm, disconnect the air filter.
• Calculate the length between the spring-attached control choke arm as well as the control lever that the throttle wire pulls. The length of the clearance ought to be between 0 and 1 mm.
• To change the clearance, loosen the lock nut with a tool and slide the adjuster up or down.
• If the throttle wire at the handle is not firm, loosen the bolts keeping it in place, and draw it nice and tight using a pair of pliers. Fasten the nuts once more.

3. Engine problem:

An engine problem is one of the many causes your mower isn’t operating. An engine malfunction can be caused by a number of factors.

Generally, oxidized, aged, and old fuel in the tractor will result in a loss of power over time. When this condition persists for a long time, it wreaks havoc on the engine’s system, causing it to fail unexpectedly.

Another issue with the engine is that it gets too hot or loses power while mowing now and then. Identical to the last example, this can happen when the ingredient in the motor gets polluted, stopping the engine from functioning or the mower from working properly.

Problem-solving ways-

If the reasons for being an obsolete gas mix are considered, you should replace it as soon as necessary. When gasoline is combined with water, it has the potential to oxidize and cause death. It’s better to use gas that has no more than 10% ethanol. Gases that are devoid of ethanol are also helpful.

If your premix fails, you’ll have no alternative except to drain the gas cylinder and fuel connection and rinse off the contents thoroughly. Applying a new premix blend is a good idea.

4. Starting problems:

You’ve gone through the motions of starting the tractor, hitting the start button, and verifying the battery and electrical outlets. However, there is an issue with the beginning.

This is your chance to find out where it is. One ingenious and simple way to do so is to use a voltmeter.

Set the voltmeter to DC and connect the negative and positive end of the solenoid starter’s battery terminal with the wires.

After you’ve fixed the wires or cables, turn the key to check if the mower operates. At this point, check the voltmeter for any signals on the screen.

Conclusion

These are the common problems that you may find in your John Deere 345 model. There are some other problems as well.  However, in most cases, you can fix the problems easily. And in some cases, you may need to change some parts or you may need to take it to a professional mechanic. And yet, it is quite uncommon to find these problems.

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