[woodpecker41]

I don't know much about the newer tractors electronics so here goes. I have a 1997 JD 345 that starts to die, miss fires, runs badly after about 15 to 20 minutes of mowing. If you leave it sit it will restart and run normally for about 10 minutes and it does the same thing. The tractor has a bit over 1100 hours on it. In the last 100 hours the water pump, fuel pump and carburetor have been replaced with new ones. It is not over heating. Being a 1997 it doesn't have a RIO switch or TDM on it. It is powered by a Kawasaki FD590V 18 HP engine. I have an appointment to get it picked up by JD but that will be about 4 weeks from now. I suspect it is electrical in nature but not 100% sure of that. Anyone have recommendations? Roger

 

[tommyhawk]

Sounds like the classic bad condenser, right?
Just kidding, Roger. I would suspect the control module at the ignition switch. Don't know if you can search and find the threads about this but there are some electrical guys here who have figured out the problems of that circuit board and a repair. Might give you a clue for something to look at while you wait out the appointment time.

You're not the kind of guy that just plugs in a new one ($86.00) to find out. The dealer tech can get away with that though.

Also, I gotta think you have already loosened the fuel cap and checked all 50+ wiring connections. The modern electronics are a mystery to me too.

tommyhawk

 

[woodpecker41]

Tom I haven't checked everything yet but I have 4 weeks to try. I thought about the fuel cap and may experiment with that as I am not sure how it is actually vented. I have read about the board problems but those all seem to be the 20 HP engines not my 18 HP. Might still be the case though and I will listen to anything at this point. At least my 1966 110 still mows the lawn. It just takes longer. The 110 does use less gas. Roger

 

[tommyhawk]

I think you will find a small hole in the middle of the cap exterior. Inside is a circular (neoprene?) flap that might be stuck to the inside of the cap. Probably won't be that easy but worth a look see. Hope you find the problem and get 'er back in service.
I love my old ones, but a 345 is so much nicer to mow with.

tommyhawk

 

[ajcan]

I wonder if one of the coils are shorting out when it gets hot?
When it starts to act up can you check for spark by pulling each plug wire separately?
I know you CAN but have you tried that yet.Just to see if it an ignition misfire or not.

AJ

 

[woodpecker41]

AJ I will put it on my to do list. Roger

 

[woodpecker41]

Cleaned the hole in the fuel cap today and Tom is the winner. Roger

 

[tommyhawk]

I sure didn't think it would be that easy, but you do deserve one if anybody does!

tommyhawk

 

[ajcan]

I would not have thought that.Glad you got it going.

AJ

 

[mikeduwe]

Wouldnt be a bad idea to change your in line fuel filter as well if you haven't.

 

[woodpecker41]

Well it happened again today. First time I blew out the cap and let the tractor sit while I ate lunch. I then mowed for 45 minutes with out a problem. I am going to replace the fuel cap. It happened twice today the second time after it mowed well for the 45 minutes. Both times it was after mowing with the tractor leaned to the left. The engine stared missing and stopped about 2 minutes later. Mike the filter isn't old but I will replace it anyway. I noticed the a bunch of trash under the fender deck so I am going to take the fenders off and clean things also. Let you know if the new cap or filter solves the problem. Roger

 

[blakenewell]

Fuel cap could still be candidate. Try loosening it when it starts to die to let it vent. If it sputters back to life, you know thats the issue. If it dont, then you know to go deeper. Could be a filter issue, which is easy to replace and pretty cheap as well.
something else if that doesnt work that happens a lot is a module that these have. If you look in the parts book it is #AM128906 that little devil causes some havoc with spark. Something to check that is very easy to replace. But if my memory serves me right is a little more expensive(maybe $20)?
Please let us know Roger.
Blake

 

[woodpecker41]

Blake this is an 18 HP 345 and it doesn't have the module you are talking about. I will buy a new cap on Friday but today took the rear fenders off and cleaned 1/4 of an inch of dirt, leaves and general crud off the fuel tank so i could check for hose leaks. I also replaced the fuel filter and that may have been the problem but I said that before. I mowed for about one hour without a problem after the filter change. The old filter never filled completely with gas and the new one does. I will let every one know after I am sure it works. Roger

 

[blakenewell]

Roger,

My fault completely. I should have read your first post more thoroughly. To my memory, there is also an elbow/tube that goes down in the tank on those that can get cracked/split. It is located inside the tank. That also could be a culprit. Just another idea.

Good Luck,
Blake

 

[woodpecker41]

Well after replacing all the things I know how to do the tractor went to the JD and they found a bunch of electrical problems with it. Intermittent circuit breaker and loose wire joints among other things. So $500.76 later it is again a tractor that I can use. $100 of that is pickup and delivery. Roger