GX345 Black dust everywhere

[smokindmax]

Hi folks,

I've had this GX345 for 2 years and generally been very happy with it. Around 900 hours on it.

Today I mowed for about and hour and got off and saw very fine black dust on the left hand side frame rail and on the steering components. Cleaned it all off and mowed another hour. Now there is black dust all over it. Seems to be concentrated under the PTO clutch and is now covering the thing everywhere. It is a windy day with low humidity, but it's weird how far this super fine dust is going (on the front wheels, deck, even behind the seat). It's like carbon black.

Mows and runs fine with zero odd noises or any other complaint. Plenty of power. Neither belt is chewed or chunked or ragged and it doesn't seem like belt particles...

Am I smoking the PTO clutch? Is this friction material? I can't imagine the engine running rich enough to make this kind of soot.

Will post pics later on this evening but I thought you guys may have the quick/obvious answer.

Thanks!

 

[MNwoodchuck]

Any chance one of your belts is rubbing on something?

1999 JD 4600 MFWD
460 loader
Curtis cab

 

[beenthere]

Outside chance that this is mold spores from the grass you are mowing?
I've seen that before and it gets everywhere.

Just a thought, as if it were belts I would think you would be smelling them rubbing.

Hope you find the root cause.

 

[tk tom]

Could be as simple as a partially stuck choke or plugged air filter. Enough to be causing the soot but not enough to notice lack of power as the engine is under load. I've seen in rare cases where the linkage for the choke got a little sloppy (not on that particular model) and the intake suction would pull the choke closed a little.

 

[Amvcane]

I would think that if you were burning the pto clutch friction plate you would smell it and know it, because the neighbors would tell you.

 

[beenthere]

Maybe the OP smokindmax will come back and give us an update soon.

 

[smokindmax]

Maybe the OP smokindmax will come back and give us an update soon.

Sorry guys, been busy.

I think the mold thing was real. It's called "black slime" mold and it was apparently everywhere in this one field that got real long and wet for a while before we were able to cut it. Did it this time with our Grasshopper zero turn and it was all black too. GX345 still alive and well and mowing fine.

I have a real sensitive nose and for sure I would have smelled clutches or belts burning. Just couldn't believe that much black crap could be coming from mold spores, but the proof is in the pudding.

Thanks everyone!