JD GX345 smoking ?

[Rebs]

I am getting what appears to be oil coming out the exhaust pipe on the left cylinder of my JD. It smokes and burns off but doesn't do it every time I mow.
Does anyone have any idea's what could be wrong ? There is 650 hrs on the mower
After a closer look it appears the oil is not coming out of the exhaust but maybe a bad valve cover gasket. Has anyone had this problem ?

 

[fuel doctor]

I am getting what appears to be oil coming out the exhaust pipe on the left cylinder of my JD. It smokes and burns off but doesn't do it every time I mow.
Does anyone have any idea's what could be wrong ? There is 650 hrs on the mower
After a closer look it appears the oil is not coming out of the exhaust but maybe a bad valve cover gasket. Has anyone had this problem ?

More then likely it is the valve cover the gasket gets hard and starts cracking letting the oil leak out. It usually doesn't leak alot bout just enough to make it smoke

 

[UnclePaul]

I have had this happen on mine also it is the over head valve gasket. It is easy to change you just need to get the gasket

 

[Rebs]

Thank you for your replies, I appreciate it.

 

[sklunk]

Same thing on my 345. I have replaced the valve cover o-rings many times. There are 2 designs:

- the "original" design is just an inexpensive o-ring that is formed to fit in the groove in the plastic valve cover
- the "new" design is a metal valve cover with a special flat gasket underneath it

The new design is much more expensive but lasts longer. Since yours is a GX345 you may already have the new design valve cover and only need the gasket ...

 

[Rebs]

Same thing on my 345. I have replaced the valve cover o-rings many times. There are 2 designs:

- the "original" design is just an inexpensive o-ring that is formed to fit in the groove in the plastic valve cover
- the "new" design is a metal valve cover with a special flat gasket underneath it

The new design is much more expensive but lasts longer. Since yours is a GX345 you may already have the new design valve cover and only need the gasket ...

I picked up the gasket today its like a small o ring, I was not lucky enough to have the good ones