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jdemaris
09-17-2003 05:38:57
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Re: Dead JD350 Engine in reply to Pete/ME, 09-17-2003 03:09:57
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Depends on what you are calling a "rebuild." The majority of "engine rebuilds" in 350s are "in frame"; i.e. the engine is not removed. Main and rod bearings are replaced, oil pump gears if needed, new sleeves, pistons and rings, check and replace needed injection nozzles, and a valve job. With such jobs I usually gave the owner the option of taking apart the fuel injection pump and installng a new governor weight retainer ring. I'd bring an exhange head with me and do the valves on the removed head later, in the shop. Of course, if the engine is blown or seized you've got a different story. When I worked for a JD dealer, I used to rebuild them on site, often in the middle of the woods and would complete the job in one day. Total would run around $1200. Now, with someone on a budget it might be different. My neighbor's 350 blew a piston a few months ago. It would only run on two cylinders when cold since there were no top piston rings left on one cylinder. I had him do the bull work, e.g. taking off the hood, belly pan, cylinder head, etc. Put new sleeves, pistons, rings, main and rod bearings, one new injector, and a "budget" valve job. Total cost to him for parts and labor was $640. One note about what I'm calling a "budget" valve job. Older John Deere engines can be very sensitive when it comes to valve jobs. Because of many inconsistencies in machining tolerances from the factory, including valve-in-head installed depth and distance of top of piston above block deck height . . . simply regrinding valves and valve seats can result in a poor starting, or skipping engine in cold weather. This because after grinding, the valves sit deeper in the head and lower firing pressure. This doesn't affect running after warm up, mainly just cold weather starting. A "good" valve job requires maintaing the correct valve depth which usually can only be done by either milling the head after reseating, or having the head machined to accept valve seat inserts in order to raise the installed height. Some places charge $40 a seat, and there are six of them, so the expense goes up. Cold weather starting was a big issue around here. A poor starting engine often gets started with ether, and 350s don't handle it very well. The top piston ring grooves are "straight cut" rather than tapered Keystone style as used in the 450s and the top rings tend to shatter when too much ether is used. Anyway, $3500 seems high for a little three cylinder engine, but it all depends on what exactly is being done. If you're paying for engine removal and installation, and crank is getting turned, and more, along with the other things mentioned, then I can see it.
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