Did you drop the deck height adjuster to zero?

 

If you could send a couple pictures that would help us see what you are dealing with.

 

I'm a bit confused as to what you're stuggling with. I had a '96 345 with deck and blower for 20 years, so I'm familiar with the blower connection, though it has been 6 years since I last saw it. You roll the blower frame under the tractor, lift the rear of the frame to engage with the rear pivot points, flip the catches around those pivots, then lower the lift mechanism and connect the U-shaped connectors of the lift mechanism to the blower frame. As mentioned above, you need to make sure the lift height knob is set to '0'. Then connect the belt. The only other part of the install I recall is the cross-bar at front that stabilizes the blower side-to-side and then the chute control rod slipped into the support rings. Nothing has to be bolted or unbolted (unless you remove the chute control support, which is common) under the tractor for the install. Nothing about the install was ever a struggle on mine.

If you can offer more specifics about the challenges you're facing maybe we can offer more guidance.

 

Do you have the front lift and the proper attachment kit.

ARIMain - WEINGARTZ

Find parts for your john deere front lift kit (325, 345, 355d) 2 with our free parts lookup tool! Search easy-to-use diagrams and enjoy same-day shipping on standard John Deere parts orders.

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ARIMain - WEINGARTZ

Find parts for your john deere attaching parts kit 240/245/260/265/285/320/325/345: snowthrower 42-inch sn 200001- 240,245,260,265,285,320,325,335,345,355d,gx,lx with our free parts lookup tool! Search easy-to-use diagrams and enjoy same-day shipping on standard John Deere parts orders.

www.weingartz.com

 

Well, the 48-inch front Blade for the 325 through GX355 Mounts the same as the 42-inch thrower at least In the Mid-section of the Tractor