Mowing Crack in my 72" mid mower deck (pix)

Anonymous Poster · May 28, 2003

Re: Crack in my 72\" mid mower deck..The repair!

Clean the area up good,shine it up with a power brush and look real close for the end of that crack,then on the out side,grind a small bevel in the crack area and go above where you see that crack a inch or more with your bevel,shine it up on the inside to but don't put a bevel on inside,take atorch and get it to hot to touch,weld the out side,than on the inside grind the crack area down to where you see you got solid weld metal from your outside weld,than fill up you inside.Now this all depends on the welders skill,stick would be safer may be,but it depends on your skill level with the mig,putting a big metal patch of some kind on this area will just hide things.If you get this right,you should be able to grind the reinforcement of your weld off smooth,and repaint it and it should look like new,well.... RICHARD GAUTHIER

Anonymous Poster · May 28, 2003

Re: Crack in my 72\" mid mower deck..The repair!

I wrote my last line before I saw your finished pictures,you know what you are doing looks to me like,good job. RICHARD GAUTHIER

TresCrows · May 29, 2003

Re: Crack in my 72\" mid mower deck (pix)

Aside from using the word anneal, which was not really what I meant I will stick with what I said. These decks cost 2500 to 3000 dollars and deserve a lifetime repair. J

TresCrows · May 29, 2003

Re: Crack in my 72\" mid mower deck (pix) *DELETED* *DELETED*

Post deleted by RobS

sandyc · May 29, 2003

Re: Crack in my 72\" mid mower deck (pix)

After looking at the repair I would bet that the deck won't crack again...great work....what kind of welder did you use? I am looking to get a small welder for my shop for doing just what you did.

Von · May 29, 2003

Re: Crack in my 72\" mid mower deck (pix)

Sandyc,
I have an Ideal Arc mig welder that I have owned for the last 18 years. Its 220V, 135amp. with 6 heat settings and infanite wire speed control. I paid about $450 when I got it, I guess to get the same set up today would run about $700-$1000. Only thing I have had to replace was the torch on it. Old one just wore out! I can't imagine not owning one, I use it at least once a week. Even if its just fixing my wife's small hand garden shovel. (Just welded the handle back on last week) Sure beats buying new every time something brakes and needs just a little weld to be fixed.

sandyc · May 29, 2003

Re: Crack in my 72\" mid mower deck (pix)

Hi Von:

Thanks for the info. Sounds like you are working your wife too hard if she is breaking tools!

Have a great day!