Lawnmower R.I.P.

gregos

A rock just blew a big hole in the side of my lawnmower's aluminium deck. However, the engine's fine. Where in the Munster region do you reckon I could get another deck for less than an arm and a leg?

kadman

gregos wrote:

A rock just blew a big hole in the side of my lawnmower's aluminium deck. However, the engine's fine. Where in the Munster region do you reckon I could get another deck for less than an arm and a leg?

And there's me getting a lecture from you, about safety, and you're trying to cut rocks with a mower.

Seriously though Gregos, what is the make of the mower. You could try the buy and sell.

kadman

gregos

Well, you see, it isn't any particular make. I made it up about five years ago out of an old deck from one machine and an engine from another. It's worked fine all that time, and if I hadn't shot the crap out of it, it would still be working away twenty years from now. Basically, any old deck will do as long as it isn't rusted.

peasant

Aluminium is quite good to weld ...by someone in the know. Any sheet-metal bashers in your area ??

They might just be able to patch the hole.

gregos

Hiya Peasant. Yeah, I was wondering about that. I have the two pieces that flew away from the machine and they seem in reasonable condition (given that they've been smashed violently away from their original position). Do you think it would be worthwhile to have them welded? It's a fairly specialised trade, but maybe some local engineering shop might be able to do it.

kadman

If its aluminium sheet material , any half decent welder can do it for you.
If its aluminium cast alloy, bin it,

kadman

Capt'n Midnight

would it be safe to rivet a sheet over the hole or use glass fibre on the inside ?
(obviously lots of material if you are feeding it a diet of rocks.)

maybe invest in shinpads

gregos

kadman wrote:

If its aluminium cast alloy, bin it

It's cast.

Capt'n Midnight wrote:

obviously lots of material if you are feeding it a diet of rocks.

Well, I'm not actually feeding it the rocks. They're the kind of stones that creep into your garden while you're in bed or at work and fling themselves into the blades of lawnmowers. I think they might be ideologically driven.

peasant

Originally Posted by kadman
If its aluminium cast alloy, bin it


It's cast.

Hmmm ...cast alloy ...never thought of that.
That probably IS for the bin then ...

All depends on the alloy. Some are weldable, some aren't. Without chemical analysis it's going to be a trial and error job. If you know a friendly aluminium welding specialist (:D) it might still be worth a try ...you can still bin it, if it doesn't work .

Krugy38

gregos wrote: »

A rock just blew a big hole in the side of my lawnmower's aluminium deck. However, the engine's fine. Where in the Munster region do you reckon I could get another deck for less than an arm and a leg?

If you could find a welder the aluminium repair would be a singe, these are normally silicone based,

jack of all

As already suggested, could you repair with a piece of aluminium sheet metal bent to shape and pop rivetted in place (or bolt/ tek screw or self tapping screws)?

Joey the lips

I dont rate your chances of getting a new deck. Its the part of the lawnmower that usually goes first and is not made as a spare. You will get a cheap new petrol mower for about 130 euro in woodies.

demanufactured

Go to one of the places that repairs lawnmowers/strimmers and the like , they might have an old machine that you could use the deck from , might give it to ya for free even.

I take it its a briggs and stratton engine yeh?

larrytom

get rid of it -it could kill somebody

chadwin

If you can tell me the make i will tell you if it can be welded or how to fix it most makes can be fixed I know I repair them.

Capt'n Midnight

IBTL

This thread is nearly 5 years old , lawnmower must have depreciated a bit by now