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Started By
Message
Advice needed for riding mower
Posted on 6/11/24 at 1:39 pm
Posted on 6/11/24 at 1:39 pm
So, I have a cub cadet riding mower, the deck is messed up bad. I hit a damn tallow tree stump buried in some leaves. I was using it fine for a few weeks but it’s bent pretty bad and one of the deck wheels fell off the other day and it scalped my lawn pretty bad before I noticed. Should I:
A) contact a local metal worker to see if they can fix it
2) buy a new deck for $800, but it’s only the shell so I’ll have to use parts from old deck
D) take that money and put it towards new mower.
I really don’t want to spend more than $3500 on a new mower. I know you guys all have the high dollar zero turns but this cub cadet has been solid for 9 years and still would be if it weren’t for that stupid tallow tree. Mower runs great. It just needs some deck love
A) contact a local metal worker to see if they can fix it
2) buy a new deck for $800, but it’s only the shell so I’ll have to use parts from old deck
D) take that money and put it towards new mower.
I really don’t want to spend more than $3500 on a new mower. I know you guys all have the high dollar zero turns but this cub cadet has been solid for 9 years and still would be if it weren’t for that stupid tallow tree. Mower runs great. It just needs some deck love
2
Posted on 6/11/24 at 1:45 pm to VanRIch
Maybe pics would help assess damage. I have a basic riding Husqvarna, and a bracket on the deck tore/broke, I found a kid who just got out of welding school who wanted practice to fix it for cheap. I would think there are used decks around as well, dead lawn mowers sit in yards rotting across the south.
Posted on 6/11/24 at 1:48 pm to calcotron
Yeah I was trying to find a used one off Facebook but didn’t have much luck locally. I was passing thru Meadville Ms a few months ago and passed a yard with 100 used riding mowers in it. Might have to take a ride haha. I’ll take some pics a little later.
Posted on 6/11/24 at 1:50 pm to VanRIch
The actual deck is bent or are one of more of the spindles bent? If deck is bent Id try to hammer it back, can't break whats already broke. If spindles bent, just replace. If i had to replace my deck I would check FB marketplace first. If I couldn't find one there I would upgrade a 9yo mower versus buying a new $800 deck and try to sell old mower on FB marketplace. someone will buy it without a deck if its otherwise good.
Posted on 6/11/24 at 2:01 pm to Fat Batman
So I may have been unclear, the deck isn’t just bent it’s broken. This narrow piece that runs under the grass output chute snapped. Then the second and third pic show the hole where the wheel was attached.
Posted on 6/11/24 at 2:24 pm to VanRIch
If you have a buddy that welds he would probably fix that for a 6 pack
Posted on 6/11/24 at 2:51 pm to Korkstand
pending there's some metal left in that rust 
Posted on 6/11/24 at 3:04 pm to Fat Batman
Your buddies can't weld rust?
You can pick up a little scrap to patch with from almost anywhere. I stand by it, a 6 pack will get it done.
You can pick up a little scrap to patch with from almost anywhere. I stand by it, a 6 pack will get it done.
Posted on 6/11/24 at 3:24 pm to Korkstand
quote:
You can pick up a little scrap to patch with from almost anywhere. I stand by it, a 6 pack will get it done.
Agree. Doesn't look bad. If I were close, I'd do it for little with scrap I already have laying around.
Posted on 6/11/24 at 5:01 pm to BiggerBear
1) beat it back into place
2) buy cheap weeder from harbor freight
3) youchoob how to weld
4) ???
5) profit
2) buy cheap weeder from harbor freight
3) youchoob how to weld
4) ???
5) profit
Posted on 6/11/24 at 8:25 pm to poochie
I actually have a cheap flux core welder from HF I got as a gift. I’ve used it for some minor repairs but anything that I’ve done that needs the slightest bit of strength has failed. Can I just dump a shite load of weld on there and will that hold, even if it’s not pretty? Or is a neat weld required for strength?
Posted on 6/11/24 at 10:13 pm to VanRIch
That is not that bad at all…I would either take the mower deck off and take it to a welding shop or just load the whole mower up and take it. Do not try to fix it with all of that grass on there or your mower will go up in flames.
Hell, bring it to a trade school and let some students learn how to fix stuff!
Hell, bring it to a trade school and let some students learn how to fix stuff!
Posted on 6/12/24 at 12:16 am to VanRIch
quote:
Can I just dump a shite load of weld on there and will that hold, even if it’s not pretty?
You could always approach it like welding didn't exist. Cut and bolt a piece of mild steel across the hole and bolt the wheel assembly to it. It won't be pretty but take a few minutes to think it through and a piece of mild steel bar, a few bolts/nuts/washers from Home Depot and you will be mowing again.
Posted on 6/12/24 at 6:47 am to Obtuse1
I thought about this but I don’t think blade clearance would allow it. There’s like an 1/8” between the blades and deck
Posted on 6/12/24 at 7:49 am to VanRIch
jb weld?
Posted on 6/12/24 at 8:06 am to VanRIch
quote:
Can I just dump a shite load of weld on there and will that hold, even if it’s not pretty? Or is a neat weld required for strength?
hell yeah, cleanup the area, build that metal up, then grind it down. There's only one way to learn....... let's geaux, bust a light!
Posted on 6/12/24 at 8:28 am to VanRIch
quote:
There’s like an 1/8” between the blades and deck
Angle grind the tip off the blades. Welding it would be my first choice though.
This post was edited on 6/12/24 at 8:29 am
Posted on 6/12/24 at 9:06 am to VanRIch
If your nearby highschool has a shop/welding class, they would love to work on something like that. Most likely free of charge.
Posted on 6/12/24 at 10:50 am to VanRIch
quote:
anything that I’ve done that needs the slightest bit of strength has failed
sounds like cold welds, watch a couple youtube videos to get a better idea on proper prep and penetration. grab some scrap and lay some beads down until youre satisfied. it aint gotta be pretty as long as the penetration is there. id probably use a piece of rebar or similar in the rolled edge of the ejection port to get that back right. Then as others have said for the wheel id probably cut the hole in the deck a little bigger, weld some bar to the deck, cut what you have left of the wheel assembly back to good metal and weld it back in place. careful on the deck to not burn through. might want to grab some similar guage material to practice on. bevel the edges of your stock. prime and paint when finished.
Posted on 6/12/24 at 1:04 pm to Fat Batman
Ok giving this a whirl. Cleaned up the metal. Putting a piece of rebar in that rolled section that snapped. Have some flat stock to weld over the square hole where the wheels attached. Then will weld on the wheel bracket 
Well went to get started and it appears my wire is a little rusted so it’s not feeding thru properly. I’ll have to change it out and try again.
Well went to get started and it appears my wire is a little rusted so it’s not feeding thru properly. I’ll have to change it out and try again.
This post was edited on 6/12/24 at 2:09 pm
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