NH 451 parts question

Today I had a little mishap with the old 451 and broke the connecting rod (172390) and part of the head casting. I can fix the head casting easily enough, but I am in need of the connecting rod if anyone has one on an old mower or laying around the shop. I checked with NH, and they want 215.00 for a new one, and I could almost buy another mower for that price. Has anyone had any luck welding the connecting rods back together? Or am I just gonna have to bite the bullet and buy a new one...
Any help is appreciated.

Mac
 
If you are talking about the crank & have at least a 20T press, bigger is better, press the old one out. Go to your NH dealer, get the bolt, approx. five bucks, freeze it and press it in. You're working the limits of a 20 T press, but I have done it with my made in China press. Just(with the 20 T) before you say it will not work, it starts. Good luck and protect your self.
 
Nope, unfortunately its not the crank. I'm talking about the connecting rod that's down inside the head and actually causes the knife to move back and forth. I'm thinking of trying to weld it back, since all the pieces are there. What beats me is I can't figure out what the he!! caused the head assembly to break. I was in a clean field that I've mowed several times. Never encountered a problem with this mower since I've had it. Cut several acres since the first of the year after I got it. I suppose its old, though, and quite well used. I knew both the first and second owners of the machine, and the first was very hard on his machinery. The second was not. Needless to say, I'm stumped. I appreciate ya'll for the help and advice. Keep it coming!

Mac
 
I am not familuar with that mower to things are just as guess. Cutting parts that are getting wore will under a god load start to chatter with the load and if it gets bad enough then it will either plug or break knife or pitman. On the knives and the pitman head they have been welded for years, hard to find a knife head that has not been welded. But it is better to use gas to weld with a brass rod as it will hold up better, don't understand why but it does. I have been around bar mowers for the last 60 years to know what was going on and before that was to young to know what was what. I do not know if your piece is an alloy that brazing would not hold to or not but that is what I would try.
 
Had mine break a few years ago. There is a small roll pin through the crank sheave that keeps the crank bearing nut from backing off. The pin on mine wore through and bad things happened, very quickly! Between the conn rod and all new bearings its a spendy repair for sure.
 
If you can get another mower at that price I would get one. They are not cheap around here. 1,000 on up and can be as high as 2800.
 
I have about decided to wait until next year and try to find a much newer mower. Seems like the thing to do. Hay is done and we're getting ready to start on fall plowing and getting ready to plant turnips. May do something this winter, who knows....

Mac
 

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