Would you try to save this rust

Dukester · May 3, 2013

Brush cutter left too long outside without protection / paint... Not sure it can be saved, or if so, how? Gearbox is good I guess could be used on another trashed one.

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Dukester

tracman · May 3, 2013

I can't tell if the mounting of the gear drive is still secure but if it is I would weld new same gauge metal over the rusted out sections to provide a good shield for the flying debris. I would find another used unit if there is any question that the blade could break off the deck.

Dukester · May 3, 2013

What gauge steel?

WW2N · May 3, 2013

With cost of steel and your labor and the gear box is good I would try and find a unit with a trashed gear box. The attachment point on this one is toast also.

mbramble · May 3, 2013

Mine looked worse than yours. I cut out all the rusted sheet metal on the top deck and then removed and cleaned up all the top stiffeners, etc. My neighbor (a welder) welded on a new top skin (12 gauge sheet) and then all the heavier metal stiffeners. It has been working great since and I expect it will last as long as I'm able to use it.......

I bought a 4x8 sheet of 12 gauge. There is a seam where he joined the sheet metal because the mower is about 5x5' but it is under one of the stiffeners that runs front to back so you can't even see it. Sheet cost about $120 and I bought a box of 7018 rods and some angle iron to replace the bent stuff. Took him almost 2 whole days of fitting/welding to get it back together. Would have gone quicker if he'd had a more experienced fitter to help

Here is a picture of how it looked after it was put back together....

Dukester · May 3, 2013

Would be good if I had a neighbor welder but I'm adding up the
metal and rods and cost welder might charge and it's getting up
there, never mind the time cutting out the old...how did you do that
by the way??..

tracman · May 3, 2013

If you could scare up some metal maybe from a scrap yard or auto wrecker, you could bolt it on. That may not be as pretty but it would work.

souNdguy · May 3, 2013

cut n paste job

notjustair · May 3, 2013

I would fix it in the winter when projects are shorter. The fact that you would have to hire it done would be a no-go.

Go to an auction and buy one with a good deck (no holes at least) that's been abused. You can get it cheap. Then put your goodies on it.

mbramble · May 3, 2013

Yes, the welder neighbor was quite a help!! I used an el cheapo Harfor Freight 4 1/2" angle grider and cutoff wheels for the most part. The oxy acetylene setup I now have would have made it MUCH easier!!

souNdguy · May 3, 2013

sounds like a good reason to buy a welder.

yardsale tombstones go cheap.

i bought my first 'real' welder to fix a batwing mower... wing fell off.

i paid less for the welder and steel and gear than it would have cost for the farm call fee for a mobile welder to come out.. not to mention the per hour fee and materials.

thus i got my machine fixed cheaper by buying a tool.

gotta love that.

Ken(Ark) · May 3, 2013

(quoted from post at 17:21:02 05/03/13) Would be good if I had a neighbor welder but I'm adding up the
metal and rods and cost welder might charge and it's getting up
there, never mind the time cutting out the old...how did you do that
by the way??..

The welding part would not be that bad , it's the cut out and prep time that will burn up time .

If you can replace a battery or change your own oil you can probably wire weld !

If you can get a buddy to help set up the welder for the first time and give you pointers for two minutes I would bet you could finish it .

trouttman · May 3, 2013

I would fix it. Cut out rust and weld in new metal, had to do that to mine a few years ago.

trouttman

Would you try to save this rust

Dukester

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tracman

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Dukester

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WW2N

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mbramble

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Dukester

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tracman

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souNdguy

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notjustair

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mbramble

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souNdguy

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Ken(Ark)

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trouttman

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