I have a 2-stroke Lawnboy push mower that has a quarter-sized hole right near the right side (from the operator POV) wheel. The hole is in the top side of the deck. My local OPE dealer can't find a replacement deck, because it's a push and not self-propelled. Would an epoxy patch with some sheet metal do an adequate job, or should I look for a a welder to patch it? I need this to run for another 5 years; then I hope to only have enough lawn to use a battery mower.
Advice on a Fix
- Thread starter 2cool
- Start date
- Status
I'd guess you could EASILY coax 5 seasons out of your deck with a thoughtful patch job. Which epoxy would you use?
J-B Weld is very good but there are many. Do not pick some completely unfamiliar product because it's a few bucks cheaper.
And remember.....clean, clean, clean and dry....BOTH sides of the deck.
Don't be lazy....prep is ALWAYS well over 50% of any job.
J-B Weld is very good but there are many. Do not pick some completely unfamiliar product because it's a few bucks cheaper.
And remember.....clean, clean, clean and dry....BOTH sides of the deck.
Don't be lazy....prep is ALWAYS well over 50% of any job.
Drill a hole on each side of the hole. Cut a piece of metal and pop rivet it in with patch metal on the bottom
Last edited:
+1 for pop rivet
Or epoxy and pop rivet.
Doesn't even have to be a tough piece of metal. You could probably do it with an aluminum coke can. If it wore out the replacement would be cheap enough also. Just drill out the rivets and do it again.
Or epoxy and pop rivet.
Doesn't even have to be a tough piece of metal. You could probably do it with an aluminum coke can. If it wore out the replacement would be cheap enough also. Just drill out the rivets and do it again.
3/16 AL rivets, JB Weld, and a piece cut from an old pot. Better than a weld. Iv'e done 2 major repairs using this combination of materials
I also vote for a patch and "run her".
Thin metal is tricky to weld, usually you want someone with good experience at the torch, but if you want to do it yourself and don't have that experience, you can also consider brazing or silver soldering, both of which are quite strong (stronger than the parent metal). With those two methods it's important that the mating parts fit tightly; you can't really add "missing" metal, as in fill gaps, with those methods (but could via welding).
Adding epoxy once the repair has set is also a good idea, it's extremely durable.
Thin metal is tricky to weld, usually you want someone with good experience at the torch, but if you want to do it yourself and don't have that experience, you can also consider brazing or silver soldering, both of which are quite strong (stronger than the parent metal). With those two methods it's important that the mating parts fit tightly; you can't really add "missing" metal, as in fill gaps, with those methods (but could via welding).
Adding epoxy once the repair has set is also a good idea, it's extremely durable.
What problem is this hole causing?
If it isn't causing a problem, I wouldn't bother fixing it. Holes are natures way of improving ventilation.
You can have too much of a good thing, though, so I'd abrade with aluminium, with sunflower oil as a binder, to stop it rusting further.
If it isn't causing a problem, I wouldn't bother fixing it. Holes are natures way of improving ventilation.
You can have too much of a good thing, though, so I'd abrade with aluminium, with sunflower oil as a binder, to stop it rusting further.
Last edited:
On my old MTD mower I cut 3 pieces from an aluminum can and layered them. I then affixed them with flashing tape topside.
Been working great for like, 10 years. No joke.
Been working great for like, 10 years. No joke.
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: Kira
I'd guess you could EASILY coax 5 seasons out of your deck with a thoughtful patch job. Which epoxy would you use?
J-B Weld is very good but there are many. Do not pick some completely unfamiliar product because it's a few bucks cheaper.
And remember.....clean, clean, clean and dry....BOTH sides of the deck.
Don't be lazy....prep is ALWAYS well over 50% of any job.
This.
I'd guess you could EASILY coax 5 seasons out of your deck with a thoughtful patch job. Which epoxy would you use?
J-B Weld is very good but there are many. Do not pick some completely unfamiliar product because it's a few bucks cheaper.
And remember.....clean, clean, clean and dry....BOTH sides of the deck.
Don't be lazy....prep is ALWAYS well over 50% of any job.
This.
What is the deck material? My old Lawnboy has a magnesium deck, but the answers I see posted assume another material?
Originally Posted By: punisher
What is the deck material? My old Lawnboy has a magnesium deck, but the answers I see posted assume another material?
I was assuming steel because its got a hole in it. I'm not from the USA though.
If its been shot at I suppose it could be anything, 'cept maybe kevlar or armour plate.
What is the deck material? My old Lawnboy has a magnesium deck, but the answers I see posted assume another material?
I was assuming steel because its got a hole in it. I'm not from the USA though.
If its been shot at I suppose it could be anything, 'cept maybe kevlar or armour plate.
- Status
