I know it's metal - but what sort?

[Beanwood]

I have broken a part on my mower. It's a bracket bolted to the top of an allen scythe type of blade.
One of the bolts came loose, and it got caught on some rather tough brambles, and bent. I straightened it (No heat) and all was OK until the bolt came loose again, and it got caught... again.
Trouble is this time it snapped.
As it's quite an old machine the bracket is no longer available, without a new blade (£220+) so I'd like to weld up the original.
But how can I tell what metal it is?
Any ideas please?

 

[brightspark]

could be cast iron run it up against a grinding wheel and if the sparks are dull red it is cast iron and can easily be brazed back together

 

[Parm]

The thing on the left is a pen, mostly plastic with tiny weeny amounts of metal

Some one will be along to ask you more questions about the other thing

 

[Pete.]

Malleable iron?

 

[tom2207]

if its heavy , probably iron , if its light maybe pot metal / high zinc content , maybe even alloy , a rub with a grinder or a file will give you a good idea and from there point in a direction to repair it.

 

[Dcal]

Looks like cast
Braze it, or make a new one out of steel which will be stronger.

 

[8ob]

Malleable iron?

Thats where I am with this, he has already bent and straightened it which rules out normal cast iron which would of snapped like a carrot. I would be surprised if they were not available as new old stock from somewhere. What machine is it?

Bob

 

[tom2207]

could you bolt a strap over the back to join it , if theres room to do so without anything catching .

 

[brightspark]

Thats where I am with this, he has already bent and straightened it which rules out normal cast iron which would of snapped like a carrot. I would be surprised if they were not available as new old stock from somewhere. What machine is it?

Bob

an allen scythe

 

[Beanwood]

The thing on the left is a pen, mostly plastic with tiny weeny amounts of metal

Sorry - didn't have a standard mug to hand for scale.

Thats where I am with this, he has already bent and straightened it which rules out normal cast iron which would of snapped like a carrot. I would be surprised if they were not available as new old stock from somewhere. What machine is it?

Spot on - it bent ok without cracking first time, which made me think not cast iron - although it's quite heavy, so obviously not alloy.
It's from a BCS 630 WS2 the americans call it a sickle bar mower. I've only found one distributor in the UK - Tracmaster. Even the replacement part (Not compatible with the older bar) are £87.36 seemingly.

 

[Beanwood]

an allen scythe

an allen scythe TYPE (Sorry - couldn't resist)

 

[brightspark]

an allen scythe TYPE (Sorry - couldn't resist)

oops sory just noticed still just braze it job done

 

[8ob]

This any good?

59258753 - Steel Drive Assembly

59058789 - Steel drive assembly for the BCS Europa Scythe Cutter Bar only. How to identify your scythe cutter bar

www.tracmaster.co.uk

 

[Beanwood]

This any good?

59258753 - Steel Drive Assembly

59058789 - Steel drive assembly for the BCS Europa Scythe Cutter Bar only. How to identify your scythe cutter bar

www.tracmaster.co.uk

Thanks - that's where I got the price of £87.36 from - but it's the NEW type, which they (Tracmaster) say won't fit.

Thanks all - anyone fancy doing a brazing job? I only have 'normal' or stainless mig wire. I presume I'd need to spend £105 for a roll of Phosphor Bronze, (And Argon ? I only have Argon mix) I'm better off paying someone else to have a go, or put £105 towards a new cutter bar....

 

[mrsbruce]

I have no idea what I’m talking about here, but how about drilling some pins in it, like a steel pin running inside the length of a bone..

 

[Beanwood]

I have no idea what I’m talking about here, but how about drilling some pins in it, like a steel pin running inside the length of a bone..

Thanks @mrsbruce but no, I don't think that'll work here - the two sides (Now parts) are effectively trying to be pushed apart by the drive pin.

 

[mrsbruce]

Thanks @mrsbruce but no, I don't think that'll work here - the two sides (Now parts) are effectively trying to be pushed apart by the drive pin.

Pity.

Do you know someone with the same machine that you could ‘borrow’ the part from?

 

[Pete.]

I reckon I could make that as a weldment in a few hours, if I had a working milling machine that it. I'm not offering BTW I got too much on my plate but it's an option to explore.

Be nice to see exactly how it works.

 

[Dcal]

I’ll give it a go for you, but as it's already been bent I would need a template with the two holes to get it in the correct orientation. Or at the very least a good centre to centre measurement of the hole spacing.