Mower chassis repair (photos)

[KimB]

Hi everyone.
So I thought I'd show a project I did earlier in the year I took loads of photos of it.
I bought a ride on earlier in the year from a friend of a friend, I noticed that something wasn't right with it and it wouldn't turn properly. I quickly realized someone had hit something very hard with it an bent the front axle and made a mess of the chassis and then bodged it, I decided to set it straight .

This is how I got it. Obviously the bad side.

Good side.

Began stripping.

True extent of the damage. There were allot of cracks hidden by paint also.

Good side.

Bad side.

 

[KimB]

In the next two photos I tried to capture the extent of the cracking.

These two photos I began tracing the cracks and drilling holes to prevent them cracking further

Also because the front face is meant to be flat for the axle to move freely I grooved all the crack with an angle grinder as carefully as I could.

Clearly began welding the cracks up as neatly as possible.

I then began to grind everything nicely and blend it all in as much as possible.

I feel a bit silly owning up to this but I hit my head on the welder door while it was open. It was a long day and I was tired.

The door is open there and that's how I was stood when I bent down to get my drink and then banged my face :O.
It's scared me for life lol :O

 

[KimB]

The next day after the face smashing incident I started to repair the bodge on the deck lifter arm and finish the corner of the front.
Using a thin cutting disk I carefully cut the weld off.

I found a small bit of metal somewhere that was almost the right size so I used that to fill the hole.

welded quite allot ready to grind down and then clean up with a flap disk as can be seen through the next few photos.

I welded along the edge also to get the straight form line of the chassis back.

 

[KimB]

I've ground back all the welds and tried to get it as straight as I could, the next couple photos just show the repaired chassis ready for paint

There wasn't massive amounts I could do with parts of the front as I didn't want to get it too hot when grinding or welding to it.

The good side to show how similar they now look.

Good side again.

And what was the bad side. Which no one would ever know about unless they inspected the underside carefully

I stripped and painted the deck too but that doesn't need to be shown. Looked good after I finished I was super pleased.

 

[Fintray]

Job well done, no excuses now for the stripes on your lawn to be less than perfect.

Wear that scar with pride!

 

[rich r]

Nice job. I've done something very similar on a friend's mower after he foolishly let his lodger use it - who promptly ran it into a tree at quite some speed. They managed to bash it straight, but the cracks were causing it to flex all over the place. So I went over with my buzzbox and grinder and sorted it out

I didn't bash my face though, although I may have slightly set fire to the tarmac under the mower...

 

[cumbriasteve]

Yep nice work indeed and an excellent lesson how easy it is to have an accident..so close to the eye too, bet we had an 'oh dear' and 'gosh' when that happened.

 

[KimB]

Nice job. I've done something very similar on a friend's mower after he foolishly let his lodger use it - who promptly ran it into a tree at quite some speed. They managed to bash it straight, but the cracks were causing it to flex all over the place. So I went over with my buzzbox and grinder and sorted it out

I didn't bash my face though, although I may have slightly set fire to the tarmac under the mower...

Haha, that's brilliant. I didn't do that. Sounds like you're as clumsy as I am hehe.

Yep nice work indeed and an excellent lesson how easy it is to have an accident..so close to the eye too, bet we had an 'oh dear' and 'gosh' when that happened.

Yes it was, although I nearly did it again notlong ago, it's so hard to see when the door is open. :O So silly lol

 

[Fintray]

"it's so hard to see when the door is open" Either close it as soon as you can or if it needs to be left open stick some of that foam type pipe insulation over the edge.

I'll not make the same mistake again, clunk, oh yes I will; we've all been there got the scar and are just waiting for the next one.......

 

[KimB]

"it's so hard to see when the door is open" Either close it as soon as you can or if it needs to be left open stick some of that foam type pipe insulation over the edge.

I'll not make the same mistake again, clunk, oh yes I will; we've all been there got the scar and are just waiting for the next one.......

It's one of those things like when in the bathroom and I leave the door ajar and once every couple months ill turn around walk into it because of how it's open.

 

[Robotstar5]

Nice job on the mower

Has the cut prompted you to wear safety glasses in future?

 

[KimB]

Nice job on the mower

Has the cut prompted you to wear safety glasses in future?

I always wear them my brother nearly lost his eye with a drill so I take no chances. Just took them off to have a break and get my drink then blamo lol

 

[Fintray]

It's one of those things like when in the bathroom and I leave the door ajar and once every couple months ill turn around walk into it because of how it's open.

Has the cut prompted you to wear safety glasses in future?

Not sure if KimB will be wearing them in the future but defo in the garage and bathroom.......

 

[KimB]

Not sure if KimB will be wearing them in the future but defo in the garage and bathroom.......

Things just attacking me on a daily basis.

 

[balmerchris]

That mowers got some grunt! 20 hp v twin! Wheely time! Nice job on the repair.

 

[gordon stephenson]

Nice job to be proud of Kim, Well documented too. Shame about the injury.

 

[mr migwire]

well done, nice tidy job there...

 

[Kent]

that's a lot of cracks, not so sure that's the result of one bump an a single bad repair. Are the stresses all cured now you feel? Always worth considering making up a whole new section when you see so much splitting and cracking. The cut will be all gone in a week or three

 

[KimB]

that's a lot of cracks, not so sure that's the result of one bump an a single bad repair. Are the stresses all cured now you feel? Always worth considering making up a whole new section when you see so much splitting and cracking. The cut will be all gone in a week or three

I think so, it worked perfectly and everything moved freely when done. I did this in April still have a scar...

 

[Mikey D]

Nice job Kim . Wish I had a garden big enough to need a ride on mower !