Welding broken lawnmower deck and handy welding tips

[@Brian424]

Thanks very much for this video, Gordon! It was exactly what I was looking for. I broke the right hanger bracket off my John Deere deck. Same problem in a different color, JD yellow. 🙂 Just like in the video, the bracket broke completely off and left an irregular hole in the deck. Mine fit back into the hole a bit easier than the one you showed here. The break caused three short cracks at the corners too. I inherited a wire-feed welder (Lincoln Electric Weld-Pak 100) and have only used it once in ten years, for a couple hours of messing around with practice welds on scrap metal for something to do on a frozen winter day a couple years ago. Some welds went great and looked great, some not so great that day. I've done thousands of solder and braze joints in plumbing and refrigeration work, but welding an actual, real-life repair was a new frontier until this afternoon. So, when it came to try repairing my trusty but broken 17 year-old mower deck, I wasn't sure if I wanted to tackle it myself or not. I had plan B in my back pocket if the welding didn't pan out. Plan B was a drill, nuts, bolts, washers, and brackets. Turns out I won't need plan B, at least not now. Your video gave me the confidence to proceed with the welding. I just finished the job. It took me a couple hours including setup and cleanup, with a few short breaks along the way. The beads don't look anything like factory, and probably would get me about a D+ grade in a welding class, but I got it done, and fairly well, I think. I welded all the way around the hole from both the top and the underside of the deck, welded the cracks at the corners too, ground the welds down somewhat smoother afterward with an angle grinder, and beat it pretty good with a hammer to test the strength. The hanger bracket doesn't move and the welds held strong. I think it will work just fine long term, as long as I don't catch the deck on the same concrete edge that broke it in the first place. Time will tell, but I'm damn happy, and a bit proud of myself right now. One more hurdle crossed in life at age 55, I can weld if I need to. One of my main questions when I was looking for a video on this was getting a good ground connection on something like a dirty, painted mower deck. I love your vise-grip technique and I used it. It worked like a charm and I had no problems with completing a circuit. I had the metal around the weld ground nice and shiny before I began, also. Thanks again for sharing your hard-won expertise, I really appreciate your time.

[@Perly53]

Thanks Gordon. I really appreciate your video. Seven years after posting it, it is still helpful!

[@57bagre]

Thanks for commenting. I'm not a pro welder but do have well over 40 years welding and do have a playlist on cutting and welding with all sorts of repairs done on camera.

[@jonathoncote5753]

Gordon Roberts I got a $100 flux core set up and I am working on a mower deck also . thanks for taking the time to make this video.

[@57bagre]

Jon, thank you for the comment, I hope your project goes well, feel free to ask anything, I'll try to help.

[@honcho4361]

The beautiful outdoor sounds made this video 10x more entertaining. Thank you for the great video

[@oldroscoe2590]

5 years later I'm watching this .... an almost identical deck with identical welding job to do. I think I'll put a small plate on the underside to help hold it.

[@philliphall5198]

I’ve done that and weld it In plus bolts and weld nuts to bolt

[@charleswhitman2838]

I'm glad you're going the extra step and adding the auto-darkening welding helmet for the camera. I welded and fabricated at a train railcar repair yard, but some people just starting to learn do it yourself repairs will learn more from guys like us willing to share tricks and short cuts as well as basic learned skills in welding and repairs. I'd like to show beginners how to burn a nut off of a bolt without hurting the threads, maybe I will when I get a camera. (y)

[@57bagre]

Yeah, I haven't had the chance to do a video cutting on threads but I did something similar on another video changing muffler on my truck, I also did some gas welding on my car. You can see my playlist on cutting and welding, not much there yet because I am a full time driver and my YT channel is only 1-1/2 years old, mostly mechanic related, (I used to be a car mechanic)

[@1notgilty]

I enjoyed watching how you did the welding. I had to take my mower deck to a welding shop for the needed repairs. Better to spend $200 for fabrication and welding rather than giving the John Deere dealer $2,000 for a stripped replacement deck housing. As my farmer uncle used to say, "You're paying a lot for that green paint." I get a weird vibe every time I go to a John Deere dealer lately. It's not like years ago when most of the employees there were farmers or former farmers. Now everybody who works there is wearing matching embroidered golf shirts and act like they are doing you a favor for selling you some over-priced equipment. When did John Deere dealerships turn into BMW and Mercedes Benz dealerships? I guess I missed a memo. Thanks for posting this video.

[@jimmypopp2695]

I absolutely know what you are talking about. I got the memo but I thought they were joking and threw it out...lol

[@kennethshawn2866]

I dont mean to be so off topic but does anyone know a tool to log back into an instagram account?? I somehow lost my password. I appreciate any tips you can give me!

[@deanjerome1981]

@Kenneth Shawn Instablaster =)

[@kennethshawn2866]

@Dean Jerome Thanks for your reply. I found the site on google and im in the hacking process atm. Takes a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@kennethshawn2866]

@Dean Jerome it did the trick and I now got access to my account again. I'm so happy:D Thanks so much, you saved my account :D

[@stevieh2501]

And I thought that I was the only one spending my weekends repairing my mower

[@57bagre]

No, I'm always repairing something.Thanks for watching.

[@trentboudreaux3127]

@@57bagre nope not at all bro im doing the same thing but mines at the blower hole

[@jonathanthiessen6869]

How many amps is the welder set to? I need to do some patchwork on a mower deck and would like to avoid burning through. Great video!

[@57bagre]

You don't set amps on a wire feed welder, amps automatically adjust with wire speed or material gauge (thickness) setting on some welders. Stick welder would be about 50 - 60 amps with a 1/16 - 3/32 rod. If you are new to welding, you will burn through light gauge metal until you have enough practice.

[@CXensation]

Thanks a lot for the video Gordon. You clearly demonstrate how to use a small DIY wire welder on sheet metal. I noticed 2 things in particular: 1) you did not waste too much time cleaning down to bare metal 2) you ran the welder tip in small circles Instead you concentrate on a clean ground connection and a good fit of parts. Great job !

[@57bagre]

Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@Geo_trek]

Great video! I don’t know much of anything about welding and I wasn’t too great at it in high school. Well in my mid-40s and I am ready to give it another go. I love fixing up mowers and I know that welding would be a great tool to have in my toolbox.

[@jjjsss3869]

Thanks for the video. I am welding an old deck later today.

[@KeyzTheDCBurna]

Well Mr. Gordon... I left with more than what I came for. All is left to do is click purchase on this titanium 125, as I'm already "Liked and subscribed"

[@philliphall5198]

First thing I do is drill several 1/4 holes in the low places on deck and put 5/6 layers of paint on top and bottom Keeping blades balanced is a must and keeping deck clean I prefer using high pressure air

[@AJRay-db1dr]

Great job on the welding wish I could get my cheap welder to stop popping like popcorn I'm cleaning up a deck to weld as well same hanger same side u done a fine job bet its still on the mower

[@mceperformance8978]

Prepping the area with a grinder would have given you better welds.

[@MC-hs4mf]

Ditto

[@jjjsss3869]

And stick would be better for rusty material.

[@stanleykinzinger]

Jjj Sss that metal is way to thin for stick welding

[@onekittyhawk63]

He showed us how good it held by beating on it.

[@BigSidtrous]

Also, stop drilling the ends of those cracks might also yield better long term success.

[@thyubernoob]

Good helmet, I have the same one from Harbor Fright too!

[@johnfeagin3317]

Thank you Sir! Great welding tips.

[@57bagre]

I hope it helps. Thanks for commenting.

[@nicolewebb558]

How where you welding it I saw side to side motion

[@justingates2302]

Gordon Robertson thank you, i just bought one with min or max setting with 1 or 2 and a turn dial for wire speed, what would you suggest starting setting for a lawn mower deck, the bottom piece up under the discharge has one side broke off and i want to weld it back on

[@57bagre]

I suggest finding some scrap material to practice with first. As for settings, not all machines are set up the same, on a regular machine about 30 on the wire speed and 17 volts might be a good starting point. Your new machine does have a settings guide in the door where the wire goes. Good luck and thanks for watching.

[@tsant6591]

You did a great job. Mine has the exact same problem. Those hangers connect to the deck height linkage adjustment lever and take a partial load of the deck weight. Mine broke in the same spots. I hope the welder I'm taking it to can do as good as a job as you. Was this mig? Cheers

[@williamgalloway7262]

Good video. The extra work in fitup will pay off in the end.

[@57bagre]

Thanks for watching.

[@willardmitchell1358]

Please let me no what kinda wire I should use for that type of metal,for a mig welder,and should I do the top and bottom as u did,would that make it stronger.

[@willardmitchell1358]

That part my friend is part of how u adjust the depth of your deck,u done a nice job on that,my neighbor has a john deer with the same exact problem, what type of wire should I use to fix her deck and I dont have a torch to heat the metal,do I have to heat the steel with a torch.

[@57bagre]

All purpose wire. Better find some scrap metal to practice with first and watch a lot of welding videos.

[@ureasmith3049]

Nice video Gordon. I want to teach myself some basic welding for tinkering on small tractors and around the house. Is there a video series you'd recommend or do I have to take classes somewhere?

[@57bagre]

No, you don't need to take classes, I never did and I welded at a pipe shop for a few years, I started welding when I was a young mechanic, you need to get a 110 volt wire feed welder from Harbor Freight or someplace like that or if you want to learn stick welding then a stick machine, I show both in my videos and some gas welding with a torch. If you have the $ to learn TIG welding then go to this guys channel, kzbin.info/door/qq70AnPkj4-UApS_m_6mPw you can always message me if you have questions, look at my playlists and find the welding and cutting list. Thanks for watching.

[@ureasmith3049]

Thank you for the reply. I will check out the videos and get started learning.

[@ureasmith3049]

Thank you sir.

[@ureasmith3049]

Sounds like a plan. Thanks.

[@e.l.abusaid2500]

Nice job!, that part and the other parallel one are for the purpose of holding the Deck up at a certain level ( low cut or high)..... mine is cracked also....making the crack end of the deck dig into the ground at its highest level (and throwing off the belt)... looks like you cured the issue. :)

[@57bagre]

Thanks for commenting.

[@mjb12141963]

I recently bought a cheap stick welder from harbor freight. I haven't done any welding since high school. I have played around a little with the welder and as you said it burned thru a thin piece of aluminum sheet metal lick it wasn't even there. Here is my question: I have two lawn mowers that the decks have rusted and I'd like to fix them. Does anyone have any advice on stick welding push lawn mower?

[@57bagre]

---With a stick welder you don't have a prayer trying to weld metal thinner than the rod you're using without a lot of experience, on my video remember I only welded a 1/2" at a time and let it cool a few seconds b4 welding more? with a stick you need to clean the area real good with a grinder or sand paper to silver metal and use 1/16" rods, if you can't find those get a pack of 7014 3/32" rods and turn the amps down to about 60 or the lowest setting you can hold an arc and just stich it crossways on the crack, don't try to run down the crack just 1/4 beads across let it cool and do another on the edge of the last one, you might start at one end of the crack and go to the other end and work both ends to the middle, or start in the middle and work toward both ends alternately, on the back side, you can run 1 straight bead on the crack now that it is closed up and has a thicker backing. 7014 rods don't get stuck but they do tend to weld on top of the flux, so chip off the last bead good b4 the next one. Keep a dripping wet rag handy to cool your work. Thanks for your comment, as soon as I can make time to do videos with a camera through a hood, I will do some demos on how to do some welding with the wrong equipment. I remember well when I had no choice but to do with what I could get and be thankful for that. Ask anything anytime, I'm happy to share what I can. Good luck.

[@mjb12141963]

Thanks a bunch. Sounds like fun!

[@stevioAda]

My advice use a mig

[@donald1056]

It looks like a bracket for mounting it to a lawn tractor

[@onekittyhawk63]

Good job. You're a pretty good welder.

[@57bagre]

Thanks 👍

[@gildaferraez2673]

Just wanted thank you for your nice video. I have a simpler problem, but a much better shape deck.

[@57bagre]

Thank you for watching.

[@keithsims86]

Me too

[@mikethewelder1554]

The reason your metal shrunk on you, is because you did the cracks in one straight run. On thin metal, try making small tacks, spaced out, and connecting them. It gives the metal time to cool and limits the shrinkage.

[@57bagre]

I disagree, if anything welding those cracks would have pulled the hole bigger, yes electric welding always shrinks and hardens the work area if you don't remove the temper with a torch, you can see that on my dump truck videos I put up last week extending the tailgate height, I think the hole shrunk because either the part that went there was flexing for a while and stretching the metal before it broke off, and maybe I hammered it down too far on that convex area or both. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@jjjsss3869]

He looks like he was considering cris crossing the hole for a second there, but then he just moved back and continued the weld.

[@davidmannes3210]

thanks so much for that explanation. you made it clear and understandable.

[@snookerthedog9935]

Great video... Thanks

[@Bass.Player]

Was that gas or flux core?

[@57bagre]

Gas, but you can use either.

[@Bass.Player]

@@57bagre I have just never had good results with flux core

[@57bagre]

Needs to be clean and don't try to go too fast. I don't have many welding videos up but you can look at "Welding tips and tricks" or "ChuckE 2009" and there'r many more good channels.

[@realtalk1278]

Great informative video! Gonna repair myself!🤘🏽🔥🔥🔥

[@philliphall5198]

Best to plate under the hanger and weld hangers to plate, if it’s really thin deck I bolt it also 😮

[@jludtxs]

what kind of price would that repair cost? I have 2 tears in the metal by the hanging brackets of my old murray deck. I'm hoping I won't have to learn how to weld

[@57bagre]

I think I asked for $20 or $25 I don't remember. Thanks for watching.

[@jludtxs]

thanks, I'm taking it in tomorrow so I will know where to start

[@patrickclark8234]

Great Video , Thanks What was your tip speed?

[@57bagre]

Sorry, I don't remember, probably around 30

[@marekwieckowski7038]

Nice Job Sir.

[@patroll330]

Thanks for showing me some welding tips

[@57bagre]

Thanks for watching.

[@legalsolutions07]

That's a nice welder you have. It sounds a lot better than one from Harbor Freight.

[@57bagre]

Thanks. I'm thinking about getting a new one from Harbor since it's so easy to return if I don't like it. I have a H F store about 5 or 6 miles away and they have this new line of welders called Vulcan, I want to try the multi use stick, tig, and I think it even has wire feed and spool gun for about $900.00. I just don't have time right now to give it a good test to see if I want to keep it.

[@legalsolutions07]

I've heard good and bad regarding the Vulcan series, but I guess it offers a pretty good value even at $900, but I doubt the it will come close to your Miller.

[@charlesnewberry4899]

@@57bagre I bought a cheap one from harbor freight and it totally sucks!

[@57bagre]

@@charlesnewberry4899 If you can weld good in even bad conditions with other machines then I can value your opinion on the HF welder. I never tried one, I did buy a Lincoln 210 multi function machine with an aluminum spool gun for about $1700 and I love it, I only use the spool gun now because I have other machines already setup for other work but I can always carry this lightweight machine anywhere and plug in to 120v or 240v for a little more power. This little welder runs smooth as glass mig, flux core, stick or aluminum. Also can get a tig setup for it.

[@kartboarder22g17]

Thanks, I think I'll do just what you said at the end of the video. On the mower deck I inherited.

[@57bagre]

good luck!

[@martinoverington7534]

Nice ,, YOU just make it simple :)

[@57bagre]

Thanks for watching Martin.

[@campbellpaul]

Nice video ! I suppose they temper lawnmower decks, I never gave it much thought... I guess it would be flimsy otherwise... Nice work, btw

[@57bagre]

+alphamongrel I don't think they temper the deck but there is a natural temper from the original processing of the sheet metal and the stamping out the deck also adds a little hardness, when you heat an area slowly with a torch and let it cool slowly, it does not contract as much ( leaves it slightly bigger) and softer, electric welding adds temper to metal because it is super heated fast and the work around it sucks the heat out of the weld quickly and also shrinks the metal if you don't heat it up with a torch slightly while it is cooling ( a form of heat treating) Thanks for your comment.

[@campbellpaul]

+Gordon Robertson Have you found newer decks requiring a different treatment compared to older decks you have worked on? Maybe a different gauge?

[@57bagre]

+alphamongrel I don't do a lot of lawnmowers, when I do it's usually carburetors but I know newer and cheaper will be thinner material except the higher end models will be heavier. If you need to weld real thin metal you will need some experience to keep from blowing through, I welded this old deck about 1/2 " at a time to keep from blowing through, I had the heat turned up a bit more than I would have had it been fresh clean metal. some day I will set up the camera with an auto darkening hood and will do some demos.

[@campbellpaul]

Thanks !

[@davekana8388]

Stronger than before!

[@mmn-rp8pn]

Nice job!

[@michaelmixon2479]

Very good job!!!

[@robertelmo7736]

Where you at,I need one fixed lol!?

[@57bagre]

Drop it off, we'll fix it.

[@sumfunnow7800]

Nice fix👍👍👍

[@nelsonsantos770]

I'm going to weld a mower deck's wheel tomorrow .

[@denverlee19]

thanks, somebody had got to make these videos.

[@57bagre]

Thank you for watching.

[@doingitwithnothing]

Tks for the tips

[@Bnscholet911]

No water Gordon! That weld is brittle now it’s probably going to fracture under load

[@gabelanger]

Nice repair now ready to put back to work, most people would have scraped it .

[@57bagre]

That old deck has plenty of meat left to work with for doing repairs. Thanks for watching.

[@mexicojesusangel]

awesome job sir!!!!

[@57bagre]

Thank you Sir.

[@davidmannes3210]

when I welded my deck with my ground at one end of deck, I destroyed the bearings in all 3 spindles. how come you didn't and would keeping the ground close or should I remove the spindles?

[@57bagre]

You welded through the spindle bearings, you don't need to take them off, just don't have any bearings, bushings or other metal parts touching between your ground and your weld, make sure your ground is on the piece of metal you're welding, doesn't matter how close or far just so it is the only conductor between the 2 points, the current passes a straight line between the 2 points, adjacent bearings and such are not affected as long as they're not part of the circuit between the ground and the weld. Thanks for the question, I will do a video on exactly that, it's important for that to be understood.

[@factsforlife0O0]

Putting water on your weld only rust it it don't make it harder you were also going to fast with the mig gun your circles were to big and you were going fast you also made a key hole one part of the video

[@jamesnichols9753]

Thank you.

[@DRSouza-wz5fr]

great job

[@57bagre]

Thank you Sir.

[@marksmith849]

Perfect video for me. I suspect I will have to do something like this with my everlast in the not so distant future.

[@georgenettlesjr1466]

Harbor Freight sells hammers

[@JohnSmith-mv6bw]

You should buy a bowling ball to install windows.

[@ronaldwprovo5530]

Thank you

[@57bagre]

Thanks for watching.

[@DennisKenneybees]

Using a channel lock pliers as a hammer is not a good way to teach.

[@stanleykinzinger]

Splashes water on it, "dat 'L put some the hardness back in it" Lol wow

[@deniseandmarkfirestine7443]

Good repair, but should have drilled holes to prevent future cracking

[@57bagre]

Thanks for watching.

[@charlesnewberry4899]

I don't think he asked for your opinion. They are like assholes everybody has one.

[@southfromtexas2527]

That was fun

[@donald1056]

Need to get a Dremel tool and wire brush to clean that off - much easier and faster

[@charlesnewberry4899]

You need to make your own video. I don't think he asked for advice from anyone.

[@keithsims86]

That piece you weld when you handle to right side of the mower it lift the deck up and down.

[@jimmypopp2695]

OOOH AAAH welding porn is the best!!!

[@1970tattooman]

the torch made that metal brittle. shoulda just hammered it and welded it. I see you don't have much welding experience. I fix decks every day

[@charlesnewberry4899]

Who gives 2 shits what you do! If you want to talk shit to this guy why don't you just not watch his videos instead of being a smart ass!