I have a Yardman mower with a Honda motor bought new about 14 years ago. The motor is awesome, always starts on one pull still doesn't use any oil. The deck is a cheap piece of shit, it has been rusting out for years, I just covered up the holes with duct tape to get me by. This summer it has bee n shaking around more than ever so I knew the end was near. After about 200 ft of mowing today the last pieces of rusty metal gave out, the blade hit the ground and that's all she wrote. After I peeled a dozen layers of duct tape the pics are what I found. So do I buy a new mower (I won't ask about electrics), look for a good deck because the Honda motor is still good or try baling wire?

Damn..... Your deck is missing!

Duct tape is very useful, but doesn't fix everything. It wasn't duct tape - I think it was some sort of electrical tape - but I once got a car in to charge the A/C and there was a hole in a condenser tube that had tape wrapped around it. A condenser is under some 75-100 psi even with the A/C not engaged; with the system running, 150-250. I refused it. Had I not spotted it, it would have blown out, which is wasteful of expensive refrigerant and dangerous if my face had been near it. Another time somebody tried it on a rusted-through steel brake line. Nope, didn't work on that either.

Possible to get a replacement deck?

ok...maybe not duct tape but some sheet metal and rivets should fix it just fine

Damn. That setup is ready for liftoff.

Time to treat yourself to a new one. I’d keep the engine though.

Get a Honda mower. The xenon deck lasts as long as the motor.

Ummm.... looks like you got your moneys worth out of it!

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:
Get a Honda mower. The xenon deck lasts as long as the motor.

Bought this earlier this year
https://powerequipment.honda.c...ers/models/hrx217hya

A little Bondo and you should be fine

JB Weld & good to go

Ask PASig:

Finally Bought A New Mower, Winner: Honda HRX217
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...940054074#8940054074

Find the lawn mower repair guy in your area. He will, undoubtedly, have a dozen or more mowers in his junk pile that are like new but with blown engines, offer him $10 for the best one. For a few $ more, he will swap engines for you. Do check the bolt patterns, they are not universal. A local commercial landscaper could be a good resource as well, but his "parts" will be in much worse shape.

I haven't seen anything like that since my Dad bought a new 1977 Chevy Cheyenne in MI, rusted out in less than two years.

Get yourself a shiny new mower and sell that engine

I like my toes, so no way I’d use that. Considering what’s at stake if something goes wrong, I recommend just getting a new mower.

They aren’t that expensive. Are you emotionally attached to the motor or something?

quote:

Originally posted by ThankGod4Sig:
Bought this earlier this year
https://powerequipment.honda.c...ers/models/hrx217hya

I've been trying to buy one of those HRX217HYAs. They're sold out or backordered everywhere.

Lots of places have the HRX217VYA (identical except with the old style "select drive" transmission) but the hydrostatic transmission version like yours is currently unobtanium.

I wonder if there's some sort of supply chain/production issue for the hydrostatic models.

If they're not back in stock by the end of the month, I'm just going to have to settle for a VYA model.

quote:

Originally posted by architect:
Find the lawn mower repair guy in your area. He will, undoubtedly, have a dozen or more mowers in his junk pile that are like new but with blown engines, offer him $10 for the best one. For a few $ more, he will swap engines for you. Do check the bolt patterns, they are not universal. A local commercial landscaper could be a good resource as well, but his "parts" will be in much worse shape.

And then hose off the underside of the mower deck before you put the mower away. Every time would be best, but I suppose it can be done every third or fourth time, just don’t let the cut, packed grass to stay under there for a long time.

quote:

Originally posted by esdunbar:
I like my toes, so no way I’d use that. Considering what’s at stake if something goes wrong, I recommend just getting a new mower.

They aren’t that expensive. Are you emotionally attached to the motor or something?

You can love your mower, just don't *love* your mower.

Old license plates and pop rivets should work. Then a few bumper stickers for flair. Red Green would approve.

Thanks to every one concerned. A different deck was the the best choice. I found a good deck with the same 3 bolt Honda pattern for $20 so I went for it. I had to do some modifications on the handles and drill a few new holes, but here is my new push mower.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: hberttmank,