42”RD crack repair

[Pullstart 66,651]

I listed this good n straight 42” deck for sale on the Big Show buy/sell/trade thread and received no bites.  It did have some cracks, so I decided to clean it up a bit today.  I found a new set of blades on a beat up old deck, and gave them a little touch up on the belt sander.  After popping them on, I busted out an 1/8” drill bit and a drill and popped some holes in the end of the cracks.

 

 

[Pullstart 66,651]

I busted out the flap wheel on the 4-1/2” disc grinder, and cleaned the areas.  Lo and behold, I found longer cracks.  More holes drilled fixed them from spreading!

 

 

[Pullstart 66,651]

I beat on the areas. Bit with my ball peen hammer, and got it as flat as reasonably possible.  I welded up the cracks, then ground the beads smooth again.

 

 

[Pullstart 66,651]

Knowing the area was prone to more cracks, I decided to add some support.  I free hand cut some 1/8” plate, drilled a hole in the center of each one, and bolted it down.  I then burned ‘em in!  A little marine paint because the was the first not-clogged nozzle I found, and it’s ready to flip, grease and mount!

 

 

[Pullstart 66,651]

Unfortunately, the stirrups on my new “1445” hit the deck hanger arms.  I’ll have to swap the front deck carrier onto that machine, and put this deck on the B-121!

 

 

[Brockport Bill 1,933]

nice rescue --- great to see these decks saved !!! I harvested a 42 rd reinforcement plate from another damaged 42 and then transferred to a better shell i did a more complete rehab on

[Achto 29,383]

59 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

Unfortunately, the stirrups on my new “1445” hit the deck hanger arms.  I’ll have to swap the front deck carrier onto that machine, and put this deck on the B-121!

 

Or turn your stirrups so they are flat.

 

[Pullstart 66,651]

I don’t have a ton of experience with  decks, but that would make sense to have @Brockport Bill!

[Brockport Bill 1,933]

apparently some 42 rd's had the underneath plate and others did not ? Maybe someone else knows if wh added them in later years -- but for me, i had a damaged deck i was scrapping so i just transferred the plate from it to the deck i was rehabbing -- it would seem to make sense if people have a 42 rd without the reinforcement plate to get a piece of steel plate and drill the necessary holes in it and install as a preventative strategy to avoid future cracks from stress on the shells where the lift carriage assembly bolts come through??

 

It's a shame these decks have the same weakness flaws with common problems.

[ri702bill 9,358]

1 hour ago, Achto said:

Or turn your stirrups so they are flat.

That's asking for trouble... Kevin's Flippity-Flops could skid off !! 

[Horse Newbie 7,395]

2 hours ago, ri702bill said:

That's asking for trouble... Kevin's Flippity-Flops could skid off !! 

Especially if he rears up in the saddle….

[Pullstart 66,651]

Bout time you guys understood my real world problems!

[lynnmor 7,802]

3 hours ago, Brockport Bill said:

apparently some 42 rd's had the underneath plate and others did not ? Maybe someone else knows if wh added them in later years -- but for me, i had a damaged deck i was scrapping so i just transferred the plate from it to the deck i was rehabbing -- it would seem to make sense if people have a 42 rd without the reinforcement plate to get a piece of steel plate and drill the necessary holes in it and install as a preventative strategy to avoid future cracks from stress on the shells where the lift carriage assembly bolts come through??

 

It's a shame these decks have the same weakness flaws with common problems.

I bought a new 42" RD in 1991 and it has the plate.  There are a number of variations of the 42" RD; Recycler, some have baffles, some are completely open.  Some have a heavy round bar around the bottom and others have little reinforcement of the bottom edge.