Lawnmower - fix or replace ?

[pubrunner]

Hi All,

I've a Honda Izy lawnmower which is about 10 years old. It is very reliable and has worked well, but the metal 'deck' which covers the blades has corroded right through - rather like in this

image that I found on the Internet, though not quite as bad.

I can either replace the deck which will cost about £100, or for similar money, I can buy a new electric mower. I'm not the best person at practical tasks - has anyone ever replaced the metal body on a Honda Izy ? If so, how difficult is it ?

Or I should just buy an electric mower ?

 

[Drago]

I wouldn't have thought it would be terribly difficult to disassemble and swap the components across. No harder than swapping out the frame on a bike.

Start soaking all the fasteners in Rost Off now so itnhas maximum time to work.

 

[pubrunner]

No harder than swapping out the frame on a bike.

I'm not very good with assembling bike frames . . . . . . .

 

[raleighnut]

I'm not very good with assembling bike frames . . . . . . .

View attachment 351420

Graham Obree would be proud of that bike.

 

[Beebo]

How big is your lawn, will electric be adequate if you are used to a petrol mower?

 

[pubrunner]

How big is your lawn, will electric be adequate if you are used to a petrol mower?

The lawn is about 30ft by 20ft.

 

[pubrunner]

[QUOTE 4793143, member: 9609"]

It pays to clean them properly at the end of the season and give them a lick of paint- this one is 30 years old.
View attachment 351421

[/QUOTE]

I can see now, I should have done that in the first place when i go it. If I get a replacement, I'll slosh some suitable paint on it.

 

[Beebo]

The lawn is about 30ft by 20ft.

Well in that case go electric, a petrol mover comes into its own on large areas.

 

[keithmac]

The engine will go forever so it would be a shame to scrap it just for a bit of corrosion.

A bit of mild steel plate and some rivets could be an option for repairing the tub depending on how far gone it is?.

 

[pubrunner]

T

. . . . . . . could be an option . . .

Not for me; my practical skills are such, that I'm not sure that I could manage even such a simple task.

 

[keithmac]

You need "the man down the road who fixes everything", used to be me for a fair few years!.

Shame you don't know anyone local with a mig welder, would be a £30/40 beer money job..

 

[helston90]

I would totally be tempted to patch it up, as mentioned above with a few options, some sheet metal and a pop rivet or 30
A good opportunity to learn some skills!

 

[pubrunner]

The first thing he'll probably do is tell you to get a cylinder mower...

This kind of thing . . . ?

 

[Drago]

My neighbour is something like 86 or 87, still does his with a push mower. His lawn does look fantastic.

 

[Globalti]

There's a huge amount of satisfaction to be had from repairing old equipment rather than chucking it away and buying new. And when you do rebuild it, you can paint the inside as pictured to add extra protection against damp grass cuttings. It will be a simple job, no special tools needed. Writing as a former owner of a Land Rover, rusted or stuck bolts can often by freed by giving them a sharp whack with a hammer, which breaks the chemical bond formed by the rust on the threads. Don't waste time spraying WD40 until you've got the bolt moving. Don't re-use old bolts; go and buy new ones and grease them with Copaslip before you rebuild the mower.