Greetings
I have a Toro MTD mower with the 21 inch cut. One lever to adjust the height of all four wheels. Really good when you don't have a flat (let alone level) yard. Price was right - friend found it on a job site. Replace the cables and it works. Starts easily if I use the alcohol free gasoline.
But - deck rot. As in, there is a hole rusted through the deck where clippings shoot out. Kind of 'neat' when the grass is dry, but no big either way. But, underneath, well, let us just say that I can dig a lot of grass out from where it should not be, as something has rotted out, and rather than direct the grass to the rear exhaust port, it is packing into this "space" I've been on the MTD website and part 16997 - "21 deck ass'y" is no longer available. "Waddaya mean, it's a 1991! Why aren't they stocking the deck assembly?" [Because it is a 1991 model, and they want you to replace the whole mower.]
Which leaves us with the repair option. The problem is, I am not a welder. Which means, I dunno - mill one out of a block of something? Bang and shape some sheet metal to fit, then rivet, fasten with screws/rivets/JB Weld/Gorilla Glue?
Or bit the bullet and start hitting the garage sales?
-- pyotr filipivich. Discussing the decline in the US's tech edge, James Niccol once wrote "It used to be that the USA was pretty good at producing stuff teenaged boys could lose a finger or two playing with."