Repairing fatigued plastic grill, MTD lawn tractor

[flagmanruss]

MTD lawn tractor…  fatigued plastic grill FAILED.  Sorry, should have taken before pictures with hood laying on the engine.  What was she thinking?  Result of brittle plastic, vibration...

Broken mount piece…  other side a bunch of shattered chips.

Where Left mount used to be...

 

Where Right mount used to be

There was nothing to support the grill...   

 

Repaired grill with STEEL plate bolted underneath.  Hopefully spread load enough that it'll stay together. 

 

[url=http://s122.photobucket.com/user/fleeting_cat/media/IMG_2638.jpg.html]

 

(Use enough bolts?)  Bolted it back on the tractor yesterday...  Had to go to Lowe's as Home Depot didn't have 3" wide steel...  couldn't find anything Suitable in my materials pile.   

Edited July 31, 2015 by flagmanruss

[Mopar1973Man]

LOL. My last lawn tractor was the same way. I just chucked the entire hood assembly and covered the engine once cool with a tarp.

[flagmanruss]

Wife has recieved a Sabre by John Deere from her brother...  just spent big bucks getting it fixed.  Had been sitting in the yard covered with a tarp...  mice had gotten in & ate wiring.   The Saber is big, 25hp & has a huge 54" deck...  mows fast...  but can't get into tight places which we have a few. 

 

We'd talked about letting daughter dearest have the MTD but has kids & I ripped out NO mow in reverse safety switch (because there was a few places in the yard where backing up slightly was required) & pulley guards which are almost completely under the running boards (because they were jamming with sticks & woods debris)...  all done years ago.   

Edited August 5, 2015 by flagmanruss

[flagmanruss]

I washed everything before reassembly.  Grill back in, hood on, can actually see the headlights (after washing the reflector). 

I spent some bucks to get better grade front tires installed on the wheels.  $39 ea + 10 to install.   I replaced the rear tires last fall. 

This MTD was a discount store model & one place they cheaped was the rubber.  We've been dicking around with leaky tires too long.   So one mower is back in operation.    

[flagmanruss]

Job done.  MTD with steel under the grill...  barely peeking out at corners.    (New front tires)

 

Edited August 7, 2015 by flagmanruss