Hi waxdass,
You've most certainly turned an old lifeless unit into a machine that is simply screaming out for more lawn mowing, so well done as it looks fantastic.
I must admit that I most certainly am of the same opinion as DeeJay regarding that soleplate as when I look back at your early photos your reel damage matched up perfectly to that massive crack in the soleplate so it hit something really hard and would've made a big bang at the time. If you look closely at it the crack is about 3 quarters the way through the assembly and the integrity of the machine heavily relies on that sole plate staying absolutely rigid and not having the ability to flex. The other main issue is that that it is going through one of the set screw holes and making it even worse it is one of the end ones on which so much importance lays.
Personally I would keep my eye out for another and replace it asap because a failure will more than likely render the whole frame useless when it goes bang, and that it will, maybe not today but in the near future. Then sadly all your good efforts will have been in vain.
I do have one laying about and I recall DeeJay offering you one as well. Honestly I would seriously take up either of the two offers.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Cheers,
BB
Last edited by bonnar_bloke; 13/11/14 12:42 AM.
