In regard to welding "some supports" to get it through the season. If you have a good welding shop or machine shop in your area, it can be welded to last for as long as you care to keep the machine. What always causes concern for me in "weld repairing" something of this nature is in getting the damaged spindle back into the correct alignment, plane, and height. If the spindle mounting platten is not exactly level at all points of the compass, and is not at the same height as the other 2 spindles, you WILL have a profound difference in the height of the cut and it will stick out like a sore thumb. A good welding shop or machine shop will be able to address these issues, provided you voice your concern ahead of time. If you do decide to go the welding route, at least clean the deck thoroughly top and bottom with a good pressure washing job before you take it to someone for evaluation/estimates. And don't just clean a little spot around where you think they would weld, clean the entire deck, top and bottom. They need all the clean surfaces for alignment references. And don't use the word "supports". Say........."reinforcement". You also need to determine if the spindle shaft or quill is bent before you set out to get the deck welded. There must be a good, undamaged spindle to use for alignment at that position of the deck.

Are you sure that the broken part is not the spindle
and not the deck? That is more than likely what happened.
Spindle/shaft and blade is @$40-$50.

Fish

Good point fish made! That possibility escaped me. Maybe that's why you chose the word "supports". Could you possibly post a photo to get us all to the same page in the hymnal? If not, can you try to describe it this way....could the part that is "broken in a circular type pattern" be removed from the deck by taking off the blade and removing some bolts? If you removed the complete spindle assembly from the deck, would the broken section still be on the deck? You might have to give it that pressure washing even before you can determine precisely "what is broken". Keep posting data please.

I'm taking it to the local hardware store tomorrow. I'd take a picture but I've already has to change the oil and replace the air filter because, out of ignorance, I tipped it on its side to look underneath to see what was wrong. If I've got the time, i'll take a picture tomorrow when they have it on the lift. I'll f/u to report what goes on. Thanks, Greg

Well, it was a pretty small fix. It was not the deck. It was what they call the spindle housing. Parts, labor, everything ran just under $72. Now I've got to find the air filter I ruined by tipping it over to see what the problem was. It should be mowing by this afternoon. Thanks, Greg

And let's be reading the story of oklahomagreg digging up the offending stump by the roots too (or at least chopping the surface a little lower into the ground). :^)

How about Mrs. Oklahomagreg digging up the stump....HIGHLY UNLIKELY. Yep, thats the next step, do something, burn it out, chop it down a little further, something to prevent it from happening again. We just got done mowing and the mower seems to be running well. We also picked up a new air filter this morning so we could have it prior to mowing. Hope its the last fix for a while. Thanks, Greg

Good finish Greg!

Oh, and I noticed above that you're worried about tipping it over. I've had mine since new and it's been on its side 100 times and the worst I've had is some fuel burnoff on startup, she still runs like a monster.