Little problem with the C-3...

[Ben B]

Yep, if you ain't figured it out yet, that skid is supposed to be attached to the deck!

Any suggestions on how to fix this?

I was mowing away and it was doing its usual superb job when I looked down and noticed that the skid was GONE! I immediately stopped and looked and it was about 50 feet behind the tractor. I finished up the mowing job and it did just fine except for scalping the yard in a few places due to the missing skid.

[Bob McCarty]

Hopefully your best friend is a welder.

[Eugene]

Weld the skid back in place. Then take a piece of L steel and lay it on top of the vertical L, weld. Another piece of L and patch it in at the end of the horizontal L, weld. Basically you are reinforcing the welding in the broken off skid.

Edit. Looks like the right rear bolt holding the spindle is loose.

[Dale Finch]

The skid usually attaches to the deck with 2 nuts and bolts. Yours looks like they are loose, which might have allowed the skid to flop around, "worrying" the deck metal until it broke, especially if you hit something like a post. I use 2 nuts along with a lockwasher to keep it from loosening

It's hard to tell from the photo, but is the skid already welded to the piece of deck it ripped off? And finally, it does look like you have some loose spindle bolts...make sure they are nice and tight...you may have to add some large area (fender) washers to them.

[Ben B]

Thanks folks for the input and recommendations! Yep, the skid was welded in place, so those loose bolts on the skid weren't holding anything. Whomever previously owned it welded up every single adjustment on it...

The one bolt loose on the spindle is where I'm changing it. I have another one on the way from a forum member because that particular one has a broken shaft underneath and has been jury rigged back to somewhat of a working order. But, I can't complain. I got this mower for a bargain 6 or 7 years ago and haven't had to do much of anything to it, so it's definitely given me its money's worth!

If I happen to run across another decent C-3 mower I may just junk this one and use it for parts. The mule drive is in very good condition, but all three spindles are in need of a rebuild. I don't know if I can find just a deck, which would be all I need.