I had a 42" lawn tractor from about 2005 until 2012 purchased from a Lowe's store. It was always breaking down usually weak construction and design. Only good thing was the old school Kohler engine in it.

Had mine since 2006, but I think it’s on its last leg.

Could you find another deck ?

I want to see a photo of this wore out mower! Sounds like a real lawn warrior!

My Honda has been like the energizer bunny so far. 7 years in.

I just snagged a new gas Honda mower at homey depot for the wife a couple weeks ago to replace the old 8 y.o. Honda...engine was still fine but the self-propel locked up and it wouldn't roll backwards.

This is what I use for the tough areas: Toro TurfMaster I got the Kawasaki engine. I sometimes wonder if the slightly larger Kohler option may have been better but the kid at the dealer swore by the Kawasaki. The mower is a beast and will flat drag you up a hill. I see they now offer one with the caster wheels on the front...highly recommend as it is a bit heavy. I am going to call my dealer and see if they have a retrofit kit to put them on mine.

I see the Turfmaster has a window/door to bypass the bag. I like that. Decades ago Toro was the name in walk-behind mowers !

Im guessing that was a Briggs and Stratton problem.

I bought a push mower 15 years ago from walmart, came home, it didnt start, took it back, paid a little more for a different mower. Brought the new mower home, it didnt last through the first mow, took it back. Both of those engines were Briggs and Stratton, and I swore I'd never own another one. I got a Yardman with the Honda engine next and still use it to this day. Starts on the first pull.

I did need to get a riding mower this year. Found a deal on a Husqvarna I couldnt pass up. But its got the B&S engine, so we'll see how that goes...

Yep, I was shocked when i perused the mowers at Home Depot a year or two ago. 5 or 6 electric models and one gas.

I’ll take a picture when I get home from Encinal.
If you don’t live on the coast it’s hard to understand how stuff just rusts out in front of you.

And the gasser was probably some sloppy piece of junk with a [censored] engine on it.

I can imagine, look around for a Honda with the aluminum deck, that might help extend your next mowers life.

You should buy a lightly used Honda or Toro gas mower off Facebook Marketplace a little further inland like Victoria where the salt is not in the air. Nothing lasts forever on the Texas Coast. The Salt eats metal and the Sun beats down plastic. Buy used and run it into the ground and then buy another used.

Maybe I can just JB weld it back together? I dunno, might be a gonner.

Someone got theirs money worth...

Flex Seal will fix that