Bit late to the conversation regarding the cracking of masport bases, but the main reason is the engine, followed by the blade carrier. Have seen at least 20 of these now that have done it.
Masport cheaped out on the steel thickness and paired with the comparable roughness of flat head briggs saw a rapid cracking of decks in several main locations; the rear left and front right engine mounts, the rear left about 5cm infront of the wheel (where the side begins to curve around)
The decks issues are compounded by their propensity to lose the rear 'spreader bar'. This places undue stress on the rear end, causing further left rear arch cracking and eventually the metal behind the rear axle to give way; meaning the rear axle pulls out of the deck.
Seems more common with the quickcut, but in the last few month have seen more of the quadcut models doing it (which I think speedy's would have been) - maybe it has just taken longer for the inevitable to happen
Seems now the OHV briggs are on the decks they are less susceptible
Last edited by Tyler; 31/01/21 06:35 PM.
