(ET) My deck fell apart. Drat.

[Christopher Zach <cz alembic crystel com>]

Well, it's fall; deck season. This time I had an unusual one: While 
mowing backwards I noticed that the rear bar for the rollers had fallen 
out of the two side brackets.

Fortunately I didn't run over any of my rollers, but it leaves a 
question: What is supposed to keep that bar in the brackets? Rust? Weld 
that finally broke? End plugs?

Also it looks like the back of my deck is starting to rust through. 
Great; any suggestions for that? I could try my welding skills but how 
can one clean up that metal to take a weld?

Chris