Cleaning Underdeck

[Hokiefyd]

Hey guys -- the owner's manual for my Craftsman mower advises to periodically clean under the deck with a scraper to keep the grass buildup down. I would assume this is going to damage the paint or coating on the bottom of my stamped-steel deck, and eventually start a corrosion process. Even if using a plastic scraper, I can just see that underdeck getting damaged or compromised. Any folks out there paint or even "undercoat" the bottom of their decks?

Thanks

 

[Neil Womack]

I've tried several things to keep the grass from sticking to my mower deck.

Spray on graphite seems to keep the grass from building up in big clumps. But the grass still stuck some. You can find this stuff at your local tractor dealer or farm supply.

A product called Fluid Film does not stop the grass from sticking but allows the grass to be washed right off with a hose. Plus it protects any bare metal from rust. I get my Fluid Film from the local John Deere dealer.

Maybe silicon spray would also work.

 

[Hokiefyd]

quote:

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A product called Fluid Film does not stop the grass from sticking but allows the grass to be washed right off with a hose. Plus it protects any bare metal from rust. I get my Fluid Film from the local John Deere dealer.

---

Thanks Neil! I've noticed that products like PB Blaster tend to stop corrosion...think that Fluid Film is similar to that? I'll see if I can find a JD dealer around here (actually, HD sells JD) and see if they have that.

 

[D Stewart]

I cleaned the base of my mower this winter and coated it with truck bed liner (Rhyno-hide). I think it will do the job for me, but will keep you posted as the season commences.

 

[65hoss]

One main reason why you don't want the grass to stay under there long term is due to rusting. Grass stuck to the deck will rust the decks pretty bad.

 

[JTK]

You'll loose a little bit of paint with every mowing- just due to grass & dirt abrasion under there. Like 65hoss says, keep those nasty damp clumps scraped off & your deck will last a LONG time, even with little/no paint underneath. The newer craftsman/AYP decks are pretty hardy.
G/luck
Joel

 

[MikeR]

That's some hardy grass if you have to use a scraper to clean it off.

My grass is freshly sodded over a nice hard bed of clay (

), so I really don't end up mowing wet grass. The stuff just doesn't retain moisture that well. When I'm finished with the lawn, I clean the grass out of the mower with my hands and the leaf blower. I wash the mower with the hose after every 3rd or 4th mowing.

Wash the bottom of the deck really well and hit it with some rattle can paint once or twice a season and you should be fine.

MR

 

[White 03]

Anyone bought a deck for a 10 or 15 year old Toro mower?

Do they even sell decks or must I buy a new mower?

The engine on my old push mower seems fine and I would hate to have to get rid of it but the deck is failing fast.

[ July 07, 2004, 12:38 AM: Message edited by: White 03 ]

 

[Bror Jace]

That's the problem with taking good care of your motor ... you know that in most cases the deck will fail first.

Gotta check with a Toro distributor ... either locally or on-line ... for the availability of a new deck.

--- Bror Jace

 

[NThomas]

you should be able to get a new deck. But it may not be worth it! I will guess $200, but would need a model # to give you an exact price!

 

[White 03]

It is a 20217 model Toro with serial number 1020235.

How would the deck price compare to a new mower?

Also can you tell what year I purchased it?

It has been a good mower; meaning it starts when I want it to!

Thanks if you can help.

Of course thanks either way.

 

[shortyb]

Don't really have any of those problems since I have a Honda Harmony with the Xenoy (resin) deck. Spray periodically with silicon and the excess grass won't stick. Plus it takes a ton of abuse with nary a whimper. Glad Honda decided to continue offering this deck, there was talk some time ago about discontinuing it.

Anyway, you shouldn't have to worry too much about corrosion. It seems that everytime you mow it "polishes" (for lack of a better word) the underside. Just try to avoid cutting the grass when its really wet and scrape what you can from the underside with a plastic putty knife. Clean it real good and spray some protectant on it before winter storage though, and you should be good to go. Several folks I know do this with their steel decks and they last for years.

 

[darrenc]

The Xenoy deck is really amazing. I've hit rocks, metal sprinklers, wood, etc. and my deck is still like new after three seasons. I'm impressed.

 

[cs916]

White 03-
Here is a link you might like.


https://lookup2.toro.com/partdex/index.cfm?xCaller=Toro

Just type in your model number.

 

[White 03]

Thanks,
Looks like they still make it. I checked with the local dealer where I bought it and he said about $280 and maybe a little shipping and my labor. It is the cast kind of deck.

He will sell me a new cheap one for $299 or $499 for about the same one I have new. And it looks like this one was new in 1991.

I will probably get through this summer with so I have some time to think about it.

 

[rg144]

quote:

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Originally posted by Jason Adcock:
... Any folks out there paint or even "undercoat" the bottom of their decks?

---

When I bought my 4 stroke mower I used undercoating around the wheels where they mount to the deck. That's where I've seen decks go bad.

As far as scraping, it's only an issue if you cut your lawn when wet and the mulched clippings cling under the deck. If cut dry, I never see much accumulate, so just an end-of-season power wash and touch up paint on any exposed metal of the deck, top or bottom, is all that's needed.

My 2nd push mower is a Lawn Boy with aluminum deck

It gets all the abuse - it's treated like a brush hog. Still runs great, but it's noisier and has the smell of 2-stroke fumes.

 

[SSLoneStar]

I generally just hose the deck with a sprayer after its cooled for 30 min and its none the less for wear.The mower is a 10+ year old Murry and the thing looks and runs like day one.
Seen M1 40w and 91oct since new and only had the oil changed 4 times.FWIW it mows 1/2 acre of St. Aug. every week from March to November.

Not bad fer a buck fifty mower `eh ?? LOL!!

 

[seotaji]

you use 91 octane in a lawnmower?

 

[Matt_S]

Yeah, 91 seems like a waste, doesn't it. The owners manual for my B&S specifies 77 octane (no typo) or higher, which should be true for any flat head design. I don't imagine the higher octane would really hurt it, though. If you're filling up the car with 91 anyway, why not make the fillup simpler and use the same on the mower.