How do you clean your mower?

[mechanicx]

The mower is a 3-year old self-propelled walk-behind. So there's lots of plastic on B&S engine with a lot of grimy dust and grass particles coating the engine. As it is, I'm afraid opening the fuel or oil cap will allow particles to fall in.

I could clean it with compressed air and paper or cloth towels but that doesn't seem like it'd be sufficient. So what, run a water hose over it, pour a bucket of soapy water over it or a bucket of soapy water and wipe down engine with a sponge or cloth? Penetrating oil seems a little harsh for all the plastic.

I don't know about running water over it as it might somehow get into the carb and engine and cause rust somewhere. It's not like the mower has much electrics to get soaked though. What's the best way to clean the mower? Am I complicating something simple too much lol?

 

[cpayne5]

I use compressed air to blow off anything that will, and then I use LA's Totally Awesome (non toxic and can be found at your local dollar store type place). Spray it on, let it soak for a few minutes, then spray it off. It works very well.

 

[bepperb]

Spray with hose when it isn't running. Start it up for 30 seconds to burn the water off. Done. Take a peek at the 30 dollar mowers on craigslist... the last thing to go will be the engine even with minimal maintenance.

 

[mechanicx]

So after compressed air you are basically using a multipurpose cleaner in a spray bottle to cut the grime off? That sounds like a good idea. When you say spray off the cleaner do you mean with a water hose or compressed air?

 

[itguy08]

After mowing I hit them with the blower when I'm finished to get the surface dirt and grass off.

Once a year or so, I liberally spray Simple Green (Biodegradable and non toxic) full strength or diluted, whatever I have available to it when cold (before mowing), let sit while I get the hose ready and hose off. Then maybe tilt it and get the gunk off the bottom with the hose (or pressure washer). I've used Dawn in a pinch too.

Let bake in the sun for a little bit and cut away.

I do the same for the weed whacker and blower.

 

[mechanicx]

Originally Posted By: bepperb
Spray with hose when it isn't running. Start it up for 30 seconds to burn the water off. Done. Take a peek at the 30 dollar mowers on craigslist... the last thing to go will be the engine even with minimal maintenance.


Yeah I could probably just spray it down with a hose maybe use soapy water first and after drying all the the water won't hurt anything.

 

[cpayne5]

Originally Posted By: mechanicx
So after compressed air you are basically using a multipurpose cleaner in a spray bottle to cut the grime off? That sounds like a good idea. When you say spray off the cleaner do you mean with a water hose or compressed air?


Yes, water. Sorry.

 

[mechanicx]

It's the motorcycle that I really hate washing. Seems like I have to relube and grease stuff, plus there's little places here and there that can slightly rust that I'm not going to paint

.

I never use to wash my mowers but this mulching mower and maybe the way the plastic on the engine collects a lot of grime.

 

[GreeCguy]

I blow mine clean with the leaf blower - that way you not only clean the mower, but you can clean the mess off the driveway as well.

 

[Donald]

Well there is cosmetics and function.

For function, you want all the engine fins clean of grass or mice nests since its air cooled. You want the carb linkage free from the same. In some mowers its hiding behind the air filter housing. Compressed air would seem the best there.

Under the mower deck. Hose or pressure wash the grass off and maybe spray with a grass non stick spray.

 

[Rock_Hudstone]

I wash my Craftsman 42'' tractor top to bottom whenever I can. Try not to spray directly into the flywheel area and carb.

For heavy oil grime use a simple engine degreaser and then hose off.

 

[Donald]

You have not lived until you have cleaned heavy equipment where the engine bay has hydraulic oil and dirt mixed on the bottom and you can scoop it out by the handful.

 

[Errtt]

Simple green & purple power, then pressure washer. No labels left, but it got clean.

 

[fdcg27]

You clean your mower?
Mine date from 1994 and 1996.
Other than pulling loose grass and brush from them, I've never cleaned them.

 

[mechanicx]

I never cleaned my mowers before either. But they didn't get so dusty as this one. I sprayed it down good with compressed air so that the dusty grime remaining isn't loose and won't fall down the oil and gas fill. That's the main thing I'm trying to prevent.

 

[TFB1]

I may clean the upper part of the deck and/or engine every few years(usually with air pressure), but never clean the grass from the underside... Once there is a good buildup and it's dried, almost no new grass sticks, yet to see even a 30+ year old Snapper rust out... I did wear one to the point it had pin holes where the blade thrusts the grass onto the deck, but nothing sticks in that area... Our sandy soil likely has a large part to play there as well...

 

[mechanicx]

I think I just realized why this mower gets so dusty and I didn't have to clean previous mowers. This mower is a rear-bagger and the rear flap is not a perfect seal. I never bag and wish it didn't have that set up.