How do you guys clean your tractor mower deck?
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I remove the deck from the tractor. On my tractor, it's super easy, requires no tools, and takes less than a minute to drop the deck.
If you mow the lawn when the grass is dry you only have to clean under there once a year, maybe less. That's my solution.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
Bwaahaha!!! That's beautiful. No hazards what so ever
. I try to mow/mulch over leaves at the end of the season. That will 'sand blast' the underside of the deck completely clean. Other than that, I can r/r the deck on my Cub 2544 in a matter of minutes w/out tools.
Joel
Joel
Originally Posted By: JTK
I try to mow/mulch over leaves at the end of the season. That will 'sand blast' the underside of the deck completely clean. Other than that, I can r/r the deck on my Cub 2544 in a matter of minutes w/out tools.
Joel
That probably works well in your neck of the woods.
The pic shows a very light dusting of grass clinging to the mower deck. In August (hot and humid with lots of rain) the blades dig a little trench around the mass of impacted grass stuck to the bottom of the deck. Very little grass exits the chute and large clumps of grass are left under the mower.
I already mow every 4-5 days in the summer to reduce underdeck buildup but it is still a problem and since I have over an acre with lots of trees and other obstacles it takes about 2.5 hours to mow.
I try to mow/mulch over leaves at the end of the season. That will 'sand blast' the underside of the deck completely clean. Other than that, I can r/r the deck on my Cub 2544 in a matter of minutes w/out tools.
Joel
That probably works well in your neck of the woods.
The pic shows a very light dusting of grass clinging to the mower deck. In August (hot and humid with lots of rain) the blades dig a little trench around the mass of impacted grass stuck to the bottom of the deck. Very little grass exits the chute and large clumps of grass are left under the mower.
I already mow every 4-5 days in the summer to reduce underdeck buildup but it is still a problem and since I have over an acre with lots of trees and other obstacles it takes about 2.5 hours to mow.
Yeah, my deck stays pretty clean as well from the leaf sand blasting it gets.
An old timer at my JD dealer says to never use water on the deck. He told me he uses a paint scraper and a screwdriver to scrape the big stuff off, then hits it with the air gun to get the dust off. He says if you do use water to clean the deck, be sure to run it for a long, long time to dry out all the pulleys and such. Every rusted out deck they see, he says the owner used water to clean it.
On a side not, did anyone see those neat new lawnmower ramps that Blitz has out? They look pretty handy for getting under the deck without an R&R.
An old timer at my JD dealer says to never use water on the deck. He told me he uses a paint scraper and a screwdriver to scrape the big stuff off, then hits it with the air gun to get the dust off. He says if you do use water to clean the deck, be sure to run it for a long, long time to dry out all the pulleys and such. Every rusted out deck they see, he says the owner used water to clean it.
On a side not, did anyone see those neat new lawnmower ramps that Blitz has out? They look pretty handy for getting under the deck without an R&R.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
Originally Posted By: bigdreama
That probably works well in your neck of the woods.
Ah! true. Not too much by way of dry leaf ground cover down there in sunny FL. Even as easy as it is to r/r my Cub's deck, I mostly give it a reach-under with an over sized paint stir stick or what ever pc of wood I have on hand, then blow the whole thing off w/ my leaf blower. I do this after each weekly mowing.
Joel
That probably works well in your neck of the woods.
Ah! true. Not too much by way of dry leaf ground cover down there in sunny FL. Even as easy as it is to r/r my Cub's deck, I mostly give it a reach-under with an over sized paint stir stick or what ever pc of wood I have on hand, then blow the whole thing off w/ my leaf blower. I do this after each weekly mowing.
Joel
Originally Posted By: JTK
Originally Posted By: bigdreama
That probably works well in your neck of the woods.
I mostly give it a reach-under with an over sized paint stir stick or what ever pc of wood I have on hand
Joel
Yeah, we are really talking about two different climates. What works for you doesn't really apply to the issues I have.
Maybe I should just move to Buffalo!
Originally Posted By: bigdreama
That probably works well in your neck of the woods.
I mostly give it a reach-under with an over sized paint stir stick or what ever pc of wood I have on hand
Joel
Yeah, we are really talking about two different climates. What works for you doesn't really apply to the issues I have.
Maybe I should just move to Buffalo!
My mower came with a feature that you can just attatch a hose to the deck and trun the water on. It cleans the whole deck.
Never use water to clean the deck? Come on! I don't believe that for a second. They come with water hose attachments for that purpose.
My mower deck doesn't have a hose attachment. I drop the deck, turn it upside down and put a 2800 psi gasoline powered pressure washer to it. Comes out as clean as it can get. Been doing it for eight years, deck isn't showing any sign of rusting yet.
My mower deck doesn't have a hose attachment. I drop the deck, turn it upside down and put a 2800 psi gasoline powered pressure washer to it. Comes out as clean as it can get. Been doing it for eight years, deck isn't showing any sign of rusting yet.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
My Cub 2544 came with the "deck wash" hose attachment system as well. What a useless feature this is. It creates more of a mess than what you started with. Using water is more an issue with the blade spindles/idlers/tensioners than anything. You WILL wind-up with water in there no matter how careful you are with a hose.
Joel
Joel
Originally Posted By: JTK
My Cub 2544 came with the "deck wash" hose attachment system as well. What a useless feature this is. It creates more of a mess than what you started with. Using water is more an issue with the blade spindles/idlers/tensioners than anything. You WILL wind-up with water in there no matter how careful you are with a hose.
Joel
And if you cut wet grass, you'll get water in the same places. So what if it does? I've been using the pressure washer for eight years. No problems.
My Cub 2544 came with the "deck wash" hose attachment system as well. What a useless feature this is. It creates more of a mess than what you started with. Using water is more an issue with the blade spindles/idlers/tensioners than anything. You WILL wind-up with water in there no matter how careful you are with a hose.
Joel
And if you cut wet grass, you'll get water in the same places. So what if it does? I've been using the pressure washer for eight years. No problems.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
Originally Posted By: boraticus
And if you cut wet grass, you'll get water in the same places.
Not from what I've seen. It's the water that gets (or is applied) to the top of the deck that causes problems. The "deck wash" system on my Cub blows water up through vent holes and blank punch-outs on the deck. Long story short, I get standing water on top of the deck in the process.
And if you cut wet grass, you'll get water in the same places.
Not from what I've seen. It's the water that gets (or is applied) to the top of the deck that causes problems. The "deck wash" system on my Cub blows water up through vent holes and blank punch-outs on the deck. Long story short, I get standing water on top of the deck in the process.
On a serious note... Several snapper models are made to do that. Their rear engine riding mowers have bars on the back to stand on. And their tillers have bars on the front to stand on.
But - on their tillers, the carb float sticks open when they're up like that. If the fuel tank is over 1/2 full, fuel runs into the cylinder, rinses off the rings, and mixes with the oil. Dad used to have an equipment rental yard, and had several of the snappers. They were great, until they got propped up on end with a full tank. Then it was time for a new engine.
If I was you, I'd check the fuel system and oil over carefully after that little trick.
But - on their tillers, the carb float sticks open when they're up like that. If the fuel tank is over 1/2 full, fuel runs into the cylinder, rinses off the rings, and mixes with the oil. Dad used to have an equipment rental yard, and had several of the snappers. They were great, until they got propped up on end with a full tank. Then it was time for a new engine.
If I was you, I'd check the fuel system and oil over carefully after that little trick.
I scrape mine with a paint scraper. If you buy a cheap set of automotive ramps you can drive right up on them and scrape off any build up. I try not to use water either as any grass that you don't remove will soak the water up like a sponge.
When I put my mower away for winter, I scrape the deck good and spray the whole under side with WD-40, this protects the metal from moisture and corrosion.
When I put my mower away for winter, I scrape the deck good and spray the whole under side with WD-40, this protects the metal from moisture and corrosion.
Cutting grass when dry is more ideal, all you need to do is blow it off.
Worst thing is leaving wet grass to build up and not not cleaning it after each use. You need water to clean it out when grass is wet.
A pressure washer is ideal as you're using less water and does a better job of cleaning. Use eye protection when using a pressure washer.
Worst thing is leaving wet grass to build up and not not cleaning it after each use. You need water to clean it out when grass is wet.
A pressure washer is ideal as you're using less water and does a better job of cleaning. Use eye protection when using a pressure washer.
cronk: "I scrape mine with a paint scraper. If you buy a cheap set of automotive ramps you can drive right up on them and scrape off any build up.
I did this with Dad's Honda ... 'cept the ramps were 2x6s and cinder blocks.
I did this for a few minutes each time I mowed ... could get about 80% of the accumulated grass this way. I pulled the deck off a few times while I took care of this mower ... but it is a significant job and usually unnecessary. You have to be pretty anal about accumulation to do this as you can get most by reaching underneath.
Hint: mow in the afternoon or evening ... around 2:00pm - 6:00pm when the grass is driest.
I did this with Dad's Honda ... 'cept the ramps were 2x6s and cinder blocks.
I did this for a few minutes each time I mowed ... could get about 80% of the accumulated grass this way. I pulled the deck off a few times while I took care of this mower ... but it is a significant job and usually unnecessary. You have to be pretty anal about accumulation to do this as you can get most by reaching underneath.
Hint: mow in the afternoon or evening ... around 2:00pm - 6:00pm when the grass is driest.
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