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How to keep grass off top of deck?

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#21 ·
"When I hook the hose up to flush the deck (using the tap) I also hose the grass off the top of the deck and whatever pulleys I can reach. I hope that is ok?"

That's the worst thing you can do to a deck. The only thing water does to a deck is to promote rust. As for the under deck wash system I am not a fan either. Just blow the deck off and take the belt covers off and store them in the basement. Some older decks came with a rubber skirt around the entire front side of the deck and that would end the grass on top of the deck problem. You could probably make one and I guarantee it will work. Most of the grass is thrown out toward the front tires and then bounce off them onto the deck. It is the high-pressure air that escapes the deck forward that pushes the grass out and up. In fact, you could probably just use the rubber flap on the front left and right sides of the deck to accomplish the no grass problem. There is a small amount of grass that sticks to the tires and is flung off but that is not the huge amount you are talking about.
 
#22 ·
I wash those deck spindles...very good. I want the grit and grind and whatever else that can collect on the pulleys to be clean after I have mowed. The only thing that causes the spindles to be replaced are the bearings that goes bad. And that is probably all due to the dirt. After I do the wash job, I turn on the PTO and it blows any water from the PTO pulleys.
 
#23 ·
It may work for you but every hole in a powder coated deck is just waiting for its next drink of water to start the paint removal process. If these decks never saw water they would be fine. I figure if water will knock the dirt off then it wasn't a threat to the bearings anyway. I'm not saying you are wrong or that I'm right but air will do the same job without leaving its calling card. On the older decks the stamped deck is the most critical part of the deck since the spindles are readily available new. The deck stampings are not and water just excellerates the rust process.
 
#24 ·
My 777 Z-track with 7-iron blows copious amounts of clippings out the front that end up covering the deck and frame. My Sabre 2254hv does not. It has the anti-blowout shields on it. The shields seem to help greatly. Wish they made them for the 7-iron.....
 
#26 ·
burned300 said:
which deck? my 62c has plates in place underneath that's helps keep about 75% of the grass off top of deck.
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ractar28 said:
To be clear, we're talking about the top having grass piled up on it, not just a few blades here and there. It looks like a huge rodent's nest under there. I just thought there might be some sort of deflector.

I do blow it off after I mow. I guess my Swisher pull-behind and my push mowers all were just easier to clean off so I didn't pay any attention.

Thanks for the info.
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Depending on what deck you have,they make anti blowout kits for decks.I have one on my 345 54" deck and on the 62" deck on the X595.I get just about no grass on the deck.The pic is the 62" deck I thought I had a closer pic,but the plates are at the top.
 
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#27 ·
Agreed with other's points on the anti-blowout kit. When I take mine off to cut really overgrown grass, there's a constant breeze out the front of the deck that shoots clippings up while I drive forward. Put the ABK on and the issue disappears.
 
#28 ·
sbronemann said:
Two words=Front fenders(if you have an x7xx series). They help a lot. Love mine!
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My fenders do nothing to keep grass off the deck. They do keep it off me, though, as well as the water from going through wet areas.

Mow frequently and cut less off the blade, ands less will accumulate on top of the deck. That which does is easier to blow off. Anti blowout plates help, but aren't a complete cure. I have them on my 54C/X748, but still get a heavy accumulation of clippings on my deck. I find it happens more when I'm mowing heavier grass and cutting more off, such as when mowing my pasture or the field next door, both of which only get mowed once every several weeks or months. The lawn isn't nearly as bad because I mow more frequently and cut less off each time.

It may be partly due to deck design, too, as someone above said. I get very little accumulation on top of my 318's 50" deck, even if I mow taller grass than usual.
 
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#30 ·
OMG...I had no idea the wheels would throw ANY debris on the mowing deck. I've never seen my zero-turn wheels do it, it's either dry and the wheels just roll over everything, or it's moist and everything sticks to the wheel. The vast majority of debris is from grass and dirt blowing out the front of the deck and then being blown by the wind on top of the deck.

And if he actually did try to get a patent on these fenders (which would be utterly ridiculous), it will take him a ridiculous number of sales to break even on that cost...

And a set of fenders is likely going to be somewhere in the $100+ range, and it would take me $10 of materials to get me 99% of his "product" [mine wouldn't be powder-coated].
 
#31 ·
That wash out port is a horrible idea and very bad as others have said. I removed it and welded the deck to cover the hole. I am embarrassed
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with the welding, as this was with a $90 Horrible Freight flux core wire welder. I have since bought a MIG and the results are 1,000% better.
 
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#32 ·
The grass does build up bad on the JD 2305 62C deck but the X758 60" deck is worse. I just blow it off afterwards with a leaf blower and hit the screens and radiator too.
 
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#33 ·
I'm on my 4th tractor with mower decks. Never had one the didn't collect grass on top. I never leave the belt covers in place. Those collect debris and it can remain damp or wet and starts a rotting mess. The belt covers from the last 15 years, are all brand new, and are where they belong......in a box in the garage........ somewhere.

My routine after every cutting is to use the back pack blower and get rid of collected clippings from everywhere on the tractor, under the hood and from atop the trans, and blow out the engine tins too. Put the tractor away as clean as you can get it. My deck gets weekly greasing, monthly sharpening, and a good power wash at the end of the season and continues to perform like a champ.

Bottom line, if you cut grass, its going to get everywhere, including into the engine cooling tins, so don't forget to check those at least once a year to be sure they are clear and also that no mice have nested there.

Good luck, keep it clean and greased, and it will serve you many many years.
 
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#35 ·
The deck covers are there to help protect valuable body parts from direct contact from high speed moving parts, and from the things that might be thrown from contact with them. That is why Deere puts them in.

People take them off, because they can trap a LOT of grass, which will break down over time and holds lots of moisture. Some of the newer decks have covers that flip up for easy cleaning.

Here is an example of how not to take care of a deck
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These are from the deck of my recent purchase. The grass looked more like dirt at the bottom. Not sure how long it had been since the PO had cleaned under there.
 
#36 ·
But it is so cozy for the mice under those covers in the wintertime. Unfortunately, very few mice are housebroken so lots of corrosive juices build up too.
 
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