Mower Deck Cleaning

1387 Views 6 Replies 5 Participants Last post by KATT, Aug 4, 2013

winchester

Discussion Starter · Aug 4, 2013

I decided to pull the deck off of my x748 tonight to try out my mower axle deck stands and to clean the underside of my deck. After I had it standing upright I noticed that the previous owner didn't believe in cleaning the underside of the deck. I've mowed 2 or 3 times with it (reseeded most of my yard, plus it hasn't rained much this summer), so I'm pretty sure all the caked up grass wasn't from me. I took a 3 inch putty knife and started scraping away. In some places I got to where I could see some yellow paint, other areas had a little surface rust (at least I hope its only surface rust), and some areas no matter how much I scraped I couldn't see any paint or rust. It was just the blackish greenish color that I couldn't get through even using the corner of my putty knife.

Anyone have any suggestions on something I could use to get down to the paint on the underside of the deck so I can spray some Rustoleum and repaint. I've got a pressure washer, but I've read that you shouldn't use them on decks due to water getting in the spindles or bearings. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks
J

See less See more

Save

1 - 7 of 7 Posts

blackfoot1

· #2 · Aug 4, 2013

Relax!!
Your deck spindles have grease fittings. Grease the spindles, pressure wash the deck, let it dry.
Prep and paint the deck. After installing the deck, grease the spindles again.

Mow your lawn.

Save

CADplans

· #3 · Aug 4, 2013

My deck, before and after a pressure wash, the only reason I cleaned it was due to having to install a new belt.

It is 25 years old, I ain't painting it! That is the first time it has been cleaned in 10 years, or how long I have owned it.

I just keep it dry during storage.

See less See more

Save

winchester

Discussion Starter · #4 · Aug 4, 2013

CADplans said:
My deck, before and after a pressure wash, the only reason I cleaned it was due to having to install a new belt.

It is 25 years old, I ain't painting it! That is the first time it has been cleaned in 10 years, or how long I have owned it.

I just keep it dry during storage.

The black areas in the second picture is how my deck looks in the spots where I can't see yellow. If I pressure washed it and got it to look like yours, do you think I'd need to sand it down to bare metal to put some rustoleum on it?

See less See more

Save

CADplans

· #5 · Aug 4, 2013

winchester said:
The black areas in the second picture is how my deck looks in the spots where I can't see yellow. If I pressure washed it and got it to look like yours, do you think I'd need to sand it down to bare metal to put some rustoleum on it?

Paint usually does not withstand sandblasting, which, IMHO, is what is going on when the blades suck up sand from the earth.

Those blades "lift" more than the grass, don't they? :dunno:

That is why I make sure I keep the deck in a dry storage.

I think my deck will survive another 25 years, then somebody else can worry about it!! :sidelaugh

If the deck rusts, that is removed each mowing. Then, you will start seeing holes.

In either case, the paint will do little, again, IMHO.

See less See more

Save

illiceman11

· #6 · Aug 4, 2013

I am lucky I just run my 910a to my loading ramp on my lake and set it in the water.I do this when I am done mowing .Easy for a lazy guy like me.
Oh I do run my deck at full speed and let it into the water slowly.

Save

KATT

· #7 · Aug 4, 2013

Now Wait.......I'm one of the ones that is against the washout port on the deck,on a regular basis, but you are asking something completely different.
You want to pressure wash to clean the deck for painting ( not sure the paint does any good but no harm either) all you would do when you are all finished is pump some grease in the zerks.
Getting the deck completely clean at least once a year, or as in your case starting clean deck, then @ put away for winter, is far more important to the longevity of your deck.

See less See more

Save

1 - 7 of 7 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month