[FergusonTO35]

Hey guys. One thing I've noticed about Lawn-Boy is that they are nearly as famous for their use of lightweight aluminum or magnesium decks as they are for their 2 cycle engines. Thusly, a true Lawn-Boy has a 2 stroke engine and a nonferrous metal deck. Now, I'm wondering why is it that a nonferrous deck is decisively superior to a steel deck? Obviously rust is a major consideration but are there other factors?

Nearly all mowers that I have seen with rust problems have been left out in the weather for years. My 19 year old Murray 12 horse has been through **** but has always been kept inside. We have never been careful about cleaning it, all I do is blow the accumulated grass off with the leaf blower after I'm done mowing. It has a few scrapemark patches of old rust on the deck. Otherwise its in much better shape than most machines of that vintage. For someone that keeps their machines indoors nearly all the time, is a steel deck really that bad?

 

[THEPATRIOT]

More rigid,less flex.

 

[Iowa_Hawkeye]

They are quieter, too. Especially on Lawn-Boy's with the under-deck muffler. But even on Toro's for example, you notice a difference.

Less flexing gives it a better "feel". It also is easier on the wheels and wheel bolts since they aren't moving around with the deck.

 

[Orangedotfever]

Steel decks are great for those jobs where you really don't want to pick up all the sticks and debris that might take a chunk out of your cast deck. I like to mow the edge of my woods with my L21 just for this reason. I don't want to damage my cast decks with stuff that I know won't bend the crank but might crack a cast deck.

 

[2201_lawnboy_ave]

A steel deck machine is generally lighter than it's cast counterpart, or at least it feels that way to me.

 

[Kbeitz]

I would like to see a deck made from carbon fiber...

 

[JRJ]

I would assume that a steel deck would be more prone to cracking or a taring effect due to the vibration especially at corners or where a holes have been punched or drilled into the metal.

Dick

 

[tgore3]

Seen plenty of cracked cast decks, never seen a cracked steel deck. Only ran across a few steelies that were really rusted through. Lawn-Boy had some decent steel decks compared to others.

For the pure Lawn-Boyness I prefer a cast deck but really there's nothing wrong with the steel decks.

I wouldn't say the cast decks are better than steel. They both have their good and bad qualities.

The cast decks will pit really bad if you don't keep them clean just like the steelies will rust.