How do you guys change your blades and clean your mower decks?

[LetsRoll]

I couldn't find a way to change my blades and clean the deck of my mower safely. So I decided to put it on my vehicle lift. Of course, I strapped it down to the lift. You can see the straps in some of the pictures. Pretty soon, I plan on building an adjustable drive on platform. Just need to put some thought into how I'm going to build it. It will need to be adjustable so I can change from the mower to the 4 wheeler and then to my motorcycle.

 

[sunspot]

I usualy hoist up one side and my wife shoves a couple of 8" solid wood blocks under the wheels. I chock the other side wheels and crawl under, wrench in hand.

 

[bontai_Joe]

I drive the front wheels up the same car ramps I use to change oil in my cars/trucks.

 

[CDsdad]

I put a strap on my Landpride finish mower and pick it up with the bucket on my Massey Ferguson. Strap the front of my Snapper and hold it up on end with the bucket, also. Standing them up, I don't have to get under either one.

 

[ragkar]

On the changing blades and cleaning portion of your question, disconnect the battery at the negative terminal and remove the sparkplug wire.
Secure the blade using a loop of wire to keep it from turning when you remove the retaining nut.
As far as removing the underhood grass - putty knife.

 

[TimS]

I change / sharpen the blades and clean the deck once a year, when I take the deck off to put the snowblower on.

Tim

 

[AlanB]

I would make up something like these, without the wheels, with the stud on the bottom to drop into the lift arm holes (assuming you have that style with the exchangeable tops)

If you made them so they rocked and then locked in place you could drive on and be secure.

Otherwise I would look to see if I could not just pin it through somewhere onto the lift arms.

Me, floor jack, air impact,,,, uhmmm clean the deck, nahhhh..

 

[KentT]

Well, I use the lift control lever, then tilt it back as far as it will go with the tilt function, and then wedge a 2x or 4x under it, just in case. Then I just reach under it, as needed.

Sometimes I put a strap on it to keep it from pivoting, if I'm going to be working on it for while, but sometimes not... depends on what I'm doing and how long I'll be working on it.

 

[TedBell]

Here is what I do for my 60" ZTR

- using a chain hoist hooked to a heavy beam in my barn......
- hook the chain hoist to my ztr using a heavy duty nylon strap
- hoist the ZTR up a couple of feet so my cordless impact wrench can fit and
secure with floor jacks
- take the blades off using the impact wrench
- after the blades are off, clean the deck with a metal scraper
- reinstall the blades

I've tried automobile ramps but they do not allow enough clearance for my impact wrench.

 

[SCOOBY14B]

I use a jungle jack, lifts the mower up in one motion. Put my impact underneath and buzz them off. Can change blades in about 3 minutes. My SCAG doesn't ever have much build up, plus I spray Fluid Film under there. Deck is always clean.