I've got a 61" 2004 Scag Turf Tiger with the 27LC Kawi. Had the original Marbane blades on there for years with a ridiculous amount of abuse from limbs, large hidden rocks, and metal pipe covers. Time after time I would check the blades just knowing that I had pretzeled one but they were always good and rarely needed sharpening. I finally bent one on a grass filled hole with a large concrete block in it. Went to the G6 and bent three of them in 6 months and the blow out from the front seems much worse. The next time I replace the set it will be back to Marbane. Mine only has the Advantage deck and not the better Velocity or Velocity Plus decks but the Marbane blades would cut it like a hot knife through butter. The turf looked perfectly groomed. With the G6 blades it seems like I'm always left with stringers especially on thin, sparse grass.
As for cleaning the deck. I usually turn the blades on and set something heavy on the seat (I know, I know) and put the hose nozzle on "jet". Only do that with cool spindles. That knocks 95% out and will turn your legs and feet green but to be honest I rarely have much buildup any more unless I mow in really wet grass. I took some good advice years ago and cleaned it really good one time and coated the bottom of the deck with Fluid Film. It made a big difference on my mower.
