Mold and grass buildup on mower deck underside

[tjandrews]

I have a John Deere D140 with a bagger that I use for the first few mows of the season to prevent all the dandelion seed distribution.

Best laugh I've had since the snow melted away.

I live on a small farm, with over 50 acres of hay. Sometime around mid-May, those hay fields are covered with dandelions, and a few days later the seeds are disbursed as nature intended. A waste of time and money to try to stop it, as by the time the hay is ready to cut the dandelions are gone.

I have learned over my 75 years that fighting with dandelions in my lawn is a futile endeavor. I have learned to appreciate the beauty of the yellow mixed with the green (John Deere colors!) when they are in bloom, and to live with the seed heads later. Life is too short to fight battles you know you can't win.

 

[cdestuck]

A lot of guys swear by Fluid Film spray

 

[WinterDeere]

Dandelions are easy. I have some direct neighbors that look like they must be growing the things to harvest, but not a single dandelion in my yard. Getting rid of them is easy:

Year 1: Spray SURGE in the fall, a 3-point boom sprayer works best.
Year 2 early spring: Apply a pre-emergent weed block with your first round of fertilizer, before the grass comes out of winter dormancy.
Year 2 late spring: Spray Escalade II to kill any dandelions or other broadleaf weeds that weren't killed in the fall spraying.

Thereafter, your early spring pre-emergent application will keep them at bay, there should be no need for yearly spraying. The few that come up can be hit with a hand sprayer, there won't be more than a few per acre.

 

[tjandrews]

Age old problem. One thing I got away from years ago is bagging. I get it with a small lawn that's manicured. Had a neighbor when I lived in SE PA that bagged his 1/2 acre and dumped it in a pile in the woods on MY property LOL. Over the years that pile got huge.
Also don't mind dandelions. To me they are edible, great for bees and are really just wildflowers.

That pile of grass clippings would make great mulch/compost for a vegetable garden. And as for the dandelions, if the price of coffee keeps rising, we'll need them for this:

How to Make Dandelion Coffee: A DIY Recipe & Customisation Guide - groundabout coffee

I've always been a fan of finding unique, healthy alternatives to my daily coffee fix. That's why I was thrilled to discover dandelion coffee, a caffeine-free option that's not only delicious but packed with health benefits. It's the perfect solution for those looking to make a comforting, warm...

groundabout.coffee

 

[DrDave1958]

My $.02.
I have found after decades of lawn mowing that not all decks are created equal. I had two tractors, (lawn and garden), of the same brand. The garden tractor with a 54" deck would clog with a little dew on the grass, or even if the grass was too tall. The lawn tractor would mow tall grass in standing water and never clog. IMO, some design engineers actually calculate airflow when designing a new deck, others do not.

 

[tomplum]

My $.02.
I have found after decades of lawn mowing that not all decks are created equal. I had two tractors, (lawn and garden), of the same brand. The garden tractor with a 54" deck would clog with a little dew on the grass, or even if the grass was too tall. The lawn tractor would mow tall grass in standing water and never clog. IMO, some design engineers actually calculate airflow when designing a new deck, others do not.

Very true indeed!

 

[lsturm]

I am going to try Fluid Film on the underside of the deck. I think it could make a difference in the grass buildup. Has anyone of you tried it.

 

[Don63]

I have a John Deere D140 with a bagger that I use for the first few mows of the season to prevent all the dandelion seed distribution. I know it's not ideal to mow wet grass, but sometimes that isn't an option, and the grass has to get done (even though it means stopping every few laps and unclogging the chute to the bags).

I went out to the garage yesterday after mowing the lawn and could smell the wet grass under the mower deck. I took it off and spent the next two hours with a putty knife and wire brush scraping the grass off. It varied in depth from almost a thin wax like coating, to about three inches in some spots.

I have scraped most of it off I do believe, but would like to do something to it to prevent this from becoming an every time I mow thing. And yes, I will attempt to get the lawn mowed late afternoon, early evening when it is at its driest, but again, not always an option, and I will be ordering some new high lift blades to hopefully help with moving the cut grass across the deck and up the shoot.

Not sure if I will have to remove the blades and then pulleys to do a proper sanding, priming and painting/treating, or if there is some magic trick I can just apply now?

Thanks in advance folks.

I have a 2014 troybilt that the deck is slowly rusting away. I scrapped it after every mow wet or dry to ensure most was removed. I found my scrapper was worse then the grass. I have a new Deere and I only use wood spatulas to clean the deck. The Deere does my yard, the Bilt my field until the Bilt dies.

 

[tomplum]

I'm asked all the time how to keep the deck clean underneath. Most of these folks are intimidated by removing the deck and don't have a lift. Some the best they can do is scrape out through the chute when they deal with nice, healthy May grass. Even that keeps the deck cleaner as it helps the grass keep moving out. Some ask because I gave them the wag of a finger for either pressure washing and packing grass around their transmissions or not dealing with the bushel of grass on top their deck. Or washing the top of the deck, which as a regular practice- isn't good either.

Something to consider for those simply discharging the clippings are low lift blades. Less aggregate to wear the blades, less packing under the deck.

Those rounded scrapers are great tools. Flexible thin ones are available, but nice sturdy home made ones from heavy paint scrapers are the bomb. Oscillating tools are an outstanding tool for dried stuck on grass.

 

[tomplum]

I am going to try Fluid Film on the underside of the deck. I think it could make a difference in the grass buildup. Has anyone of you tried it.

It's I think a good thing to do for long term care anyways. When you have the deck cleaned and ready for storage is when I do it. Helps with sticking?