How to keep mowing deck clean

[parsonbw]

What is the recommended way to keep grass from loading up under mowing deck. I've tried several
ways, but to no avail. If you can help, thanks ahead of time. parsonbw

 

[oosik]

Well, I'm not to sure what type of mowing deck you have but........ I have a JD riding mower with 54" deck. I've tried everything short of pulling the entire riding mower up vertical and using my pressure washer.

My answer - I chip pine trees(2" to 6" on the butt) to thin & improve the stands. This leaves LARGE piles of pine chips all over my 80 acres. I simply drive the riding mower up on top of a pile, engage the blade and lower the mower down onto the chips. I run it that way for about five minuets and when done the underside is clean as a whistle. Since its pine chips, which are soft, it causes no damage to the blade or underside of the mower. This brain storm came to me last year as I was "gooping out" the green snot on the underside.

 

[Thomas]

Both my mowers good scraping than WD40 helps.

 

[Creamer]

My mower decks tip up at 90 degrees so it is an easy scrape. I use a four inch paint scaper and in less than a minute the deck is clean. Though neither of mine builds up much - mower deck design is critical to making them easy to clean.

 

[oosik]

Hmmmm......... I often wonder if design isn't a big factor. Whatever - half the grass it cuts and most all the dirt I scrape seems to collect on the underside.

 

[hslogger]

I have an lx 172 and lx178, two upper level old John Deere riding mowers. I have rough ground on a farm and not anywhere near a pristine super manicured outfit. I don't take big bits in tall grass, and if grass is super high, I overlap my mowing or set the cut level high on the first pass and the come back when done and drop the deck to a lower level.

I hose my decks almost every time I use the mowers. Sometimes i take the putty knife to them. The only problem I have ever had is mowing tall wet grass and essentially asking more of the mower than it was built to provide. Also I keep my blades SHARP. I have extra sets and keep the blades sharp, putting the sharp ones on very often.

 

[Creamer]

I have an lx 172 and lx178, two upper level old John Deere riding mowers. I have rough ground on a farm and not anywhere near a pristine super manicured outfit. I don't take big bits in tall grass, and if grass is super high, I overlap my mowing or set the cut level high on the first pass and the come back when done and drop the deck to a lower level.

I hose my decks almost every time I use the mowers. Sometimes i take the putty knife to them. The only problem I have ever had is mowing tall wet grass and essentially asking more of the mower than it was built to provide. Also I keep my blades SHARP. I have extra sets and keep the blades sharp, putting the sharp ones on very often.

I think sharp blades really help especially in wet conditions because the grass is still in pieces and not smashed into mush.

 

[parsonbw]

I'm limited by age and physical condition to the blade scrape and other methods that were fine years ago. I was hoping there was a spray to create a barrier to stop the grass buildup.
I have a JD with 48 inch deck, and a smooth and thick yard. It's easy to load up the underside of the deck when mowing on damp grass. The physical part is what has me searching for a quick fix. Thanks for all the replies. parsonbw

 

[M5farms]

mowing after the dew drys will solve most of it. I have never in my 50 years cleaned the underside of a mower deck other than take a air hose to it when im fixing to change the blades. Ive had it bank up on me so I just wait a little longer. We cut 2 acres every week and its just Bahia and Bermuda.

 

[parsonbw]

Thanks for the replies, men. The old gray mare ain't what she used to be!!!!