How to "undercoat" mower deck.

[Sedge1]

Friends, some of you may have read and even responded to my post earlier this week about striking a rock and deforming the 60" mower deck on my BX2200. Got me a 24" pipe wrench (a beautiful tool BTW) and will have at it over the weekend.
But it occurred to me that I should do something to protect the underside of the deck from rust. This is my second deck on the tractor which I have happily owned for about 14 years. The original one gave up the ghost last year after literally rusting into oblivion. My fault, I am afraid to say. I should have been more attentive cleaning off wet, impacted grass from the undercarriage. I have no doubt that this is what caused the rust out because the deck rusted from the underside out. I was very fortunate to find a barely used 60" replacement deck for about 25% the cost my local Kubota dealer wanted. And I want to presereve it.
So what is the best way to protect the undercarriage from rust. I will do a better job cleaning out the wet grass. But is there a way to effectively seal the underside of the deck housing to provide a rust barrier - like a rust paint or other coating. If so, any specific suggestions would be appreciated, as well as the best method to prepare the surface and apply.
Much obliged.
David

 

[Scar0B2150]

Paint won't last. Deck bottoms are painted from the factory.
A truck bead-liner spray or under coating may work but the deck will have to be VERY clean for it to stick.
The problem with a bead-liner/ undercoating is how thick it goes on, and the finish is rough. Your blades may not have the clearance needed once it is applied.
I have never done the above, so I can only speculate how it may hold up.

 

[ehcrain]

Tractor supply sells a product specifically designed for the undersides of mower decks. I've seen it in spray cans and gallon cans at my local stote. Havent tried it but might be worth some google searching.

 

[spitter]

I paint my mower deck every year when I put it away for the winter . Nothing special wash off grass let dry. touch up with what ever rattle can i have tha'ts half empty. Top of deck I touch up with simplicity orange. Bought tractor in 98 not a spot of rust on deck.

 

[mikester]

Store your deck indoors, out of the elements, in a dry area. Rust won't be a problem.

 

[nyone]

It's a 14yr old deck so prob alreaty started to rust. The worst possible thing you could do is to undercoat or put truck bed liner on it. It will trap water when it gets a chip...and cause it to rust faster.

Storing it inside and up off the ground is prob the best practice. This let's it dry.

 

[LittleBill21]

i have painted my decks 15 ways to sunday, nothing lasts, i now just use a rattle can and 5 minutes.

 

[Captain Dirty]

Coatings do not last owing to the abrasiveness of the material scouring the underside during use. I have dusty conditions that erode the upturned tips of my mower blades and have measurably reduced the thickness of the sheet metal over a few decades; rust is not my problem. Murphy still allows clumps of grass to adhere in certain places. My suggestion is to remove any clumps and store the deck on blocks to allow air to circulate beneath it.

 

[TractorGuy]

When I built the deck for my JD F725 I came across some Loctite PC9599 wearing compound on Amazon for $42. I went back later to try and buy another bucket of it and it was listed for over a $200. I see it listed now for $93.29.

It's blue epoxy stuff full of ceramic beads.

Amazon.com

It's a pretty grainy finish that I was afraid would gather grass pretty bad but so far stuff seems to fall off of it.

 

[arrow]

I as well, have tried just about everything including Rustoleum, epoxy over POR 15, Mow Eze and Pam.
As one poster stated "nothing lasts".
Short of what they put on non stick frying pans or things like ceramic, plutonium, and cement coatings from nuclear waste sites, I don't know what else to use.