I want a Clean Mower Deck!

[john_bud]

Have you ever thought that, "I want a clean mower deck!", but like me you're too busy (or really like me and too lazy!) to go out and drop the deck and do it?

Well, Being both lazy and inventive I decided there had to be a better way to clean out the grass build up from under the deck. A trip to the home center and 4 items were quickly purchased. A 3/4" close connect, a 3/4" brass nut, a 3/4" cap and a 3/4" to hose swivel end adapter. I had to put them all together in the vice and use a large pipe wrench to get the close connect down all the way into the cap. Then used a narrow cutting disc in a 4 1/2" grinder to cut slots in the sides of the cap. Here's the parts laid out ready for installation in the mower deck. You can see where the slots were cut for water to spray out and clean the deck.

Next a hole had to be cut into the deck. Careful eyeball triangulation was used to make sure the blades wouldn't whack it when in place. It's much easier to move holes BEFORE you drill them. Just thought I'd share that little gem of wisdom.

Then the parts were installed with the help of a pipe wrench and a large vice grip pliers.

How's it work? Here's a picture of the head connected to the garden hose. I had to turn the water down so avoid being sprayed. It puts out a nice amount. It doesn't blast off the gunk as it is pretty hard and dry. I may still have to clean it first, but it should do a decent job if used after every cutting while the build up is still soft and wet. At least I hope so! The plan is to connect the hose, turn on the water and then run the deck so the blades can help whip the water around and clean off the goobers.

I still have to buy a male hose end plug to cap it off when cutting. Don't want those precision calibrated cleansing slots to be blocked!

jb

 

[Ice Man]

Very clever and reminds me of my Dad's old Bolens garden tractor. It must hve been about thirty years ago now, but it had a similar attachment on it and functioned the way you discribe. It worked fairly good as I recall since I was the one that had to clean it before he had this model.

 

[deerhunterf350]

John Bud,


Did you attach pics of the parts and it installed, no pics are showing in the thread. Sounds like it should work well after the intial caked on matter has been cleaned.

 

[gotcha]

You can purchase pre-made ones for Cub Cadets tractors with mowers that has a fixture that goes on your hose and shuts the water off until you push it onto the adapters on the mower deck. They have one on each side of the mower deck and when you turn on the mower blades with the water running it sure does a great job.
The Gotcha Man

 

[crbr]

Pressure washer wand into the chute opening.


Thanks for the pics.

 

[john_bud]

John Bud,


Did you attach pics of the parts and it installed, no pics are showing in the thread. Sounds like it should work well after the intial caked on matter has been cleaned.

Yeah, they are attached. Are you seeing a little "x" box? You can right click it and click on the "show picture", should pop it up. That happens sometimes. I don't know if its due to the net or the picture source.

Gotcha, -- Really? Cool. Will have to check on that. Do you know what mower deck models that it's for?

crbr, That's what I was doing, but it's a pain to get the PW out, hooked up and then your on your knees sticking that wand in there. Getting green back splat in the face and the far side is still goo full. Hopefully this will work better.

jb

 

[gotcha]

Gotcha, -- Really? Cool. Will have to check on that. Do you know what mower deck models that it's for? jb

Here is just a few that have them installed on there mower decks. LT 1042, LT1045, LT 1046 and LT1050. I went to look in my mower operators manual for the part numbers, but low and behold I never got a manual. I'm sure I've seen them on their site though. I'll check tomorrow and see what I can dig up.
The Gotcha Man

 

[gotcha]

Here are the part numbers for the Cub Cadet washing system. The water ports - 737-04003C and the hose coupler is 721-04041. The following is the parts manual and can be pulled up very easily. http://manuals.mtdproducts.com/mtd/public/manuals.jsp
The Gotcha Man

 

[crbr]

crbr, That's what I was doing, but it's a pain to get the PW out, hooked up and then your on your knees sticking that wand in there. Getting green back splat in the face and the far side is still goo full. Hopefully this will work better.

jb

That I cannot dispute nor deny....

 

[sr160009]

Yet another good idea on TBN....

 

[scott_vt]

Mornin John,
Nice job ! I bought a small Toro Zero turn this year, 42" and they have basically the same thing on their deck but its plastic ! I like yours better !

 

[MarkV]

My Cub Cadet Z-Force 50 has the deck wash system. The hose end is the same plastic quick connects sold for garden hoses at Wal Mart or Home Depot. Works pretty well when I remember to do it.

MarkV

 

[schmism]

other ideas for nosels.....

a series of small holes drilled in the cap

cut with a hacksaw for a ultra thin slot

 

[jimgerken]

I like your idea! I saw something similar on riders at Home Depot.

Also, somebody else on TBN appended an idea for a pipe assembly he had made, that layed out on the ground, with holes facing upward. I think he said he'd drive overtop of this assembly then turn on the water and run the mower. A couple or a few jets streaming up into the running deck cleaned it out.
Do these ideas really work to clean the deck (assuming you do it when you finish mowing, not a week later or something) ?

If so, I am going to give one or the other a try.

 

[SkunkWerX]

Very good idea.

To add to the ideas foir keeping a mowing deck clean, my dad's friend has a good system.

He uses something he called "Slip plate" underneath his mowing deck. It is like a paint, made for metal grain chutes, or anywhere dry materials are being conveyed.
It's like teflon paint, makes a no stick surface.

My dad painted the bottom of his 48" mowing deck with it, years ago, and it still cleans out real easy with just standard garden hose pressure.

 

[bigdad]

Here you go. Works great!

 

[bucmeister]

bigdad, What kind of coating is that? Where did it come from? More details, please!

 

[bigdad]

bucmeister

That coating is called Slip Plate. I get it (where I work) in a gallon can, but you can buy it at most farm stores. I slop it on with a brush to a clean surface. Covers and sticks real well, but nothing will stick to it. I paint the blades and all. I plan to do the mold board on my back blade too. It eventually wears off, so I just throw on some more.

Good luck. B.D.

 

[jswisc]

I've been using my loader and a chain to lift the front of my Craftsman tractor for years. I pressure wash it and it really cleans the deck. Just got a Cub GT 1554 with the deck wash system. I guess I'm just use to really getting it really clean. The deck wash system gets the big chunks off but still leaves quite a bit of residue. Back to using the loader. I'm going to try the coating mentioned earlier and see if the deck wash system works well enough.

 

[lively1]

Bucmeister,

I just finished sandblasting and applying slip plate onto my Kubota 72" mower deck. It looks great and hope that it keeps the grass from sticking to the deck. I had not been as diligent on cleaning the deck off in the last year and I had quite abit of rust on the deck which I had to remove with the sandblaster. I will be mowing tonight for the first time since the Slip Plate has been applied and will have to report back later.

Lively1

bucmeister

That coating is called Slip Plate. I get it (where I work) in a gallon can, but you can buy it at most farm stores. I slop it on with a brush to a clean surface. Covers and sticks real well, but nothing will stick to it. I paint the blades and all. I plan to do the mold board on my back blade too. It eventually wears off, so I just throw on some more.

Good luck. B.D.