Mower Corrosion Question

[OrtisEvans]

I have a B2100HST that I bought used in ~2005. It has the 60" mid-mount mower. I was watching a video on Tractor Time about keeping your deck clean to prevent rust. It hit me that I have had no corrosion that I can see on the deck even though I never clean under it. When I do look under it to sharpen blades, I see very little build-up of grass. So, did Kubota use some magic alloy for decks back then? Are newer ones equally good?

I have a Woods 72" mower and see corrosion that will need to clean and paint but nothing on the Kubota. I will be replacing my Kubota since the seals on the transmission are leaking badly and they want $5000 to repair it, and I wonder if a new one will have such a good mower.

Thanks

 

[RjCorazza]

I suspect some decks stay clean and rust free due to superior air flow. All of my Kubota ZD mowers stay nice and clean with no rust after over 2000 hours.

 

[diesel85]

Same with my 2002 BX2200 mower deck. No corrosion.

 

[beenthere]

And my Deere mower decks stay clean as well. Think it has to do with when grass is mowed, how wet the grass is, and how the mower decks are put away. Like they say about horses, don't put them away wet.
Enjoy the clean decks.

 

[JTKub]

I agree with the above. The overall design of the deck, the quality and gauge of the steel and the coating makes the bulk of the difference. How you maintain it and store it is also a big factor.

 

[JWR]

The Kubota decks that are "suspension" type as opposed to "ground riding" type seem to have been made of lighter structural material at the wheel supports. I've had those rust out and be weakened & had to be welded and strengthened on 2 different BX tractors. At the same time I have yet to see one (either suspension like on my BX tractors, or the older ground riders on the B2150's) rust through the deck itself. I have never taken time to go wash out/scrub the underside of any mower deck day-to-day , though I have much less often of course.

 

[SDT]

I have a B2100HST that I bought used in ~2005. It has the 60" mid-mount mower. I was watching a video on Tractor Time about keeping your deck clean to prevent rust. It hit me that I have had no corrosion that I can see on the deck even though I never clean under it. When I do look under it to sharpen blades, I see very little build-up of grass. So, did Kubota use some magic alloy for decks back then? Are newer ones equally good?

I have a Woods 72" mower and see corrosion that will need to clean and paint but nothing on the Kubota. I will be replacing my Kubota since the seals on the transmission are leaking badly and they want $5000 to repair it, and I wonder if a new one will have such a good mower.

Thanks

Nothing special about the corrosion protection used on Kubota decks. Probably just as good as that used by anyone else.

Finish mower deck corrosion is largely a function of environment, e.g., humidity, etc., and, more importantly, care and usage.

The MMM deck on my 1994 B1750, has had no paint on the underneath side for over 30 years. It also has no structural rust anywhere, only surface rust underneath.

Of course, I never mow wet grass, like most folks do, and never allow any of my equipment to sit outside.

 

[dodge man]

If you mow when it’s dry that helps. What makes them rust is when wet grass sticks to the bottom and sits.

 

[SDT]

If you mow when it’s dry that helps. What makes them rust is when wet grass sticks to the bottom and sits.

Bingo.

 

[diesel85]

If you mow when it’s dry that helps. What makes them rust is when wet grass sticks to the bottom and sits.

That makes sense. I only mow in the afternoon after the grass has had all day to dry out. The machine also does a better job at lifting the grass to cut and it doesn't rip the grass.

I do got a strange question kind of relating to finishing mowers, but over the years of using my flail mower and comparing it to my rotary mower, why is it with the flail mower I'll mow the lawn and it seems like it takes a lot longer for the grasses to get to the same height as if I used the rotary finish mower instead? I'm cutting at exactly the same height too.

I've looked at the grasses with a magnifying glass and it appears as if the flail mower cleanly slices it at a slight angle, versus the finish mower where it slices it flat. Does that angle stunt the grass? Mind you, I got Y grass knives on the flail. I prefer using the flail in the spring when the grass is growing like wildfire because of the wet weather as it seems to slow it down, otherwise I just use the finish mower.

 

[mikester]

You need to leave your mower outside all year round if you want rust. Bonus points if you park under the down spout.

 

[dadohead]

So, did Kubota use some magic alloy for decks back then?

No... stamped decks are all stamped from deep draw steels. They will rust. As mentioned above, mowing wet grass then allowing it to build-up under the deck will accelerate corrosion. If the grass is damp and fertilized.... wow!

I do got a strange question kind of relating to finishing mowers, but over the years of using my flail mower and comparing it to my rotary mower, why is it with the flail mower I'll mow the lawn and it seems like it takes a lot longer for the grasses to get to the same height as if I used the rotary finish mower instead? I'm cutting at exactly the same height too.

Probably because the flail mower rides on a roller. The grass is being bent over. Mowing the same pattern with a roller can even "burn in" stripes... people pay big money for that effect.

 

[JWR]

No... stamped decks are all stamped from deep draw steels. They will rust. As mentioned above, mowing wet grass then allowing it to build-up under the deck will accelerate corrosion. If the grass is damp and fertilized.... wow!



Probably because the flail mower rides on a roller. The grass is being bent over. Mowing the same pattern with a roller can even "burn in" stripes... people pay big money for that effect.

My flail mower at least cuts with the flails BEFORE the roller gets to those same just-cut grass blades (except when you cut in reverse.)