Mowing Mower deck washer

[XSKIER]

Finally, I was about to post "what about your bearings" this morning, but ran out of time on the way out. Thank you...

 

[sklunk]

I, too, use the air-compressor on the mower and the string trimmer every time I use them. Of course I also use it on my power saws, drills, and even my electric razor and Wahl hair clippers every time they're used.:laughing:

What the heck do you shave/clip that you need to use an AIR COMPRESSOR to clean your razor off ?!?!

 

[Bird]

What the heck do you shave/clip that you need to use an AIR COMPRESSOR to clean your razor off ?!?!

My house is a little different from most.:laughing: I can step out the back door, 12' across the patio/breezeway, into the shop/recreation room, and my air-compressor is right there. So every time I shave, not every day, but most days, I use the air-compressor to blow the whiskers out of the Norelco razor; much, much quicker and easier than using the little brush that came with the razor, taking the heads apart to prevent buildup, etc.

It would be a little different if I had to go outside in the sun or rain or whatever to get to the compressor.:laughing:

 

[Bird]

Sounds to me that there is no excitement about these deck hose washers. Just a sales gimmick. Although I do have one on my Toro lawn mower and it works good on that. I think it's because of the small 20" deck size. I guess I'm done with using the one on my 54" deck. I just as soon take the deck off and clean it properly.

I also use a leaf blower to completely clean my tractor after mowing.

When I had the walk behind Toro, if it needed more than the air-compressor could do, I had a weight that I occasionally put on the handle to tilt it all the way back with the handle on the ground (actually concrete driveway) and then I used the garden hose and nozzle to clean it. Incidentally, I traded that mower in on my current Toro ZTR. I asked the sales lady about taking a trade, she went and got the owner (her dad), and he came and told me he didn't take trade-ins, but then he went and looked at my walk behind mower and said it was so clean that he could give me a couple of hundred for it.

When I recently bought the [ame=http://www.amazon.com/MoJack-MJEZ-300-Pound-Tractors-Mowers/dp/B00332FB9W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337774896&sr=8-1]MoJack[/ame], I raised the front of the mower all the way to remove, sharpen, and replace the blade, and then I cleaned the bottom of the deck really good with one of those nozzles that puts out a solid stream of water about the size of a #2 lead pencil.

 

[urbandeere2520]

A leaf blower works for me too, I worry about what the water does to hot bearings.

Yes, I use a leaf blower to blow off the loose grass and debris before hooking up the water. The deck is cool when I wash it. I also keep a grease gun nearby, and give the deck a shot of grease several times a year... no problems so far.

 

[Garybake]

After posting last night I had to cut today and early morning when the grass was still wet because of a Dr. Apt at 1:00pm. It was clumpy and sticking to everything. After I got back at 3, I hooked up the hose and cleaned with deck adapters just to compare with the pressure washing last time cut (Friday-18th:confused2: growing fast). It was almost just as clean except for chute and spindle hubs. I think once it gets dried on for a week then a pressure washer or putty knife is required to open the areas between the three blade circles that are created. I think the bottom side of the deck, the bearings are expected to see damp conditions (chlorophyl/dew?). IMHO it is when a pressure washer is used on the top side of deck that gets bearings (or idlers/pulleys on some) to fail after sitting damp.

 

[urbandeere2520]

I use the built-in deck washer after each mowing and I don't see any grass build-up. The built-in deck washer works well if you use it correctly and shortly after each mowing.

I expect if one were to mow wet grass several times over a period of weeks without cleaning-washing the underside of the deck, the built-in washer would be totally ineffective at removing the grass. With that much built-up and dried grass on the deck underside you'd probably need to scrape and power wash it.

Regarding the shaft bearing damage, I'd think the application of a power washer would do more damage than a little water splashing around under the deck for 2-4 minutes.

Your mileage may vary....