Mowing No such thing as easy clean mower

gary_dsc · Aug 25, 2008

Wow, I can see lots of advantages to having the mower out front. Besides the ease of cleaning, how about being easy to remove the blades for sharpening and the simple fact that those front tires don't have the opportunity to mash down the grass before the mower gets to it. It would be easy to mow under bushes, etc. too. I don't understand why this has not been offered as an option all along. As long as there are safety interlocks to prevent mower operation when it is not in the mowing position, I don't see the downside.

BlackRaptor · Aug 25, 2008

For me i drive off the deck every few mows flop it over clean it flop it back and hook it back up normally takes me 15 minutes.

megotatractor · Aug 25, 2008

Yea, I remember this about the old GE mower setup, it did a B E A utiful job of cutting since no tires had smashed the grass first. I think I remember it had caster wheels out front and I think the height adjustment was done with washers on those casters, not sure I remember that part. I don't remember it haveing any unusual steering characteristics at all. Thinking about this I do wish JD offered it...

ed fewlass · Aug 25, 2008

To me leading with the mower scares me I perfer them behind me just as easy to clean and it gives me some reaction time

Runner · Aug 26, 2008

I can see advantages to a front mounted mower. However, with as much crap as gets all over me and the tractor with a mid- or rear-mounted mower, I shudder to think what it would be like with the mower out in front.

As for cleaning, I'm just too darned lazy to do it, other than when I put it away for the winter. Shame on me....

Pipestone Kid · Aug 30, 2008

I have a JD riding mower that has the hose attachment for cleaning. I too, thought it was quite useless as it didn't seem to do much. Then I tried lowering the mower to the very bottom and it works like a charm. Clean as a whistle.
Jim

KevPH1 · Aug 31, 2008

prosperity said:
It's just that I got into a habit years ago with my finish mowers. I make sure the mower and deck are completely cooled before washing.

Nothing wrong with my spindles - just try to feel how hot they are after a session of mowing.

Allow a cooling period before washing is indeed a sound practice.

During a past life, I consulted as a bearing Tech. I would offer my customers this quick advice.

If you can hold your hand to a (non-operating) "hot" bearing casting/mount for 10 seconds or more, your still OK. If you pull your hand away before the 10 seconds, continue troubleshooting. Excessive heat build up will,in time, bake and break down the quality & properties of your lube/seals. Costly component failure can/will soon follow.

Sometimes, judging heat without the proper tools is like fishing story of the one that got away. That darn fish just gets bigger every time the story is told.

LOL!

Be safe!