What's the best way to clean underside of MMM (?)

[Spudgunner]

What\'s the best way to clean underside of MMM (?)

Hello,
I recently removed the MMM from my BX and am preparing to store it for the winter. There is a fair amount of dried-on grass/crud adhered to the underside of the deck...right above the blades. Some of it is starting to peel off. Is there some way of pre-treating this stuff so that it comes off easily? (or some other technique short of dynamite...)

Thanks!

 

[frank_f15]

Re: What\'s the best way to clean underside of MMM (?)

i don't have MM but i do have a RFM but imagine they clean up the same way. i just serviced mine for the winter and cleaned it , i just go at it with a scrapper grass comes off fairly easy if it is dry.

 

[Tom_H]

Re: What\'s the best way to clean underside of MMM (?)

I just take a very large standard (slotted) screwdriver and use it like I would a wood chisel for minor planing. Thirty seconds or so of just gouging under the stuff and scraping gets 99% of it off. No need to get the rest 'cause I have no need for it to look pretty.

 

[ronjhall]

Re: What\'s the best way to clean underside of MMM (?)

Here is a thread on mower cleaning/painting. Click Here
There is another that I could not find that used a coating called pro something. maybe someone else can find it.

 

[Rolando]

Re: What\'s the best way to clean underside of MMM (?)

Is it possible to apply some kind of Teflon coating? It seems that having a slippery surface would be the answer.

 

[upgw]

Re: What\'s the best way to clean underside of MMM (?)

I made a "deck cleaner" from a Teflon dollar-store kitchen spatula end (I cut the handle off) screwed to a 5 foot wooden paint roller extension handle. The spatula end is 'sharp' but won't scratch the paint, I can reach all the way under the deck from the chute side and get pretty much the whole thing while it's mounted, and it would probably work pretty well to clean the deck even when its off.

- Patrick

 

[surfran]

Re: What\'s the best way to clean underside of MMM (?)

I really like this idea. I use a plastic putty knife so it doesn't scratch as well as my pressure washwer periodically. I also painted my underside with the TSC EZ-Slide paint when it was new. 2 seasons and it's holding up pretty well. I don't know that it makes it that much easier to clean though as it's still a pain in my back...... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[hogboy]

Re: What\'s the best way to clean underside of MMM (?)

I have had good luck with a spray on called Mow Deck, however, after each mowing I run the BX up onto a pair of metal car ramps and scrape the underside with a putty knife. I spray the Mow Deck maybe once a month. Makes it easier to peel off the stuck grass and cleaning the deck right after mowing while the grass clippings still have a little moisture in them. I also prop up the discharge chute with a rubber bungee while mowing. In the fall, I pull the deck, get a spray bottle, fill it with pressure washer degreaser and spray the deck and the rest of the residue comes off relatively easy. Of course, as a plug for Larry, having the wheel kit to stand the mower deck upright to do the end of season cleaning is a big help. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[john_bud]

Re: What\'s the best way to clean underside of MMM (?)

Spud,

One thing that I have done in the past for mower decks is to add a manifold with 2-3 taps on the top of the deck what allow a garden hose to water the inside of the deck while it is running.

You have to hook up the hose to the manifold, turn on the water start the machine and run the deck. That will keed the build up from getting bad. It's a simple project with a drill if the deck is out from under the tractor!

HTH
John Bud

 

[brinet]

Re: What\'s the best way to clean underside of MMM (?)

To GENTLY clean DRY grass from the underside, I use a 2" X 2" or a 2" X 4" piece of wood. I cut the end off at a 45 degree angle with the chop saw. When the end wears down, I just cut it again. The wood will not scratch the metal, and the length is adjustable (with a chop saw) so that I don't have to bend over (as with a putty knife).

Of course, grass is easiest to clean off BEFORE it dries. A simple spray with the water hose usually works. Unfortunately, I don't always clean it after mowing as I should. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif