Mower deck wash attachments: opinions?
- Thread starter dwasifar
- Start date
Kurt4440
Well-known member
I have always thought that introducing more water to a steel mower deck and spindles was not a good idea. I clean my mower decks and coat them with: Fluid Film, Chain Wax ....
I have always thought that introducing more water to a steel mower deck and spindles was not a good idea. I clean my mower decks and coat them with: Fluid Film, Chain Wax ....
Keeping it wet is the problem, the wash is supposed to get the clippings off and let everything dry out.
There's mowers out there that look showroom condition, not a blade of grass or spec of rust on them. My old one was never washed and rusted out from the inside.
I think I'll be trying the wash adapter on the new one.
VolvoRyan
Well-known member
I think the hose adapter is there just to make you feel good about yourself... at least with my Husqvarna 48".
Wet grass doesn't move very well. For example: compressed air blows the grass off the top of the deck much cleaner and faster than a garden hose nozzle.
-Ryan
Wet grass doesn't move very well. For example: compressed air blows the grass off the top of the deck much cleaner and faster than a garden hose nozzle.
-Ryan
My mower's a Honda, so no need to worry about rusting the plastic deck. I do, however, wonder about rust on the blade and motor shaft.
I just hate the hassle of cleaning under the deck. If the wash adapter works, I'd use it, but I don't want to waste money and time if it's just a gimmick.
Leaflessshadetree
Well-known member
I bought a used mower with the hose attachment. I never used the hose attachment and don't know if the previous owner did or not. I do know that the deck had a good amount of rust above the blade tips.
rlitman
Well-known member
I have an HRX217 with the plastic deck, and I put a wash attachment on mine. It works a bit when the deck started out clean before the cut, and only has a light coating of clippings. If there's any dried stuff, or the mower was run through overgrown areas, the green clumps are just way to thick for the mist coming out of the spray head to do anything. Which means that on most days I'll tip the mower on its side and give it a serious hose down.
Don't worry about rust. Grass clippings left on metal are more corrosive than a water spray that's going to get flung off when you run the blade.
scooby074
Well-known member
Dad's Deere came with the wash port and IMHO after a few tries, it does nothing. Grass still sticks in the corners
upgrading
Well-known member
I find with my 21" Craftsman the builtin hose attachment works for a light coating of grass.
But laying mower on it's side and pressure washing is the only way to clean the heavy, wet, thick coating of grass off deck.
But laying mower on it's side and pressure washing is the only way to clean the heavy, wet, thick coating of grass off deck.
pooterguy
Well-known member
Many Husqvarnas have a washport with a useless $.99 plastic adapter as mentioned above. But the adapter does have a mesh screen, so I retrorigged it onto a $9 HF pump that I use for fuel transfer. But for cleaning the deck, I use mower jacks, compressed air and a scraper.
RonnieC
Well-known member
I had one on a cub cadet deck. Didn’t really work, just soaked the grass that was clumped in there already.
It seems to work alright on my Husqvarna 52". If you've got wet, compacted grass already stuck, not so much - but after a normal mow, it comes out cleaner with the water treatment. I have to run it for bit for it to work though.
dr_clyde
Well-known member
I’ve never washed my mower deck, and neither has anyone I know. I mowed a few acres every week for years as a kid on our farm and the mower deck was never touched beyond the occasional blade change and grease job.
Best we’ve done is occasionally scrape out the big chunks of dried grass with a screwdriver while changing or sharpening the blades.
I’ve also never had a deck rust out. But then again we’ve typically had commercial grade mowers with heavy duty decks. The cheap mowers something else would die long before the deck rusted out.
My Toro time cutter has wash ports, but I’ve never used them, can’t comment on how they work. Not sure where the adapter even is.
Best we’ve done is occasionally scrape out the big chunks of dried grass with a screwdriver while changing or sharpening the blades.
I’ve also never had a deck rust out. But then again we’ve typically had commercial grade mowers with heavy duty decks. The cheap mowers something else would die long before the deck rusted out.
My Toro time cutter has wash ports, but I’ve never used them, can’t comment on how they work. Not sure where the adapter even is.
Who washes their mower deck. Especially the Honda with the plastic deck. I’m going on 14 years with my Honda hrx217 and have never washed the deck. I do knock out any dried clumps when I sharpen the blade every year and change the oil
Mine gets pretty caked with those dried clumps, and when that happens, mulching capacity reduces. I'm more likely to stall it out.
Right now, cleaning it out is going to be extra unpleasant because I ran over a critter last time I mowed.
alfadan
Well-known member
Might want to procrastinate a bit this time
FredWanaker
Well-known member
once in a while I lay the TORO walk behind on its side and pressure wash, staying away from areas where the water can penetrate, like the transmission etc.. Then start it up and run it a few minutes to sling the water out. Then spray it with WD40 or something that displaces water. Once in a long while I wire brush and lightly sand the bottom, and spray it with a couple coats of matching Rustoleum. The only time I know of that low pressure water will wash grass off is when it is still soaking wet, and it is still going to leave a film unless one brushes it with soap and water. Think of a dirty car with mud on it. Once the grass dries it turns hard and takes a while to rehydrate. Sometimes I just use an old putty knife on it to knock the old grass off. Depends on my mood. I do pull the blade and the blade holder off, glass bead and paint them periodically.
scooby074
Well-known member
Anybody ever try those automotive underbody washers that go on a pressurewasher? Might actually work
kaymccampbell
Well-known member
I installed one on each side of the rider. They do a pretty good job. You do have to do it right after mowing. If you wait, then it's the scraper. I also have the bottom wash thingy, but have never tried it on the mower. Might be a good deal. Definitely not when the mower's running.
I don't think they would work if you let the grass dry at all. If you try it, set the deck low right after cutting and run the deck while washing. Introducing more water wouldn't be a concern for me. Mower decks are in constant contact with water through grass clippings.
skeer
Well-known member
Mower deck washing adapters? They're all ********. The only fool proof method of cleaning teh underside of a mowing deck is to drop it and grab your putty knife.
Renegade1LI
Well-known member
I usually remove the deck once in the middle of the season & clean it with the hot water pressure washer. Then again at the end of the season, light needle scaling & fresh paint.
Yank the deck out from underneath the tractor few times a year. Blast it with the pressure washer. Check and replace belts. Disassemble and grease the spindles. Been doing it on this group of mowers for 20 years and they keep on running, no plans on changing it.
WillyBoy
Well-known member
Like Mark said, ready for the annual fall power washing and cleaning before going into storage until April.
