BEST WAY To CLEAN Under The MOWING DECK on a Riding Lawn Mower
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- Опубликовано: 23 ноя 2018
- ESSENTIAL winterizing tip YOU MUST TRY with your riding lawnmower - 5 minute easy solution to help prevent your mower deck from rusting or rotting out during the off season and costing you hundreds of dollars in the future. No need to remove the deck!
Is your mower deck rusting out or packed with grass and debris, why replace your ride on deck when you can prevent rotting by using the wash out port attachment.
👍Please click the like button and tell me what you think of this video in the comments section below. 👇👇👇
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✅Click here to buy a new belt ➜ amzn.to/2JmuKqo
For more videos like this, check out:
👉How To Remove The Mowing Deck ➜ • How To Remove The Mowi...
👉How To Install A Belt On A Riding Lawn Mower ➜ • How To Install A Belt ...
👉How To Fix a Riding LawnMower That Will Not Move or Drive ➜ • How To Fix a Riding La...
👉How To Adjust The Belt Tension On A Riding Lawn Mower ➜ • How To Adjust The Belt...
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✅Click here for a washout port kit ➜ amzn.to/2Sbsbvf
✅Click here to buy a new belt ➜ amzn.to/2JmuKqo
For more videos like this, check out:
👉How To Remove The Mowing Deck ➜ ruclips.net/video/eQlGRlIDcC0/видео.html
👉How To Install A Belt On A Riding Lawn Mower ➜ ruclips.net/video/UgW4gcPAWIs/видео.html
👉How To Fix a Riding LawnMower That Will Not Move or Drive ➜ ruclips.net/video/fnhenk37KcI/видео.html
👉How To Adjust The Belt Tension On A Riding Lawn Mower ➜ ruclips.net/video/iXy0nSfg7h4/видео.html
You can connect with Steve here too:
✅Visit Steve’s WEBSITE ➜ www.stevessmallenginesaloon.com/
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maybe i'm lucky in a way . i have a private lake on the property i live on and all i do is drive in the shallow a bit just enough so that the water touches the bottom of the deck and wallah the water is sucked up into the blades and cleans it perfectly every time . :))
Way to go Steve . And I gave $$ to your Website, so you won’t Run out of Beer !!!
I have a John Deere and it doesn’t do a good job at all
Larry 357 did u lower the deck to the ground over concrete or asphalt? Just a hint, because I wouldn’t have known that without watching Steve’s video, I did know about keeping the blades turning however. Hope it works for u Larry, God Bless!
Larry 357 try an Ex Mark 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
After about 10 or 12 beers my mower is usually on it's side "naturally" then I just wash it out after I wake up.
This comment made me chuckle for 5minutes straight
Hand down the funniest comment on the internet ever! CONGRATULATIONS YOU ARE A WINNER!
I won’t tell
Must be Irish; clutching the grass to keep from falling off the earth...
Hahaa!!
One other suggestion: After you’ve performed the simple steps in this video, disconnect the water, and then run the engine with blades engaged (with you in the driver’s seat, safely out of the way) to dry the undercarriage. A few minutes will do it!
Thank you for the information about using the washout port. My husband always took care of the yard and all the equipment, so when he died I didn't even know I was supposed to wash off the lawn mower, much less underneath. I have found your videos very helpful. At 68, I'm learning new tricks and hope to keep my mower in good condition for the rest of my life.
Keep the grass washed off it holds moisture and that will cause the deck to rust. Be safe
Sorry for your loss.
I’ve never used the wash port. I clean underneath 4-5 times a year using a putty knife. The old girl is 26 years old, and still in use. New pull cord and new wheels with oil changes from time to time has kept her going . Craftsman from 1996
I have been told by a professional lawn care business who has quite a few Ride Ons (you call them lawn tractors) that he does wash under his deck regularly but never washes the top of the deck, he has had issues with spindle bearings failing prematurely when water gets into them. He does remove the guards for the spindles and driving belts and cleans out debris that builds up in that area but never washes them anymore from the top. He has found that he rarely has spindle-bearing issues since not washing the top of the deck.
just have to know what needs to be greased or not, waxed, everything we have should come with a basic maintenance manual.
I have a 13-year-old Craftsman 42" lawn tractor. I have used it twice a week, every week since I bought it in 2010. I use the wash-out port almost every time I get done mowing, and the amount of gunk that comes out from under the deck is amazing!! Also, I am in the process, today, of sharpening my blades and scraping down the remaining residue/grass/crud under the deck. (I don't do this part as often as I should.) I am very happy to say that there is ZERO rust under my mower deck, and I swear by using the wash port!
Right on buddy! Thank You...
Would it be a yt 3000. By any chance……
Because that is about the timeframe that I bought mine from Sears Husqvarna built YT 3000
Wish I had done this my 10yr mower deck is a little rusted. Still going strong though.
I did put a k66 transmission on my little d130 ,it's been an awesome upgrade.
If you use your mower twice a week, every week since 2010, you must live in a warm area where your grass never stops growing and you probably mow the grass when it's dry. So, you won't be leaving your mower for months on end, clean or dirty. So, it's not flipping surprising it's not rusting.
@@johnsomerset1510It's actually very surprising to me that people have an issue with their mower decks rusting. Are y'all mowing in the rain, or something? I live in Nebraska. I've had the same John Deere riding mower and deck for over 30 years. Very little rust under the deck, only a surface rust in parts. Certainly no spots where it's rusting through.
My husband died recently so I have had to learn allowed thos stuff. I have wash ports on my 54" cub cadet xt2, but not on my John Deeres. After seeing this video, I'm going to have some installed on those, too. I love watching all the gunk fly out.
Good luck
I watched one of ur vids a couple yrs ago on the walk behind mower cleaning. I have done it ever since on my toro. dropping the deck is the way to go.
That's awesome
This is great video but let me just add a small tip... after washing out the deck turn off the water supply and then turn on the blades again for at least another minute. This will help air dry the blades and underneath the deck to prevent rust.
DallasCityOfChampions
While at it, clean the top side also, if clippings build up on the top they hold moisture and doesn't take long for rust to show up.....
Better yet.... Keep the deck sprayed with WD-40 means less cleaning time, less water used, it'll stay cleaner longer, and guaranteed no rust. Plus keeps blades sharper longer. Also, buying WD-40 by 5gallon buckets is by far cheaper and can be added to any spray bottle such as an old Windex or even a febreeze spray bottle. I've been doing this trick long before those crappy plastic hose connections were ever even thought about on a mower. Works wonders on off-road vehicles, too!
@@michaelw7540 I rebuilt my first car motor when I was 12 tears old, I'm now 62, kinda in a forced retirement due to lung cancer, I BEAT the cancer but have yet to get past the ill effects of the chemo and radiation. I've been a mechanic of one form or another my entire life. I fully believe in WD-40, just when you think you used it every way there comes yet another thing it's good for. WD-40 got it's origins during the saturan 5 rocket days. Seems they were having issues with rust glaze starting on some expensive rocket parts so they approached a team of engineers to come up with something to control the rust fissue. Long story short the engineers were sucessful, the product is what we know as WD-40, to break it down, WD stands for water dispersant and 40 is the number of formulas they tried before they got it right, hence WD-40.
I do the same and it dries surprisingly fast. A leaf blower works great on the top to dry
james
,,’,lelellelelelelemoore
I was ALMOST going to comment half way through about him leaving the mower deck up......then after another minute realized it was very intentional. Shame on me for doubting a man who's mind is sharpened with Old Milwaukee.
LOL! Right on JR....
@@StevesSmallEngineSaloon LOL
Ten months later. We are still laughing 😆
I mean the man wears Crocs and drinks Old Milwaukee.....what isn't to trust?
@@1on1c5 your farts
Great video! Yes, those wash ports work well. Just do it consistently and don't let the grass pile up on the underside of the deck.
Trying not to mow wet grass also helps a lot. I drop my deck when winter comes so I can install the snowblower attachment. It's never looked as caked as yours did before the cleaning. It may also help that the last few uses in fall are doing leaf cleanups and I try doing them when they are dry as well. If the leaves are dry enough, they pulverize into a fine dust I can just leave on the lawn to return nutrients to the soil.
That’s a big part. Wet grass not only sticks, but it clumps and makes a messy cut.
Kudos for actually voluntarily taking the deck off TWICE for the sake of this video!
Never have been impressed with the washout port, and then tonight watching the video.....oh,wait... lower the deck????
Right on
I use a pressure washer with a gutter cleaning attachment (U shaped) on the end of the wand with the green tip. If you put the tip facing up you can pivot it on the ground and move it around till the deck is clean.
I have used the wash port(s) successfully on my mowers for years. The key is to use a Teflon based non-stick spray to coat the deck and blades twice per year. Gunk makes an excellent spray that I use on my mowers and my snow blower. Using the wash port every time prevents buildup. Run the mower for as long as it takes for the water to run clear. Then turn the water off and run the blades for several minutes to help to dry the deck. Use a leaf blower to clean off and dry the top of the deck. Store the machine with the deck raised to help with keeping it dry. The underside of the deck will remain clean and it wont stink up your garage with that moldy rotting grass stench. The spray also helps to protect the metal from rusting.
Thank you so much for sharing. Im going to check Amazon for Gunk !
I do the exact same thing as you... a different spray, but does the same thing... I also wax everything 1x a year... no rust after 600 hours... I drive a 2015 craftsman pro 7400 (made by husqvarna) 54" 26hp kohler...
I will add that GUNK also works great on my snowblower, especially with the heavy wet snow that tends to clog the chute. i am sure that there are other similar products out there that work well too. GUNK Teflon spray is just my favorite.
Just throwing in another vote for the Gunk lawnmower deck spray. Really good stuff after washing I’ll spray it down with WD-40 too. This will help with preventing the rust from beginning.
Great tip, I use crown oil spray, it's environmentally friendly so no harm😉
I live on the Texas Gulf Coast. Lots of thick fast growing St Augustine grass and very fertile soil and lots of rain. When my deck is getting a thick coating of grass and mud underneath. I just drive it close to our ditch or a puddle in the yard and let the left edge of the deck sit in about 2-3 inches of water and engage the blades at max rpm . It catches the water and spins it violently around the deck and blows it out the discharge as a green malt until it clears up. It normally washes the deck clean.
End of the season..deck comes off, scraped clean and wire brushed and use a paint brush and brush old motor oil on the deck.
My mower is a Deere from 1986.
A Kawasaki engine changed oil and filter every season, greased and good to go.
I have only changed blades, drive belts and mower spindle bearings.
Great channel..great info
Three years ago I bought a brand new Husqvarna lawn tractor with a heavy duty fabricated (welded up heavy gauge not pressed steel) deck it has a 'wash port' on it. Came with the adaptor to attach water hose tried it out a few times it did not work all that well still had grass accumulation in parts of the deck. Ended up buying a 'tractor lift' which enables me to raise up the front of the tractor so I can wash out the underside of the deck much more effectively. Good investment in my opinion. I try to wash the underside of the deck after every mowing then clean the deck really well, brush off any residual grass/rust accumulation with a wire brush, degrease it and paint it when done for the mowing season for storage during the winter. Decks are usually the first thing to go on a lawn tractor so some care and maintenance of it pays off in the long run.
I stand mine on a piece of lawn next to my septic tank. The grass helps keep the water in while it works. I leave it running until the green goo stops pushing out from under the deck. I do this every time I mow. Then, once per year before putting it away for the winter, I scrape out matted grass patches from under the deck. There isn’t much, but I went it gone.
I spray the underside of my (clean) deck with PAM cooking spray (or similar brand) at the beginning of the mowing season. It works great at keeping the grass from sticking in the first place. I would think if you used that along with the deck washout, the deck would be clean in less than 2 minutes. I'm able to lift the front of my mower up, so I just hit it with a garden hose nozzle. This works great with a walk-behind mower too.
I paint mine with used motor oil and brush
Works great
WD-40 works good to, cheap oil works better.
"Old Milwaukee is good enough for doing this"
You're killing me Smalls 😂😂😂
Holy crap! I had no clue what that goofy fitting was even for! Thanks!
No problem!
Realey. For real. Come on
Keep in mind, wash ports can possibly take out your spindle bearings fairly quickly due to water getting into them. Even if the bearings are supposedly sealed. I installed a wash port on my my 42 inch cut Craftsman. Just had to replace both spindles after using the wash port after 4 mowing's. Bearings started making noise. Deck spindles only a year old. I thought I had found a great way to clean my deck after each mowing. Not so much evidently.
Likely your machine had some Chinese cheapos in there already. Just replace them with good quality ones. Costs s-tons less than replacing the frame. Cost difference is literally counted in tenfolds.
A lot of guys do this right after cutting, possibly for hours if not the whole day. Introducing cold water on a very hot bearing will create issues. Let the deck cool before performing the wash. I have found that to work well.
@@hughhall3210 Great point. I've seen people's neglected boat trailer bearing crumble like glass after a long trip to the lake, followed by launching the boat into cold water.
I use the wash port every time I mow. the wash port works great. I remove the deck at the end of every fall to sharpen the blades and inspect/lube, etc. Its once every year maintenance action for me. I do not have any rust, there is no build up of grass clippings built up under the deck, etc. you have to run the mower blades at the same time you have the water turned on for this to work and the mower deck needs to be down in the lowest position for it to work best. Cheers.
Didn't know lowering the deckmade a diference. Learned so much from Steve! Legend
Right on
Thanks for the tip. I tried it. Drank a six pack of Stone IPA while it was cleaning. When I woke up the deck was cleaner than it was when it was new.
Also, keep in mind that not doing this will of course lead to rust as you mentioned, but more than that. By not cleaning your deck after each mow and letting it build up like that, you are reducing the efficiency of the mower and the quality of the cut. All of that caked on grass reduces the airflow under the deck which many of us know is essential to lifting the blades of grass and giving a clean cut.
Also seeds from weeds get added to your lawn
Problem I had with mine was I washed it every time and the supposedly installed sealed bearings in a brand new mower went out within a year. They were completely rusted.
“You get an A”.
@@MrSteelehead fortunately for me, my ryobi electric push mower has a plastic deck, and I don’t really have an issue with grass buildup, plus mine won’t rust, but I do store it upright as well so I always check for clumps. It’s pretty rare though.
@@huntershortrepairs I bought a Honda with a plastic deck 15 or 20 years ago and my Son is still using it. I was real leery of the plastic deck and it turned out to be awesome nothing ever stuck to it. The transmission started going and I gave it to my son cause he’s younger and can push a little ha ha. Best mower I ever owned, bought another Honda and it is junk.
I don't even have a yard and I like these videos. Very informative!
Awesome! Thank You...
My husband just called and asked what I was doing, when I said I was watching a video about cleaning my mower deck he laughed at me lol
YOU GO GIRL! Right on...
It sounds like you're a keeper!
When I saw you drinking Old Milwaukie I knew you would make a good neighbor. Great video, thank you.
Thank You...and You're Welcome...
I use the lifter and pressure wash the underside after most uses. It keeps it clean and prevents clumping. Also, at season end the deck comes off for a good cleaning with blades off. Dried, then I use a rubberized under coating on the underside and a regular spray rust paint to touch up the top before I hang it up for the winter...
Real good information with a splash of Red Green and twist of Dan Akroyd. Thank you 😆 🤣
Our pleasure!
Thanks Steve, this is the first time watching u, “won’t be the last”, on washing the under deck of riding lawnmowers very informative. You took the time to remove your deck several times so we could see the actual results of each process, that is patience, dedicated work, & thoroughness in educating us. And, no I have not used it before but will definitely use them from now on (my walk behinds also have these hose fittings).
Right on
I love the shot of you riding up by the camera and holding the beer out for a cheers. Total gold.
Right on Buddy...
I just replaced my old JD 135. It still runs but the deck rusted out after 21 years. I live in Ontario so you get an idea of the temperature extremes. The John Deere 135 did not come with a wash port, So I only washed it out once a year. My new John Deere S240 came with a wash port and I wash it out every time I cut. I also use an oil spray that is used on cars,Krown, before I put any of my equipment away For the season.I use it on both lawn tractors the lawn trailer and my snow blower. By spending a little extra time and a little extra money honey my equipment tends to last decades perit's decades. I never started out like this I used to put away things without a care in the world but then it cost me a lot of money.
On riding mowers decks are very difficult to clean manually so the deck port may make sense. On my Toro walk behind mower I've used the deck wash port and while it does help remove grass buildup it also splatters water all over the place leading to rust formation inside the motor housing. So for me the good ole putty knife scrapper remains the tool of choice because as in the song "Rust Never Sleeps!"
Last year I was cleaning up a field with lawn tractor. I really should have had a bushcutter or rough cut machine, but the lawn tractor did a very good job. The blueberry and rose hip bushes did an amazing job of cleaning the deck. It looked like it was sand blasted, lol.
I work in a mower shop. I have one customer that always has the cleanest deck. I asked how. He tells me there is a small creek in his back yard. He just turns the blades on and drives it into the water.
Right on....
Yep
@@TheHamadanners never cut wet grass and you'll never have to worry about the under the deck.
@@MultiTurbospeed We have pro cutters that will mow the lawn in the rain They contract for X number of cuts and get paid by the cut so they cut in the pouring rain or even when the grass is dried out and dead they will still cut. Even if they are only cutting dirt.
@@davidhenderson3400 sounds like an incredible waste...
My rider and my push mower both have these features the only thing to remember is to remove the mulch cover cause that’s the only place that doesn’t end up clean if you do this every time you mow like I do and a rainy Saturday with a case of beer give that body a polish and wax and it’ll keep loooking new for years my neighbor just bought the same basic mower ive had for a decade and mine looks nicer then her new one. Enjoy what you do maintain your tools and like the tools I still use to this day from 1914 they will last multiple lifetimes I am generation 3 on many tools in my garage
Great tip - thanks! My JD doesn’t have this attachment but I’m sure going to get one. I find removing the deck a PITA so naturally all sorts of crud builds up under there.
I spray the underside of my mower deck with fluid film. This helps repel grass clippings, at the same time protecting against rust.
I jack my mower up and use my pressure washer on it, comes out looking new 100% of the time.
NOW I remember!
6 months ago, when the guy delivered my Husky 24V54, he gave me a small fitting for my garden hose to fit to the "wash port", whatever that was...
And later on on I wondered what this little plug was on my deck!
It's the WASH PORT, STUPID!
I'm gonna find that little fitting, go out there right now, get the garden hose and finally WASH the deck!
THANKS, Steve!
Good luck!
Please never stop making videos. I love listening to you and I love that you drink while doing it. I'm learning so much about my mower and i can't wait to teach my husband.. It just sound like I know what I am talking about
Thank you! Will do!
You have one of the best “how to…” threads on RUclips! Clear explanations, good visuals. Every time.
Wow, thank you!
Steve, I know you did that twice so you could have another beer, nice...
We have two self propelled Craftsman lawn mowers with wash ports and they get used after every cutting day. The mowers look new underneath. One is over 10 years old and even the upper side looks new. When I wash the cars with Zip Wax the upper side of both mowers get the same treatment of wash and wax. The only thing that I cannot find are the missing decals for the older mower due to washing them off. Hope they are all available somewhere then the older one will look brand new. Also they both start on the second pull every spring even with last years high test fuel. Keep up the good advise Steve.
I have that future on my CubCadet,and I 've been using it regularly,and it sure works good enought.
My 22" Toro Recycler has one that I use every time I mow. I've found that it works really well when being used to maintain a clean deck, rather than to clean a deck that already has a bunch of old hardened buildup on it. When I cleaned the deck completely and then used the was out port after every mow, my deck stays almost completely clean throughout the season. Makes winterizing far quicker.
Makes good sense. I use my wash port about once a year, I’ll go ahead and increase that now. 😆 I got tired of second hand riders a couple years ago and bought a new one. I took the deck off and undercoated it real well, I was surprised at the lack of when I got it off. My last rider was a ‘94 model 46” I bought second or third or so hand. I was always working on something to keep it running, but the deck finally rusted a hole through it significantly so I bought my first new one. I’ve used 3 or 4 since the 80’s. It sure is nice to hop on the new one, crank it right up, mow and put it up without turning a wrench. Plus I’m not trailering this one around mowing lots of grass. So I undercoated it real well, and have only used the port a few times. That’s about to change.
I have never used the hose cleanout on my JD. But now I have an excuse to go sit for a wile and have a beer or 3 and can't hear the wife yeling at me!!!!!
LOL!! Yea!! Jack :)
LMAO!!!AMEN TO THAT BROTHER!!! CHEERS!!!
Lol
@carbine1776 BOB got rid of the wife last year. No more getting yelled at for anything!, life is good 😁
Don’t do it, unless you like replacing spindle bearings. Ask me how i know!
Thanks for the info. I never believed that it would actually work. I Always use a plastic scraper.
Just got a Deere X350 last September. Used it till November and put it away for the winter. I have the electric mulch kit. The salesman said that the wash port chamber is cut off from the rest of the deck by baffles. I only ran the wash port once, deck down. Didn’t do much. Just pulled the deck off to sharpen the blades and check the underside. Dull blades. Caked on grass. But I got it cleaned. Pressure washing for the deck and a mud and grass shower for me.
After you clean the underside of the deck let it dry and spray with nonstick cooking spray (think Pam) Makes clean up much easier next time....
I use PB Blaster at end of season to cote the bottom of the deck after using 140psi air to clean it. NO WATER! My cheap MTD deck is still going strong after 15 years, spindles and all!
I have heard of people using used motor oil and painting it on the underside of a clean dry deck. This is to help keep it from rusting and help keep grass from sticking to it
I have a under carriage cleaner that I use on my truck and car and I also use it on my mower deck. Take my 3800 PSI pressure washer and hook the under carriage cleaner to it, jack up my mower and push the cleaner under the deck, does a great job.
Good information! Steve is why I installed a wash port on my old Cub Cadet a year or two ago. This is worth revisiting. I do it EVERY time I mow. Thanks Steve!
My long time friend Joe Mire pronounced MIR just like the space station..... Used to take his deck off every time he cut and hung it on his barn wall.. Then he would give it a air bath and hardly ever had to scrape any broccoli from it.... He would rinse it with the water hode and used shop air to dry it thoroughly then spray WD-40 on the under side.... That deck was still in use when he passed away.... He bought the mower new and was about 40 years old...
Then every other cutting he would pass a file on the blades... He always said I want to cut my grass not break it ..........
I don't use the wash port myself I have a homemade scraper that I made from a bed rail... It's in one of my videos on my channel..... I also pass a file every third cutting .....
Plus Tard Mon Ami ~!~!
Boo LuQuette Good idea, but not all decks come off easily.
I tried this and my mower hopped up and down after that, I guess I shouldn't have used spring water.
HarHar
Lmao
dad jokes
Ba Dum Tiss!
If you find holes in your deck next spring stop using holy water.
We have a couple of Troy Bilt push lawnmowers with Honda engines. After each mowing, I turn the mower on the side and high pressure wash off the accumulated grass and other debris that’s been picked up. Then they go back into the shed. I’ve never used the clean out ports on them. Maybe I’ll give it a try after next mowing.
Talking about the housing which I called "Mower Belt Guard" on the top - left side of the deck on a the John Deere riding mower. Yesterday after helping my son-in-law & daughter do some mowing, it came time to clean off the mower. Well we three spent over an hour just cleaning the top side of the lawnmower's deck. Yes, that is right, an hour.... Now they say they clean it whenever they get through mowing. I did the mowing, the lawn wasn't wet or any dew on it, pretty much dry. When I got through mowing we went to start cleaning it. Hosed off the the mower from the top and then down to bottom & wheels. No problems, we thought.
Was noticing debris kept coming out from under this "Mower Belt Guard". Turned the sprayer to the jet position and tried forcing the debris out this way. Finally the son-in-law laid down in the driveway and reached as far as he could and started puling hunk's of debris out from inside of the "Mower Belt Guard". He gave up then the daughter gave it a try for awhile. Then I got in there more determined to get this area cleaned out. Almost did, but gave up temporarily because son-in-law said he needed the grease a grease joint which was inside this area and in order to do this he needed to remove the "Mower Belt Guard". Then he would clean out the rest of the debris.
This morning I came up with an idea which would help in the cleaning out from the inside of the "Mower Belt Guard". And this modification to the guard would not interfere with its purpose or safety feature as well.
Now for the modification: Using an 1-inch hole saw, we drilled three holes, about a 1/4 to 1/2 inch from the bottom, around the edge of this guard, equally spaced out. By doing this, it will allow the water jetted from the nozzle to reach inside the guard at three different places to help in the removal of the debris build up. We spaced out the holes as best as we could. Now cleaning is WAY faster. Just thought it might help everyone else out. Those decks aren't cheap to replace especially when caused by rust which could have been prevented.
Hey Steve, I love your channel, I am 58 now and work on nothing but my own equipment but used to have a small engine repaired business 30 some years ago, and like you a beer would help. I have learned a few things from you that I didn't know. Keep up the good work. Frank.
Very cool!
Sprayed my deck with stonechip coating used to prevent rust on car frames
Good idea
Thank you for taking the time to explain the washout port. I learned that indeed ot does work. 😊
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Pine cones are best! When you are done mowing for the day just run out to the edge we're the pine trees grow and just mulching up the pine cones and straw. I found that that is less stressful on ur bearings and blades. Then hit it with a leaf blower and put ur mower up dry and no wet mess in your garage
I sent this vid to my husband because he loves his mower and he loves his beer. Great tip!
Thank You...
The breaking down of the grass with moisture will make acids that corrode the steel even faster . Plus the extra corrosion at the sharp edges of the blades will blunt the blades quicker . The sharp edge corrode quickly . However I am also concerned about the shaft seals . Think I am going to just buy a side lift and scrape . wipe and blow any grass off instead and that way I can also clean and lubricate the cutting blade for storage .
Nice video! I have found that “bouncing” the deck while water and blades are working. Cuts down on cleaning time!
I've used the wash-out port religiously on my Troy-Bilt Horse every time I use it since I purchased it new in the spring of 2010. I do not have, and have never had the residue / residue buildup under my deck you have under your deck. In fact, only minimal brushing with a nylon bristle brush using a water hose with low pressure is ever needed to further clean the deck to metal with zero residue when I change blades, and I do clean the deck of all residue to metal every time I change blades (and also if I have to change a hub between blade changes). I also wash the mower after every use. I cannot tell you how many people refuse believe me when I tell them it's 12 years old. They all think it's new and I'm lying to them. (I usually end up telling them they changed the color of the Horse from Red in 2012.)
HEY STEVE--JUST CLEANED MY DECK--WHAT A JOB IT WAS-IT HAD MOLDED AND IT WAS SO THICK -I JUST WANTED TO WATCH YOUR VIDEO ON THE MOWER DECK CLEANING..
On my Honda push mower I tilt the mower on it's side and soak spray the entire under deck with purple power degreaser. Then I let it set for 15 mins or so while I drink a beer and smoke a cig. Afterwards I hose it off real good with a jet stream garden hose nozzle and its pretty much spotless with only a few thin spots of grass residue that need scraping. Purple power works great and will eat all of the grass residue off your deck.
Yeah the wash port works, been using mine since I bought it new. I only mulch so clippings go everywhere. Live south of seattle so guess what? I mow lots of damp grass to.
So it only takes me 1 minute to clean the mower deck on my JD S100. Only real comment I have is you have to raise and lower the the deck up and down while it’s cleaning and do it after each mowing to achieve that spick and span result you’ve always craved.
Wash-out ports on riding mower decks are like power windows in a car. Once you have one, you won't want a mower without a washout port. I use the washout port after every mow. Lower the deck to its lowest setting over blacktop or concrete, hook up the garden hose, turn the water on, fire up the mower and engage the deck. The amount of caked-up grass that comes out the discharge chute is amazing. Run those blades until the water comes out clean/clear, no green tint in the water. Sometimes it takes a few minutes, especially in the Spring when the grass is tall and wet. I removed my Cub's deck recently to change the blades and the underside of the deck was immaculately clean. No rust, no caked-on grass to scrape, it was in mint condition. Can't recommend one enough...if your riding mower didn't come with a washout port and a connector for your garden hose, I would highly recommend figuring out how to DIY one onto the deck. Just make sure it's on the side opposite of the grass discharge chute.
I use the port periodically, but at the end of the year, I clean everything out and undercoat and paint john Deere yellow. My old deck lasted 12 yrs in great shape, my x500 is 7 yrs old and keeping up is so much easier if you never let it get bad. Takes 3-4 hours to clean and paint at end of year. I also use my compressor every time to blow debris off top, rather than water.
I use the leaf blower to blow off the top of the deck.
@@garrisonawyes, i use a leaf blower as well after use to get all the debris out. Keeps the mice out too.
I do mine by hand with a paint scraper, got a chain that hangs from a tree, hook that on the front bumper and drive forward till the front wheels are 3 feet in the air and shut it down and set the brake.
Scrape it and grease it.
No big water mess.
You should do a video of that technique....
Sounds like a perfectly good alternative if you're certain the rig won't slip or slide.
Thanks Steve never thought about lowering the deck and putting on the mulch cover.
Glad to help
I really enjoy your videos you’re very knowledgeable and whenever I am in doubt on how to do something first thing I do is go to your site.
That message took less than a half a beer.
Awesome! Thank you!
Steve, one thing I try to avoid most of the time is cutting my grass when it has dew on it or is wet. Not only does your grass not get cut as clean, but wet or damp grass sticks to the underside of your deck compounding the problem. There may be times due to my schedule I just have to cut the grass when a little damp, but I try to avoid doing so. Thanks
I don't cut the grass when it's wet.
I have a Toro 22 Recycler.
Cut only when it's dry.
Husqvarna rider manual states not to mow when grass is wet. I know from my own experience that John is exactly right. Wait until the dew burns off or rain wet grass completely dries out. It's always the little things.
Try living where I do. I can't avoid wet grass 9/10 years.
Just have to try and do it as dry as possible 🤷
@@TheKillertoma11 Are you in the Amazon?
@@cedricerleward might as well be. Lol. PNW. Trying to cut during spring and fall is very frustrating around here
I just save-up small brush and cuttings, so in the Fall, I use the riding mower to create mulch from the brush thus getting a clean deck in the process.
Great advise Steve. When my spindles go out I always have a sneaking suspicion that it is my fault because I like to keep my mower clean by using a garden hose. Of course I can never prove or disprove my theory, but have been given warnings by various mechanics, that I respect , not to use water around the sealed bearings on the spindles. I would suspect that those washout ports are hard on spindles. The dealers sell washout ports, but they sometimes warn not to use water around spindles. I would be interested in your thoughts on this subject.
I have a 42" Cub Cadet. I use the washout port religiously. However, I'm really not satisfied with the job it's doing! I noticed just this afternoon that when cutting my lawn it was leaving clumps of grass when mulching. After using the port, I put the tractor's front tires up on wheel ramps. I found a lot of grass still clumped under the deck. I brought out the pressure washer and gave the underside a good cleaning. When I cleaned up the grass/water mixture off of the driveway I all but filled a five-gallon bucket.
I put the hose and a bottle of whiskey between a chair and the mower
I keep drinking whiskey until I'm on the ground near the mower
I use the hose to keep hydrated while I'm down there
Love your videos Steve. Keep up the good work
That sounds like quite the good rinse! LOL
Have you ever met a beer you didn’t like? Keep the videos coming🍻
Yeh,. The alcohol free beers.
I have a Cub Cadet RZTS ( zero turn with steering wheel ) when I am done mowing, I shut it off, use a leaf blower to blow the entire mower off. Then with the deck up I spray under it inside and thru the blow out opening. Then I hose the mower off and blow dty with the blower. Then when I am on my driveway I turn the blades on and let it dry out underneath. Every year I pull the deck off and thoroughly clean and repaint it underneath. Its almost 8 years old and no rust.
This is very good idea where they sell this part to install on my Tractor Thank you Steve.
I wondered why mine never worked and now you've shown me the correct way to do it. THANK YOU!!!
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When I was 10 or so one of my chores was cleaning the under side of the lawn mower. Boy I think this would of been a life saver.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP
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Thanks, I’ve been looking at the port all year in my new mower.
Go for it!
Hey Thanks Steve! Great tip about lowering the deck all the way! I use the wash port after every cut but I never thought to lower the deck all the way and I usually cut pretty high. I see you do the wash port on the pavement as well and I'll copy that as well!
I've heard different stories about pressure washing the deck. Some say if the bearings can keep running after all the beating it gets from mulching, it should be able to take a pressure washing. I used a pressure washer, but to be safe, I only aim at the sides of the wells. That way, any water splashing towards the center doesn't have the full force of the stream. But be aware, the water comes right back at you. I think shop apron, hat, and face shield next time. Probably won't save me from the bathtub though!
I have a John Deere tractor and use my washout port all the time. It works like you said. Great video my friend and love your channel.
Thanks 👍
Use mine after each mowing, cleans out well each time. I have a Simplicity zero turn with a 54” deck
Right on
I haven't been using my port, but after all these years, I'm going to. I have been cleaning the deck the hard way! Thanks!
Glad I could help!
Cold enough to see your breath, but warm enough for Crocs! Good Vid. Need a port for my old Wheel Horse.
Dammit ya bugger...you got me..I was yelling at u to put the deck down...lol....but then I cracked a beer n waited...good pull...lol...great videos
Right on Jim! Thank You...
LOL....reminds me of myself when I mower my yard down by the resaca of mind. I let my John Deer go straight and in circles in low throttle while I jug up my brewski. By the time I finish my 12 pack yard is down. I enjoy your videos very much...K U D O S !!!!!
I don't have that on my L120 JD but I do periodically clean the deck and spray it with WD40. That really helps avoid the buildup.
Kale smoothies for everybody.
I was wondering if you measured time in minutes or in cans.
The kale I like best is spelled with a silent "K"
Looking at his shelf I would say he measures in bottles.
After the second can would it even matter any more?
The port is much more convenient than jacking the mower up to try scraping the deck from below. I'll have to start using mine more often. It's great to see the before & after views! Thanks.
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