✅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/ ✅Visit Steve’s PARTS & TOOL STORE ➜ www.amazon.com/shop/stevessmallenginesaloon ✅Follow Steve on FACEBOOK ➜ facebook.com/stevessmallenginesaloon ✅Follow Steve on INSTAGRAM ➜ instagram.com/stevessmallenginesaloon/ ✅Follow Steve on TWITTER ➜ twitter.com/SteveSaloon
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 . :))
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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’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 tried the wash port and ended up using a putty knife. I guess maybe if you used it from the first time you use a lawn mower maybe it'll work but yeah putty knife is the way to go
I commented earlier about my JD X394. I’d been doing it wrong for the last year. Yesterday, I followed your instructions to lowered the deck as far as it would go. I also removed and cleaned the debris from the spray nozzle. Wow! What a difference! I couldn’t believe how much crud came off. THANK YOU!!!
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.
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.
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!
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).
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.
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 just cleaned my mower deck with a hose and a wire brush. I mowed the lawn once (54" deck, about 3/4 acre of grass) and cleaned it my usual way - in the lawn with the deck up off the ground. Then I got curious, did a search and found this video. I pulled the mower back out onto the driveway, and flushed it out again with the deck all the way on the ground. Five minutes later the water finally ran clear. Great tip, you just earned yourself a subscriber
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 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.
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.
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.
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
I do the same. Just use a can of Rust-Oleum instead of the motor oil though. Staves off the rust through the winter and typically gets through a few mows before the paint starts getting sandblasted off again. As long as I can keep it restricted to a bit of surface rust, my 3/4-in fabricated deck should last forever.
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????
Great job Steve. For years I have had 36" and 48" beds on my old Wheel Horse tractors, and now I have a JD X350 WITH clean out water ports, they work! I have since added ports to both WH beds as well as an Ariens self-propelled mower. And my old 36" 1980 bed rotted out even though I cleaned the underside each year and painted it and that was a lot of scrapping and work: NOT GOOD ENOUGH! Water ports do indeed work, thank you for your video.
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.
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.
@@1Tibs1Not giving you a maintenance manual is on purpose! They want it to wear out prematurely so you'll have to buy a new one, or at least buy parts.
Just went and looked at my new mower and I didn’t see a deck port but then noticed a silver plate on the deck and stamped on it, it said deck port capable. So now I just need to order a port and keep my new investment clean. Thanks for your videos. I just found them and have been binge watching them today. I’m 71 this year and a widow for less than a year, so I need to learn to do stuff myself. Thank you for your insightful videos that are easy to follow.
@@michaelr.williams8176I’ll go one step further. I bought a JD S100 last year and decided to use the wash port a couple of weeks ago. I didn’t know that it was a quick coupler so spent at least 5 minutes twisting my garden hose so that it screw in all the way. I guess I should switch to Old Milwaukee
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.
The salesman I bought my mower from literally told me never too do this. It can warp the spindles and the bearings inside the deck. Also said it doesn’t work. I believe this man over ANYONE trying too sell me something. You earned a subscribe from me. Very helpful video.
@@StevesSmallEngineSaloon under any other circumstances I would, it’s the John Deere dealership about 10 mins from my house, next closest is 2.5 hours away. Or i would never go back. Only salesman I ever had that complained because of all the “extras” I got. I literally added a light kit, floor mat, foot pegs and a mulching kit. Apparently that was ridiculous to him….
Love your channel. I have two older tractors (Deere L130 - 48" deck & Cub Cadet, Zero Turn - 42" deck). Neither have a wash out port. What I do is drive each tractor up on my car ramps several times a year and power wash the top and bottom of the decks. Works like a charm. Also, to minimize the amount of grass that collects under each deck, I never cut my grass when it is wet.
I love my power washer I use it to clean everything and blow dry with my leaf blower cleans my cars with no water spots or drip marks. Even use it to blow leaves off the lawn and driveway, etc
I realize everyone doesn't have it,but I prefer to use compressed air to clean off the deck topside. Great video,nice to know it DOES work,although my older Craftsman doesn't have them.
Great explanation. Wouldn't it be good to run the mower again, this time without water, on a hard dry surface, for a few minutes to help dry the bottom of the deck just by the airflow?
After using the washout port, I run the mower around the yard for about 5 minutes before parking it, to help dry the deck. An air compressor would probably work too.
I have the entry-level John Deere Zero Turn (Z235) and I just paid almost $900 for a new 42" deck, simply because I STOPPED using the wash port. When it was brand new, I used it faithfully after every cutting, but I got lazy and it completely rotted my deck within 5 years and only 49 hours on the engine. Great video!
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
Great stuff Steve. Very effective especially if you used it weekly. Good advice to clean it weekly and park it on a slab. Myself, Every fall I take the wire wheel grinder to the deck, let dry bone dry, then I either paint with a good metal rust paint or I coat it with Fluid Film. Same original deck on my 1974 Columbia 990.
👍Yes sir, been doing this for years. It’s like a pressure washer in action w/ those blades running. I tell everyone after I service their mowers. Riders or push type. Works great. Lots of folks don’t realize what it’s for & some wonder why it’s not working well when they hook the water hose up. Come to find out, they’re not engaging the blades. Lol! Keep up the good work Sir Steve. I’m going back thru some older videos as business has been down as of late & have some chill time on my hands. Take care. 👍
That was cool my Papa was a small engine repair man also and I never knew what that was for but he used to always power wash the decks and repaint them every few years to keep them from rusting. Thanks Steve😁
Bought a used 61-inch front deck woods about 3 years ago, that didn't have a wash port on it. Bought a port at TSC and installed it. Every time I get lazy and don't wash it out immediately after I finish mowing, I pay for it with extra work to get it cleaned out. As you said, the deck HAS to be all the way down for it to wash out right. I have been well satisfied with the cleaning for the past three years!
I just have a troy bilt push mower and I just found that if I tilt it up and spray it with the stream setting on my hose nozzle, it cleans it quite well and it also does a neater job on the lawn when it is clean from built up grass.
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
Okay, this answered the question I've been wondering about since I bought my mower. I haven't done this even once, but I'm replacing the blades and the spindles even, so I'm going to clean the deck out really well, then I'm going to do this from now on!!! Thanks for posting!!!
Steve use this method every time works like a charm I have a craftsman. 50 in deck has one on both sides only takes 5 min I don't think people realize how much time it saves. And your back and your deck .
I leave chute open on my Husqvarna, lower deck and let her rip. It globs out the chute and cleans very well. Of course, I was using mine from day one of buying my zero turn so it still has a nice smooth factory finish under the deck to work with :)
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!
A buddy of mine told me that if you take hi-temp red RTV and coat your deck underside it will repel most of the grass and dirt that sticks under there also..Red RTV is pretty resilient stuff..we coat the inside of power plant coal crushers with it and it handles the metal erosion inherent in grinding coal very well..coal has an amazing corrosive effect under high heat and pressure.
@@Donnie64inPa Cheers back to you..never contemplated corrosive effects until I saw washouts in metal from coal, water, and yes even air..the boiler backpasses will make a scholar of one if they get to look around a little..
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.
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.
@@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 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!
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.
Hi Steve, I've got a JD X580 with 54" 3 blade mower deck. Just turned 300 hours when my center spindle ceased up. I regularly grease all spindles and lube points every 50 hours max. I took mower to local JD dealer and explained problem. Their 1st question- Do you use the wash port on your deck? I replied that I wash my mower after every cutting and that included the mower deck. Eureka!!!! That was the cause of the spindle cease up. They explained that the spindle heats up during use and the hitting it with regular hose water caused the spindle to corrode/ deteriorate. They ended up replacing all 3 of the spindles under warranty. They also said to discontinue using the wash out plug. In fact they went on to say discontinue the use of water completely and rely on scraping and air pressure to clean the deck underside!!!! I was quite taken back by their comments and intend to contact JD Corporate to see how accurate this Dealer is in their advice. The port worked great when used regularly Sounds like JD needs to re-engineer their spindle design. Let me know if you had any similar comments. Thanks
Have you watched Steve's video about greasing mower deck spindle bearings? ruclips.net/video/d3eC2OIg85o/видео.html It would be nice to get zirk fittings lined up with the bearings so as to be able to get the grease directly into the bearings.
@@gordbaker896 ..drill a hole into the side of the bearing that aligns with the zirk fitting. also place set screw to keep them aligned. ...top and bottom bearings. poor design, basically, planned obsolescence.
@@steveinla8963 Not feasable. Bearing Cup is very hard steel. You would just get those filings inside the Bearing! No way it would align with the zerk even if you could drill it. I just go for a new spindle, 2 new bearings. Done.
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.
Hi Steve, I was told using the washout port on a hot (recently used) deck would cause the spindles to pull in moisture as they cooled, causing premature failure. Do you have an opinion or any experience to confirm or refute this?
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 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.
@@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.
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.
I like it and wonder if someone needs to invent a brush that slides over the blades and clamps on. Use them in conjunction with the water. What do you think?
Steve, I bought a Craftsman clean out kit online. Came with two drill bits for the correct size holes to drill, a self tapping machine screw to attach the clean out, the clean out itself and the quick-attaching hose coupling. Complete kit. IT WORKS BEAUTIFULLY. Bought two more for my other riders. Good video. Thank you.
Old Milwaukee for cleaning mowerdeck? Have you tried Bud Lite you can sit longer while washing. Deck gets cleaner. The cleanest ever deck wash was with CORONA.
Appreciate your videos! I was told by my mechanic to only do the wash outs when the machine is cold. He said doing it after mowing the shafts are hot and tend to eventually warp. Said he's replaced more shafts due to that. Your thoughts?
i am really glad you addressed this topic. i have seen these wash ports on some of the better push mowers that i have fixed and sold but thought of them as more of a bell/whistle than a practical item. never occurred to me that if i did try it out, the engine would have to be running and the deck lowered. p.s ; i hope that you will stop promoting bad beers. good beer is only a few pennies more. you were on the right track with the thirsty beaver pale ale.
I am considering on my next rider, while it is new, install a second wash port AND have the deck coated by Ameriguard. Their bed liner is super tough and should prevent any rot from the bottom side
So I don't have a riding mower at this time, but I had planned to. It'll happen next year. But now I know what to do after every mowing session. I am now a subscriber.
Thank you for the instructions on how to do it correctly! I had an idea but I was not right when I first guessed about the deck lowering. Really enjoying this channel I always learn a new something to help in the yard.
Yep, it works. I don't even do it every time, but my deck is spotless. I also liberally squirt used motor oil on the underside and give it a very light wipe down. Leave a pretty thick film. Works pretty good. Edit: Oil the deck anually. Not every time the tractor is used. That would be a little extreme.
I also used to use old engine oil, in my case to protect the underneath of my car. However I have been told by my local garage mechanic that he used to do the same until he found out that used engine oil is acidic and increases the potential for corrosion, rust and oxidation.
@@Pete.Ty1 You are correct! Used motor oil does/can contain acids. Sulfuric, if I'm not mistaken. However, I am of the thought that the concentration would have to be so high in order to start eating away at steel. The only reason I think this is because out of all of the engines I've seen sit with oil in them for years I've never seen any damage from just sitting. Engine oils are so good nowadays. I'm just one man, though! Maybe in a couple years I'll go out to the garage and my deck will be on the floor in pieces. I'll be sure to let you guys know!
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 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.
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 ~!~!
Anytime I've got my mower flipped up to check/sharpen the blade I also like to give the underside of the deck a good coat of some non-stick cooking spray. Works like a charm!
Just came across this video. Looks like it has been here a while. I own a John Deere rider, similar to the one in the video, & I use my wash out port EVERY time I mow. It is approx. 5 years old now & underside of the deck looks great. I don't mow when grass is wet so, that helps a lot. I run the wash out after I mow, clean the rest of the mower after that, then let it dry before storing it. Never had any grass to accumulate under there.
I used the deck washing port on my last JD D160 riding lawnmower (not after every use, however). And I’ve been using the port on my new JD Z365R. I also use my leaf blower to clean off all the debris after mowing.
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!
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For more videos like this, check out:
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👉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
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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 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
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.
Good for you Connie. So sorry for your loss, but I am sure your late husband is watching and is proud of you.
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!!
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 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.
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’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 tried the wash port and ended up using a putty knife. I guess maybe if you used it from the first time you use a lawn mower maybe it'll work but yeah putty knife is the way to go
I commented earlier about my JD X394. I’d been doing it wrong for the last year. Yesterday, I followed your instructions to lowered the deck as far as it would go. I also removed and cleaned the debris from the spray nozzle. Wow! What a difference! I couldn’t believe how much crud came off. THANK YOU!!!
You're Welcome...
Thanks!
No, thank you!! 👍🤟😎
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.
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.
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.
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!
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 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.
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 just cleaned my mower deck with a hose and a wire brush. I mowed the lawn once (54" deck, about 3/4 acre of grass) and cleaned it my usual way - in the lawn with the deck up off the ground. Then I got curious, did a search and found this video. I pulled the mower back out onto the driveway, and flushed it out again with the deck all the way on the ground. Five minutes later the water finally ran clear. Great tip, you just earned yourself a subscriber
That is awesome!
Didn't know lowering the deckmade a diference. Learned so much from Steve! Legend
Right on
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 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😉
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.
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
I do the same. Just use a can of Rust-Oleum instead of the motor oil though. Staves off the rust through the winter and typically gets through a few mows before the paint starts getting sandblasted off again.
As long as I can keep it restricted to a bit of surface rust, my 3/4-in fabricated deck should last forever.
I don't even have a yard and I like these videos. Very informative!
Awesome! Thank You...
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
Great job Steve. For years I have had 36" and 48" beds on my old Wheel Horse tractors, and now I have a JD X350 WITH clean out water ports, they work! I have since added ports to both WH beds as well as an Ariens self-propelled mower. And my old 36" 1980 bed rotted out even though I cleaned the underside each year and painted it and that was a lot of scrapping and work: NOT GOOD ENOUGH! Water ports do indeed work, thank you for your video.
That is awesome!
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!
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!
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.
@@1Tibs1Not giving you a maintenance manual is on purpose! They want it to wear out prematurely so you'll have to buy a new one, or at least buy parts.
@@1Tibs1mine is sealed bearings no nipples so there’s that 🤷♂️
Just went and looked at my new mower and I didn’t see a deck port but then noticed a silver plate on the deck and stamped on it, it said deck port capable. So now I just need to order a port and keep my new investment clean. Thanks for your videos. I just found them and have been binge watching them today. I’m 71 this year and a widow for less than a year, so I need to learn to do stuff myself. Thank you for your insightful videos that are easy to follow.
You're Welcome...
Holy crap! I had no clue what that goofy fitting was even for! Thanks!
No problem!
Realey. For real. Come on
@@michaelr.williams8176I’ll go one step further. I bought a JD S100 last year and decided to use the wash port a couple of weeks ago. I didn’t know that it was a quick coupler so spent at least 5 minutes twisting my garden hose so that it screw in all the way. I guess I should switch to Old Milwaukee
I sent this vid to my husband because he loves his mower and he loves his beer. Great tip!
Thank You...
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.
I just drive mine into the farm pond
@@sociopathmercenary if it hits too much water, the engine will slow down, the belt will slip and smoke. It only needs a little water.
The salesman I bought my mower from literally told me never too do this. It can warp the spindles and the bearings inside the deck. Also said it doesn’t work. I believe this man over ANYONE trying too sell me something. You earned a subscribe from me. Very helpful video.
Yup. You need to get a new saleman....
@@StevesSmallEngineSaloon under any other circumstances I would, it’s the John Deere dealership about 10 mins from my house, next closest is 2.5 hours away. Or i would never go back. Only salesman I ever had that complained because of all the “extras” I got. I literally added a light kit, floor mat, foot pegs and a mulching kit. Apparently that was ridiculous to him….
Love your channel. I have two older tractors (Deere L130 - 48" deck & Cub Cadet, Zero Turn - 42" deck). Neither have a wash out port. What I do is drive each tractor up on my car ramps several times a year and power wash the top and bottom of the decks. Works like a charm. Also, to minimize the amount of grass that collects under each deck, I never cut my grass when it is wet.
I love my power washer
I use it to clean everything
and blow dry with my leaf blower
cleans my cars with no water spots
or drip marks.
Even use it to blow leaves off the lawn and driveway, etc
I realize everyone doesn't have it,but I prefer to use compressed air to clean off the deck topside. Great video,nice to know it DOES work,although my older Craftsman doesn't have them.
Thanks for sharing
Great explanation. Wouldn't it be good to run the mower again, this time without water, on a hard dry surface, for a few minutes to help dry the bottom of the deck just by the airflow?
After using the washout port, I run the mower around the yard for about 5 minutes before parking it, to help dry the deck. An air compressor would probably work too.
I have the entry-level John Deere Zero Turn (Z235) and I just paid almost $900 for a new 42" deck, simply because I STOPPED using the wash port. When it was brand new, I used it faithfully after every cutting, but I got lazy and it completely rotted my deck within 5 years and only 49 hours on the engine. Great video!
I love the shot of you riding up by the camera and holding the beer out for a cheers. Total gold.
Right on Buddy...
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
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
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!
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
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.
Great stuff Steve. Very effective especially if you used it weekly. Good advice to clean it weekly and park it on a slab.
Myself, Every fall I take the wire wheel grinder to the deck, let dry bone dry, then I either paint with a good metal rust paint or I coat it with Fluid Film. Same original deck on my 1974 Columbia 990.
Bragging or complaining???
@@buttliq0ur869 just encouraging that it's possible to make them last.
👍Yes sir, been doing this for years. It’s like a pressure washer in action w/ those blades running. I tell everyone after I service their mowers. Riders or push type. Works great. Lots of folks don’t realize what it’s for & some wonder why it’s not working well when they hook the water hose up. Come to find out, they’re not engaging the blades. Lol! Keep up the good work Sir Steve. I’m going back thru some older videos as business has been down as of late & have some chill time on my hands. Take care. 👍
That was cool my Papa was a small engine repair man also and I never knew what that was for but he used to always power wash the decks and repaint them every few years to keep them from rusting. Thanks Steve😁
Very cool!
Yep, just repainted mine after a thorough clean. Just simple maintenance will keep the deck from rusing. Too lazy, too bad.
Great video I can't get my 46inch deck off! Thanks for sharing
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...
You have one of the best “how to…” threads on RUclips! Clear explanations, good visuals. Every time.
Wow, thank you!
Bought a used 61-inch front deck woods about 3 years ago, that didn't have a wash port on it. Bought a port at TSC and installed it. Every time I get lazy and don't wash it out immediately after I finish mowing, I pay for it with extra work to get it cleaned out. As you said, the deck HAS to be all the way down for it to wash out right. I have been well satisfied with the cleaning for the past three years!
Cold enough to see your breath, but warm enough for Crocs! Good Vid. Need a port for my old Wheel Horse.
I just have a troy bilt push mower and I just found that if I tilt it up and spray it with the stream setting on my hose nozzle, it cleans it quite well and it also does a neater job on the lawn when it is clean from built up grass.
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
Okay, this answered the question I've been wondering about since I bought my mower. I haven't done this even once, but I'm replacing the blades and the spindles even, so I'm going to clean the deck out really well, then I'm going to do this from now on!!! Thanks for posting!!!
You're Welcome...
Glad I stumbled across this video. Just purchased a new mower last month. Will utilize this feature after each time I mow. Thank You Steve.
You're Welcome...
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.
I spray the underside of my mower deck with fluid film. This helps repel grass clippings, at the same time protecting against rust.
Steve use this method every time works like a charm I have a craftsman. 50 in deck has one on both sides only takes 5 min I don't think people realize how much time it saves. And your back and your deck .
Right on John! Thank You...
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.
I use the wash port on my lawn mower all the time. It is good to get some of the wet grass out from under the deck
I leave chute open on my Husqvarna, lower deck and let her rip. It globs out the chute and cleans very well. Of course, I was using mine from day one of buying my zero turn so it still has a nice smooth factory finish under the deck to work with :)
Right on
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!
A buddy of mine told me that if you take hi-temp red RTV and coat your deck underside it will repel most of the grass and dirt that sticks under there also..Red RTV is pretty resilient stuff..we coat the inside of power plant coal crushers with it and it handles the metal erosion inherent in grinding coal very well..coal has an amazing corrosive effect under high heat and pressure.
cheers, keystone power plant here shelocta pa was genon now cams......
@@Donnie64inPa Cheers back to you..never contemplated corrosive effects until I saw washouts in metal from coal, water, and yes even air..the boiler backpasses will make a scholar of one if they get to look around a little..
Quick test Steve or anybody, what does RTV stand for? No cheating!
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.
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 clean my rider after every use and that wash out port does work and it works great. My deck is completely clean every time. Great video
Good stuff!
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.
Hi Steve,
I've got a JD X580 with 54" 3 blade mower deck. Just turned 300 hours when my center spindle ceased up. I regularly grease all spindles and lube points every 50 hours max. I took mower to local JD dealer and explained problem. Their 1st question- Do you use the wash port on your deck? I replied that I wash my mower after every cutting and that included the mower deck. Eureka!!!! That was the cause of the spindle cease up. They explained that the spindle heats up during use and the hitting it with regular hose water caused the spindle to corrode/ deteriorate. They ended up replacing all 3 of the spindles under warranty. They also said to discontinue using the wash out plug. In fact they went on to say discontinue the use of water completely and rely on scraping and air pressure to clean the deck underside!!!! I was quite taken back by their comments and intend to contact JD Corporate to see how accurate this Dealer is in their advice. The port worked great when used regularly
Sounds like JD needs to re-engineer their spindle design. Let me know if you had any similar comments. Thanks
Have you watched Steve's video about greasing mower deck spindle bearings? ruclips.net/video/d3eC2OIg85o/видео.html It would be nice to get zirk fittings lined up with the bearings so as to be able to get the grease directly into the bearings.
@@steveinla8963 Those are sealed bearings. Waste of grease.
@@gordbaker896 ..drill a hole into the side of the bearing that aligns with the zirk fitting. also place set screw to keep them aligned. ...top and bottom bearings. poor design, basically, planned obsolescence.
@@steveinla8963 Not feasable. Bearing Cup is very hard steel. You would just get those filings inside the Bearing! No way it would align with the zerk even if you could drill it.
I just go for a new spindle, 2 new bearings. Done.
@@gordbaker896 this is 2020 and we can put holes in hard materials, and we can clean out the debris!
I have one on my rider mower, I do it every time I mow. It really does keep it clean
Thank You...
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.
You're Welcome...
Hi Steve, I was told using the washout port on a hot (recently used) deck would cause the spindles to pull in moisture as they cooled, causing premature failure. Do you have an opinion or any experience to confirm or refute this?
Yes never do it right after mowing you’re really supposed to wait till the following day
Yes, let it cool down first.
Water will never make it too the spindles I promise you
Cub cadet sent notice to not use them due to just that. Bearing failure
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 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...
I bought a new John Deere 110 about a month ago and I use the wash port every time I cut the grass. It really does work.
Right on
I jack my mower up and use my pressure washer on it, comes out looking new 100% of the time.
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.
I like it and wonder if someone needs to invent a brush that slides over the blades and clamps on. Use them in conjunction with the water. What do you think?
I like that idea.
@@tonyfisher5580 Great idea. Anything to avoid taking that deck off.
Steve, I bought a Craftsman clean out kit online. Came with two drill bits for the correct size holes to drill, a self tapping machine screw to attach the clean out, the clean out itself and the quick-attaching hose coupling. Complete kit. IT WORKS BEAUTIFULLY. Bought two more for my other riders. Good video. Thank you.
Right on Tommy!
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..
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.
Old Milwaukee for cleaning mowerdeck? Have you tried Bud Lite you can sit longer while washing. Deck gets cleaner. The cleanest ever deck wash was with CORONA.
My brother prefers Milwaukee's Beast.
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
Appreciate your videos! I was told by my mechanic to only do the wash outs when the machine is cold. He said doing it after mowing the shafts are hot and tend to eventually warp. Said he's replaced more shafts due to that. Your thoughts?
I think you mean THE SPINDLES not the 'shafts'
i am really glad you addressed this topic. i have seen these wash ports on some of the better push mowers that i have fixed and sold but thought of them as more of a bell/whistle than a practical item. never occurred to me that if i did try it out, the engine would have to be running and the deck lowered.
p.s ; i hope that you will stop promoting bad beers. good beer is only a few pennies more. you were on the right track with the thirsty beaver pale ale.
Joe, Old Mil is Great Beer and worthy of a little promoting here and there !! Cheers!
I am considering on my next rider, while it is new, install a second wash port AND have the deck coated by Ameriguard. Their bed liner is super tough and should prevent any rot from the bottom side
So I don't have a riding mower at this time, but I had planned to. It'll happen next year. But now I know what to do after every mowing session. I am now a subscriber.
Right on
Thank you for the instructions on how to do it correctly! I had an idea but I was not right when I first guessed about the deck lowering. Really enjoying this channel I always learn a new something to help in the yard.
You are so welcome!
Yep, it works. I don't even do it every time, but my deck is spotless. I also liberally squirt used motor oil on the underside and give it a very light wipe down. Leave a pretty thick film. Works pretty good.
Edit: Oil the deck anually. Not every time the tractor is used. That would be a little extreme.
I also used to use old engine oil, in my case to protect the underneath of my car. However I have been told by my local garage mechanic that he used to do the same until he found out that used engine oil is acidic and increases the potential for corrosion, rust and oxidation.
@@Pete.Ty1 You are correct! Used motor oil does/can contain acids. Sulfuric, if I'm not mistaken. However, I am of the thought that the concentration would have to be so high in order to start eating away at steel. The only reason I think this is because out of all of the engines I've seen sit with oil in them for years I've never seen any damage from just sitting. Engine oils are so good nowadays. I'm just one man, though! Maybe in a couple years I'll go out to the garage and my deck will be on the floor in pieces. I'll be sure to let you guys know!
Sprayed my deck with stonechip coating used to prevent rust on car frames
Good idea
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 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.
by using the washout system on the bottom of those mower decks how much water infiltration is going to happen going into the bearings on the spindles
none.
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.
Have the exact same mower. Had my doubts about the wash port until now. Will start to use it again. Thanks
Any time!
I love how you do so much work to prepare your props for you videos
I appreciate that!
Anytime I've got my mower flipped up to check/sharpen the blade I also like to give the underside of the deck a good coat of some non-stick cooking spray. Works like a charm!
If you get it perfectly clean and dry, spray it with Pam non-stick spray before mowing. Really helps to keep grass from sticking.
I own a lawn business and I was my deck everyday. If I can so can you weekend warrior
I can't actually tell if this is a joke or useful information, and that's why I love it.
@@whatisthis9495 He didn't say he doesn't wash his deck..He just said using Pam keeps grass from sticking...Jesus,chill out dude.
Just came across this video. Looks like it has been here a while. I own a John Deere rider, similar to the one in the video, & I use my wash out port EVERY time I mow. It is approx. 5 years old now & underside of the deck looks great. I don't mow when grass is wet so, that helps a lot. I run the wash out after I mow, clean the rest of the mower after that, then let it dry before storing it. Never had any grass to accumulate under there.
Very cool!
I used the deck washing port on my last JD D160 riding lawnmower (not after every use, however). And I’ve been using the port on my new JD Z365R. I also use my leaf blower to clean off all the debris after mowing.
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!
My first time on this channel. Great content. Strait to the point and no extra garbage. Good work
I appreciate that!