Grass in the mower deck

[HOF#13]

Here is the million dollar question for all you lawn and garden guru's....I think I know the answer but will ask anyway...Any tried and true method to keeping the bottom of your mower deck clean? I have a John Deere riding mower, and get awful tired of taking the mower deck completely off the mower once a month to scrape the chunks and clumps of grass off the bottom of the deck. I am maybe thinking a power washer would work ok, but I am looking for a solution that would not require taking the deck off the mower.

Thanks all ! !

[Dan Thiem]

I saw a Ford tractor that had a garden hose attachment to the top of the mower deck. Supposivley you screw the hose to the top of the mopwer deck, turn on the water and hit the P.T.O. I don't know if it works or not. But a pressure washer might not be a good idea. High pressure water could damage brearings and such.

[IFallsRon]

Once you have it clean, give it a spray of silicone. I've also heard of people using cooking spray like Pam. Works the same as on a shovel for keeping snow from sticking.

[Bobby Bass]

Power washing woks just fine, do it to my mowers all the time. Only answer I can give you is to not mow wet grass. I wash off my decks after every use and I have a ramp set up so I don't have to drop decks to clean, but if you do. keep the decks painted and a liberal application of good old wd-40 seems to help.

[Powerstroke]

Since there is no real way to avoid mowing wet grass, I would stick with the other recommendations. Once your deck is clean use silicone spray, cooking spray, etc to create a non-stick surface. Whatever does stick should ocme off easily. Driving up on ramps or blocks should give you the clearance you need to work on your deck without removing it.

[Iceseeker]

Dig a hole in the ground, place a sprinkler head in and fasten down. When you are done mowing drive over the sprinkler. Turn on the water and PTO for a few minutes and then do a little touch up with the high pressure washer.

[BLACKJACK]

My dad is always cleaning his mower deck off, hes rigged up a chain hoist and everything - I never have to scrape my mower deck off - Why? Because hes out there mowing at 9 AM when the grass is sopping wet and I mow at 5 PM when the grass is dry. We both have Snappers. Moral of story - mow when wet, pay the price.

[Powerstroke]

I agree that mowing in the AM or after a rain will only compound your problems.

[harvey lee]

I have personally never had to clean the bottom of my deck,but as stated I never mow wet grass.

[HOF#13]

I don't mow wet grass either, but I still collect it on the bottom of my mower deck. It's not a real big deal, but I hate it when a clump of old grass falls off the mower deck, clanks around in the blades, and then I have to go and pick up 10 golfball size chunks of old, hard grass out of the lawn.

[Dano2]

My dog loves those old hard clumps, heck with the nice fresh green stff