Washing off under your mower deck??

[hate2work]

I was at HD the other day and I noticed that some of the 21" WB they sell have these garden hose connections on the top of the deck.

So is the idea that you attach your hose, turn it on and then run the machine for a bit?

Is this worthwhile? Is this a good idea? I don't see these hose connectors on the commercial units.

[MarcSmith]

most commercial units don't stop running long enough to clean the decks...:)

You can do the same thing by squirting water under teh deck of the mower while its running. But it much easier and less messy to take a paint scraper or stiff wire brush and knock off the clumped grass right before you start cutting after its been sitting over night or so. that way the clump are nice and dry and easy to clean up...

[hate2work]

OK, thanks Marc.

I was thinking it probably wasn't the best idea, and would just create more of a mess :)

[MarcSmith]

you end up with a green slurry on the driveway...

[Ax Mcgee]

most commercial units don't stop running long enough to clean the decks...:)

You can do the same thing by squirting water under teh deck of the mower while its running. But it much easier and less messy to take a paint scraper or stiff wire brush and knock off the clumped grass right before you start cutting after its been sitting over night or so. that way the clump are nice and dry and easy to clean up...

From a bit of a distance no less, unless you want to end up like this guy!
http://www.mooncostumes.com/image/3909
Graphic? Yes, A prop from costume shop? yes, could happen to you? lets not find out by putting your hand or that water hose under your running mower deck huh!
I repeat.

DO NOT PUT YOUR HAND OR WATER HOSE UNDER A RUNNING MOWER DECK

DO NOT!

[MarcSmith]

i never said put your hands under the deck. Inever said put your hose under teh deck. I said squirt water under teh deck. Which you can do from the safety of the handle area of the mower. if on a hard surface the water will ricochet off the hard surface into the blades and essentially clean under the deck...

besides most mowers wont' let you let go of the handles without the machine shutting down... so it would be impossible to get your arm cut off...

[Ax Mcgee]

Just saying Marc, you will always find that one person who sez, "WELL MARC SMITH TOLD ME TO STICK MY HEAD UNDER THE RUNNING DECK TO MAKE SURE I GIT ALL THAT THAR GRASS."

C.Y.A. my man!

[MarcSmith]

Just saying Marc, you will always find that one person who sez, "WELL MARC SMITH TOLD ME TO STICK MY HEAD UNDER THE RUNNING DECK TO MAKE SURE I GIT ALL THAT THAR GRASS."

C.Y.A. my man! and that person will deserve to be separetd from his his head for being stupid...:)

[Jay Ray]

I noticed that some of the 21" WB they sell have these garden hose connections on the top of the deck.

21's are so easy to clean that I would not consider using a hose. It don't have to be perfectly clean, just allow for good air flow.

[Raven386]

and that person will deserve to be separetd from his his head for being stupid...:)

I agree. If you manage to get your entire arm cut off by a mower. You were most likely trying out your juggling act for 'Americas Got Talent'

[Jim Z]

I talked to the people at Exmark, not the dealer and they told me that they put those fittings on because people asked for it but recommended that you don't use it as it will reduce spindle life. I didn't even bother to ask why they would put it on if they didn't really think it was a good idea.

[MarcSmith]

I talked to the people at Exmark, not the dealer and they told me that they put those fittings on because people asked for it but recommended that you don't use it as it will reduce spindle life. I didn't even bother to ask why they would put it on if they didn't really think it was a good idea.

give the customer what they want...:) and it happens to make them buy more spindles...hey more money in our pocket...

Id venture to say the more spindles are damaged by hitting objects than hosing or pressure washing your deck...

[KGR landscapeing]

I talked to the people at Exmark, not the dealer and they told me that they put those fittings on because people asked for it but recommended that you don't use it as it will reduce spindle life. I didn't even bother to ask why they would put it on if they didn't really think it was a good idea.

obviously on a vertical shaft 21 the spindle life is the same as the motors since its direct

[jkingrph]

I made a underdeck sprayer, took a piece of 3/4" pvc added male & female hose ends and then attached one of those little die cast spot sprinlkers. Run my mower over it, get off turn water on , get back on and turn blades on. It cleans good but does leave a slurry on the ground where you use it.

[milike]

I was at HD the other day and I noticed that some of the 21" WB they sell have these garden hose connections on the top of the deck.

So is the idea that you attach your hose, turn it on and then run the machine for a bit?

Is this worthwhile? Is this a good idea? I don't see these hose connectors on the commercial units.



I thought I could running my mower with it on. :hammerhead:


that way I could water the grass at the same time whilst I'm cutting it.
I just have to buy some extra 100' hoses.

[Triplex]

At both golf courses I worked on, we always washed under the mower deck with a hose before putting the machine away. It's better to get the thing wet briefly and allow it to dry than to put it away covered in damp grass clippings. Expect a mess of green sludgy water though; a spot near a storm drain is ideal, or at least somewhere out of the way.

A lot of landscapers on this site use a silicone spray under the deck that's supposed to prevent the grass from sticking. Do some searching around and you can find the name of it; the topic has been discussed in old threads.