How do you clean your mower?

[WoodlandAM]

How do you clean your ZTR? I have 3 Turf Tigers and only have one chance a week to do any cleaning. I do blow each mower off after every job, but my jobs are on rough properties that take up to 4 or 5 hours so they do collect some dirt. There are too many small areas to spend hours with a tooth brush scrubbing them, so Im sure someone has a good degreaser that after letting it sit, a hose can make them look like new. My Scag dealer has cleaned the mower when in for service and he claims he sprays it down with a special chemical/degreaser that he wont tell me and then just hoses it off. I know he doesnt brush it bc it is too clean in the tight places. What method do you use?

[ed2hess]

Ddon't ever wash a mower simply blow em off. If you have a big compressor then use it to get what can't be blown off with a hand blower. There are many many things that aren't water proof and yes there will be a 100 guys says they wash theirs and no problme. Throw that information away cause somewhere along the way it will bite you.

[THEGOLDPRO]

I pressure wash all of my mowers a few times a year, just don't spray the piss out of the engine/wiring for an extended amount of time and you will be fine.

[cimkill]

I tried pressure washing 3 times on my two ztr's did clean them but will not do it again. I get my guys on a slow day to spend a few hours with scrub brushes soap powder and tooth brushes. The degreaser sounds alot better of an idea and will probably not get the I want to kill you look from my employees. Really want to here from everyone this is an excellent question.

[olmod]

I blow mine off every night when I finish the last property. Then usually Friday afternoons I pressure wash them. I buy a commercial degreaser from Malco and it works great. Your dealer probably steam cleans yours when he does it. Steam will get them looking like new. Malco is a company that makes car detailing products. You will have to find a salesman in your area or you may be able to order online. I get 5 gallon at a time and just mix in spray bottle either 50/50 or if the mower is really bad I just use it full strength. Just be smart and don't directly spray bearing, wiring or engine components. You won't hurt it as long as your smart.
Posted via Mobile Device

[TNGrassCutter]

I don't really. Every few weeks I'll hose the dust/ mud/ grass off of it. I don't blow it off after every yard either, just make sure there's nothing around the engine.
Posted via Mobile Device

[WoodlandAM]

After cutting for 4 straight hours passing through 6 foot tall johnsons grass on to a bare dusty lot then to 5 foot tall lespedeza, things tend to stick. My orange Scags look brown or green to the point where you cant even tell if there are tiger stripes on the fenders, or even see the logos on the front. Having a clean mower is part of general maintenance in order to inspect for busted welds or any other deck damage.

[orangemower]

Originally Posted by WoodlandAM

How do you clean your ZTR? I have 3 Turf Tigers and only have one chance a week to do any cleaning. I do blow each mower off after every job, but my jobs are on rough properties that take up to 4 or 5 hours so they do collect some dirt. There are too many small areas to spend hours with a tooth brush scrubbing them, so Im sure someone has a good degreaser that after letting it sit, a hose can make them look like new. My Scag dealer has cleaned the mower when in for service and he claims he sprays it down with a special chemical/degreaser that he wont tell me and then just hoses it off. I know he doesnt brush it bc it is too clean in the tight places. What method do you use?

I'd be asking him if he wants your business anymore. No wait, better yet, tell him you'll bring it by and have him clean it for you at no charge once a week, while you wait.

I'd be pizzed if they/he/she told me that. Enough so that I'd probably look for a better dealer.

[TNGrassCutter]

Originally Posted by WoodlandAM

After cutting for 4 straight hours passing through 6 foot tall johnsons grass on to a bare dusty lot then to 5 foot tall lespedeza, things tend to stick. My orange Scags look brown or green to the point where you cant even tell if there are tiger stripes on the fenders, or even see the logos on the front. Having a clean mower is part of general maintenance in order to inspect for busted welds or any other deck damage.

I know what you're saying, I cut a lot of rough stuff too. My kubota and hustler have both been so dirty you can't tell the color. I used to clean my kubota every weekend when i first got it. I just don't feel like taking the time to clean them all up, because about 10 minutes in the first lawn you're right back where you started. Only time I do a good cleaning is when I put them up for winter.
Posted via Mobile Device

[dahammer]

For those using degreasers, how does the paint hold up to using it over time? I've thought about trying the Zep degreaser but I'm hesitant because I've seen it strip the paint off of equipment when applied too strong. Albeit the equipment wasn't powder coated like things are now but still.