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Hey all. I've had mowers and lawn tractors for 30 years now and the only cleaning effort I ever made was to scape the grass out from under the deck and pulling grass out from the pullies and belts. But with my latest purchase, a nice Bob-cat ZT, I actually have the desire to keep a machine in as mint a condition as possible. I've only mowed with it twice but actually enjoy cleaning it afterward, which is kind of shocking.

So do you all keep your machines pretty clean and if so, what is your procedure? Does anyone go all out and detail their machine periodically? I would like to do this once a month but am not sure the best way to do it.

No I don't detail my equipment. I do blow off the clippings with the leaf blower. I have not washed my Kubota B2320 in over a year. I do have plans to wash the tractor and wax it sometime next week. All I have for protection is a carport for it.

Tracker II said:

Hey all. I've had mowers and lawn tractors for 30 years now and the only cleaning effort I ever made was to scape the grass out from under the deck and pulling grass out from the pullies and belts. But with my latest purchase, a nice Bob-cat ZT, I actually have the desire to keep a machine in as mint a condition as possible. I've only mowed with it twice but actually enjoy cleaning it afterward, which is kind of shocking.

So do you all keep your machines pretty clean and if so, what is your procedure? Does anyone go all out and detail their machine periodically? I would like to do this once a month but am not sure the best way to do it.

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I clean all my equipment top to bottom every week. In the winter I even wax the paint.

If there is any fading of paint on bottom of deck I spray with some high gloss white enamel and then a clear coat and then wax

Not worth detailing mine. It's 16 years old and it's full of scraches.

However, I do wipe it down every night and I do wash it when it needs it. About once a year I scrape the grass off the deck.

As for the push mowers go I just wipe it down. Not worried about the paint since it's already faded from spilling gasoline:confused2:

wash them as needed and once a year spray with oven cleaner to get all the grass stains off the front leading edge of deck, wax first couple of years only

Not often, doesn't do much good when you use them everyday, but since you posted or started this thread it got me thinking and I went out this morning and pressure washed all of my mowers.

I don't do much...just wipe it down daily and clean the deck weekly. I just have to face the fact it will never look like the day it came back from it's annual maintenance! :licking:

Tracker II said:

Hey all. I've had mowers and lawn tractors for 30 years now and the only cleaning effort I ever made was to scape the grass out from under the deck and pulling grass out from the pullies and belts. But with my latest purchase, a nice Bob-cat ZT, I actually have the desire to keep a machine in as mint a condition as possible. I've only mowed with it twice but actually enjoy cleaning it afterward, which is kind of shocking.

So do you all keep your machines pretty clean and if so, what is your procedure? Does anyone go all out and detail their machine periodically? I would like to do this once a month but am not sure the best way to do it.

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My Gravely currently has 13.5 hours on it and I've probably got 27.0 hours of cleaning invested in it:0)
I used my 50gal air tank with a trigger-controlled blower tube and blow all grass clippings, etc. from all of the topside, engine compartment, the trannies & inside rear wheels from underneath and underneath the seat(especially the ZT-3400 tranny fans). Then I take a wet towel and wipe it down all over(and dry it with a large clean towel). I use a wide putty knife and scrape the little bit of grass clippings from underneath the deck and figure 10-15 mins. each time I mow is easier than letting it build up more over time and doing it less often. I haven't "yet" but will probably wash and wax the frame & deck at the end of this summer and annually at the end of each season. Yep, like you, I kinda enjoy keeping it looking like the day I brought it home:0)

Ric said:

Not often, doesn't do much good when you use them everyday, but since you posted or started this thread it got me thinking and I went out this morning and pressure washed all of my mowers.

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Hope you were "real careful" with that pressure washer and used the wide-spray tip!!! I've read several mentionings that it's dangerous to use a pressure washer(especially aroung the spindles or casters) where high-pressure water can compromise the bearing seals!!!

djdicetn said:

Hope you were "real careful" with that pressure washer and used the wide-spray tip!!! I've read several mentionings that it's dangerous to use a pressure washer(especially aroung the spindles or casters) where high-pressure water can compromise the bearing seals!!!

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Nope, I used the narrow spray nozzle. I like to get as much as possible when I clean the mowers seeing I don't do it that often. After I'm through with a pressure washer I start the mowers and let them run for 10 minutes or so so the motors get good and dry then grease and oil everything real good and I've never had any problems.

Tracker II said:

Hey all. I've had mowers and lawn tractors for 30 years now and the only cleaning effort I ever made was to scape the grass out from under the deck and pulling grass out from the pullies and belts. But with my latest purchase, a nice Bob-cat ZT, I actually have the desire to keep a machine in as mint a condition as possible. I've only mowed with it twice but actually enjoy cleaning it afterward, which is kind of shocking.

So do you all keep your machines pretty clean and if so, what is your procedure? Does anyone go all out and detail their machine periodically? I would like to do this once a month but am not sure the best way to do it.

Click to expand...

I detail my equipment maybe once every 3 weeks. You do not want to wash them all the time but it is a great idea to clean them of debris and clean them because by doing that also when your paying close attention to detailing it you can see what scratches are new or any sign of a leak around the engine and things like that. Waxing and detailing the plastic stuff is good because when it sees the sunlight for so long it looks like crap if the stuff fades because of sunlight over time. I do go full blown on everything detailing wise and service wise before it gets put away that way in the spring i can just pull them out and start them up with no problems. If you take care of you equipment, it will take care of you. I am more of a maintenance freek them i am about detailing it because it is going to get dirty fast but upkeep is very important.

I detail everything. A lot.
I used the leaf blower after every use. Clean with a mild detergent all the way up to the green or purple stuff as needed a few times a season and one or two coats of wax in the spring.
I also use a fast detailer spray a few times during the year. I use a protectant spray (like armor all but I use another brand) on all the plastic and soft parts.
Really like my stuff to look new and clean, its easy to spot any oil leaks or other issues that way. Plus if/when you sell, they tend to sell right away for top dollar.

Here is my 2002 Toro that I just sold 2 weeks ago in a matter of hours.

JSB33 said:

I detail everything. A lot.
I used the leaf blower after every use. Clean with a mild detergent all the way up to the green or purple stuff as needed a few times a season and one or two coats of wax in the spring.
I also use a fast detailer spray a few times during the year. I use a protectant spray (like armor all but I use another brand) on all the plastic and soft parts.
Really like my stuff to look new and clean, its easy to spot any oil leaks or other issues that way. Plus if/when you sell, they tend to sell right away for top dollar.

Here is my 2002 Toro that I just sold 2 weeks ago in a matter of hours.

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Thats awsome. I have a lot of mowers and a bunch i do not use but the ones i do not use are detailed like they came from the factory. The ones i use i keep up with them but its tough when you cut a couple days a week after work. Keep up the great job.:thumbsup:

dfbrown said:

....because it is going to get dirty fast...

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Yeah...it can get dirty really fast! :tongue:



Don't worry....I cleaned it!

I take all my mower and trimmer/edgers out an once a week pressure wash the decks and head an for my under side of decks I keep paint on Stan-by so if there is paint missing I paint the deck and once a month or if the oil is black change out the oil also for my trimmers and edgers I put grease in the gear box once a month :thumbsup: