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Grass builds up under deck

#1

A

awomack

I have a Gravely ZT 2352 home edition. I bought it new and ever since i have had it I have to clean out under the deck before each mowing. Grass builds up under the deck and sticks like glue under there. I have made sure the grass was dry when mowing. My local dealer said it was the blades so I changed the blades then they said it was the bely, changed belt, then they said it wasnt turning enough RPM's. I checked and it is turning almost 1000 more than the specs. Theis has been an ongoing problem for 3 years now and really need a solution. Has anyone else had this problem, and if so did you find a solution? Thanks for any info. It is greatly appreciated.


#2

G

Giles

awomack said:
I have a Gravely ZT 2352 home edition. I bought it new and ever since i have had it I have to clean out under the deck before each mowing. Grass builds up under the deck and sticks like glue under there. I have made sure the grass was dry when mowing. My local dealer said it was the blades so I changed the blades then they said it was the bely, changed belt, then they said it wasnt turning enough RPM's. I checked and it is turning almost 1000 more than the specs. Theis has been an ongoing problem for 3 years now and really need a solution. Has anyone else had this problem, and if so did you find a solution? Thanks for any info. It is greatly appreciated.
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Sounds like a "design" problem that the dealer doesn't know how to address. Did you buy from the advising dealer?
I would suggest that you paint the underside of deck with a quality paint, which will have to be checked often.
I had to do this to a new Kubota ZD221 mower and it only helped a little. I tried all the suggested things that were advised. It got to where I was spending as much time cleaning as I was mowing. I found it easier to use my engine hoist (cherry picker), to raise the front and use a garden hose. Always a mess.:mad: I paid extra for the fabricated deck to avoid this problem. I finally got fed up and sold it.:thumbsup:


#3

B

Black Bart

Sounds like a poor deck design it don't move enough air to clean it self.
Hang a John Deere deck under it and it will work.


#4

7394

7394

I'm sure you have the front to back deck slope set to spec, right ?

On mine, on the 1st cut, it collected a lot of grass clipings, & a lot were in back of the deck..

Well, after I corrected the deck slope to be 1/8" lower in front, the back stays clean & only get very minimal in the front.. 2 minutes with a piece of wood I shaped for this & I'm set..

I never scrape with any steel edge tools like a putty knife, that can scrape thru the powder coating on the deck underside..


#5

F

Fuzzy1

Something I learned to use back in my off-road & mudding days ... get one of those "oscillating sprinklers" ... the one that sweeps back & forth continually. Raise your deck all the way or even jack up the front end ... put the sprinkler under it ... turn it on & walk away. The gentle washing will eventually dislodge & flush away all but the most stubborn debris.


#6

S

SeniorCitizen

Fuzzy1 said:
Something I learned to use back in my off-road & mudding days ... get one of those "oscillating sprinklers" ... the one that sweeps back & forth continually. Raise your deck all the way or even jack up the front end ... put the sprinkler under it ... turn it on & walk away. The gentle washing will eventually dislodge & flush away all but the most stubborn debris.
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It's advisable to do it when finished mowing each time and not the next day or just before one mows the next time as the OP said when he cleaned.


#7

exotion

exotion

For homeowners cleaning directly after your mow is best... Could almost clean it with your hands.

I use that sprinkler trick with my cars a couple times a year its nice if something happens and I have to get under it for it to not be all road grimy. Also helps get the deicer off after winter


#8

M

motoman

Usually in spring I chisel off the "adobe" during blade sharpening. I get a scoop shovel worth. In fall dry leaf and pine needle pickup "bead blasts" the underside shiny!!


#9

Mike88se

Mike88se

Is there any mower that doesn't get grass buildup under the deck? I've had a Gravely z34, Hustler Super Z (xr7) and a Scag Tiger cub (velocity) and all get buildup.


#10

exotion

exotion

Grass is mostly water, therefore really sticky. Imagine a wet noodle quite sticky no?


#11

M

motoman

When I pry loose the "thatch" from my craftsman deck it is up to 1" thick and feels like paper mache when dry. It would seem that not drying out this thatch is a rust playground. That is why , I guess, the decks are .080"? thick and up? Scacrificial material. I am lucky to have garage space for the tractor and the deck does eventually dry. We need to have the clothes washer manufacturers produce stainless decks (maybe some have this?) :laughing:


#12

exotion

exotion

Please don't call it thatch. Thatch is the build up of yellow grass below the green line of a lawn. What you have is simply dried solidified grass clippings. Just don't want anyone getting confused, people have a hard enough time understanding thatch in the first place


#13

Z

Zeroturner

I really don't have 'much' of a problem with grass sticking to the underside of my deck (I do get a little build up), but every so often I check with a mirror and a flashlight. If I see a buildup, I lift up the front end and use a plastic scraper to remove what does build up.

Typically, it's not much.


#14

Mike88se

Mike88se

exotion said:
Grass is mostly water, therefore really sticky. Imagine a wet noodle quite sticky no?
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That's what I'm thinking. Until lawnmowers come with teflon coating there's gonna be grass sticking to the deck. And even then it's going to get caught in any little nooks and crannies. Most of us have to mow in the rain or just after a rain now & then and that's when it's really a chore. If you let it build up, its a real PITA.


#15

Carscw

Carscw

Mike88se said:
That's what I'm thinking. Until lawnmowers come with teflon coating there's gonna be grass sticking to the deck. And even then it's going to get caught in any little nooks and crannies. Most of us have to mow in the rain or just after a rain now & then and that's when it's really a chore. If you let it build up, its a real PITA.
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Teflon coating would be gone as soon as you started cutting the grass.

Let a inch of grass dry and turn hard
It will protect the deck and keep it dry and no more grass sticking under the deck.


#16

7394

7394

Carscw said:
Let a inch of grass dry and turn hard
It will protect the deck and keep it dry and no more grass sticking under the deck.
Click to expand...

& No more grass will stick to deck ? Interesting..

Mine stays pretty good, & today cutting very dry grass did clean the underside better..


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