JD X120 Deck

[Tiger Small Engine]

Blowing off equipment with a blower is better than hosing it off. If done consistently enough, grass won’t build up all over the machine. However, if you never grease the zerk fittings, it is doubtful you blow off equipment .

 

[slomo]

Yeah what cooling fins........

 

[tacod]

Thanks. I suspected the shields were there because of a legal requirement. I'm guessing it didn't apply to the UK in 2008 when I bought a new Craftsman LT2000 (US made).
However, I was disappointed to find so much debris had accumulated behind the shields. I now realise the regular hosing down wasn't reaching behind the shields. Something for me to think about in future.
BTW, the slipping belt was due to one of the pulley brakes being stuck and not releasing due to corrosion. Fixed with a bit of lubrication and luckily the belt is still good.
PS. "Palaver" - $2!! You've been robbed!! It's free in the UK.

I like to use air after mowing to clear out all the nooks and crannies that gather grass. I use my blower to clean it all out.

 

[Diwali]

I agree blowing off with air is preferable to hosing down with water but not everyone has an air compressor.
I do have a small one but it doesn't have enough capacity to clean the whole deck hence the use of a water jet. However, it is quite good for blowing off the accumulated water (and also the cooling fins on the engine block!).
I guess, what I really need is a bigger compressor unit?? I'll just add it to my long shopping list. ;-)

 

[2muchgrass2mow]

My former barber (he's been retired for a couple years now) had disabled the kill switch under the mower seat. He also was known to imbibe regularly and excessively. One day he was mowing across a sloping ditch line, and the mower began to flip. He instinctively put his foot down, but it flipped anyway and literally "sliced" off about a half inch of the bottom of his foot from the heel to the pad just behind the toes! He went through many surgeries and still wears a boot. He made his living standing up, and it proved to be, in part, why he retired.

 

[tacod]

I agree blowing off with air is preferable to hosing down with water but not everyone has an air compressor.
I do have a small one but it doesn't have enough capacity to clean the whole deck hence the use of a water jet. However, it is quite good for blowing off the accumulated water (and also the cooling fins on the engine block!).
I guess, what I really need is a bigger compressor unit?? I'll just add it to my long shopping list. ;-)

I use the blower that I also use for ”sweeping“ the driveway and sidewalks. But this could just be another tool for your wishlist…

 

[2muchgrass2mow]

I use the blower that I also use for ”sweeping“ the driveway and sidewalks. But this could just be another tool for your wishlist…

I have an EGO 56V blower and just purchased their weed eater. Both are beasts! I'm not a huge fan of electric yard tools, but the weed eater is especially impressive. Every other one I've ever owned eventually gave me fits with the trimmer line jamming up. NO more!!

 

[Forest#2]

You might think about:
Instead of hosing off a deck for debris removal try using air pressure or a leaf blower. Reduces the amount of rusting.

 

[LawnWizard]

Removed the deck to find the cause of belt slip. What a palaver! There are 4 shields/panels surrounding the deck that had to be removed before I could access the deck. What is the purpose of these? My previous mower had none at all.

A good strong blower is your best friend for cleaning deck after each use.

 

[davis2]

Why not use a leaf blower or compressor to blow the grass out from the pulley area?