I have just purchased a new HF 2417 Honda 17 HP ride-on mower / tractor.Would appreciate any help or advice as to how to rust proof the deck.I am thinking of Waxoyl, or Hammerite, or similar coating to prevent the acidic grass from eating it's way through the deck over time.Living in a wettish climate (Ireland) the grass is green all the year round and very lush, full of sap. As mower users will know, it is difficult to get down on one's belly and remove the grass from the deck by hand every time the mower is used. I am unable to use a pressure washer to clean it, the ultimate answer I know is to remove the deck and get it sand blasted and then get it galvanised, but this is too expensive as the cost of the mower was 3500 euro or approx. 4000 pounds sterling. I am 68 and no longer want to do too much physical stuff.
#2
dwelder
I would use rhino liner. Like they use in the bed of trucks so they don't get dented and scratched up.
#3
Dangeroustoys56
Or have it powder coated underneath - would mean disasembling the deck tho....
Thanks very much for your reply, i think I'll try to seal it myself, having removed the Waxoyl with petrol first. I got 10 years from my Castlegarden 40 inch deck so with a bit of extra care it may last at least as long-pity there is no reasonably easy way to raise the mower after using it, so that one can clean the deck acidic grass from underneath relatively easily. They really should be all galvanised and powder coated for a longer life.The mower itself will only have approx. 380 hours up at the end of 10 years, and it's about 1000 $ to buy a new deck and have it fitted! maybe planned obsolescence has something to do with it!!!
Hello Feorais, does your mower have the deckwash feature, where you hook up a garden hose and engage the blades with the water on to clean the deck? If it doesn't installing would help clean it somewhat. Every little bit helps.
#6
JD75
I use POR 15 rust stop on my deck. I followed the instructions and did everything I was suppose to. I put 3 coats on it and couldn't wait to try it out. After the first mowing, I look under the deck and most of the POR 15 was gone. It couldn't stand up to the beating of mowing.
#7
reynoldston
I have found the best for me is to do nothing. I find once it gets a build up of dried grass it is like a rust proofing. I know no one will agree on this but each his own. My John Deere is over 40 years old and not rusted out yet and never had a rust problim on any of my mowers. The only think I do have a rust problim on is my snowblower which sees a lot of road salt.
#8
Carscw
reynoldston said:
I have found the best for me is to do nothing. I find once it gets a build up of dried grass it is like a rust proofing. I know no one will agree on this but each his own. My John Deere is over 40 years old and not rusted out yet and never had a rust problim on any of my mowers. The only think I do have a rust problim on is my snowblower which sees a lot of road salt.
I agree I have never had a deck rust I feel it is better to leave the dried grass on the deck. I believe if you spray it off with water then put it in the shed you are helping it to rust. Now I do blow all the grass off after every yard
I agree with just blowing the loose grass off. I use an electric leaf blower someone gave to me. The owners manual on our Cub Cadet 1600 says not to wash the deck because water will get into the Sealed?, bearings. I still do not wash it even though I replaced the original spindles with greasable Oregon spindles.
#10
reynoldston
It sure was as a surprise to me to see that anyone would agree with me about leaving the dried grass under the mower alone. Yes I do blow the loose loose grass off the outside with compressed air but not every time I use the mower. Also several times a year I also scrape the buildup of old nasty rotting cut grass off from under the mower deck with a putty knife.
#11
SONOFADOCKER
The decks are so CHEAP and thin now. - there is no trick . All customers decks get removed ,scraped and power washed . Some ask for a coat of paint brushed on the underside of the decks ....
I've seen POR15, motor oil bathed with a rag ....
I think it really depends on how much moisture in the grass you are cutting. I am one that has trouble with deck rot. The problem is that my property is very wet to moist. I cut my grass 2 times per week, due to the growth. I do not clean the underside of the deck after each cutting. On my craftsman the deck which was realatively thin when purchased has needed pieces replaced over the years. I have recoated the deck with a good rust preventative paint several times, but the rot is still returns. This tractor a Craftsman GT has a 46-inch deck. My newest tractor a husqvana has a fabricated deck 52-inch, and appares like it will easily outlast the other.
In March of each year I go through my equipment to check for necessary repairs as well as the needed service.
BTW, I still use the Craftsman for leaf pick-up. I use an agrafab blower system.
