Why are there such a wide range of reviews good to bad on the same model ?

[Carscw]

The reason to not use water is it is not good for the mower.
It gets into the bearings in the spindles. And other places.

 

[GKL]

The reason to not use water is it is not good for the mower.
It gets into the bearings in the spindles. And other places.

Thanks, that's basically what I was thinking also.

Some weeks it is difficult to find many days where the grass is really dry, some weeks it rains just enough to keep things damp, or there could be the morning dew that lingers.

I've heard about some people saying their mower cuts good even with wet grass, but I guess that could cause problems too.

I just remembered that my mower deck has the hose attachment for cleaning under the deck, so the manufacturer must not be concerned about water, but I read where some posters advise against using the hose cleaning function. So far I am leaning towards not using it.

 

[bertsmobile1]

They play on peoples lazzyness.
Id is a bit more work to run the mower up on ramps and occasionally clean out under the deck.
Much easier to hook up the hose and walk away for 10 minutes.
Also the mower companies sell spindles & spindle bearings.

No mower with a bar type blade cuts wet grass particularly well.
You need the disc carriers with swing back blades to cut wet grass but I don't think the US government allows them.
It is all about airflow under the deck

 

[Ric]

Thanks, that's basically what I was thinking also.

Some weeks it is difficult to find many days where the grass is really dry, some weeks it rains just enough to keep things damp, or there could be the morning dew that lingers.

I've heard about some people saying their mower cuts good even with wet grass, but I guess that could cause problems too.

I just remembered that my mower deck has the hose attachment for cleaning under the deck, so the manufacturer must not be concerned about water, but I read where some posters advise against using the hose cleaning function. So far I am leaning towards not using it.

I don't necessarily agree with pressure washing a deck and mower but I also don't believe it hurts anything either. On today's mowers with the sealed bearings in spindles and every where else water just isn't really going to effect everything like it use to. I can't count the number of times or days that I've had mowed wet grass all day long in the rain and mowers are getting soaked when mowing and setting on the trailer and stay soaked and I've never had an issue unless you count your butt getting wet.:laughing:

The problem with the washout hose attachments is 90% of the time they end up plugged with dirt and when they do work they never clean the whole underside of the deck anyway, it always leaves the grass and dirt on or in centers around the spindles. If your mower is equipped with wash out ports I wouldn't worry about using them, like you said the manufacturer is not concerned about water and the mower has what a 2 or 3 year warranty and they have to fix it if something tears up. I used my wash outs on my residential ZTR's all the time and never had any issue.

As far as mowers cutting wet grass goes and how well some cut wet grass, that can have a lot to do with how you cut and what type of mower and deck, blades and BTS your using. The thing I think is comical are people who talk about cutting grass only when it's dry, :smile: that has to be one of the most ridiculous statements I've ever heard.

 

[Carscw]

A sealed bearing means it is a one unit bearing assembly. It is not water or dirt proof.

The wash out port is there to make you feel like you have something good.

I cut in the rain and at the end of the day i do maintenance on the mower.

Water in the spindles voids warranty.

Toro is even talking about voiding the warranty if you use gator blades. Test have shown that they can cause premature bearing wear.

 

[Ric]

There is no true water proof seal for bearings. Bearing seals are primarily designed to retain the lubrication inside the bearing. Most bearing seals are considered water repellent and will keep moisture out of the internal components, along with dust or dirt and other contamination. My guess would be about the only way to get water in a sealed bearing would be if you submerged it and they also make bearings to do that, not by cleaning a deck with a hose or pressure washer that's a myth.

 

[Carscw]

There is no true water proof seal for bearings. Bearing seals are primarily designed to retain the lubrication inside the bearing. Most bearing seals are considered water repellent and will keep moisture out of the internal components, along with dust or dirt and other contamination. My guess would be about the only way to get water in a sealed bearing would be if you submerged it and they also make bearings to do that, not by cleaning a deck with a hose or pressure washer that's a myth.

Again you know more then the experts.
I guess the guys at dalton bearing need to talk to you. Because they are wrong.

 

[Ric]

Again you know more then the experts.
I guess the guys at dalton bearing need to talk to you. Because they are wrong.

No I don't claim to know more than the experts, I just used the internet

Q: What is the best water proof seal?
A: There is no true water proof seal for bearings. Bearing seals are primarily designed to retain the lubrication inside the bearing. Most bearing seals are considered water repellant and will keep moisture out of the internal components, but they will not prevent water from entering the bearing if it is submerged. If you require a bearing that can operate submerged in a liquid, we would suggest a ceramic hybrid or full ceramic bearing depending on the operating environment.

That statement came from Boca Bearings.

You can also go to this site and find THB, NSK and Timken all make and have water proof bearings http://www.directindustry.com/industrial-manufacturer/waterproof-bearing-141414.html

 

[GKL]

They play on peoples lazzyness.
Id is a bit more work to run the mower up on ramps and occasionally clean out under the deck.
Much easier to hook up the hose and walk away for 10 minutes.
Also the mower companies sell spindles & spindle bearings.

No mower with a bar type blade cuts wet grass particularly well.
You need the disc carriers with swing back blades to cut wet grass but I don't think the US government allows them.
It is all about airflow under the deck

I don't necessarily agree with pressure washing a deck and mower but I also don't believe it hurts anything either. On today's mowers with the sealed bearings in spindles and every where else water just isn't really going to effect everything like it use to. I can't count the number of times or days that I've had mowed wet grass all day long in the rain and mowers are getting soaked when mowing and setting on the trailer and stay soaked and I've never had an issue unless you count your butt getting wet.:laughing:

The problem with the washout hose attachments is 90% of the time they end up plugged with dirt and when they do work they never clean the whole underside of the deck anyway, it always leaves the grass and dirt on or in centers around the spindles. If your mower is equipped with wash out ports I wouldn't worry about using them, like you said the manufacturer is not concerned about water and the mower has what a 2 or 3 year warranty and they have to fix it if something tears up. I used my wash outs on my residential ZTR's all the time and never had any issue.

As far as mowers cutting wet grass goes and how well some cut wet grass, that can have a lot to do with how you cut and what type of mower and deck, blades and BTS your using. The thing I think is comical are people who talk about cutting grass only when it's dry, :smile: that has to be one of the most ridiculous statements I've ever heard.

A sealed bearing means it is a one unit bearing assembly. It is not water or dirt proof.

The wash out port is there to make you feel like you have something good.

I cut in the rain and at the end of the day i do maintenance on the mower.

Water in the spindles voids warranty.

Toro is even talking about voiding the warranty if you use gator blades. Test have shown that they can cause premature bearing wear.

There is no true water proof seal for bearings. Bearing seals are primarily designed to retain the lubrication inside the bearing. Most bearing seals are considered water repellent and will keep moisture out of the internal components, along with dust or dirt and other contamination. My guess would be about the only way to get water in a sealed bearing would be if you submerged it and they also make bearings to do that, not by cleaning a deck with a hose or pressure washer that's a myth.

Again you know more then the experts.
I guess the guys at dalton bearing need to talk to you. Because they are wrong.

No I don't claim to know more than the experts, I just used the internet

Q: What is the best water proof seal?
A: There is no true water proof seal for bearings. Bearing seals are primarily designed to retain the lubrication inside the bearing. Most bearing seals are considered water repellant and will keep moisture out of the internal components, but they will not prevent water from entering the bearing if it is submerged. If you require a bearing that can operate submerged in a liquid, we would suggest a ceramic hybrid or full ceramic bearing depending on the operating environment.

That statement came from Boca Bearings.

You can also go to this site and find THB, NSK and Timken all make and have water proof bearings http://www.directindustry.com/indust...ng-141414.html

......I appreciate all the replies, and I understand like with most topics not everyone is going to agree on every point :smile:

Since I do not have loads of money to replace my mower frequently I need to err on the side of caution to try to get the most years possible out of my new mower :smile:

Now I know I can't take that to the extreme, for example - only mow when the grass is dry as toast :smile: .....or else my yard might get occasional long periods without being mowed at all, dry grass is preferable and soaking wet grass might not cut as well as dryer grass, but there will likely be times when the grass is not quite as dry as I would prefer, but I would likely avoid mowing really wet grass.

I guess the bottom line is what works best for my particular model (YTA22V46) as not all mowers are built the same.

Fortunately I only have to mow my own yard, so I don't have to feel pressured to mow soaking wet grass like someone with a lot of regular customers waiting for their yard to get mowed :smile:

 

[Carscw]

No I don't claim to know more than the experts, I just used the internet Q: What is the best water proof seal? A: There is no true water proof seal for bearings. Bearing seals are primarily designed to retain the lubrication inside the bearing. Most bearing seals are considered water repellant and will keep moisture out of the internal components, but they will not prevent water from entering the bearing if it is submerged. If you require a bearing that can operate submerged in a liquid, we would suggest a ceramic hybrid or full ceramic bearing depending on the operating environment. That statement came from Boca Bearings. You can also go to this site and find THB, NSK and Timken all make and have water proof bearings http://www.directindustry.com/industrial-manufacturer/waterproof-bearing-141414.html

And that's the problem with you. You only know what you read and really do not have any hands on experience.
Many of us on here have seen water in the bearings.