Lawn mower deck wash kit

[Steve-Maine]

Has anyone used these on a JD X585 and do they really work. Where would you place hole ? Thanks

 

[Kansas4010]

My 2520 came with one. You're supposed to lower the deck completely to the ground to seal it then turn the blades on. I didn't see where it did anything. I certainly wouldn't add one to a deck that didn't have one.

 

[MJMJ]

Its a complete waste IMO. It gets things wet, thats about it. It does not wash anything.

 

[Russ from MN]

Our JD Z-turn came with one, I used it a couple of times, never again! We only mow when it's dry, and it stays pretty clen underneath, I don't want to put water under the deck.

 

[T.R.K.]

No one mentioned that washing the deck while everything is still hot from mowing shortens the life of the bearings. Cold water sprayed on a hot bearing is just sucked right in as it cools off. Let it cool off if you are going to do this.

I have seen bearings fail in as little as 8 hours run time from doing this on a new mower.

 

[IaLeo]

My JD X534 deck came with a quick attach stud for a quick attach hose connection, so I tried it. I did not get the tractor tipped up or over so I could inspect the job done!
In stead I found out that while running water, I was supposed to run the blades and that does not happen unless someone is in the seat so that the mower would run. So, I lugged a concrete block from across the yard to set in the seat and managed to get the rig running (should it be at idle or wide open?) and came back later.
1. uses some more gas while that happens
2. guarantees the metal underside is frequently wet and does not readily dry
3. makes it very possible to present water to the bearings if there is any way possible
4. takes up more of my time loading the seat so it will run
5. takes up more of my time putting the special connector on the hose I use for other purposes.
6. I already spend 5-6 hours on the seat listening to the blasted machine why volunteer for more
7. makes a nice big gooey wetspot of ground up grass....
So that was the last time for that and I try hard to grease the spindle bearings frequently and in the fall dig out all the crud under the deck. Seems to mow OK all summer.
Leo

 

[Charles in Aus.]

A useless gimmick to create another point of sale 'asset' .
Guaranteed to ruin spindle bearing and give you a false sense of security that will eventually bite you on the Ar$e .

 

[MJMJ]

As useless as they are, the water doesn t come in contact with the bearings.

 

[UncleTom]

I just shoot water under the deck while its running. Same thing. Either that or clean it out with a scraper.

 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

Five seasons on my bought-new Husqvarna with a 48 inch deck. I didn't use the wash-out at first but got tired on laying on the ground scraping my arms to clean it by hand. Though the deck-wash was useless till I discovered it just takes longer than I thought. 5 to 10 minutes in the seat and it cleans good, just have to sit there. Thinking of bypassing the seat switch.

 

[Phil T]

I have a place up back with some bushes about 2 feet tall. After I get done mowing the lawn I go chop up a bunch of them and it cleans out the deck completely.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

You guys do realize that there are INSTRUCTIONS on how to use the deck wash system right?

Generally speaking, it's deck running, throttle wide open as if you're mowing. The blades are what accelerate and distribute the water around to "pressure wash" the underside of the deck.

Just letting the water trickle into the corner of the deck is not going to do anything. That's just common sense.

There's going to be a mess. That's the point. That mess was under your mower deck, now it isn't. All that wet grass is not stuck to your deck rusting it out, and that grass is WAY WORSE on your deck than a little bit of clean water. Either resign yourself to cleaning it up or find a place to do it where it doesn't matter...

 

[Kansas4010]

What if we did read the INSTRUCTIONS and it
still doesn't work. That's exactly why I
take the deck off every time I mow to
scrape it out and sharpen blades.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

I have seen bearings fail in as little as 8 hours run time from doing this on a new mower.

Bearing failure is the reason I haven't washed my riding mowers. I have some mower decks that are over 30 years old.

 

[GlenIdaho]

You can buy the kit at Lowes. I bought two and put one on each side of my 48 inch deck. It works pretty well. It isn't perfectly clean, but gets the majority of the grass sticking to the deck. They have been installed for about 4 years and I have had no trouble with the bearings or the deck rusting through. The mower is a Craftsman GT5000 and is 20 years old. I make sure that I run the deck for a couple of minutes afterwards to throw off any water. It must help as there are no puddles after its parked. There is a mess to clean up afterwards, but I just wash off the driveway. In the past I have scraped the deck to get it clean. I found using an air hammer with a chisel bit works well too. In fact, it is easier than power washing. Anyway, you can try it and if you don't like it don't use them. My 2 cents! Hope it helps!

 

[MJMJ]

(quoted from post at 15:03:13 09/22/23) I have seen bearings fail in as little as 8 hours run time from doing this on a new mower.

Bearing failure is the reason I haven't washed my riding mowers. I have some mower decks that are over 30 years old.

Washing had nothing to do with bearings failing within 8 hours.

 

[DR. EVIL]

Most of the newer mower decks you guys are washing are stamped from thin Guage steel, maybe 14 or 16 Guage that is bolted to a 1/4 thk plate for strength & stiffness. Ohh, it's bolted together BEFORE it's painted, so RUST forms and eventually your deck skin will rust out, and it's thin enough it won't take long.
I walk around in my grass and if the toes of my work shoes get water spots on them I wait another hour to mow. Dry grass won't stick. A wire wheel brush chucked in a drill is the best way to clean a dirty by dry deck. Sweep or blow the debris into the grass. I've washed a deck ONCE, ONLY ONE TIME, got caught in a rain shower just before I was done mowing, what a mess! I SHOT water into the discharge chute, cleaned 90+% of the stuck-on grass out.
I've had only moderate success with Slip Plate graphite paint on the underside of a deck, it wears off to bare steel in 2-3 mowings. You can by truck bedliner Coatings in spray cans, put a BIG OLD HEAVY coating of that under your deck. Your deck won't last forever but it WILL last a lot longer. I have two 38 inch IH mower decks, one Dad bought about 1968, other one was on my #72 tractor when I bought it used about 1975, and I have the 50 inch deck on my 982 still. But I mow with my zero turn Cub Cadet LZ 54 TANK. Grass doesn't really stick to the deck.

 

[rvirgil_KS]

I've got one on a Husqvarna 46 and Snapper 42 both seem to work good

Choose your spot to use it as it may cut grass super short.

When I'm using mine I raise it up and down several times. Mine seems to clean best when set low to the ground as it sucks less air and stirs more water. Maybe my imagination.