Cleaning Under Zero-Turn Deck After Every Session: Really Necessary?

[walnutman]

I’m a one man band mowing 20 acres here on the farm weekly.
Occasionally when the stars align just right : I can persuade my wife into mowing with the backup ZD1611 mower

Two 72” 4cyl Turbo Zero’s can flat cover some ground

Wow thats too much mowing.
If it was me it would be hay to the highest harvester.
And maybe mow a few.

 

[fidowanttobe]

I've read all these posts and it must be geography.
Ain't no way I could wait till the grass is dry to mow, it would be 10" tall and certain areas the grass is always damp, or not clean it every time. Next week it would be concrete under there and the cut would be terrible. Not just this mower deck, every one I've had.

 

[walnutman]

I've read all these posts and it must be geography.
Ain't no way I could wait till the grass is dry to mow, it would be 10" tall and certain areas the grass is always damp, or not clean it every time. Next week it would be concrete under there and the cut would be terrible. Not just this mower deck, every one I've had.

Exactly.

 

[Brown Dog]

Wow thats too much mowing.
If it was me it would be hay to the highest harvester.
And maybe mow a few.

I use to let the in-laws cut it for hay BUT HUNDREDS of Gopher Rats took over my home, barns, sheds, vehicles & poultry houses.
So I bush hog 7acres with 15ft batwing & zero 20 acres.
Hawks & coyotes will eat what few shows up.
Rat problem solved.

 

[walnutman]

I use to let the in-laws cut it for hay BUT HUNDREDS of Gopher Rats took over my home, barns, sheds, vehicles & poultry houses.
So I bush hog 7acres with 15ft batwing & zero 20 acres.
Hawks & coyotes will eat what few shows up.
Rat problem solved.

Still 20 acres is a lot for a zero turn. I've never seen anyone here in East Texas mow more than a few acres with one. All tractor stuff over a few acres.
I only mow about 3-1/2 acres. Takes a couple hours and 5 gallons of gas. Hoping this new ZD1611 helps.

 

[lilranch2001]

I mow 7+ acres in northern Indiana every week with my Lazer Z, and have for 25+ years, used a 20 HP Wheel Horse, before that for 12 years

 

[Brown Dog]

Still 20 acres is a lot for a zero turn. I've never seen anyone here in East Texas mow more than a few acres with one. All tractor stuff over a few acres.
I only mow about 3-1/2 acres. Takes a couple hours and 5 gallons of gas. Hoping this new ZD1611 helps.

I used a 6ft then a 7ft then a 9ft rear finishing mower behind a 66hp JD tractor for 20yrs
The 4cyl Turbo Diesel 72” ZD Kubota mows WAY SLICKER & I can trim better BUT it doesn’t save me any time at all.
I miss the smooth ride of tractor with all 4 tires fluid filled.

iF Exmark 96” Zero was a side discharge deck : I’d try one but the rear discharge Kubota left windrows BAD in thick heavy grass.
It cut great but left windrows were horrible.
I tired numerous blades & removed baffles, guards
Nothing helped

 

[walnutman]

I mow 7+ acres in northern Indiana every week with my Lazer Z, and have for 25+ years, used a 20 HP Wheel Horse, before that for 12 years

Those eXmarks are good machines but hell on the kidneys. I had a Lazer X EFI. Sold it after the first season and bought a Ferris. What a difference in ride quality. That was two years ago. The other day I got the Kubota ZD1611.
Selling the Ferris. The air ride seat on the Kubota does the job. I love the built in jack that uses the whole front axle to raise the machine. Went from 61" cut to 72".

 

[RayIN]

To clean the underside of the deck, many now come with a water hose connection on the deck. An aftermarket hose connection kit is also available.

 

[walnutman]

To clean the underside of the deck, many now come with a water hose connection on the deck. An aftermarket hose connection kit is also available.

Those things are generally only found on stamped deck, low budget machines and are not very effective.

 

[Mike1955]

I figure the deck will last long enough. It ain’t like nothing else is going to fail. I never have cleaned mine

 

[walnutman]

The original post asks, is it necessary?
Short answer, yes.

 

[Carl_NH]

The original post asks, is it necessary?
Short answer, yes.

But only 1-2 times a year unless you cut wet grass'

 

[lilranch2001]

Actually the short answer really is…..
Maybe, maybe not!

 

[KennyG]

I clean my deck at the end of the season by using it to pick up leaves (and acorns, small sticks, etc) with my cyclone rake. That leaves the bottom of the deck completely clean except for a couple of spots I scrape off. After 15 years there is no noticeable damage to the deck surface. Of course, it's a fabricated heavy deck and not stamped steel. It has a cleanout hose port but I've never used it.

 

[walnutman]

Actually the short answer really is…..
Maybe, maybe not!

You got the last word. Enjoy.

 

[Cycledude]

I'm more talking about cut quality.

Nice video but I don’t think he knows the proper way to operate the crank to raise and lower the deck, on my zd21 that slot in the crank handle locks it in position making things much easier.

 

[lman]

I figure the deck will last long enough. It ain’t like nothing else is going to fail. I never have cleaned mine

So you don't even clean it when you sharpen the blades? I may have OCD that makes it difficult to leave all of that sh@#$t there when removing the blades. It's not that hard to do.

 

[walnutman]

Nice video but I don’t think he knows the proper way to operate the crank to raise and lower the deck, on my zd21 that slot in the crank handle locks it in position making things much easier.

Yea , the guy should have at least learned how to use it before making a fool out of himself.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Somebody teach me the right way.... I have the same mower and use the crank the same way he did. I'M MAKING A FOOL OUT OF MYSELF AND I CAN'T HELP IT!!!

My wife is apparently aware of me making a fool of my self and not knowing it... but I'm not sure the mower is the reason for that...