Deck Clogging

[1BeachBum]

I bought a Z-Force 44 last spring and love it. But lately I've had problems with the deck clogging up. Clippings still come out the discharge chute but the deck clogs up so bad the mower sounds like an old prop plane with the blades engaged. It's been really dry most of the summer so the grass only needs cutting about once a week. Can't figure why clippings are clinging to the underside of the deck now. I walked around the yard barefoot last Saturday before cutting and it felt completely dry, about 2 pm. But it still clogged! I'm curious if the deck came with a coating of some kind when new that resisted clippings from sticking but has worn off. Thought I might have been going too fast when cutting so I slowed down but that doesn't help and I've always run full throttle. The clippings get cut so fine and stick to the deck so well that I spend as much time after cutting with a putty knife scraping the crap off as I do cutting the grass. Any ideas?

 

[Mickey_Fx]

While damp grass can be part of the problem, the deck design is also a big contributor for grass build up. Also think kind of grass also play a part in clogs and build-up on the deck.

When I was shopping for my Cub I had the dealer bring it out for a test spin. Grass was HIGH and damp. The deck clogged up so bad in the first couple hundred feet it killed the engine. Cleared the clog and took off again. Clogged again in another hundred feet. Took the tractor back and said no thanks but would give it another try if they put the 48" deck on it as it was a different design. Now the patch of grass had another weeks growth and the larger deck when through the same patch of grass like a hot knife through butter.

Now even with the larger deck, if the grass is damp, grass will build up badly but never to the point of killing the engine, just noisy. During the damp spring I have to pull the deck after each mow to clean out.

 

[JTKub]

I dunno if the Z-force 44" is the same as the 44" on my 2544, but I have yet to ever have my 2544 clog up. Not even close. It will collect some build-up, but I scrape it out after each use & pull the deck & do a more thorough cleaning each 4-6weeks of use. The deck wash system is completely useless for me. Makes more of a mess than anyting.
G/luck
Joel

 

[toadtown]

The deck wash does not work for me either. Also, it kills a spot of grass under the exhaust everytime I use it.

Steven

 

[Rhoderman]

I don't think that dead spot under the exhaust is from the deck washing system. If you left the tractor idling in the same spot without doing anything else, you would still have the same dead spot.
I have to be careful when I get off the tractor to move the wife's dog-agility stuff when I'm mowing. I make sure to park over a dead spot or I'll have the dreaded "UFO Must've Landed Here" marks.

 

[toadtown]

Yes, the dead spot is not caused by the wash, but you do have to park it to use the wash, so you get a dead spot.

Steven

 

[HGM]

I got tired of the build up on my JD LT150 and decided to try something. I sprayed the underside of the deck with a spray in bed liner material. This is the first season of use, and so far it works good. We have had an extreemly wet summer and cut alot of grass. I have yet to scrape the deck, looked at it a few times and the little clumps still there were loose. So far I like it. I'll post the final results this fall.

 

[Rhoderman]

HGM,
Did you use the DIY bedliner stuff, or did you take it to Rhino or similar vendor?
- Rhoderman

 

[HGM]

I used the DupliColor stuff you buy off the shelf, if I were to do it again, I would look into the professional "RinoLiner" or its equal. My reasoning is just because I dont think you get the same quality or harndess from the spray can. The roll on might be better. I have noticed a couple of spots flaking off already and I really cleaned it as if I were going to paint it. I'll know more after this mowing season when I do a thorough cleaning and sharpen the blades before I put it away, but so far I'm really happy with it. Even if I have to do it again, its better than cleaning every time you mow, plus it ads a barrier against rust.

 

[JTKub]

Anything to slow down the corrosion process under the deck is a good idea, but even a commercial spray in 'bed-liner' is not going to hold up long-term in that environment. That's one of the harshest conditions you can get under there. Give it a quick scrape after each use, do a drop & clean every so often & the deck will last a looooong time. More often than not, most of your deck failures are the result of mis-use and being allowed to contact the ground anyway.
G/luck
Joel

 

[MBDiagMan]

A Cub Cadet deck clogging up? NO! NEVER!

Seriously, one of the reasons I baled out of my almost new Z Force was clogging in thick grass. The reason, I believe, is the bar across the bottom of the discharge chute. On my old 2145 it did the same thing and after that bar tore up, I welded some 1/4" outside gussets at the top corners of the discharge chute that reach to the bottom of the deck and I removed the remnants of the cross bar. This gives the same bracing without the restriction of the bar.

I know of someone else who has a Z-Force because he is in a wheel chair and the Z-Force was the easiest machine for him to get on and off of. He has to mow an orchard in high grass, but has now given up on the Z-Force because if it clogs it is a MAJOR project for him to clear it due to his handicap.

Before I bought my Z-Force replacement, I demo'd the unit in grass that was about 12" high at about 8:30AM to make sure there was no clogging. It shot grass out of there like a fire hose so it passed that test.

If you have an '05 Z-Force so that you don't have the disastrous B&S Intek engine, it would be worth removing the cross bar and welding on an external discharge chute brace.

BTW, whatever you do, don't pressure wash around the rear of the Z Force without removing the drive vent caps and sealing those vents TIGHT so that water does not pressure it's way into that delicate and expensive drive unit.


My $0.02 and best of luck,
Doc

 

[MrWiggles2]

Spring grass and fall grass not only have more moisure, they are building their root systems at that time of the year. So, they are photosynethesizing like mad to strengthen themselves. You'll find the grass really sticky then, it would stick to a Teflon coated deck.

Another issue with this is the deck chute. Make sure to keep it down or put a small stick to elevate if you get windrows. Keeping the chute up sucks in a lot of air which disturbes the flow, making the grass more likely to stick.

 

[HGM]

Guys, just an update... I purposly neglected to clean the underside of my deck last year to test the bedliner coating I put on last spring.. Here's a picture of the results.. We had a heavy cutting season, so heavy in fact that I had to buy a sweeper to get the cuttings off the grass, lots of rain and wet grass.. I will need to reapply, and will likely do a more professional job next time.. I didnt like the quality of the arosol can stuff, but a brush on should do better...

 

[HGM]

The build up was pretty severe the previous year, prompting me to try this... I'm happy with the results and recomend it..

 

[wojnaroski]

Thanks for the info.

Hard for me to tell from the pictures, did the liner come off in pieces or just wear off? How many cans did you use? How many coats of liner did you put on? Was it the rough or smooth liner? A lot of questions, I know.

Your answers are very much appreciated.

Thanks, Alan

 

[HGM]

I primed it with an "rust converter" that neutralizes any rust before painting.. I used 3 cans of the arrosol bedliner and yes it did rub off in places, mostly where the front edge of the deck may drag across the gravel drive.. The final product is nowhere near as thick or durable as the professional product.. The rust converter I used may have played a part in the adhesion(sp?) but I still believe the brush on or professional system would give a much better quality finish with more longevity.. Like I said, overall, I'm happy with the results.. I'll just use a different product next time. Hope that helps some.. BTW,clogging was mostly eliminated, the stuff that did build up comes off really easy....