Drill Holes in Bush Hog to Prevent Water Accumulation?

[Suburban Plowboy]

I have a 72" King Kutter bush hog. I started leaving it outdoors because I was tired of losing workshop space to it. Problem: it has areas that trap rain.

I was thinking of drilling a few 1/2" holes in the deck to let water go through. Good idea or not?

Seems like the manufacturer would have done something this obvious unless there was a reason not to.

 

[TractorGuy]

I drilled a couple in my Howse mower. Hasn't hurt anything. Holes clog up with leaves and it still holds water

It was a bugger to drill.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Drill them, it wont hurt a thing. Put a little paint in the hole if you like but not necessary. The whole deck will rust out well before the hole area. I had to drill a couple in my bushhog where the gear box mounts made a trap.

 

[bdog]

Can you not set it at an angle? Like rest the front or back on some boards or something so the water runs off? I don’t think drilling holes will hurt anything but making the water run off would be easier I think.

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

If you tilt the bush hog, water runs out of some areas and into others.

 

[PILOON]

With the deck re enforcements water will still be trapped.

Personally I'd drill holes wherever there are entrapment corners.
Structurally speaking a nice round hole does not weaken that structures aircraft structures are full of holes and not compromised.

 

[4570Man]

I’d drill it. I need to drill my dump truck bed but I’m a procrastinator so I just park it up hill. If someone had of drilled it 25 years ago my bed would be in a lot better shape. I’d planned on using an inch hole saw because I figured a 1/2 hole would stop up in a week or less.