GT 2550 deck plugs up too fast

[Fordlords]

I think those high lift blades are made to create an air vacuum under the deck to pull the grass upward to cut it more evenly. But in your case they are sending the wet cut grass that you can't avoid cutting right to the top of the deck where it sticks. With your situation, I would recommend installing just your plain old straight cut blades which will give the clippings the easiest route to the discharge. You won't get mulch or the vacuum advantage there, but it will probably eliminate the annoying under-deck clumps.

To discharge clippings and avoid having to rake, Agri-Fab's little tow behind sweeper and bag available at TSC and Sears work great, and the shards make nice garden compost. I like the Agri-Fab sweeper and use it a lot, it was mainly made for leaves but works great for grass too and it's so small you hardly realize you are towing it unlike a big bagger.

-Fordlords-

 

[ajm]

I had a 3204 that would get a lot of grass build-up on the deck. I cleaned the deck every second mowing. I only mow when the surface of the grass is dry, however, in spring the grass itself is moist. The opening would clog up occasionally. Since I bought a new mower, a Grasshopper mid-mount, I haven't had this problem. Same conditions, mowing the same way. Take it for what its worth. Just my $0.02.

 

[rbro]

Hey Fordlords, I agree with you about the vacuum. Unfortunately, CC doesn't offer any straight blades for this deck. I mowed today and did OK till about 3/4 done, then the clumps started. So...... I found some of my roughest grass (field actually) and mowed awhile - and the stuff actually got knocked out pretty good. Then I washed the deck for about 15 minutes, and it seemed to clean better. I guess the cure is just constant washing the deck out.
Thanks for the help.
rbro

 

[MrWiggles2]

My 42" does that all the time. I am constantly after each mowing taking it off and cleaning it with a scraper. Its got to get done though. If I don't you can hear it when I start the deck up, it gets a whirrrrrrrrrrr sound. I also know when that happens because the left side of the deck will blow out clippings, which really makes me mad. They should spy on the Simplicity guys and see how its done.lol

 

[Vernonator]

I have a GT 3535 w/54" deck and it also clogs easily. I have the mulching blades and have even resorted to removing the plug to let some of it out. I mow on the highest setting and trust me the grass is NOT wet (no rain here for 9 weeks). I water in the wee hours and mow in the afternoons....I think its just poor design on the deck contours.....kinda frustrating on a machine that costs as much as this one did....

 

[Vernonator]

On that note - my deck does not have the "Deck Wash System" Is there anyway to retrofit that? I have an area that I mow that is more dirt than grass. Between the dust and the moisture from the grass the deck gets a good 2" thick coating of mud that quickly dries to the consistency of cement. It has gotten so thick/hard that the blades have jammed against the sides and stopped!!! I really hate having to take the deck off everytime I mow and clean the dang thing out.

Anyone have any tricks to keeping the deck clean?

 

[OldMachinist]

MTD does sell the deck wash nozzles as repair parts. I bought a couple to have on hand just in case. If you want to add some I'd say go down to somewhere they sell mowers and look at the placement on the new decks and drill some holes in your deck for them. Also TSC sells a spray for under the deck that does help keep the clippings from sticking so much. It is called MoDeck. You need to really clean the deck bare and then spray it on and reapply after every cleaning.

 

[Hard]

No clogging, wet or dry with the 60" deck on my 5234D. I had a 46" deck on a craftsman GT that clogged all the time though no matter what you did.

 

[Amontilado]

It's strange that some decks accumulate and other don't. My gt2550 has over 50 hrs on it and I've cleaned it only once so far. No real accumulation and this is running the highlift blades that come with the bagger.

Steve

 

[MrWiggles2]

So it must be the types of grass that are clogging these decks up. I have to clean my deck in the spring and fall after every other cut or it sticks so bad I get clumps laying all over the place.

I have kentucky blue and tall fescue cool grasses. How bout you guys?