How to "undercoat" mower deck.

[IndyJay]

I'm all for good maintenance but there is a matter of value. How many rusted through decks have you seen. I've seen cracked decks and bent decks but not rust holes.

Yeah, I've not had any rust through either. My problem is the deck clogging up with grass even when "dry".

 

[DK35vince]

I'm all for good maintenance but there is a matter of value. How many rusted through decks have you seen. I've seen cracked decks and bent decks but not rust holes.

The deck on my previous tractor (1978 JD 850) had the belly mower patch several times where it wore or rusted through.
I recently repaired several rust holes and built new baffle plates (original baffle plates were gone) on my 1978 Wheel Horse garden tractor deck

 

[Creamer]

I have always heard Deere decks rust through quicker in part because they are thinner and stamped which adds a lot of residual stress,i.e. energy to speed the corrosion. The other side is that the stamped decks have smoother flow lines so that the grass should not have the corners to end up in. Then of course some say you only notice it on the Deeres because the tractor lasts longer.

What i do know is that if the grass sticks on and stays wet it will rust - if it is always clean and used regularly it will not rust. If it is not being used it should be coated.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

My mower has 160 hours on it. Much if the underside paint is gone. It is always stored indoors, and I never see rust

 

[/pine]

This may have been suggested...I didn't read the whole thread...
...But you could get a couple cans of spray on undercoating..shake them up real good...then with a mulching set up just run over the cans...easy peasy...!

 

[DK35vince]

I now scrape and spray oil under my decks at the end of the mow season to stop any rust

 

[MF243RedTop]

This may have been suggested...I didn't read the whole thread...
...But you could get a couple cans of spray on undercoating..shake them up real good...then with a mulching set up just run over the cans...easy peasy...!

 

[IndyJay]

"It's time to start cooking mowing with PAM®" ???

 

[bigtiller]

The deck on my previous tractor (1978 JD 850) had the belly mower patch several times where it wore or rusted through.
I recently repaired several rust holes and built new baffle plates (original baffle plates were gone) on my 1978 Wheel Horse garden tractor deck

40 plus years for a Deere and Wheel Horse, I'd be bragging also.

 

[Captain Dirty]

The deck on my previous tractor (1978 JD 850) had the belly mower patch several times where it wore or rusted through.
I recently repaired several rust holes and built new baffle plates (original baffle plates were gone) on my 1978 Wheel Horse garden tractor deck

Having owned a 1979 Chevrolet C-20 Pick-up, I will also attest to the fine quality of American steel of the era.