Swisher Trail Cutter Maintenance

kellyann · May 31, 2014

While I was checking out my trail cutter today, in advance of mowing the tall grass at back of the field, I noticed it was very rusty underneath. The body of the mower as well as the blades are covered in rust (possibly from the wet grass mowed last fall). What is the best way to prep the mower for winter storage and, how do I clean up the rust I have now?
It is pretty hard to get under the trail cutter also, short of jacking it up? I'm a 56 year old farm gal so no great feats of strength are likely. LOL Thanks

bullbreaker · May 31, 2014

WELCOME TO TBN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :thumbsup:

travlitt · May 31, 2014

:welcome:
from Texas

KiotiKowboy · Jul 9, 2014

You might try coating the underside and any moveable parts with Fluid Film. Lots of folks seem to love the stuff. I found it at a local NAPA.

boggen · Jul 10, 2014

flat head screw driver, paint scrapper, wire brush, and an air compressor, is what i use to clean out all the old gunk (weeds, mud etc...) from underneath the deck.

drain the fuel, so carb doesn't take a hit with fuel turning into varnish on ya.

floor jack, bottle jack, cherry picker...

thinking about it a cherry picker, might be better choice.

googled "cherry picker" and grabbed first image that showed up..

it would allow you to lift the deck up higher. guessing a cheap cherry picker, would be more than adequate to lift the deck up. with the boom fully extended out. working on concrete or paved driveway, would be a big thing, so you can move everything around easily.

though you would most likely want to drain the oil out of the engine first, so oil doesn't go all over the place as you tip the deck up on its side.