Cleaning your 3-point finish mower

[Caboose]

For those of you that have/use 3-point finish mowers, how do you clean them? I assume just a strong spray of water from a hose (vs. pressure washer), but how are you lifting yours up for access? Last time I cleaned mine, I just lifted it up with a chain using my loader, but it didn't get quite high enough or vertical enough to allow really great access. Also, I was a little concerned about putting weight on the "outrigger" wheels while lifting it up in that position.

What have you found works well and allows good access? FYI - I have the Land Pride FDR1660.

Thank you,

Dean

 

[spacemanspiff]

My bush hog mower is 18 years old and I have never cleaned the bottom. The most I do is use a air hose to blow the grass off the top and there is really no rust on it.

The seal has gone bad and I filled it with grease. It's a five foot mower being pulled by a 6 foot tractor now. I have only changed the blades, every thing else is original. I will run it till it dies, or I find a super deal on a 6 foot one.

 

[beaterboss]

For those of you that have/use 3-point finish mowers, how do you clean them? I assume just a strong spray of water from a hose (vs. pressure washer), but how are you lifting yours up for access? Last time I cleaned mine, I just lifted it up with a chain using my loader, but it didn't get quite high enough or vertical enough to allow really great access. Also, I was a little concerned about putting weight on the "outrigger" wheels while lifting it up in that position.

What have you found works well and allows good access? FYI - I have the Land Pride FDR1660.

Thank you,

Dean

Well...I dont have one now, but when I did......I would crank the top link as short as possible. When lifting the mower, it would tilt forward considerably when lifted and I could easily access the underneath. I would pressure wash the underneath every 2 weeks or so, followed by a spray down with Synthetic spray grease to coat the underside when dry. I never had any problems with damaging seals or anything, so I just continued the practice regularly. After that, the whole thing would get a lube job before the next use. I had 6 acres of lawns to mow, and had about 1500 hours on the deck when I sold the ranch so to speak. Never had any issues with the deck, ever. It was an Italian made deck, I am pretty sure it was a Caroni, but it was a 60 inch deck. I never put any repairs in the deck, and the only thing I ever bought for it was an extra set of blades.

 

[chim]

I've used the beaterboss method for cleaning the deck while still attached to the tractor. With the toplink as short as possible, I park with the tractor facing downhill (rear tires just ready to leave the level ground and front wheels on the slope). I can scrape or pressure wash without getting under the deck. I have an old ice chopper with a long handle. I cut the blade narrower so it gets into the corners nicely.

When I remove the deck in the Fall I use the FEL to pick it and prop it against a tree to do a thorough cleaning and a good coat of Fluid Film. I should do that 3 times a season but I'm too lazy.

 

[Caboose]

Guys,
Thanks for the replies. I will continue to clean out after use and look into the fluid film.
This last mowing, I was getting a number of stalks of grass that were not completely cut. I will have to think about how I am mowing and look closer at where in the path the stalks are being left. While I like this Land Pride grooming mower, I am wondering if I should have gone with the brush cutter style. I guess we'll see.

Thanks again for the advice.

Dean

 

[gcmiller]

Guys,
Thanks for the replies. I will continue to clean out after use and look into the fluid film.
This last mowing, I was getting a number of stalks of grass that were not completely cut. I will have to think about how I am mowing and look closer at where in the path the stalks are being left. While I like this Land Pride grooming mower, I am wondering if I should have gone with the brush cutter style. I guess we'll see.

Thanks again for the advice.

Dean

It sounds to me like your blades need to be sharpened if the grass stalks are not being cut. That's usually my signal to sharpen my blades.

Gary

 

[OldeEnglish]

If you clean it good after mowing, just before using it again spray the entire underside with Silicone. It makes cleaning it a lot easier and keeps the grass from sticking.

 

[Greenhead]

I usually just scrape it out once a year. Since I started using Fluid Film The debris are minimal. I've used it on plows and buckets in the winter to keep snow from sticking and thought why not mowers too? http://www.fluid-film.com/?gclid=Cj...b_24KI_Rf8XQiz9S6Ux760IGN81sSlHPVYaAn_c8P8HAQ

 

[Caboose]

I think I will look into the Fluid Film/Silicone idea. Makes sense that it a) keeps some stuff from sticking and b) makes the stuff that does stick easier to clean off.

gcmiller... this is only the first time I've mowed the whole field. You may be right, but disappointing if so that the blades would come from the factory that dull. I will check and give them a little attention if needed. That's usually the first thing I think of with my walk-behind, just didn't dawn on me with this since it's brand new.

Thanks again, guys!

Dean

 

[Rookie Farmer]

I just purchased the same finish mower to use with my B2650. I found that I was not getting a clean cut as well at first. I just slowed down and it made a big difference. I got 1.5 acres that was 12-18" of weeds and grass. I expect now that it is knocked down I will get better results mowing every week.

 

[Caboose]

Rookie,
I'm going to check my blades, but I believe that is probably the "smoking gun", i.e. cause of my uncut material. It certainly didn't feel like I was blazing around the pasture while cutting, but it may have been a little fast. Right now, I have a similar crop of 12-18" combination of winter rye, horse forage and weeds - although it's not a consistent covering. There are lots of small patches and it seems like the way the clumps of winter rye grow lend to uncut stalks if I don't approach reasonable slowly.

All in the learning curve. As that pasture fills in, I will have to cut it more frequently and probably more slowly to get a clean cut. Will have to see if the grooming mower turns out to be a good fit for that application.

One of these days, we will have to compare notes on control of Canadian Thistle and Buttercup

Thanks,

Dean