Mower deck spray

10 years ago

Wanted to throw this one out to the community to see what others are doing...

Does anyone use a lubricant on the mower deck to prevent clipping buildup? Something like WD-40 or cooking grease/Pam.

I have the HRX217 model mower from Honda, and it has the Nexite deck. That is supposed to prevent rust and corrosion, but I still find myself scraping it clean eith a putty knife every time.

My thinking is that some type of lubricant coating would prevent buildup / make cleaning go faster. However, I'm worried that it would somehow harm the Nexite deck, and/or cause dirt, gunk and clippings to actually stick to the coating.. I'm also worried that WD-40 or other lubricant products would harm lawn.

any thoughts?

Featured Answer

danielj_2009

10 years ago

I have the same mower (great mower, btw). I get a film of dried grass built up in the nooks and crannies over time. Periodically I just tip it on the side and scrape the dried mat out, mostly by hand. I don't think it hurts anything to be there for a few mowings. You shouldn't be getting a lot unless maybe you are mowing wet grass. I think they recommend that you hose it down.

In the fall when you are mulching your leaves, and maybe your neighbor's leaves into the lawn, you will find that the leaves act like sand or walnut blasting. The deck will look like new when you are done mulching leaves! This is one reason I wouldn't bother with any kind of coating. It's probably going to get scrubbed off by grass/leaves quickly anyway. Unless the grass mat interferes with airflow or something like that, which I don't think it does, then I don't think it is really a problem that needs solving, IMO.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

User
10 years ago
https://www.slipplate.com/
Julian 6A
10 years ago
I have the same mower and have always had success by just spraying off the underside with water after mowing. That was our practice at the golf course I worked at for a few years as well. Have only had to scrap when I forget to rinse it.
Related Professionals
Hagerstown Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · New Braunfels Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Newport News Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · New London Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Farmington Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Redding Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Cheyenne Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Texarkana Landscape Contractors · Rolla Home Builders · Laconia Home Builders · Buffalo Home Builders · Las Cruces Home Builders · Las Vegas Home Builders · Dickinson Home Builders · Magog Home Builders
owlnsr
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks. Do you find that the bottom of the deck sometimes produces a dark "film" that peels off?

J4c11- what is the difference between that any a generic lubricant? The mower aerosol costs $65....a can of generic lubricant (non-mower specific) could probably cost about $7 at Ace.
Julian 6A
10 years ago
I have not had that issue.

I would avoid any oil based lubricant.
owlnsr
Original Author
10 years ago
I haven't added anything yet.

The "dark film" looks as if it = grass clippings that were "juiced" from mulching and then dried on the Nexite. Kind of odd really; I will take a photo of it next time I see it happen & post it on here.
User
10 years ago
SLIP Plate is not a lubricant, it is a graphite based "paint" that you would coat the underside of your deck with. Once dried it forms a slippery hydrophobic coating.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VMUh-nn4nQ
reeljake
10 years ago
Pam is a good idea. I cannot imagine the nexite deck would be affected in any way by a food grade nonstick. That said, I'd call Honda first just to make sure it won't void the warranty. I wouldn't use wd40 for the reasons you mentioned.
Julian 6A
10 years ago
Anyone else find that there isn't much suction with this mower, at least when mulching?
owlnsr
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Every time I finish on 100% mulch mode, the entire chute for discharge/bagging is filled to the brim with clippings. Stuffed like a Christmas goose. I'm actually wondering if any of the clippings are actually being returned to the lawn. To me, it seems like there is too much vacuum. :-P
danielj_2009
10 years ago
Are you sure you have the clipping director (the black knob) all the way over to the mulch side, and not one notch away from full mulch? You definitely shouldn't be getting a lot of clippings in the discharge chute. I have 9000 sf and when I am done mowing, if I look in the chute I might find maybe a cup of clippings in there. I usually don't even look until after two or three mowings, then I throw whatever is in there onto the lawn and mow over it. You might want to do a little looking into it if that is a new mower. I'm assuming you aren't mowing 2 acres or something crazy.

I've had nothing but good results with this mower.
reeljake
10 years ago
You seem to have some very sticky grass...