[AT] Mower deck

[Carl Tatlock]

More on the mower deck experience.  My JD 285, 1990 model, still has 
grass from that year somewhere in that deck.  Al Jones and I are maybe 
both weird in never cleaning thoroughly and mowing when it is wet if we 
have to.  (Had to do a lot of that this year.)  

    Once a year or so, I will pry out some of the biggest chunks with my 
de-chunking tool (1/2 of a curtain rod), but never try to clean it down 
to metal.  I figure the old grass is protecting the base.  No rust so 
far, and I would never consider washing underside with hose-- really 
damages bearings, my neighbor ( a lawnmower repairman) says.    My 
finish mower (5') Howse, is 12 years old and gets the same treatment.  I 
mow about 4A of grass/orchard grass/weeds we call a lawn about every 3-4 
days until August when it goes a week (but not this year!) here in 
Vermont.   I only mow during May,June,July,August ,Sept, and October, so 
maybe that makes a difference.  The other six months the grass is pretty 
frozen....Carl in Vermont