How to Fix a Rusted Lawn Mower Deck
- Safety First. Before you start doing any work on your lawn mower, make sure you pull the spark plug to prevent it from starting accidentally.
- Get Rid of Surface Dirt. Remove any surface dirt or stuck on grass from the mower deck before you start working on the rust. ...
- Break Out a Wire Brush. Make sure you have the mower over a tarp or in an area that’s easy to sweep, and then break out a wire brush to ...
- Remove Oil and Grease. Use paint thinner to remove any oil or grease on the deck. This can easily be applied with a rag or washcloth.
- Apply a Rust Converter and Paint. Once the surface is completely dry, apply a rust converter. ...
How to properly level a mower deck?
These are steps to follow for leveling the mower deck
- Control the tires for the air pressure with the pressure gauge. All of your mower’s tires should be filled to the maximum appropriate pressure. ...
- Your mower’s blades should be rotated to the side. ...
- Now that you know you need to make an adjustment, begin by going to the left rear wheel. ...
How to repair a rusty lawn mower deck?
Rusty Mower Deck- Remove the rust
- Clean the area- Ensure the area is clean from grass and dust etc and then get at it with a wire brush. ...
- Apply the Kurust with an old brush- The Kurust will convert the rusty area into a solid and inert surface. ...
- Leave it to dry and do it’s magic- It only actually takes 15 minutes so this really is a job you can do all in one go.
How to clean a lawn mower deck the right way?
To do this there are a few simple steps:
- With your mower in a normal position, flat on the ground, you’re going to pull on the starter cord, as if you were trying to start your mower. ...
- If you have a brake handle, pull it down.
- Now, pull softly and slowly on the cord. ...
- When you’ve found that point, on the next pull only pull as far as that point. ...
How often to grease mower deck?
When should I replace my mower spindles?
- Uneven grass after cutting.
- Bent and broken parts.
- Squealing sounds.
- Loud buzzing noise and vibration.
- Spindle failing to heat up.
How do you repair a hole in a mower deck?
To do this, combine equals parts of epoxy resin and hardener, it will work both as a filler and as an adhesive. Spread the mixture over the rust holes on the lawn mower deck from the inside. Apply the same mixture to the outside of the deck if needed and let it cure for about 24 hours.
How do I fix my mower deck without welding?
2:0717:18How To Repair a Mower Deck Without Welding - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd I don't have a welder. I'm just gonna pop rivet. I'm pre-drill the holes in this pop rivet aMoreAnd I don't have a welder. I'm just gonna pop rivet. I'm pre-drill the holes in this pop rivet a piece on. And just see how long it gets me you know the deck.
How do you recondition a mower deck?
3:0311:00How to Restore a Mower Deck - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipStep you're supposed to put it all near it in let it dry all night and then it turns to us and someMoreStep you're supposed to put it all near it in let it dry all night and then it turns to us and some kind of black. And nurse metal not rust chemical change will be going on it won't be arrested.
How do you restore a rusty mower deck?
4:236:38How to Clean Your Mower Deck and Repaint It to Slow Down RustYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo the first coat i'm going to put on is this rust reformer made by rust-oleum. And it converts rustMoreSo the first coat i'm going to put on is this rust reformer made by rust-oleum. And it converts rust into a paintable surface as you can see on the label. Here it also says it'll stop the rusting.
Are lawn mower decks interchangeable?
So, are lawn mower decks interchangeable? Lawnmower decks are largely interchangeable. Engines will swap without issue. However, blades and drive systems may differ.
How do you repair rust on sheet metal?
0:2016:15HOW TO REPAIR RUST HOLES IN BODY PANELS, SHEET METAL ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe new piece into the old piece which is where you lay a piece in completely flush weld all the wayMoreThe new piece into the old piece which is where you lay a piece in completely flush weld all the way around. And then sand off the world around the outside.
Does fluid film work on mower deck?
0:113:40#148 Does FLUID FILM Help Less Grass Build Up Under The Mower ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd if it creates somewhat of a nonstick surface which is what I was kind of going after. But reallyMoreAnd if it creates somewhat of a nonstick surface which is what I was kind of going after. But really what I was going after was corrosion protection.
What do you coat a mower deck with?
A graphite undercoating is the best way to protect a lawn mower deck and it is easy to apply to extend the deck's life almost indefinitely. Graphite forms a hard, slippery coating to inhibit corrosion and rust on metal surfaces.
How do I make my mower deck non stick?
0:126:35HOW TO PREVENT GRASS FROM STICKING TO YOUR MOWER ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis is gonna be a fun one today is all about ceramic coating the underside of your mower deck toMoreThis is gonna be a fun one today is all about ceramic coating the underside of your mower deck to make it non-stick. If you are mowing wet grass.
What do you put on a rusty mower deck?
0:315:01Lawnmower Deck Rust Removal and Painting with RustSeal from KBS ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd rust seal which is a rust preventative. Paint.MoreAnd rust seal which is a rust preventative. Paint.
Which rust remover is best?
The best rust removerThe best overall: Evapo-Rust The Original Super Safe Rust Remover.The best on a budget: Whink Rust Remover.The best multipurpose: WD-40 Specialist Rust Remover Soak.The best for household: Iron Out Spray Rust Stain Remover.The best for heavy duty: Corroseal Water-Based Rust Converter Metal Primer.
How do you rust proof a lawn mower?
1:178:30The SECRET To A RUST FREE LAWN MOWER - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd dust sticking to this mower like a magnet. So remember thin winds thick sticks you want a thinMoreAnd dust sticking to this mower like a magnet. So remember thin winds thick sticks you want a thin coat all over this mower. If you lay it on thick you'll be sorry simply spray your rag.
How do you straighten a bent mower deck?
4:4412:00Fixing a bent mower deck WITHOUT a hammer - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo let's see what we can do here. Alright this is what we come up with to speed up the deckMoreSo let's see what we can do here. Alright this is what we come up with to speed up the deck straightening process and to just get it a little bit more precise than banging on something with a hammer.
Can a lawn mower deck be welded?
1:2215:45Mower Deck Welding Repair - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo there's a little little play in it. But we'll get it in place.MoreSo there's a little little play in it. But we'll get it in place.
How do you make a mower deck?
0:4410:00WRIGHT | MOWER DECK CONSTRUCTION - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd anytime we bend the metal becomes significantly stronger. So the the crease. That is made up byMoreAnd anytime we bend the metal becomes significantly stronger. So the the crease. That is made up by this doubler creates a ton of stiffness. Right here near where the spindle sits.
How to repair a worn spindle on a deck?
Remove the blade and the pulley from the worn spindle. You may want to repair both spindles even though only one is showing symptoms. Remove the worn spindle from the deck. Be careful when removing the bolts. Use penetrating oil and let it soak. If the bolts break off, don't panic.
What to do if your bearings break off?
If the bolts break off, don't panic. You can drill and tap new mounting holes slightly offset from the original ones. You must now dismantle the spindle assembly in order to replace the bearings. Take the spindle to the bench and suspend the casing over the jaws of a vise or similar object.
Cutting out the patches
I decided that I was NOT going to bother with trimming the holes perfectly and inserting filler plates. Due to how thin the metal was in some spots, I decided to just cut the patches with plenty of overlap so I was able to weld where there was good thick steel.
Bending the filler plates
I totally forgot to take pictures of bending these. I DID however take a time lapse video below of the entire process which includes me bending the plates, so keep reading.
Welding the filler plates
The welding itself was mostly uneventful. My welder has 5 settings and I had it on 1 to minimize burning through. You will have to do some testing to figure out what settings work for you and your project. Here are some notes on the difficult areas though:
Time lapse video of the repair
Here is a quick 2 minute time lapse of the repair start to finish. I thought it was kind of cool and got some video of using the bender on the patches. Take a look and like/subscribe!
A word about quality standards
I am all about doing the best work possible, but I am also conscious about the intended purpose vs the time invested. In this case, the lawnmower is given a new lease on life and I only invested a couple of hours. Could I have spent more time on it and made it beautiful? probably but there would be no advantage in doing so.
Conclusion
We have become a disposable society, but if you have the right tools and a little bit of gumption you can really make things last. It is also fun to find good deals when others don’t feel like fixing things and sell them cheap. Hope this is helpful to you.
What tool to use to flatten out a bend in a lawn mower?
Hammer, the mower deck blade, is a crucial thing in this work. You can choose the ball peen hammer to flatten out the last of the bend. I suggested using the anvil for this. But if you don’t want to do this, you can use access to one a sledgehammer.
How many blades are in a reel mower?
Another side, the modern rotary mower blades are sharp-edged. Usually, there are two blades in a mower.
Can you cut grass on a lawn mower deck?
It is not possible to cut the grass well for the sake of the deck. As soon as you see that your mower has started to move in an abbreviated manner, you know that it is time to change the bent deck of your mower or to sharpen and fix it in a while.
Why does my grass have streaks?
Another way that streaks can occur in your grass is scalping. When your ground is not level and your mower is adjusted too low then your grass will begin scalping, or showing grass in some areas and shaved ground in high areas. The streaks show up well.
Is a mower deck reliable?
Your mower deck has been giving you excellent service for some years now. With time, though, all things become less reliable and less able to do their job. This is not any different for a mower deck. There are several issues that can happen to a mower deck device including streaks being left in the grass. A few tools and some safe procedures will ...
Is a mower deck dangerous?
A mower deck is a dangerous piece of garden and lawn equipment. Be sure that before you do any maintenance to the mower deck there is no way for power to be fed to the blades. If your mower deck is equipped with an exposed spark plug the safest method to eliminate danger is to unplug the connector from the spark plug and cover with some electric tape to keep the spark plug from making contact. Also make sure that the gas tank is empty as well, to reduce the occurrence of spillage.
Research
I read online forums and watched YouTube videos made by DIYers like me as well as professional landscape managers. Opinions varied widely, as always, but they all ended up in a similar place: prevention is easier than cure. I’ll get to that part later; now that I’m in this pickle, I need to do something.
Cleaning It Up
There isn’t any rocket science in the first few steps. Remove the blades, then disassemble the mower deck to the point where you have free access to the entire underside. For me, that was a complete disassembly to remove all the screws that were sticking down below the surface of the deck.
Rust Conversion
I’m so glad I discovered Rust Kutter in my research. This stuff is awesome! After I wiped away the debris from the clean-up process, I sprayed the rust converter on and walked away for a couple of days.
Sealing the Mowing Deck
This is where the online opinions varied the widest. Some said don’t do anything but keep it clean, others advocated truck bed lining, others a coat of paint or oil, and still others automotive undercoating. I went with undercoating, as it seems to me it will hold up well but not be as expensive as bed lining.
Reassembly and Final Points
Reassembling the mower deck was pretty easy. I noticed a gouge in the belt, so I grabbed the spare off the shelf and replaced it. Remembering where one of the springs goes took me a minute; the pictures I took during disassembly were a huge help at this point.
