Deck Repair on a Riding Mower

Deck Cleaning

• In many cases, when a riding mower deck stops operating properly it simply needs a thorough cleaning. Grass, dirt and plant material can coat the underside of a deck, including the blades. This will happen especially quickly if the grass you cut is damp, allowing it to stick better. To clean a riding mower deck locate and remove the bolts that hold it in place, allowing you to slide the deck out and flip it over to access the underside. Remove the blades for safety, and scrape away grass and buildup with a putty knife or other blunt metal tool.

Sharpening Blades

• Another common form of general riding mower deck repair involves cleaning and sharpening the blades with a grindstone or manual sharpening block. Sharp blades perform significantly better than dull ones. Wear heavy gloves and eye protection to guard against cuts and metal shards that sharpening can produce. If sharp blades in a clean deck still don't spin freely and quietly, you may need to grease the bearings that allow the blades to spin.

Leveling

• Since mower decks are suspended at multiple points, they can become tilted and fail to provide level cutting. Level your mower deck following the procedure outlined in the owner's manual. This process usually involves turning a series of adjustment nuts, and measuring the space between the mower deck and level ground. Since each nut has a limited range of heights, you may need to raise one nut and lower another in an opposite corner to make the deck completely level.

Deck Cracks

• Riding mower decks are subject to pressure from bumping against the ground, spinning blades and their own weight, which hangs from the mower's frame. Over time, riding mower decks can develop cracks. Most decks are made from stamped or cast metal, which means that the only option for repairing a crack is by welding it. If you don't have the tools and expertise, hire a professional to repair your cracked mower deck.