54" mower deck cleanup

[keiths]

I was convinced that I should try out the 54" mower deck but it needed some rework before that happened. It has been laying around all rusty with a hole in it. I fixed the hole and put a coat of por15 on it along with a primer coat. It is a work in progress but it is getting there. Trying out the majic paint for the first time to see how it looks. It is not perfect but I keep reminding myself it is a mower deck.

[Oak]

Looks good. Is that off of a 3000 series machine?

[Tom Scott]

Todd - He has a 2086 and 2182 that could use it, but the 2086 has a Kwik-Way loader full time, so destined for 2182 duty...

Keith - Are you using a brush for the whole thing, or are you going to spray at all?

Anyway, looking good!


On edit, corrected to "2086", my bad...

[keiths]

I'm brushing the whole thing. It seems to be laying pretty smooth so far, no brush marks.

[Tom Scott]

A brush is ideal for something like this, so much easier. If I ever get back to my 551 blower paint project, I will be brushing it.

Keep the pics coming! You will love that 54" deck, it mows great with no windrows and mulches leaves like a champ with the plug in.

[dag1450]

Nice job! I have heard magic from tractor supply is kinda so so.....but would like if u could report back in a year or two on you experience. Certainly a mower deck will b the hardest test to pass.

[SWilliams]

Looks good. There is a fellow near me who just finished painting a truck with that paint. He put clear over it though. My current 48 inch deck will be getting some attention like that this winter.

[nddragoon1]

Looks Great!

Can you go into any detail about welding the holes. I have the same deck with 3 small holes. I have a stick welder but im worried in going to blow holes in the deck.

[SWilliams]

Holes are not hard to deal with. If they are rot holes you will be better off cutting out the rust and welding in new steel. Thin steel with stick can be a bear. The easiest way is to use a backing spoon made of copper. For that take a short piece of copper pipe and beat one end of it flat and hold/clamp it behind the weld area and crank the amperage down till you can barely run a good bead.

[Tom Scott]

This type of work is better suited to flux core or MIG. I've yet to be able to justify a wire feed machine, but a project like this would be a good push to do so.

Keith has a wire machine, I'm not sure if he used flux core or true MIG on the deck.

[JMotuzick]

Tom
Keep your eye out for one... I traded $100 and a 30 pack to a friend who was looking for cash be beer one day, 15 years later my little 120v mig is still running great! With a stick welder for the bigger stuff I can weld most anything I need to around here.

[keiths]

Thanks. I used flex core to weld in the patch. For the patch I used a small section of exhaust pipe that I had in my scrap metal container. The hole was on one of the rounded indents, so I cut a section of the exhaust pipe and it fit into the area almost perfectly. I fit it in from the bottom and then filled in a little from the top. Came out looking pretty good with the assistance of my grinder I'll be sure to provide some feedback on how the paint holds up after using it next summer.

[dag1450]

Wow...good idea on the exhaust pipe. This might open a whole new world of buying "holy" decks and sticking some pipe on them. I guess u could then use the muffler repair in a tube ..to smooth out the patch. U know...the kind that comes with the piece of Window screen mesh.
Good job!

[dag1450]

Or....u could make the rust hole into a perfect circle....then weld your exhaust pipe sticking straight up.....and put a diesel rain cap on the top. The kinds that flap on idle. Call it a wash out port

[dag1450]

No... obviously I was just being silly. But using that exhaust pipe to patch in rounded edges or corners is a great idea! Make sure u post some pics of the assembly......i will keep everything serious from now on. When sandwiching parts on a deck......try coating mating surfaces with axle grease......that way no moisture can start in there. Looking good!