DIY Ramp to Clean Mower Deck. Ideas, Prices, and Tricks

If you live in the countryside or have a big backyard, you may already have found the need to own a mower to help you keep the place tidy. A mower will help you remove all the excess grass in the yard and make the place presentable. Owning a mower requires you to have certain skills, such as how to operate it and conduct regular maintenance and engine service. You will also need to know how to clean your mower.

In this article, we look at DIY ramps that one can use to help clean the mower deck. Some mower decks are easy to clean, while others, especially the older models, are not so easy to clean. We will explore the DIY ramp ideas that one can follow to clean their mower decks. In addition, we will check the price tags of these ramps or the materials used to make them. Continue reading and learn the new tricks one can employ when it comes to mower DIY ramps.

Cleaning the mower deck

If you love a neat lawn or yard and happen to own a mower, you will have invested in ways to keep such a mower functional at all times. Cleaning the mower deck is something you should consider doing regularly. Cleaning the mower deck will help you maintain the mower and the lawn. An unkempt mower deck means the blades and everything down below will not function optimally, leading to an untidy yard.

Cleaning the deck should be done as per the user manual that came with the machine. As you mow your lawn, you may have noticed that grass and cuttings will stick to the deck, especially if the grass is wet. Over time, the grass clippings accumulate on the deck, thus reducing the space in the deck. When you continue mowing with such a mower, the tall grass will not be standing straight below the deck, which means you will not get a clean lawn cut.

When you further ignore to tend to your mower, clumps of grass will form under the deck. Since grass is usually moist when mowing, the clumps under the deck will be too. Once you store your mower without cleaning the deck, rust will form, causing damage to the deck and the blades. Eventually, the mower will rust away and will become ineffective before long. Moreover, it becomes difficult to remove dried-up grass clippings.

Access is the first thing you should consider when you decide to clean the mower deck. The deck is not easily accessible, and this is why you will need to use a ramp to help you gain access to the deck and the blades.

If your mower has a wash-out port, you won't need a ramp when cleaning the deck. All you need to do is stop the engine, move the mower to a flat surface, and lower the cutting height to the lowest point. Attach a garden hose to the water port and turn the engine on. Once the blades are engaged for some minutes, all the grass clippings under the deck will come off.

Using a ramp to clean the mower deck

One of the most popular ways to clean the mower deck is by using a ramp. The ramp is used to prop up the mower, giving you access to the underside of the mower. It is generally accepted that one should clean their mower decks about three times in a mowing season. If the grass is quite wet or if the lawn is large, you may need to clean the deck every time you mow. Therefore, you might find the need for a ramp crucial.

Let us look at the ideas that one can go for when looking for a good DIY ramp to clean a mower deck;

Wooden ramp

If you live in the countryside or where pieces of wood are readily available, you can build your own mower ramp. To make this ramp, you will need to use pieces of wood that are 2" x6" or 2" x8". Such width will allow the wheels of the mower to stand firmly.

If your mower can be driven, you will need the longest piece of wood to be 28 inches. This piece serves as the base of the ramp. A five-piece ramp is sufficient, even though you can make it as tall as you wish. The subsequent piece of wood should be 4 inches shorter, and this follows up to the last one, which should be 12 inches.

The five pieces of wood should be cut at a 45o slanting angle on one side While the other end should be flush. Screw the pieces together while ensuring the 90o side of the pieces align. This will leave the 45-degree angle sides to form a stair, and the slanting angle will allow the mower's wheels to step onto the upper piece of wood.

Once you have screwed all the pieces firmly, cut the now firm block into two at the point where the topmost piece of wood reaches. This will leave you with a rectangular block and a triangle. Attach a screw eye on each of the blocks. Ensure the screws are a bit long because they are used to hold the blocks together. Once the screw eyes are in place, insert a long bolt on both the eyes. Fasten the bolt in place using a nut.

To help with the grip and prevent the ramp from sliding when you are driving the mower, staple a rubberized shelf liner at the bottom of the ramp. The weight of the mower makes the ramp grip the ground even better.

When you want to wash the mower deck, just drive the mower onto the ramp. Once the mower is securely at the top of the ramp, detach the triangle base and slide it out. This leaves you room to work on the deck. Another tip is to use the half ramp as a chock for the rear wheel.

If you can use scrap wooden pieces in your yard, this can be the cheapest ramp. It is easy to make and will cost you no more than $10, given that you are only buying the construction screws, screw eyes, and a bolt. Even if you buy the timber, the cost will still be below $20.

Stacking of wooden pieces

If you are in a situation where you need to clean your mower and you don't have a ramp yet, you can make a temporary ramp. Such a ramp will require that you have some short wooden pieces. Each piece should be as wide as the mower. Pieces measuring 1x3" will be ideal. However, the size of the mower wheels will determine the most appropriate thickness of such wood.

You should start by stacking the pieces to form a temporary stairway. Look for a level ground near a wall and place a single wooden piece. Next to the single piece, stack two pieces, and next to these, stack three pieces. Continue stacking the pieces until you are satisfied that the ramp will recline the mower to the desired angle.

The wall is a deterrent for the wooden pieces when driving the mower up the ramp. Place a chock on the rear wheels once the mower is inclined as desired. Remove the wood pieces that are lying under the mower but can obstruct your access to the deck.

Tips on washing the mower deck

• The mower deck is exposed to all manner of elements, and as such, it should be cleaned regularly.
• Once you are satisfied that the blades and deck are clean, use some lubricant to prevent rust from eating away the metallic parts. It has been found that WD-40 works perfectly.
• It is best to clean the deck after every mowing. This ensures that grass clippings don't get stuck on the deck for an extended period. Cleaning the mower this way ensures that no rust forms and the mower's life is extended.
• Clean the deck immediately after mowing when the clippings are still wet.
• When washing the deck and the underside of the mower, pull the starting cable to push the piston all the way up. This prevents the engine from hydro-locking.
• If the clippings are stuck on the deck, use a putty knife to pry out the hardened dirt.

Conclusion

Cleaning the mower deck will depend on the type of mower you have. As highlighted above, some mowers come with a hosepipe port, making cleaning easier. Even though you might not need a ramp to clean the mower deck, you may still need one to sharpen or replace the blades.

A DIY ramp is easy to make, especially if you have easy access to wood. While there are mower ramps that will cost you as little as $25, in some cases, you might find these to be inadequate when you want to clean the deck.