Any tips on lawnmower work?

B

brownbob06

New member
So this guy that runs a butcher shop across from my apartment that I used to do mason work for is bringing his lawnmower up for me to "detail" today when I get off work.



My plan at this point is to degrease the engine and other parts that are visible on the mower and just treat the paint as normal paint so basically giving it a wash, clay and wax. It's a deisel mower so the owner said there's no carb to worry about and I should be fine using a hose. Since he's right across the alley from me he's also going to let me use his hot water so I figure that should help a lot with grease and stuff. My pressure washer is at my brother's currently so it will just be a hose and chemicals that I'll be using to clean this up.



Any tips or anything I'm missing?
 
It sounds like a high dollar ZTR and having one myself can tell you, it cost more that you think! I use a product called Tidal Wave from Majestic Solutions to clean the nasty parts, but first - use compressed air or a soft brush to get all the grass and crap off. Then wash with a good car wash and wax it. I doubt he wants it buffed out....
 
brownbob06 said:
It's a deisel mower so the owner said there's no carb to worry about and I should be fine using a hose.
Click to expand...



Lol. It has to get its air and fuel from somewhere, and spraying water in the motor isn't going to end well. I'd garbage bag the engine (make sure its cool!) and use a degreaser+rags then follow with ONR on the motor. Also watch out for the hydraulic pumps, many are not sealed, getting water in there will be as much fun as getting it into the motor.
 
Dan said:
Lol. It has to get its air and fuel from somewhere, and spraying water in the motor isn't going to end well. I'd garbage bag the engine (make sure its cool!) and use a degreaser+rags then follow with ONR on the motor. Also watch out for the hydraulic pumps, many are not sealed, getting water in there will be as much fun as getting it into the motor.
Click to expand...



Diesel engines DON'T have a carb. They are fueled through injectors



Getting the engine wet is not going to hurt it either
 
Did it yesterday... turns out it wasn't really a lawnmower so much as a mini tractor with a bucket and PTO and all the good stuff...



Purple power on the engine and hosed off didn't give me a problem at all. I used purple power on almost the entire thing... Worked out great actually. Washed and waxed the paint then used engine shine on all of the intricate parts under the seat and the visible parts of the engine. He was thrilled with the outcome. I could have spent a lot more time on it but he didn't really want me to. Just wanted me to get it cleaned up pretty good.



I did make sure to tell him before and afterwards he would have to grease the arms and everything back up afterwards because I would be washing a lot of the grease in the joints out while I got all the old black cruddy grease out of the joints. I think I did a pretty good job for the 2 hours I had to work on it...
 
Flash Gordon said:
Diesel engines DON'T have a carb. They are fueled through injectors



Getting the engine wet is not going to hurt it either
Click to expand...



I don't recall saying it did have a carburetor. Every engine has an air intake. Getting water in that is very hazardous and can cause the engine to hydro-lock. Diesel or Non, you can't just spray water everywhere. Modern cars are designed to minimize the effects of sucking in water due to driving through large puddles at speed. Mowers and Tractors are not. Saying you don't need to exercise caution just because and engine is diesel is ridiculous.



And for the record, there are diesel engines that use a carburetor.
 
The end of the intake was pointed downward so it was pretty easy to not get water in there. When I did risk getting any in there I just put my hand over the opening to prevent any water from getting in there.



He started it up and drove it through town back home about 2 miles and it ran fine...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top