Fix Rust with POR 15 on John Deere 318 50" deck

This is how I cleaned up and applied POR15 rust inhibitor on a 50" JD deck.
The gloss black POR15 I used can be found here: amzn.to/3b8ZITk
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[@randybeard6040]

I took my covers off and never put them back on, that way I can always blow the grass clippings out when i'm through mowing, eliminates that rust from ever starting...

[@timmygilbert1371]

I agree with all the comments on keeping cover off . For sure .

[@henryvano1844]

I agree. The covers just trap moisture and cause the mower deck to rust faster.

[@cwmaxfield2000]

I'm rebuilding my 48 inch now and wow what a project. Ill try POR. Amazing they function at all. I clean mine several times each season. Always a mess.

[@6thGearGarage]

I just had to clean, grind and re-paint mine with POR again. I'm not washing it with water any more. Moisture had caused major rust bubbling and pitting beneath the POR around the bearings. Now I just blow it off with compressed air. I'd rather have some dead grass dried to the underside than dealing with more rust.

[@PatrickCoady-ud7mg]

If u ate using por 15 get it sandblasted first as it will stick to the feck much easier my kubota deck is galvanized as paint will peel off after a while

[@MrHarleyreinke]

I used spray can truck bed coating on my deck. it's held up perfect for 5 years now

[@talclipse]

Which brand?

[@rickjames6948]

Where's your video kid?

[@talclipse]

I tried some on mine,and that shit was gone on the very first mowing!!

[@burtoncrowell4371]

Now that's what I'm talkin about 4:15 that is some damn good stuff also a company out of Florida named International epoxies and sealers IES has a product called IES 1500 better and cheaper than por-15 works just as good if not better that's what I'm talkin about other guy that other video was talking about undercoat oh my gosh you can't use undercoat for nothing maybe on a tree limb that you cut that's about it absolutely undercoat no-good por-15 IES 1500 wonderful good that's the stuff

[@HB-yq8gy]

I just use a brush with old motor oil on my deck on the bottom. I use it on my trailer for the last 19 years outside seems to work okay.

[@6thGearGarage]

I may try that!

[@HB-yq8gy]

@@6thGearGarage I'm not buying all those expensive products not worth it use motor oil!

[@markpinther9296]

The POR 15 will work better if you use their degreaser first, then pre-etching product, then POR 15. Otherwise it will just peel off.

[@paulg444]

I also keep the covers off, not sure why I didnt think of it sooner. I used rustoleum rusty metal primer, I suspect the POR15 is superior.

[@6thGearGarage]

The only downfall of POR15 is that it is not UV resistant.

[@richardwilliam3757]

Never take the lid off of Por15 just get a screwdriver punch a hole in the lid to make a hole then you could pour the Por15 into a container wipe the lid off and tape it shut

[@6thGearGarage]

Well that's a good idea!

[@jameslester3861]

Someone should have gotten sent to the woodshed for that cover idea.

[@JimsEquipmentShed]

Two suggestions,: One: Put cellophane over the can, and then put the lid back on, you'll have no problem taking the lid of next time. (Yup, been there before......) ;-) Two: Toss the deck covers/guards into the trash. I had the same problem with my Kubota, and once I took the covers off I never had another season with crapped up pulleys. Its easier to access for cleaning after mowing, and drys out a lot faster.

[@6thGearGarage]

+JimsEquipmentShed I hadn't considered leaving the covers off... genius! I was thinking about drilling the drain holes to be larger, but leaving the covers off is even easier!

[@JimsEquipmentShed]

6th Gear Advertising Yea, drain holes were my first thought as well, but I got talked out of it by one of my friends. Hes a landscaper, so I figured he knew more than I did about machine maintenance. (Full disclosure, hes also the guy that told me to remove the 'crap keepers'.) He warned me against putting holes in the deck, as they just tend to get larger, and weaken things.

[@REVNUMANEWBERN]

Making small holes larger or drilling some can cause stress cracks in these drawn formed decks

[@tcmits3699]

Used motor oil, the best rust prevention

[@andrecampbell780]

Keep the covers off and I remove damp grass with a leaf blower after every cut on my 25 year old deck.

[@6thGearGarage]

I have been doing that the season and it has worked great! I clean the underside with water after mowing and then blow out the top with the air compressor. If I was going to do anything different, I would have used a UV-resistant rust inhibitor.

[@kartboarder22g17]

Yea newer decks don't even have them anymore. Only timed ones... But appears yours isn't timed. Still the POR 15 should stop anymore deterioration, excellent work.

[@blueseruser]

I blow mine off with a air hose each time... Covers can stay off, looking for a complete ( pulley and jack shaft for center sheave!! Not from Deere....

[@resqdiver1]

POR 15 needs an overcoat over it to not break down. It’s extremely sensitive to UV light.

[@kartboarder22g17]

If he puts the cover back on he should be good to protect from UV light, but your right sounds like he is keeping the cover off so he should cover it up with a overcoat of something else or clean and re-paint..

[@PatrickCoady-ud7mg]

Galvanized deck is the only way to go not sure about the John Deere deck as they are thinner than my Kubota deck I got galvanized also the heat from the galvanized will make the deck must stronger mine now is over 10years old and still no sign of rust but don't forget at end of summer wash off grass if u do this it should last for years and when u are putting in new bolts put under guard protection on bolt threads and then run them in Grease as they will be easy to take off next time

[@LeonMTan]

i did the same to my mower but it wont hold up very long under the deck no matter how well the preparetion is.

[@6thGearGarage]

I need to re-do mine, it's starting to get crusty under the POR15 in some areas

[@LeonMTan]

@@6thGearGarage the underdeck got sanded all the time by grass/debris,so por15 cant stay especially the outer ring area, however it stays strong around the spindels area where grass usually build up and cozing rust issue,so i can say the por15 still serve the purposes.

[@DavidToyotaHead13]

Noticed the 2nd gen 4Runner wheels, a fellow Toyota enthusiast? Here to preserve my Stx38 Yellow deck.

[@6thGearGarage]

Hey, I'm actually a addict of 80's Toyota Trucks. I have a few right now, but my baby is my 1985 Xtra Cab 4x4. I was just watching some of your offroad vids... great stuff!

[@DavidToyotaHead13]

@@6thGearGarage 85 factory sfa extra cab with efi? Those are very rare trucks if they haven't been beat to hell. Keep up the good work!

[@6thGearGarage]

@@DavidToyotaHead13 Unfortunately it's not an EFI. I do have a rusty 87 with EFI though that I'd like to use as a donor to convert my 85 at some point. These 22RE's are about bullet proof!

[@usabadone]

You should paint over por 15 after. It will last years longer.

[@6thGearGarage]

Thanks for the tip... I'll try that next time. The POR15 on the top has held up great but the wear/tear has caused some on the underside to come off.

[@dhenschel4]

Thanks for the video - great idea with the POR 15, I haven't seen that before. Shame on JD for such a design. You should patent your idea and sell it to Deere, maybe they will use it.

[@6thGearGarage]

I leave the covers off all the time now so that I can easily remove the grass and it works great. Just don't stick a foot in there with the deck running.

[@Ikillintel1]

You did it wrong. You have to use their 3 step process and their products prior to the actual POR15.

[@theoffice9803]

I have heard the you can never coat a rusted surface without completely removing the rust because that never sleeps. How is this holding up? Do you see any signs of rust so far?

[@6thGearGarage]

Yeah, it is starting to show rust in some areas. Also I left the covers off to make it easier to clean the grass out of the inside. POR15 and most other rust inhibitors actually bond best to a rusty surface. they don't stick well to clean metal unless it is etched first.

[@fishnriver]

The reason there are covers is so it self destructs. Also without no covers if you fall on the deck you may get hurt. That's how hungry lawyers get fed.

[@JDGator]

Keep those covers off because them trap grass in

[@6thGearGarage]

+JD Gator Thanks, I will try that

[@sammiskier]

so this is your second por15 application to the under side of the deck. how long did the first por15 application last?

[@6thGearGarage]

It lasted about 3 years, but I don't think I prepped the surface as well as I should have on the first time.

[@UtwoBed]

POR is very expensive, but it's great stuff.

[@6thGearGarage]

UtwoBed it is but I'm considering trying other products because for the price, it would be nice to have something UV resistant.

[@Kettenhund75]

How is this holding up almost 4 years later?

[@6thGearGarage]

It's holding up well. I left the metal covers off because they were trapping grass and moisture, causing the problem.

[@Sword5000]

You were suppose to use there metal prep before painting.

[@marylynn6928]

If you would use a power and air hose to top and bottom of deck ever year you will not have rust problems.

[@M70ACARRY]

Rust breeding ground

[@Guillotines_For_Globalists]

Terrible design!