Make Your Lawn Tractor Look New Again With A Good Clean! - Video

[@donyboy73]

What do you guys use to clean your lawn tractor?

[@myquartknee]

Considering the amount of oily debris under the hood and on the frame, I'm curious why you choose to clean it in the middle of your lawn instead of off to one corner of the yard. Understandable why you didn't do it in the driveway, it's bad juju to wash oil into the wastewater system.

[@Jaxsolo]

Last time I cleaned mine, I used soap and water and a sponge. Cleaned the engine not long ago with a petroleum based solvent. Degreaser never entered my mind. Apparently I'm an idiot..

[@ianmackenzie686]

Just a little car soap and plenty water. Occasional wax also. Fifteen year olde mower. Applied a little rubbing compound remove oxidation also a few years ago.

[@M.TTT.]

the occasional rain storm

[@rverro8478]

A bucket of soapy water, elbow grease and fresh water to rinse. Sometimes, a stick of dynamite.

[@Lulanda93]

When doing this always put a plastic bag over the air filter and under the fuel cap. Water can get in through the vent and also if the fuel cap seal is missing.

[@gordmcdonald2807]

Another great video Don. You forgot to mention a few things. By keeping it shiny it actually goes faster. And if you dress the wheels the chics really dig it. Before you know it, you and your mower are regular babe magnets. Remember, if she doesn't find you handsome she should at least find you handy. Nothing says sexy like a shiny lawn mower. I guess I should clean mine more often.

[@ricochetey]

Most definitely

[@robertoswalt319]

The only thing I would add for the lawn tractor to be a chick magnet is for it to be driven by a man with a "dad bod."

[@ChuckD59]

@@robertoswalt319 I resemble that comment! But the only "chicks" near me live in coops and apparently are a tasty snack for coyotes.

[@robkenna2795]

I miss the red green show.

[@MEEMOSS77]

I love red green and his nephew Harold…that’s true comedy especially adventures with Bill

[@MikeV607]

👍👍Great job melting all that dirt and grime away! After the wash, and before starting, a leaf blower can work well to remove excess water. Then start up and let run for awhile. 😊

[@ronwatson4902]

New subscriber. No bullshit. No music. I like that! Thanks!

[@donyboy73]

welcome!

[@frankvucolo6249]

A leaf blower works great for drying. Nice video, as always, Dony.

[@bobmcl2406]

Wow, I thought that was very "brave" of you to use the pressure washer on the engine. But you know what you are doing, so I learned something today. The end result looks great. Thanks Dony!

[@zaksuch8666]

There’s a small chance you can kill the coil doing this I would be cautious I’ve done it before

[@allawson9159]

Whenever I work on someone's equipment, I wash and clean it as an added touch. Grabs owners attention when they come to pick up. If they see you take care of t he small things, they will trust you in the bigger ones.

[@mikespain8655]

Many of the shops in my area in recent years are pressure washing equipment as part of the service. I pressure wash my customers equipment. Funny how some people think it is bad for the equipment. It would take too long any other way, and occasional cleaning is fine.

[@dgmenace73]

I do that that as well with ATV & Dirtbike repair. It's paid off with gaining customers too.

[@dagrote1]

Also, it's a personal thing, I know, but I don't like working on dirty stuff. If it's real bad, I'll give it a quick wash before I start in. Then I'll give it a thorough wash when it's done.

[@cottydry]

I do mine in the fall after mowing season is over. Wash, wax, remove deck to clean underside, sharpen blades, change oil, grease fittings, apply 401 protectant on tires, clean/replace filters and then she's ready for the spring. My tractor gets stored in the garage.

[@kebo57]

GREAT VIDEO!! Thank you sir!! The only tips I can add is that I usually just remove the deck if not too much trouble so I can clean the top of the deck (usually by hand with a rag and soapy water) and underneath it better (with a stiff metal scrub brush). Plus, you can then pressure wash underneath the tractor a little better too, if you want to get that level of detail. Also, if the mower has the little black plastic "floorboards" that snap in with the little push in clips, I remove them so I can clean under them, and I usually wash those floorboards seperately (both sides) with a scrub brush and some strong detergent. If you really want to spend the time and effort, you can also watch some videos on youtube on how to polish the clear plastic lens for the headlights. That's all I can add!!

[@rearview2709]

I changed my headlight bulbs to waterproof 5k LEDs. They will last forever look very cool and brings the mower up to the 21st century. My 13 year old mower looks almost new and with the new lights looks very good. Great video too..

[@leepinnguin9682]

I agree with John Kelly (1 year ago below) that using the leaf blower to remove the sitting water on top of your mower deck will keep it from rusting. Also, most (if not all) decks have drain holes, make sure they remain open.

[@johnkelly7154]

Good one Don. You can use a brush on stubborn stains also don't forget to clean under the blade deck. You can dry it off quickly with an airline or leaf blower.

[@conlunbuychahai]

Thanks!

[@donyboy73]

Thank you for your support!

[@ericclark8258]

Great job..I wash and wax mine before storing for the winter. It makes for quick clean thru the summer season ..also when comes time to trade up diffently increase value of well care for machine...so just a little pride pays in the end.

[@Josedoggie1962]

Thank you 😎 I'm going to be cleaning my 1994 wheelhorse 520 H Oh yeah I’m a subscriber and I watch alot of your videos I learned a lot from your videos thank you…

[@joelpack2707]

Thanks for the video. One thing you might want to mention is NOT to use degreeser on a mower that has powder coated finish. I followed your instructions, and after rinsing with the pressure washer, the finish was dull and stained. However, I was able to restore the finish. It was a lot of additional work, but I used a buffer pad on my cordless drill and rubbing compound. Now it looks brand new.

[@dciaffa]

Great job! You can get the water to dry quicker by using a leaf blower.

[@cluelessbeekeeping1322]

That was really gratifying watching all that dirt melt away!

[@originalhazelgreene]

My mower's manual says not to use a pressure washer and I agree with them. It's tempting, but who wants to force water into plugs and other places it shouldn't be. Just cover the sensitive areas, use degreaser (I like AIM) and a brush, and gentle water from a hose. Of course that's assuming you aren't dealing with 1/8" thick moss and tree sap.

[@anthonygostling]

Not many out there that will give anything a wash & go job, but I always say its worth it.....good advice as always...!

[@vetterfellow]

Good Morning DB73; That in my opinion was a particularly dirty piece of equipment. You made short work of that job. Nicely done.😃

[@tkskagen]

Never hurts to remove the Deck to clean the top & bottom to rid the Grass Clippings! I usually use "Dollar Store" Aerosol Olive Oil on the Bottom of the Deck once it it TOTALLY DRY to minimize Rust. Especially before Seasonal Storage! Take care, 🤓 -Thomas

[@dgmenace73]

I have heard of this but never tried it.

[@campbellpaul]

I like that Zep! It leaves a clean smell and is not as toxic as most chemicals.

[@Mr3Charlie]

I noticed right away that he was cleaning it on his lawn. Good to know about using the Zep degreaser. Thanks!

[@rantube104]

I used Walmarts truck bed paint with gritted substanace for top and bottom of the mower deck after a good wire wheeling first. Works great for Texas sugar sand conditions which sandblast the deck and blades badly. Gritted sand paint against sandblasting blades.

[@canamrider7195]

It is really amazing what a good cleaning can do to a used mowers resale value. I have bought riding mowers very cheaply and after a cleaning resold them for a nice profit. Dirt and grime can cause running problems that a good cleaning can fix. Owners buy a new mower to replace what they think is a salvage machine. I can and have gotten them to run like new again. Easy money!

[@byronwoolfrey1039]

Don, I had one similar yours and I found that removing the deck made it a lot easier to clean, especially underneath then I sprayed it with rubberized undercoating. Walmart sells rust check black rubberized for around $4. I have 1 mower that is 18yrs old and no rust cause every fall I clean the deck and spray it with this undercoating it seasons in real well over winter. Thanks for the tip on cleaning products and using the sprayer to apply the degreaser. I drilled a hole in mine and put in a tire valve so I put pressure in it from my compressor and don't need to pump. Thanks again

[@donyboy73]

good idea, i spray mine as well

[@brensdaman926]

Great video! Most people don't know this method. And yes, you can use a pressure washer on a mower. Like all equipment, you must know what you're doing when using it.

[@iFixJunk]

I just did mine today. It's older than that, so I didn't want to put it through water from a hose or a pressure washer. I used compressed air to get all the heavy and loose stuff off, including within the frame (I elevated the machine to the height of a workbench for this). Then, with all that done, I used diluted Simple Green in a spray bottle and paper towel... and elbow grease. I was trying to avoid getting everything wet because I just recently did a fair amount of electrical work on it, and like you pointed out those things don't mix. Also, I have a cracked headlight lens, so rather than undo all the work I did to get my lights working, I decided a cleaning was favorable over a washing. EDIT: I should mention that with our old pushmowers we used to turn on the air compressor before each lawn cutting and then blow off the debris when we were done, before putting them away, which is a policy we will be revisiting with the tractor, and I recommend it to others. I do avoid blowing the cold air directly at the hot engine, though.

[@rayburnett3253]

I have about a 1995 Murray riding mower that needs to be cleaned. I got it from my closets friend that since he's passed away, and I would love for it to look brand new again

[@markonissweatshop1364]

I use the same degreaser, just diluted with water. After the mower dries out, I detail it with ATF (yes, automatic transmission fluid!). Ends up looking like new, and It's a good rust inhibitor too.

[@jeffcanyafixiy]

donyboy73 you do damn good work in all your vids. I'm a Maintenance Tech in a very rural area, lots of tractors, mowers, etc. REALLY enjoy what you do, good common sense stuff for guys that work with there hands. COOL retro hot wheels shirt!! 👍👍

[@jmc2510]

You just gave me hope for dirty machines I come across.

[@stevenmoomey2115]

After cleaning the Engine you should wait a couple of hours, with the tractor engine exposed to the hot sun. I shorted out a magneto by starting the engine while it was wet. That Briggs & Stratton Engine has a different muffler available for it that use bolts to attach it to the engine. That “Pipe” muffler has a tendency to strip the aluminum threads out. Also get yourself a Cloth Seat cover from Cub Cadet, it will protect the seat and is lot more comfortable, when mowing. I’m on my second long usage tractor while using the same seat cover. So they are well made. When it gets dirty, just toss it in the washing machine with a couple old towels to balance the load, and hang it up to dry.

[@stuckinnj9554]

I didn’t notice anyone suggest using caution when spraying around decals. If even the slightest tear, pressure washers will clean them right off the metal or plastic. Caution should also be used around axles and spindle bearings. Direct pressure will induce water into the bearing and wash out lubricant, regardless if it’s sealed or not. Highly recommend applying grease to any Zerks and pulling wheels to lube axles and bearings. Take time to lube throttle and choke cables and mechanisms. Just food for thought... Good work on the videos and tech tips...

[@screamingeagle7704]

It was at 4:44

[@reynaldovalle1773]

WOW great video Don. GODBLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND EVERYONE..🙏🙏🙏🕊

[@tomharries847]

As a small engine mechanic, I see so many ride-on mowers just left to rot year after year. Nobody bothers to clean and lubricate their investment then when they get told their deck is rotten and needs replacing after 3 seasons they say to just patch it. I won't do that. This is how I clean my machines. I use a bio cleaner to start with and let it soak, then hot water pressure washer, avoiding the deck bearings and electrics before a dry with compressed air. I then spray everything in Duck oil and use compressed air to distribute it over the whole machine. And I finally grease up all linkages and moving parts.

[@robcole8218]

I always learn new tricks from you. Love your videos. Keep it up

[@rpan5441]

Once done I detail under hood the hood components with a rotary brush tool and car liquid wax to make it shine. It resists dirt built up and removes it with compressor air. Maintenance is a must after every session.

[@clauslundberg9224]

Great video as always - ATF oil really makes painted parts shine

[@jimdavidson5208]

Lemon Pledge furniture polish works great to shine up motorcycles, mowers and the like. Adds a wax coating too while shining.

[@999thenewman]

Nice job. Dish soap and a plastic brush works, too. After washing, follow with a cleaner wax, then a synthetic sealant such as Nu Finish. Really make that paint pop! Whatever it takes to get the James Brown stains out. ^_^

[@rstjohnw]

wut?!

[@michaelchilders6056]

Wow, had no idea Zep worked that good!! Gotta get me some! Looked 👀 like a new mower when you finished!! Thanks for what you do!!👍

[@mrboom4570]

Nice vid Donnny. In my shop pretty much every mower that comes in gets ckeaned with the pressure washer. I buy WD40 by the gallon and i spray down equipment with it and shine it up before customer picks it up.

[@butler386]

Fantastic cleaning job. I shall begin to add Zep to my bath water for added protection and cleanliness. Tractor is now beautiful. Great job. When was it you were coming here again?

[@MNpicker]

A clean mower is a happy mower.. Im a detailer so I go all out..lol First I blow as much grass and dust as I can with shop air.. then pre soak the entire mower to get the stuck on stuff worked loose..I use a pretty strong dilution (1:1) of Super Clean degreaser..let it soak for a few minutes..then high pressure rinse.. starting from the bottom and go up as to "work" the degreaser a little more.. then when I get to the top.. a thorough rinse back down.. then bucket wash with a wash mitt and Meguiars Gold Class soap..then rinse again..dry it good with a leaf blower/shop air.. then I take a small drying microfiber get anything I missed.. then I inspect the paint for oxidation..If there is any I will actually do a light machine polish using an electric DA buffer..using Turtle wax hybrid solutions ceramic polish..followed by protection.. Protection is key especially on equipment that is stored outside.. I highly suggest NOT using Armor All on the paint😬 The Petroleum distillates in it attract dust like a magnet...also will actually soften some plastics..I like to use Turtle wax hybrid solutions ceramic spray coating..its like wax...on crack... very good protection against the outside elements.. and when it rains it literally washes itself.. the grass and muck just slide off.. That's pretty much how I do it..

[@philliphall5198]

After a good washing I use boiled linseed oil and mineral spirits, rubbing it on and wipe off extra really good 👍

[@stayoutsideandexplore6280]

I like to use WD-40 on the plastics. Makes it look new again. Great video.

[@MNpicker]

Wd40 attracts dust and being an oil.. it will eventually deteriorate.. try 303 protectant 😎

[@stevealaska73]

Another great video. I have something to add. When you start, DO wear gloves, watch out for: birds or bees and their nests, spiders, and ants. If your cowling is plastic, don't spray too closely with the pressure washer. Don't wash it off in an area that you don't want the gunk to sit in until it decides to break down. And lastly, if you have a blower, hand held, or better yet, back pack blower, they are very helpful with speeding the drying process up and certainly blasting the water out of areas that will tend to sit in. Oh, and I find it amazing that the seat isn't split. That's right, it's not a John Deere machine. haha

[@donyboy73]

you're right about the seat lol

[@garyjordan3181]

To clean up foggy or cloudy plastic lenses try using deep woods off with deet spray on wipe with a clean cloth..done. works on cars and trucks too.

[@patthesoundguy]

An easy way to revive the faded paint is to wipe it down with automatic transmission fluid on a rag and then buff off the excess untill its shiny and dry with a second dry soft cloth. WD-40 works as well.

[@jerrythecoo3295]

Another “ Top-Gun” Professional Video by the #1 Mechanic,..........DB73!!!!!👀😎👌👍👏👋✌️🇨🇦🌟

[@BoomeritoBremsen]

If you want it to make it pop even more, Take some Fluid Film and spray it on a rag, apply to surface and buff it in, then wipe again with clean rag. Works good on some plastics as well.

[@RJ-fs3mj]

I use s product I get at automotive parts shops called Tire Black in a white can black cap. Its s foam. I spray on the tires. Let it dry in sun or shade. Dont use water for clean up. Just dry with a paper towel. Works on vinyl parts as well.

[@semco72057]

Hello Don, that lawn tractor look so much better after you cleaned it using the sprayer and after seeing what you did I have to get out and clean my equipment like that. I have the cleaners needed to clean my equipment and a sprayer which should do a good job of cleaning my lawn equipment and my utility tractors and attachments. I need to clean my automobiles also and can use the same procedure for them also. Thanks for sharing this tip with us all and may God continue to Bless You, and your Family.

[@morganblu]

i like Simple Green it dose a great job on grease and it biodegradable

[@MattsRageFitGarage]

I never thought of using a 1 gallon or less sprayer to spray degreaser like that. I like it!

[@timberray9572]

The sprayer also is good for finding a leak in a tire with a soapy solution.

[@MattsRageFitGarage]

@@timberray9572 I bet that would also be good for finding vacuum leaks on an engine with as well!

[@dontblameme6328]

They also make a quart size pump up sprayer that's super handy for small amounts like this.

[@ChuckD59]

@@MattsRageFitGarage Wouldn't that just suck in the liquid, instead of blowing bubbles as desired?

[@MattsRageFitGarage]

@@ChuckD59 Don't need bubbles to find vacuum leaks.

[@patjohnson3100]

Amazing transformation.

[@rendor21]

Nice! I would only suggest next time take the battery out first for safety and also to clean the pulleys and the trans-axle through the hole where the battery resides.

[@mtbjonny9502]

Hello, I use compressed air to completely dry it.

[@Jay_Hall]

Amen! :)

[@jmc2510]

Wonder if a leaf blower would work too?

[@mtbjonny9502]

@@jmc2510 No, you only whirl up all the dirt again, a compressor supplies clean air (but please turn off the oil nebuliser first)

[@stevenmoomey2115]

I blow my Lawn Tractor and Engines off with Compressed Air ever time after I’m finished cutting the Lawn. Everything on them is Air Cooled, the Engine, the Blade Spindles, and the Transaxle. I ran Crimp PEX from my Compressor in the Garage through the Basement and out the back wall of the house. Inside a Code Complaint Electric Box is a “T” with a small pressure gauge, a shut off valve and a Male Quick Connect. I have a Self Coiling Hose with a Long tipped Blow Out Gun I got from Grainger’s., that I Quick connect to the port.

[@stans5270]

To get rid of plants growing on my mower's deck, I run the deck upsidedown for thirty minutes. Once a season should be enough.

[@circlepfarm9729]

Don’t remember if you said this in the video but it’s probably not a good idea to spray the engine when it’s hot. Nice job!

[@jeremy4192]

That old pressure washer works surprisingly well.

[@richardrodgers1009]

I use a leaf blower to remove the water after using a pressure washer. I 've had great success with Black Magic Bleche-Wite Tire Cleaner as a degreaser. It does a better job than anything I've found to get those deep grass stains off a mower deck. As a final touch, Honda's "Spray Cleaner and Polish" or "Original Bike Spirits Cleaner and Polish" adds a lasting glossy finish. It's very quick and easy to achieve great results.

[@robkenna2795]

Leaf blower works great for cleaning clippings off deck after a mow. I also make sure to blow out up on top of my k46 hydro. Im told that will help prevent overheating trranny

[@BestUserNameUK]

Also you can dry it with a leaf blower.

[@thanos9846]

That feeling after the first time at the barbershop after corona lockdown...

[@breeze787]

I'm trying to restore overtime a Honda H3011 riding mower which has a plastic body metal deck. The red plastic body is very oxidized so it is whitish/pinkish in color. I've been trying to figure out how to deepen the color and get rid of the oxidation through cleaning (nope) through sanding (nope) using plastic polish (nope). But I did see an automotive channel use a heat gun on his plastic bumper to deepen the color and bring back the shine. So that's what I did. And it worked. It deepened the red and got rid of the oxidation. The plastic polish worked well after the heat gun application to bring up the shine.

[@tyroneclarke1666]

You did a beautiful cleaning job on that mower. Keep the videos coming. 🦘🇦🇺

[@brucel.6078]

Ahhh pressure washers always bring instantaneous happiness!!! Nice work!!! So shiny!!! 💥💥

[@finbah5706]

looks brand new. love a good cleaning.

[@b.2221]

Absolutely jaw dropping Sir, and if you were selling that little bad boy you would be easily adding to the sale price 👍 Tam.

[@glennyparham3848]

Excellent presentation. Very helpful. How about cleaning under deck?

[@ericripley9739]

Agree with you on that. How many times have we seen tractors for sale with no deck or the deck is full of rust holes. ? Took mine off last fall, turned it over , cleaned it and gave it a coat of rust paint.

[@inouveaution]

I've got an old green MTD that needs some of this kind of TLC. Thanks for the tips, I didn't know you could spray it like that.

[@christopherguy1217]

When I worked in a garage, my boss would have me wash the cars when the bill was large, it made the customers really happy.

[@theredpillreport]

We also use a trim rejuvenating spray to bring life back to dull plastic.

[@jazzlover444]

That was extremely satisfying to watch 😀

[@donvoll2580]

Wow that work great. I will have to try it. Thanks

[@roberthamilton9123]

Job well done 👍 Don it’s amazing what a few household cleaners can do definitely looks like new 😀😀 thanks 🙏 for posting and have a great weekend 😀😀

[@capohd28]

Surprised to see one of those still going, LOL. A couple things. A cheap detailing brush helps lift dirt up and clean areas like that lens, and seats, engine and such that have texture. Also, good to use a UV protector such as Aerospace 303 (I hate greasy Armor All) on areas that are hit by sun like the hood and seats. Will prevent fading and in the case of plastic such as JD hoods and seats can help reduce cracking.

[@badboy-fl5mf]

I use SIMPLE GREEN, full strength.Try this on white walls with a scouring pad, instant results ...THE BEST!!

[@donyboy73]

Thanks for the tip!

[@georgedrake811]

Spray 9 works great for cleaning

[@tedsmith9488]

Thanks DonnyBoy I haven’t seen you on here in a long time I miss you

[@Wolfhound.]

i always like to give it a once over with the power washer first then give it the degreaser if it needs it or what ever i have at the time dish soap window cleaner is also good ( i might add i never clean my personal tractor unless i need to work on it cause the grease and oil and stuff keeps it from rusting i only keep the dirt off my deck cause that will rust it out )

[@bigDbigDbigD]

Great, now how do you clean the lawn. OMG, wow. Anyhow great video Don

[@bigtrukcustoms2318]

I have a riding mower that is set up exactly like that one that you are washing. It doesn't have any tags or stickers on it and I believe the the hood was replaced with a ranching by mtd one. My question is can you tell me the model numbers or serial number or any identifying marks on that mower. I am having a very tough time trying to get parts belts etc. Thanks in advance.

[@rxlo1062]

Excellent video 👍

[@chrisssmallengines7163]

Spray nine cleaner on the tires before the armorial works really good .

[@Harvey352]

I mate do you add water to the degrees or due to spray it on straight up from the bottle

[@donyboy73]

I dilute it with water as per instructions

[@vouzenthal]

You cleaned it so well that in the thumbnail even the garage door got cleaner😆

[@PaulLeMay3218]

Great tip. Thank you for sharing. 🇨🇦😎

[@jimdavidson5208]

Don't forget the engine block and cooling fins.

[@tannerc900]

Ok but your hot wheels tshirt is seriously amazing and I must ask where did you get it!? I can find them for my kids but of course I can’t find one for an adult 😒

[@bwagenberg]

Do you have a video on repairing long cracks in a plastic Toro hood? Love your videos, cool glasses. Time for more power washer pump videos.

[@donyboy73]

i use zip ties and fiberglass

[@davidmckinney6577]

Looks good 👌

[@botabob]

That looks great - If you want to restore the lens to its factory new clearness - try some Flitz Blue Polish - I did a video #24 - Flitz Polish vs Kubota Head Lamps - It works great for removing the yellow haze on plastics - I think you will like it

[@genesloan3175]

I use brake fluid on the tires. Use a rag. It will clean the rubber to a like new appearance without a fake shine like a tire foam would do.

[@chinookhelomech4059]

Yep when washing a tractor, if you put a block or brick down in front of the back wheel on one side, and drive the tractor up on it, then when you wash the deck you won't have water standing on it. Because the mower is slightly tilted.

[@dougdroen7519]

Will super clean degreaser work

[@tejathome]

I have found that a plastic cleaner does wonders for headlight lens and especially a convertible rear window.

[@Ludwig4571]

should I remove the battery, and avoid the starter/generator with water? is it ok to get water on the magbeto/flywheel?