You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Export thread
Help me pick a ZTR! 1 acre, very thick lawn, looking for best QOC possible!
#1
D
d5coupe
D
d5coupe
OK, so I currently have a 2001 MTD 38" tractor. Gives me an OK cut but cannot mulch (without making a huge mess), and bagger always getting clogged. Takes 2 hours, and turning is a bitch, trimming beds impossible so alot of time with trimmer and blower also.
I've had enough... time for an upgrade. Help me pros! I am a pro-sumer. I like to buy high end and take care of it so it lasts as long as possible. Primarily looking for QOC and time savings. This takes me to Zero-Turn. Cannot justify over $5k for a lawn mower...only doing my lawn for the April-October season.
I am limited by a 4' gate..... so I think I am stuck on 42" deck; otherwise I would love bigger.
I have a power equipment close to home. He recommended Toro SS4200. My research begins here. I have looked at basically everything from Cub Cadet low end to Grasshopper high end. I find myself (limited by 42" deck) always with the highest-residential or lowest-commerical models.
I have narrowed it down to a few:
Toro MX4250 - smaller wheels and GT-2200 hydros
Hustler Raptor SD - hear alot of complaints about broken bolts/thrown belts & clogged chute
ExMark Radius E series - very expensive, very heavy,
What about the SWX4250, now discontinued - does it pay to hunt down an old model with steering wheel?
I really wish the Toro came with Serviceable GT-2800 hydros like the others I am looking at.
What do you guys recommend????
Gravely, BobCat, Dixie - no local dealer
I've had enough... time for an upgrade. Help me pros! I am a pro-sumer. I like to buy high end and take care of it so it lasts as long as possible. Primarily looking for QOC and time savings. This takes me to Zero-Turn. Cannot justify over $5k for a lawn mower...only doing my lawn for the April-October season.
I am limited by a 4' gate..... so I think I am stuck on 42" deck; otherwise I would love bigger.
I have a power equipment close to home. He recommended Toro SS4200. My research begins here. I have looked at basically everything from Cub Cadet low end to Grasshopper high end. I find myself (limited by 42" deck) always with the highest-residential or lowest-commerical models.
I have narrowed it down to a few:
Toro MX4250 - smaller wheels and GT-2200 hydros
Hustler Raptor SD - hear alot of complaints about broken bolts/thrown belts & clogged chute
ExMark Radius E series - very expensive, very heavy,
What about the SWX4250, now discontinued - does it pay to hunt down an old model with steering wheel?
I really wish the Toro came with Serviceable GT-2800 hydros like the others I am looking at.
What do you guys recommend????
Gravely, BobCat, Dixie - no local dealer
#2
B
bertsmobile1
B
bertsmobile1
A Walker.
Even a used Walker.
Best cut and best bagging system on the market.
Anything else is a very looooog way behind.
If your yard is rough get the 4 wheeled one, if your yard is reasonably flat get a 3 wheeled one which will turn 360 in it's own length.
having the deck out in front of you makes close cutting a breeze and the deck will cut up to 3/4" against a wall so a lot less trimming.
Even a used Walker.
Best cut and best bagging system on the market.
Anything else is a very looooog way behind.
If your yard is rough get the 4 wheeled one, if your yard is reasonably flat get a 3 wheeled one which will turn 360 in it's own length.
having the deck out in front of you makes close cutting a breeze and the deck will cut up to 3/4" against a wall so a lot less trimming.
#3
C
cruzenmike
I am not sure if either your MTD or your sub $5000 budget constitutes either high end or pro-sumer. The issue you have is that anything with 3 blades requires a powered bagger unit which restricts you to a 46" rider or a 42" zero turn(minus Ariens Icon X or Gravely ZT). There are very FEW 42" zero turns that will give you the quality of cut you desire in your price point while still lasting you the 18 years you got out of your MTD. The MX4250 is a good start because it does have the HP to cut through your thick lawn but with non-serviceable transmissions you will be lucky to get 10 trouble free years. Also, these "residential" lawn mowers for the most part have narrower tires and in soft/wet turf they will rut and on any slope they lose traction quite easily.
So, not to rain on your parade but I just wanted to prepare you for the reality of either spending over $5k to get a nice Radius E 44" or spend only $2700 on a Toro SS4225 and have another $2300 to put towards the bagger or another SS4225 in 10 years.
Some might tell you to go for a used commercial mower which would not be a bad choice either if it fits through your gate.
I am just a consumer like to you and have been in your situation. I settled on a Cub Cadet LX42. Having some issues with my specific mower but at $2000 it likely steers better than your MTD, has a wider deck, has 22hp, has a 3 year warranty, has two different bagger options and the list goes on. The point is that you don't need to spend a lot to cut your grass but expectations and what you are willing to spend must align.
C
cruzenmike
OK, so I currently have a 2001 MTD 38" tractor. . . . .I am a pro-sumer. I like to buy high end and take care of it so it lasts as long as possible.
I am not sure if either your MTD or your sub $5000 budget constitutes either high end or pro-sumer. The issue you have is that anything with 3 blades requires a powered bagger unit which restricts you to a 46" rider or a 42" zero turn(minus Ariens Icon X or Gravely ZT). There are very FEW 42" zero turns that will give you the quality of cut you desire in your price point while still lasting you the 18 years you got out of your MTD. The MX4250 is a good start because it does have the HP to cut through your thick lawn but with non-serviceable transmissions you will be lucky to get 10 trouble free years. Also, these "residential" lawn mowers for the most part have narrower tires and in soft/wet turf they will rut and on any slope they lose traction quite easily.
So, not to rain on your parade but I just wanted to prepare you for the reality of either spending over $5k to get a nice Radius E 44" or spend only $2700 on a Toro SS4225 and have another $2300 to put towards the bagger or another SS4225 in 10 years.
Some might tell you to go for a used commercial mower which would not be a bad choice either if it fits through your gate.
I am just a consumer like to you and have been in your situation. I settled on a Cub Cadet LX42. Having some issues with my specific mower but at $2000 it likely steers better than your MTD, has a wider deck, has 22hp, has a 3 year warranty, has two different bagger options and the list goes on. The point is that you don't need to spend a lot to cut your grass but expectations and what you are willing to spend must align.
#4
4getgto
4getgto
I'd seriously consider making your gate wider. Makes your options better. Just my opinion...!
#5
D
d5coupe
wow would love the walker, but way out of my price range.
D
d5coupe
A Walker.
Even a used Walker.
Best cut and best bagging system on the market.
Anything else is a very looooog way behind.
If your yard is rough get the 4 wheeled one, if your yard is reasonably flat get a 3 wheeled one which will turn 360 in it's own length.
having the deck out in front of you makes close cutting a breeze and the deck will cut up to 3/4" against a wall so a lot less trimming.
wow would love the walker, but way out of my price range.
#6
D
d5coupe
i have thought about it, wouldn't be too big of a deal. paver-walkway wouldn't match as nicely - maybe one day but the fence is only 1 year old. It stays for now
D
d5coupe
I'd seriously consider making your gate wider. Makes your options better. Just my opinion...!
i have thought about it, wouldn't be too big of a deal. paver-walkway wouldn't match as nicely - maybe one day but the fence is only 1 year old. It stays for now
#7
D
d5coupe
great, first - thank you!
I read this alot in other posts but don't quite get it. Why does one want serviceable hydros? I see people complain filters & oil adds to the cost. Is the extra maintenance and cost really going to make the mower last that much longer? Also, when a transmission goes (assuming non-serviceable) then cant one just be replaced for another 10 years of use?
What does the exmark offer above the MX4250 that would benefit me? If the only difference is 20 yr life vs 10 yr life, then that's is OK because I would like a new toy in 10 years anyway!
I thought the larger tires would make it harder to maneuver around tight beds?
As far as used commercial mowers go - what should I look for? Most of the local guys use wright standers here. With this option I lose the ability to tow a cart. Do they give a better cut quality?
D
d5coupe
I am not sure if either your MTD or your sub $5000 budget constitutes either high end or pro-sumer. The issue you have is that anything with 3 blades requires a powered bagger unit which restricts you to a 46" rider or a 42" zero turn(minus Ariens Icon X or Gravely ZT). There are very FEW 42" zero turns that will give you the quality of cut you desire in your price point while still lasting you the 18 years you got out of your MTD. The MX4250 is a good start because it does have the HP to cut through your thick lawn but with non-serviceable transmissions you will be lucky to get 10 trouble free years. Also, these "residential" lawn mowers for the most part have narrower tires and in soft/wet turf they will rut and on any slope they lose traction quite easily.
So, not to rain on your parade but I just wanted to prepare you for the reality of either spending over $5k to get a nice Radius E 44" or spend only $2700 on a Toro SS4225 and have another $2300 to put towards the bagger or another SS4225 in 10 years.
Some might tell you to go for a used commercial mower which would not be a bad choice either if it fits through your gate.
I am just a consumer like to you and have been in your situation. I settled on a Cub Cadet LX42. Having some issues with my specific mower but at $2000 it likely steers better than your MTD, has a wider deck, has 22hp, has a 3 year warranty, has two different bagger options and the list goes on. The point is that you don't need to spend a lot to cut your grass but expectations and what you are willing to spend must align.
great, first - thank you!
I read this alot in other posts but don't quite get it. Why does one want serviceable hydros? I see people complain filters & oil adds to the cost. Is the extra maintenance and cost really going to make the mower last that much longer? Also, when a transmission goes (assuming non-serviceable) then cant one just be replaced for another 10 years of use?
What does the exmark offer above the MX4250 that would benefit me? If the only difference is 20 yr life vs 10 yr life, then that's is OK because I would like a new toy in 10 years anyway!
I thought the larger tires would make it harder to maneuver around tight beds?
As far as used commercial mowers go - what should I look for? Most of the local guys use wright standers here. With this option I lose the ability to tow a cart. Do they give a better cut quality?
#8
D
d5coupe
D
d5coupe
Crappy experience at Toro dealer today.
The more I read I keep coming up with Ferris over & over again. Found a local dealer 5 miles from me I didnt know existed, will go check them out.
Will go look at 400S and IS600 - both have the serviceable hydros and larger wheels. Any cons I am missing???
The more I read I keep coming up with Ferris over & over again. Found a local dealer 5 miles from me I didnt know existed, will go check them out.
Will go look at 400S and IS600 - both have the serviceable hydros and larger wheels. Any cons I am missing???
#9
B
bertsmobile1
To parraphrase a previous post.
If you can't pay for quality all you will buy is rubbish
Or as dad used to say
"he who buys cheap pays thrice"
This mower https://www.ebay.com/itm/NICE-48-GHS-WALKER-RIDING-MOWER-MTGHS-23HP-KOHLER-BAGGING-COMMERCIAL-ZERO-TURN/202660677389?hash=item2f2f84870d:g:Xi0AAOSw~RVaDcEa is not far over your budget and will serve you really well for the next 10 to 20 years.
And you will also not get a dust bath because the blower blows the dust a long way behind.
Grasshoppers are the next best bet but their service is nothing like that of Walkers.
When the chairman & 1/2 the board have the the same name as what is on the side of the mower, they take customer satisfaction and service really seriously.
I run a lot of mowers from the 60's & 70's
Back then they cost around 6 months average wages
40 to 50 years latter on that cost is nothing
Anything under $ 10,000 is basically a throw away item, with a design life of 5 to 10 years.
You don't have to replace a $ 5000 mower many times to make that Walker look really cheap.
As for servicable hydros.
There are 2 types of hydros,
Sealed for their life ( which is generally short )
Servicable which will run around 5 to 10 times longer if the owner understands the difference between routine servicing & repairs.
Got a customer with a 42" Great Dane ( another good mower )
He brings ir in for routine maintenance every 2 years where all replaceable parts get replaced, including the spindle bearings.
It is pushing 15 years old and has never missed a beat.
It costs him a budgetable $ 400-$ 600 every second year.
A customer with a 61" Great Dane thinks routine servicing is not needed because it is a commercial mower and he only mows his own 5 acres.
He spends around $ 1500 a year on average for me to replace parts that have failed then broken other parts .
The people who whinge & bitch here are usually of the latter type, most of which don't even have an owners manual for their mower, they just expect it to work because it is new, just the same as their smart phone always works.
or this one
https://bend.craigslist.org/grd/6861760141.html?lang=en&cc=gb
or this one
https://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/grd/6883668862.html?lang=en&cc=gb
A better one with a lot lower hours
https://tuscaloosa.craigslist.org/grd/6876344218.html?lang=en&cc=gb
B
bertsmobile1
wow would love the walker, but way out of my price range.
To parraphrase a previous post.
If you can't pay for quality all you will buy is rubbish
Or as dad used to say
"he who buys cheap pays thrice"
This mower https://www.ebay.com/itm/NICE-48-GHS-WALKER-RIDING-MOWER-MTGHS-23HP-KOHLER-BAGGING-COMMERCIAL-ZERO-TURN/202660677389?hash=item2f2f84870d:g:Xi0AAOSw~RVaDcEa is not far over your budget and will serve you really well for the next 10 to 20 years.
And you will also not get a dust bath because the blower blows the dust a long way behind.
Grasshoppers are the next best bet but their service is nothing like that of Walkers.
When the chairman & 1/2 the board have the the same name as what is on the side of the mower, they take customer satisfaction and service really seriously.
I run a lot of mowers from the 60's & 70's
Back then they cost around 6 months average wages
40 to 50 years latter on that cost is nothing
Anything under $ 10,000 is basically a throw away item, with a design life of 5 to 10 years.
You don't have to replace a $ 5000 mower many times to make that Walker look really cheap.
As for servicable hydros.
There are 2 types of hydros,
Sealed for their life ( which is generally short )
Servicable which will run around 5 to 10 times longer if the owner understands the difference between routine servicing & repairs.
Got a customer with a 42" Great Dane ( another good mower )
He brings ir in for routine maintenance every 2 years where all replaceable parts get replaced, including the spindle bearings.
It is pushing 15 years old and has never missed a beat.
It costs him a budgetable $ 400-$ 600 every second year.
A customer with a 61" Great Dane thinks routine servicing is not needed because it is a commercial mower and he only mows his own 5 acres.
He spends around $ 1500 a year on average for me to replace parts that have failed then broken other parts .
The people who whinge & bitch here are usually of the latter type, most of which don't even have an owners manual for their mower, they just expect it to work because it is new, just the same as their smart phone always works.
or this one
https://bend.craigslist.org/grd/6861760141.html?lang=en&cc=gb
or this one
https://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/grd/6883668862.html?lang=en&cc=gb
A better one with a lot lower hours
https://tuscaloosa.craigslist.org/grd/6876344218.html?lang=en&cc=gb
#10
D
d5coupe
awesome post, thank you. I setup an appointment to get a demo. However, I would want the rear discharge and the whole kit im lookin at like 14 grand.
Ferris 400s is my current favorite.
You think the ferris will need replacing 3 times over the next 25 years?
The problem I have - these used mowers were beat to **** for 1000 hours. That's 20 years of use at my rate. Logic tells me its a bad idea....
D
d5coupe
To parraphrase a previous post.
If you can't pay for quality all you will buy is rubbish
Or as dad used to say
"he who buys cheap pays thrice"
This mower https://www.ebay.com/itm/NICE-48-GHS-WALKER-RIDING-MOWER-MTGHS-23HP-KOHLER-BAGGING-COMMERCIAL-ZERO-TURN/202660677389?hash=item2f2f84870d:g:Xi0AAOSw~RVaDcEa is not far over your budget and will serve you really well for the next 10 to 20 years.
And you will also not get a dust bath because the blower blows the dust a long way behind.
Grasshoppers are the next best bet but their service is nothing like that of Walkers.
When the chairman & 1/2 the board have the the same name as what is on the side of the mower, they take customer satisfaction and service really seriously.
I run a lot of mowers from the 60's & 70's
Back then they cost around 6 months average wages
40 to 50 years latter on that cost is nothing
Anything under $ 10,000 is basically a throw away item, with a design life of 5 to 10 years.
You don't have to replace a $ 5000 mower many times to make that Walker look really cheap.
As for servicable hydros.
There are 2 types of hydros,
Sealed for their life ( which is generally short )
Servicable which will run around 5 to 10 times longer if the owner understands the difference between routine servicing & repairs.
Got a customer with a 42" Great Dane ( another good mower )
He brings ir in for routine maintenance every 2 years where all replaceable parts get replaced, including the spindle bearings.
It is pushing 15 years old and has never missed a beat.
It costs him a budgetable $ 400-$ 600 every second year.
A customer with a 61" Great Dane thinks routine servicing is not needed because it is a commercial mower and he only mows his own 5 acres.
He spends around $ 1500 a year on average for me to replace parts that have failed then broken other parts .
The people who whinge & bitch here are usually of the latter type, most of which don't even have an owners manual for their mower, they just expect it to work because it is new, just the same as their smart phone always works.
or this one
https://bend.craigslist.org/grd/6861760141.html?lang=en&cc=gb
or this one
https://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/grd/6883668862.html?lang=en&cc=gb
A better one with a lot lower hours
https://tuscaloosa.craigslist.org/grd/6876344218.html?lang=en&cc=gb
awesome post, thank you. I setup an appointment to get a demo. However, I would want the rear discharge and the whole kit im lookin at like 14 grand.
Ferris 400s is my current favorite.
You think the ferris will need replacing 3 times over the next 25 years?
The problem I have - these used mowers were beat to **** for 1000 hours. That's 20 years of use at my rate. Logic tells me its a bad idea....
#11
C
cruzenmike
Buying used commercial has never given me the warm fuzzy feeling. To put it into perspective regarding high end residential/low end commercial, I had an Exmark that cost around $6,000 new in 2006. I estimate that over it's entire life about $2000 was put into it for parts and routine servicing. At the point at which I sold it this spring I am quite confident that it would give at least a couple more years without needing anything simply based on what I had replaced. So at that point $8,000 for approximately 15 years of use. That is still over $500 a year for the cost of ownership not including the cost of gas to run it.
As with most equipment you just don't know what will happen long term but one thing is for certain that steel doesn't break as easily as plastic, routine service helps your odds of long life and buying something that is made for what you intend to use it for will ensure that your expectations are met.
As for your question about the Radius E, it does have a deeper deck than the MX4250 which will help move more grass out from underneath the deck resulting is a better cut. As for the difference in transmissions between the two, as a homeowner you may not notice a difference in the ground speed but as stated the serviceable transmissions will last longer if properly serviced.
Now on to the Ferris. The 400s is a good machine for the price. If you are contemplating the two engine options consider that the Kawasaki is more money while offering less power but it a bit quieter. I like that the 400s is quite compact and has a nice heavy duty build and deep deck. The discharge chute is wide and open allowing for grass to exit the deck. I do not know about bagger options or mulch performance but for side discharge it will work well. Also the speed is up to 8.5mph I believe which will certainly cut your mowing time in half.
C
cruzenmike
awesome post, thank you. I setup an appointment to get a demo. However, I would want the rear discharge and the whole kit im lookin at like 14 grand.
Ferris 400s is my current favorite.
You think the ferris will need replacing 3 times over the next 25 years?
The problem I have - these used mowers were beat to **** for 1000 hours. That's 20 years of use at my rate. Logic tells me its a bad idea....
Buying used commercial has never given me the warm fuzzy feeling. To put it into perspective regarding high end residential/low end commercial, I had an Exmark that cost around $6,000 new in 2006. I estimate that over it's entire life about $2000 was put into it for parts and routine servicing. At the point at which I sold it this spring I am quite confident that it would give at least a couple more years without needing anything simply based on what I had replaced. So at that point $8,000 for approximately 15 years of use. That is still over $500 a year for the cost of ownership not including the cost of gas to run it.
As with most equipment you just don't know what will happen long term but one thing is for certain that steel doesn't break as easily as plastic, routine service helps your odds of long life and buying something that is made for what you intend to use it for will ensure that your expectations are met.
As for your question about the Radius E, it does have a deeper deck than the MX4250 which will help move more grass out from underneath the deck resulting is a better cut. As for the difference in transmissions between the two, as a homeowner you may not notice a difference in the ground speed but as stated the serviceable transmissions will last longer if properly serviced.
Now on to the Ferris. The 400s is a good machine for the price. If you are contemplating the two engine options consider that the Kawasaki is more money while offering less power but it a bit quieter. I like that the 400s is quite compact and has a nice heavy duty build and deep deck. The discharge chute is wide and open allowing for grass to exit the deck. I do not know about bagger options or mulch performance but for side discharge it will work well. Also the speed is up to 8.5mph I believe which will certainly cut your mowing time in half.
#12
B
bertsmobile1
Walkers are a commercial mower designed to run forever.
1000 hours is nothing on a commercial machine.
They are built to run 5 to 10 hours a day 5 days a week for decades
That is around 1000 hours a year some where that it does not snow and about 500 hours a year some where that it does snow.
Residential mowers are designed to run for 2 to 3 hours a week 50 weeks a year so we are talking around 100 to 200 hours a year.
1000 hours on one of them is a lot of work.
We arer in drought right now so my commercial customers are not doing much ,mowing.
The Walker that was new last year has 800 hours on it and the 5 year old one has 12,000 hours on it.
I have Great Danes with 15,000 to 20,000 hours on them and some Toro Time Masters that are doing 2000 + hours a year.
New we mow all year right here but those sort of hours are whar commercial mowers are designed to do.
That is why they are all made on fully welded frames from 8 gauge steel and the better ones fit horizontal shaft engines.
What happens with commercials is eventually holes wear oval and sliding plates hollow out , or decks rust through so the commercial operators sell them off.
IF MAINTAINED properly most will do at least 10 years of domestic use and any one of the mowers in the previous post should be the last mower you ever buy.
What kills them is idiots who think because they are a commercial mower a domestic user should not have to follow the same maintanance routine so they don't do any apart from changing the oil & air filter.
These mowers very quickly become very unreliable just the same as any domestic that is not maintained properly would.
B
bertsmobile1
awesome post, thank you. I setup an appointment to get a demo. However, I would want the rear discharge and the whole kit im lookin at like 14 grand.
Ferris 400s is my current favorite.
You think the ferris will need replacing 3 times over the next 25 years?
The problem I have - these used mowers were beat to **** for 1000 hours. That's 20 years of use at my rate. Logic tells me its a bad idea....
Walkers are a commercial mower designed to run forever.
1000 hours is nothing on a commercial machine.
They are built to run 5 to 10 hours a day 5 days a week for decades
That is around 1000 hours a year some where that it does not snow and about 500 hours a year some where that it does snow.
Residential mowers are designed to run for 2 to 3 hours a week 50 weeks a year so we are talking around 100 to 200 hours a year.
1000 hours on one of them is a lot of work.
We arer in drought right now so my commercial customers are not doing much ,mowing.
The Walker that was new last year has 800 hours on it and the 5 year old one has 12,000 hours on it.
I have Great Danes with 15,000 to 20,000 hours on them and some Toro Time Masters that are doing 2000 + hours a year.
New we mow all year right here but those sort of hours are whar commercial mowers are designed to do.
That is why they are all made on fully welded frames from 8 gauge steel and the better ones fit horizontal shaft engines.
What happens with commercials is eventually holes wear oval and sliding plates hollow out , or decks rust through so the commercial operators sell them off.
IF MAINTAINED properly most will do at least 10 years of domestic use and any one of the mowers in the previous post should be the last mower you ever buy.
What kills them is idiots who think because they are a commercial mower a domestic user should not have to follow the same maintanance routine so they don't do any apart from changing the oil & air filter.
These mowers very quickly become very unreliable just the same as any domestic that is not maintained properly would.
#13
F
footballfan33
What if I want a mulching deck? How well do those work on a Walker?
F
footballfan33
A Walker.
Even a used Walker.
Best cut and best bagging system on the market.
Anything else is a very looooog way behind.
If your yard is rough get the 4 wheeled one, if your yard is reasonably flat get a 3 wheeled one which will turn 360 in it's own length.
having the deck out in front of you makes close cutting a breeze and the deck will cut up to 3/4" against a wall so a lot less trimming.
What if I want a mulching deck? How well do those work on a Walker?
#14
jank
jank
#16
I
ironhead3fan
I
ironhead3fan
Depending on how smooth your yard is, keep in mind that Ferris has the 4 wheel suspension. I bought one last year and so far, the only issue was the hour meter, which was promptly replaced under warranty. Sure beats "that green machine" as far as the ride goes.
#17
B
bertsmobile1
I would imagine that you have already bought your mower but if you have not.
Any deck that is rear discharge will mulch 100% better than a side discharge deck.
This is simply a quirk of the way the air & thus clippings move under the deck
On a side discharge all of the clippings will end up clumping near the discharge chute because all of the blades send all of their clippings to the chute.
This can overwhelm the right hand blade which does not have enough air flow to hold the combined clippings up long enough for them to be evenly distributed across the entire cut length.
On a rear discharge deck usually it will be a 2 blade deck and each blade individually sends clippings to the discharge chute so both blades share the work and no blade ends up trying to work the combined clippings from both of them so they rarely clump.
Better quality mowers offer an individual mulch or discharge deck specifically designed to do one job.
Cheaper mowers will have removable baffle plates ( not just a block off plug ) to change the air flow under the deck so the deck will do both jobs reasonably well.
Bottom end mowers have a "universal" deck and as the name says it is universal, mediocre mulching. mediocre bagging & mediocre tossing .
When it come to decks you get what you pay for and nothing else
Search "clumping" on this forum and you will see it is a very common problem with cheaper universal decks as to get them to work properly, YOU have to mow at the exact right speed, cut the grass at exactly the right time and exactly the right length or they just will not bag/mulch properly
B
bertsmobile1
What if I want a mulching deck? How well do those work on a Walker?
I would imagine that you have already bought your mower but if you have not.
Any deck that is rear discharge will mulch 100% better than a side discharge deck.
This is simply a quirk of the way the air & thus clippings move under the deck
On a side discharge all of the clippings will end up clumping near the discharge chute because all of the blades send all of their clippings to the chute.
This can overwhelm the right hand blade which does not have enough air flow to hold the combined clippings up long enough for them to be evenly distributed across the entire cut length.
On a rear discharge deck usually it will be a 2 blade deck and each blade individually sends clippings to the discharge chute so both blades share the work and no blade ends up trying to work the combined clippings from both of them so they rarely clump.
Better quality mowers offer an individual mulch or discharge deck specifically designed to do one job.
Cheaper mowers will have removable baffle plates ( not just a block off plug ) to change the air flow under the deck so the deck will do both jobs reasonably well.
Bottom end mowers have a "universal" deck and as the name says it is universal, mediocre mulching. mediocre bagging & mediocre tossing .
When it come to decks you get what you pay for and nothing else
Search "clumping" on this forum and you will see it is a very common problem with cheaper universal decks as to get them to work properly, YOU have to mow at the exact right speed, cut the grass at exactly the right time and exactly the right length or they just will not bag/mulch properly