414-8 42 in Mower Deck to Mulcher Conversion

[Handy Don 12,281]

2 hours ago, Steve Janninck said:

Looking at the blade tip to tip distance

Remember that the closest distance is NOT end to end but corner to corner!

[Steve Janninck 171]

51 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Remember that the closest distance is NOT end to end but corner to corner!

You are correct sir! That’s not going to be enough space. Will make a small clearance cut out. Thanks Don

[Steve Janninck 171]

Rev1 Parts 
All of the parts that make up the “W” are complete. Blade notches included.

Everything is bolted in for easy removal. No welded parts on this modification.

Steve 

[Moparfanforever 854]

Enjoying your build on this deck!!

 

Your ingenuity and tenacity on this project is great!!

 

 

 

[Steve Janninck 171]

All etch primed and painted! Letting them bake in the sun! I’ll take a couple pictures once everything is back together.

Steve 

[peter lena 8,654]

@Steve Janninck  can appreciate  your interest / work  for this set up , you also might consider , the moist grass debris / rot factor , often refer to the  GRUNGE FACTOR , under decks , prefer  regular set up , and making a point to counter , moisture / rust build up , if nothing else , just a hot sun , clean out , will break the rot  issue , would also make a point of  winter over / lubrication soak . months of oil feed on the metal , is very effective , mine sit bottom out , like picture , wall stud , spring held , allowing , inspection , total air coverage . nothing insulting , many years it this , pete

 

[Steve Janninck 171]

Here is the completed project with all the pieces bolted in place. Tip clearance blade notches provide the perfect window for the blade to pass through. Secondly the notches provide clearance for the spindle nut tool. 
I will report on the grass mulching performance.

Thanks for following along!

Steve

[Handy Don 12,281]

43 minutes ago, Steve Janninck said:

Here is the completed project with all the pieces bolted in place

Looks remarkably like the WH recycler setup my son has on his 312-H. WH enclosed above the blades (with cutouts for the spindles) and the “wedges” between the curved baffles. This was is a single assembly that bolts under the 42 RD.

You can see this one had not had a lot of use before it came to me. When I had the recycler shell out, there was clean original paint on the underside of the shell.

Now that I’m looking at it, I’m thinking that removing those flow disrupter baffles might leave room for Gator mulching blades. Hmmmmm

[Steve Janninck 171]

10 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Looks remarkably like the WH recycler setup my son has on his 312-H. WH enclosed above the blades (with cutouts for the spindles) and the “wedges” between the curved baffles. This was is a single assembly that bolts under the 42 RD.

You can see this one had not had a lot of use before it came to me. When I had the recycler shell out, there was clean original paint on the underside of the shell.

Now that I’m looking at it, I’m thinking that removing those flow disrupter baffles might leave room for Gator mulching blades. Hmmmmm

 

@Handy Don Don,

I really think in concept that what I put together will definitely mulch perfectly. I do think that speed needs to controlled, obviously depending on grass length and leaf cover. Thanks for sharing the picture of your son's real WH accessory. It is so interesting to see the similarities! I have a mulching Honda Push Mower that really does a great job of chopping all so fine. They use a dual blade design that I want to try to duplicate for this deck. Have to exercise my brain muscle to see how to create something similar. Those flow disrupters must be there to knock the trimmings back down into the single cutting edge blade. Very interesting.

Thanks Don!

Steve

[Moparfanforever 854]

There is a few posts on here with people using dual blades. 

 

Nice job on your deck project!! Looking forward to hearing how it works out. 

[Steve Janninck 171]

Today things finally dried out enough to run the mower around for a couple hours
 

Well I have to say to my surprise the performance on Rev 1 of the mulching deck is great! Chambering all of the blades did the trick for sure. The clippings are even finer than before and I believe this is due to the sustained lift in each chamber. If I run a row of grass at a good clip and run out over the driveway the fine clippings fall out over about 3 to 6 feet onto the pavement. The lift is definitely acting like vacuum cleaner. I can’t speak for leaf mulching yet, but I think the results and testing are right around the corner.

Stay tuned,

Steve

[Moparfanforever 854]

Glad it worked out.  I may have to shamelessly copy your design. 

 

Maybe you should make some and sell them??

 

[Steve Janninck 171]

@Moparfanforever,

Please copy the design!

I could make a kit, but I really don’t think that there is much of a market.

When you make yourself the pieces, keep the distance between the blade and the shroud as tight as possible.

This duplicates what WH did with their mulching adapter.

I will keep you posted as we head into the fall.

Steve