42 inch rear discharge mower deck

[Chas520H 17]

Just picked up my WH520H and it has a 42 inch rear discharge mower deck. I mowed my lawn and it seemed to leave large clippings. I was running at full throttle but didn't seem to help. Do you think using a set of Gattor Blades would help or does anyone have any ideas what I could try.

[953 nut 55,051]

  The rear discharge will tend to not chop the grass as finely as a side discharge because the grass only makes a single pass.  A new set of blades couldn't hurt, or at least make sure yours are sharpened well.

[SylvanLakeWH 25,489]

Ditto what 953 said...Sharp blades do help but you get bigger clips with rear discharge vs. side. Plus, you never run over the rear discharged clips again like you often will with side discharged clips, depending on your mow pattern, which cuts them again. Side discharge tends to leave a cleaner overall look. But that's just my  

And 

[Aldon 4,826]

If it a calm non breezy day, the cut blades rest on top and it appears less attractive. Usually the next morning it looks a lot better.

[doc724 925]

On the positive side, RD decks seem to be less prone to having the clippings sucked into the engine.

[skrusins 128]

By all lawn mower company suggestions " you should cut 1/3 of the height of lawn" that is if your grass

is 3in. you cut 1in. I do use Gator blades on all my machines.

Edited March 27, 2016 by skrusins
wanted to add

[cleat 5,808]

13 hours ago, doc724 said:

On the positive side, RD decks seem to be less prone to having the clippings sucked into the engine.

 

As long as they are not simply getting sucked up by the hydro.

[Tankman 3,518]

One reason to have a riding mower, cut the grass frequently. As noted, cut only one-third off the grass when mowing.

Cutting off more than a third of the grass damages the lawn. If necessary, raise the blades. Then lower the blades, mow again.

 

Now, get with the program, mount your Horse and mow frequently Cowboy.

 

A rear discharge mower towing a sweeper does an excellent job.

[Phatboy 565]

I have gator blades on my 520H ,, and to be perfectly honest,, best cutting blades i have ever used ! No exaggeration !! It is the most perfectly cut grass i have ever had,,  worth every penny they cost ,,,and i have a 48" inch side discharge deck,,. Forgot to list that ,,

Edited March 28, 2016 by Phatboy

[GlenPettit 1,716]

When you order your new Gator Blades, they will not be exactly the same length as your original regular 42" RD blades, being a 1/4" shorter will not miss any glass blades if you leave your original regular blades on too, at 90º . . . so you now have six blades under your deck and 12 cutting edges (there should be  enough threads, and you can get 'low profile' 3/4" nuts at most any Hardware store). The extra blades, lift & cutting edges should give you finer clippings & discharge.

I'ld recommend leaving the original blades lower on the spindles, so they take the most wear . . . for my lawn, the upper Gator blades only need to be sharpened every third time, and they tend to stay at 90º in regular lawn mower use (thick & wet grass = tougher abuse, but dry regular grass will not move the double blade arrangement).    (Note: the 42" SD Gator Blades are exact length as originals, it's the 42" RD that are short - ?).

Edited March 28, 2016 by GlenPettit

[312Hydro 474]

I followed Glenn's advice on my 48 SD about a year ago and I really like the results. Thanks for the tip,Glenn! 

[wrightorchid 261]

I might have to try this.  I can certainly use better mulching.  What model blade do you use on the 42 SD?

Edited March 31, 2016 by wrightorchid