Duramax7man7 506 #1 Posted April 3, 2017 Going to trading one of my 42" decks. One is side discharge and the other is rear discharge and has what I believed to be some sort of mulching inserts as its not open like the SD. Both are in quiet working order and new blades. Or should I trade them both now that I have a 60"? What say you? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
farmer 1,075 #2 Posted April 3, 2017 Without knowing what your lawns are like it's hard to say, having said that, good sound decks are only going to get harder to find, if I didn't need the money/trade item I'd keep them both or at least one as a spare. Get a problem with your 60", you've got something to keep you going. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,020 #3 Posted April 3, 2017 Depends on your yard. I have lots of trimming, trees ect. and love my 42 RD recycler deck. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,065 #4 Posted April 3, 2017 I agree with Mike on this. I started using a 42" Rear Discharge last spring and love it. The grass trimmings don't wind up in the mulched flower beds and in the fall I use it to chop leaves up and pull a 42" lawn sweeper; one pass operation. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DennisThornton 4,769 #5 Posted April 3, 2017 Ditto! Wish my 42RD was 48" but I still love it for allowing me to edge up close to either side. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Duramax7man7 506 #6 Posted April 3, 2017 Okay. Great! Thanks for the input fellas as always. You've all be a great help. This will give me some stuff to think about... By the way, how many of you have the extra stuff under the RD decks? It's not just one big open area like the SD deck. Is this for mulching purposes? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,021 #7 Posted April 3, 2017 Yep, like Mike says, depends a lot on your yard and what you want to do. I have a lot of trimming around trees and steep banks. The 42s work best for trimming than the 36s, but the 36s are better on the banks. The 42s scalp more. The SDs are better if you collect the grass. Early when the grass is heavy, I use the SDs with baggers or windrow and sweep it up. The RDs of course offer better distribution if you don't collect the grass. They do tend to clog the cooling fins on the hydros though...not a problem if you remember to blow them clean. IMO the 48 and 60" are only good on a large 1acre+ fairly flat lawn. I only have an acre and have 6 decks. If I only had one deck, it would be a 42" SD. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,020 #8 Posted April 3, 2017 All the extra stuff under the deck may be a " Recyler " insert. It has 3 flutes per side. You can take this out if you want. If you leave it in, take it out in the fall to clean it. You'll be amazed by how much grass gets between the insert and deck shell. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
doc724 925 #9 Posted April 3, 2017 While Ed has said the RD decks tend to clog the cooling fins on Hydros, (and I agree), SD decks are the kiss of death for Onan's. With an SD deck, the clippings will get tossed up by the left front wheel and get sucked into the cooling intake of the engiine. Not good. Does not happen (as much) with a RD deck. Of course if you are smart enough (I am not) to always put the right wheel on the last cutting pass, you can avoid kicking up the clippings. You have to make a decision, I opt for clippings on the hydro fins....they are easier to clean. If they get sucked into an Onan you have to pull the engine to get all the tins off to clean the fins. More work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,021 #10 Posted April 4, 2017 (edited) The 520s will suck in the grass clippings and if there are any minute leaks around the oil filter base, the clippings will really adhere to the oily fins on the rear cylinder. There was a thread a few years back where someone, maybe @boovuc put some duct work on the intake to stop this. I'll see if I can find that thread. Here is one, but it isn't the one that used a 10" stove pipe elbow. I don't have a problem with grass in mine as I only use the 520 for snow throwing. IMO, they throw too much heat and use too much fuel for mowing duties and it would be a real chore to remove the cab, weights, chains, and blower. The 12HP fuel sippers do a fine job with the 36, 42, and even the 48" decks. Edited April 4, 2017 by Ed Kennell 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tankman 3,518 #11 Posted April 6, 2017 On 4/3/2017 at 0:54 AM, farmer said: Without knowing what your lawns are like it's hard to say, having said that, good sound decks are only going to get harder to find, if I didn't need the money/trade item I'd keep them both or at least one as a spare. Get a problem with your 60", you've got something to keep you going. I have always found excellent WH deals when the Horse didn't have a deck Keep the decks and find another, poor, deck missing Horse. "Honest Hon, I needed that Horse for one of my lonely decks." 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
