Mulching attachment

[keitholdcar 17]

I use the rear discharge decks on my mowers,so I pick them up when I find them.I bought a nice deck with what I've been told is a mulching attachment.Around each blade is a steel ring,that creates a full enclosed band around the blade.Each ring bolts up to the deck with some ears.I have no use for something like that,but are they worth saving for somebody else? Or,are they really just scrap.

[8ntruck 6,993]

Sounds like a recycler deck.  Those had baffles, some deflectorsthat bolted to the bottom of the deck and over the blades, and the blades are different than 'normal' deck blades.

 

I've never used a recycler deck, so the above is the sum total of my knowledge of that type of deck.

 

Edited July 10, 2022 by 8ntruck

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,036]

42" rear discharge?

 

[peter lena 8,589]

@keitholdcar  totally realize the intended / function and idea behind a deck blade enhancement , something thats rarely / if ever mentioned is the needed clean out maintenance  that goes with them . personally do not have anything under my decks to trap or hold moisture rotting grass . only use R/D decks . oil soaked , regularly checked out , blades lightly sharpened. always , drop my decks with a sun drying hot under side , check over .inspection . that heat helps kill of the grunge / rot , as does the oil soak , no rot or rust on my decks. until I  started doing this , did not realize the effect of a regular check on the deck function , I  do now , pete   

[squonk 41,040]

I love my recycler deck. But it takes a lot more maintenance and it weighs almost twice as much as a regular deck.

 

This is a normal grass buildup:

 

 

Taking the insert out you can see how much grass/powder gets in between:

 

 

[EB-80/8inPA 1,639]

One of the vendors here posted an interesting example of what one of those could look like when properly overhauled:

You might want to have a look see…

Edited July 10, 2022 by EB-80/8inPA
“Overhauled” might not be the best word. Maybe “museum quality restoration” would be more accurate.

[keitholdcar 17]

Thanks.I went out back to look at my decks.The nice 42 inch that I bought a while back has that recycling rig shown in the parts diagram and the actual pictures.I also have the remains of a much older deck,but that one has three separate rings,each bolted up to the bottom of the deck with carriage bolts.No deflectors,and no openings to let the grass out.I just kind of assumed I had the same thing on the later deck I am going to use.I am going to take off that one piece thing,you're right,lots of work to keep after it.I don't have a camera at the moment,but when I do I'll get pictures of the setup on the old deck.

[EB-80/8inPA 1,639]

@squonkHow often do you have to give that a thorough cleaning?

[squonk 41,040]

1 hour ago, EB-80/8inPA said:

@squonkHow often do you have to give that a thorough cleaning?

Depends on how the grass is growing. In the spring when it's growing fast I raise the tractor and scrape out the deck every other mow. After the Big Show I do a "Summer Service" on the tractor and yank the deck apart. What you see  in the pictures is typical of a couple of mows and what's between the deck and insert is typical for half a season. what's between the deck and insert is green powder. I haven't had to touch the actual inside of the deck in 6 years.

 

[cod 120]

FWIW, I picked up a recycler baffle a few years ago and when I installed it, I put a thin rubber membrane under the deflectors that completely covered the inner hole. I got the membrane at Home Depot as a heavy duty shelf liner. I cut an opening that fit snugly around the spindle and put down a bead of silicone on both the outer diameter of the membrane and a second bead around the inner opening of the baffle. As near as I can tell, nothing gets up around the spindles BUT I only use that deck in the Fall to beat up leaves.

When I drop it to mount the snowblower, there's not a ton of build up and so far no rust. Mike wasn't kidding about the heavy part either... ;-)

 

Good luck!

 

[Handy Don 12,174]

I just refreshed one of these decks and put it to use.

Heavy? At least 170 lbs per the specs.

Extra work? Definitely. There is no practical way to clean between the deck and the insert without removing the insert. @cod's membrane idea may get used on the next overhaul (thanks!) and I can confirm @squonk's comment about the outer deck shell longevity (the '92 unit I got had original paint on inside of the shell and top of the insert with some start of peeling but no rust).

Other? The insert rings are very heavy steel so they'll stand up to a lot--it's held in by 4 bolts and the only tricky part is close clearance with the "lifter stop" bolts.

Observation? Worth it. The cut is excellent and smooth with no "ridges" and it leaves almost no visible clippings behind. It does require going a bit slower and it definitely requires more input power that an open deck to do all the mulching. IMHO, 12hp or more and a hydro makes speed adjustment easy.

Edited July 11, 2022 by Handy Don

[keitholdcar 17]

I had no idea how desirable this recycling deck could be.I advertised it locally,to trade for a 42 inch deck without the recycling attachment.A dozen calls in two days,plus a bunch of emails from people that have a fear of talking on a phone.A Wheelhorse/Toro mechanic showed up with a real beauty to trade.Everybody went home happy.It just goes against the grain in me to have a mower deck with two pieces of metal sandwiched together in a damp moldy environment.

[Handy Don 12,174]

2 hours ago, keitholdcar said:

I had no idea how desirable this recycling deck could be.I advertised it locally,to trade for a 42 inch deck without the recycling attachment.A dozen calls in two days,plus a bunch of emails from people that have a fear of talking on a phone.A Wheelhorse/Toro mechanic showed up with a real beauty to trade.Everybody went home happy.It just goes against the grain in me to have a mower deck with two pieces of metal sandwiched together in a damp moldy environment.

I saw your CL add and wondered if you realized that by simply removing four nuts, the insert comes out. Put the nuts back and you have a stock 42" deck and salable insert.