ZTXS5 54 Mulch Kit description, install and use evaluation and final thoughts on the Triple Bagger :
Yesterday was my final leaf cleanup for 2024 so I used the triple bagger attachment to clean up the back yard and front yard, then, installed the mulch kit for the remaining side yard area.
The mulch kit consists of three steel baffles held on by 13 carriage bolts which fasten through pre-punched holes in the baffles and the deck (no drilling required). The kit also includes three Cub Cadet mulching blades and instructions.
Like all CC instructions I've seen so far, they at first seem a little bewildering, but after studying them, they are both accurate and adequate for the job. Read them CLOSELY and things go together exactly as intended.
I spent about an hour installing the kit (including switching out the blades). Not difficult, just lots of wrenching on bolts. You can't get to anything with an impact gun and many of the nuts need to be tightened with a ratcheting box-end due to limited space. Here is the kit installed on the mower:
Mulch Kit performance: The kit does a decent job of mulching leaves, provided the leaves are close enough to the blades. This means you need to have the deck set close to the top of the grass/leaves. The problem is, if you have some areas where the grass isn't growing as fast as others, you would need to lower the deck to keep it close to the leaves. I typically mow my Fescue at 4.5 inches, but have some thin areas so this is a little bit of a problem for me.
The bigger problem I noticed is that the machine seemed to struggle to keep up mulching in taller grass and I had to slow down significantly for good results. I don't think this is a problem with the mulch kit so much as a shortage of horsepower. I said before and will say again that I think the 24 HP Kawasaki engine is barely adequate for this machine with the 54" mower deck. I don't know how it works with the 60".
I initially gave some thought to running the mulch kit year-round, but given the difficulty in handing even slightly tall grass that's already been through some freeze cycles, there is NO WAY this setup could handle mowing the 8" to 10" tall grass I deal with in the spring/summer. I would have to mow three times per week to use this kit during the summer.
So, after struggling through the yard with the final mow of the season, I will say that I think this kit works, but not for me. I will probably just go back to my normal procedures from before buying the ZTXS5, i.e., pick up the leaves with the bagger in the "nice areas" (front and back yard) and just mow over them everywhere else (possibly using the set of Oregon Gator blades I bought last summer).
First pass along drive with bagger.
Second pass with Mulch Kit.
Making the leaf handoff to the 2520 for transport to the compost pile.
Another shot, first pass with bagger.
Some final results.
Final thoughts on the CC ZTXS5 54 bagger:
Thrilled is probably too strong a word, but I will say I'm very happy with this bagger. I was a little apprehensive at first, given that bagging grass isn't normally a big priority for ZTR type mowers. This one is easy to install, does a GREAT job of collecting leaves (and an even better job at collecting grass). The only problem I have is a little blowout from the left front of the mower that sometimes requires a second pass.
Someone on here posted that there is an anti-blowout baffle available but I have searched the CC web site and am unable to find it. The only other issue I have with the bagger is that it is very hard for me to tell when it's full. It's just something you need to develop a "sixth sense" about I guess....
