Buy Mulch Kit or...

hobie · Nov 26, 2008

I am not a pro, though I have worked on several landscaping crews, and have a brother in the business. I hope it is alright for me to participate here. Question is: I have a ZTR, and would like to put mulching blades on it. Dealer sells kit for about $150.00. I can get the three blades for $15.99 each, but then I have to fabricate something to block the discharge chute, and there are other pieces I can't identify in the kit. Seems like a piece of sheet metal would do the trick for the chute. Any of you know what else is entailed? Would you just bite the bullet and buy from dealer? Thanks, Brian

EastTexFrank · Nov 27, 2008

Hobie, ofcourse you can participate here. Everybody is welcome.

Apart from the blades and the chute block (which may not be necessary), there are usually a set of rings, in some configuration, around the blades to keep the clippings confined and stop them from "escaping" before they get mulched.

With the cost of steel, fabrication, my labor and the trial and error involved, I don't think $150 is that bad a price to pay for a pre-designed, bolt on system. By the way, I'm a great believer in mulching. I haven't had a mower in 15 years that hasn't had a mulching kit on it.

Kays Supply · Nov 27, 2008

I have an 07 Kubota ZTR. I bought some mulching blades just on a whim. I have mulched my yard and my shop. They work pretty darn good as is. I just mulch towards the middle and then mulch back towards the outside. It does a good job. The Kubota has the sheet metal baffles already in the deck. It discharges about 1/4 the as much mulching as it does with the OEM blades.