Tom_H
Veteran Member
I sold mine to Junkman. It did perform well, but it sometimes would clog on really wet overgrown tall fescue on the first cut of the year. For me, it was difficult to get on, but even more difficult to get off. The top link is welded to the blower frame and does not pivot. It takes precision alignment to insert the pin. Once in place, there is high tension on the pin, either up or down. For removal, getting the lift arms to the exact place where there is no pressure in either direction is quite a challenge. The unit needs to be supported from below, you get the pressure on the pin as close to neutral as possible, then take a sledge hammer and a 1' piece of 3/8" dia. rebar and pound hard on the opposite end of the pin. Pray hard that the rebar doesn't get clamped into place when the pin backs out. I know there are others who do not have as much difficulty as I did. It's funny how we all have different things that are difficult or easy. Many have difficulty attaching the MMM coupling to the mid-PTO. Mine slides right into place first try every time in one or two seconds.
I live where it doesn't rain in summer. I irrigate heavily on Sunday and cut the following Saturday when I know the grass will always be dry. This allows me to use my mulch kit with great effectiveness. I don't have to take the time to empty the bagger. I don't have to spend the time or $ to fertilize any more because the nutrients are recycled right back into the soil. I don't have to have a storage place for the bagger. I don't have to put it on & take it off. And, I got some money back, though not as much as I spent. Had I known I'd like the mulcher so much, I'd never have bought the bagger. Still, if you need a bagger, it works quite well. The primary disadvantage is getting it on & off.
I do not get any deciduous leaf fall in my lawn, so that wasn't a concern for me. I know some people use their baggers as much for leaf pickup as grass pickup. The mulch kit can be great with the right kind of grass when you can depend on dry turf. It isn't as great if you have to cut when it's wet and it can't solve the leaf problem the way a bagger can, so those are some factors you may want to consider. Good luck with your decision.
I live where it doesn't rain in summer. I irrigate heavily on Sunday and cut the following Saturday when I know the grass will always be dry. This allows me to use my mulch kit with great effectiveness. I don't have to take the time to empty the bagger. I don't have to spend the time or $ to fertilize any more because the nutrients are recycled right back into the soil. I don't have to have a storage place for the bagger. I don't have to put it on & take it off. And, I got some money back, though not as much as I spent. Had I known I'd like the mulcher so much, I'd never have bought the bagger. Still, if you need a bagger, it works quite well. The primary disadvantage is getting it on & off.
I do not get any deciduous leaf fall in my lawn, so that wasn't a concern for me. I know some people use their baggers as much for leaf pickup as grass pickup. The mulch kit can be great with the right kind of grass when you can depend on dry turf. It isn't as great if you have to cut when it's wet and it can't solve the leaf problem the way a bagger can, so those are some factors you may want to consider. Good luck with your decision.
