BX MMM Chute Function AND Mulching kit?

Jay4200 · Aug 22, 2014

In all seriousness, why do side-discharge mower decks have chutes on them? All it does for me and my BX is to give me something that sticks out a foot too far on the side so I can smash it up on trees and shrubs, and can't mow to the extreme edge of my grass when it is up against said trees and shrubs. Thank gawd my BX is an older one with a chute that is made of metal, I would've smashed a plastic chute to pieces within the first 10 minutes of driving it.

That venting aside, is there a mulching kit available for a BX2200 60" MMM deck? I've seen some pictures on the 'net, but haven't actually ever seen one that is available for sale. What would be involved in making one?

Thanks

CHDinCT · Aug 22, 2014

Jay4200 said:
In all seriousness, why do side-discharge mower decks have chutes on them? All it does for me and my BX is to give me something that sticks out a foot too far on the side so I can smash it up on trees and shrubs, and can't mow to the extreme edge of my grass when it is up against said trees and shrubs. Thank gawd my BX is an older one with a chute that is made of metal, I would've smashed a plastic chute to pieces within the first 10 minutes of driving it.

That venting aside, is there a mulching kit available for a BX2200 60" MMM deck? I've seen some pictures on the 'net, but haven't actually ever seen one that is available for sale. What would be involved in making one?

Thanks

Actually, I have driven into my shed with the plastic deflector down and have it hit the shed door jamb a few times. The plastic just bent until I was in the shed and then popped right back into shape. It's kind of a rubberized plastic.

Stargazer · Aug 22, 2014

I think chute is to keep flying debris (sticks golfballs etc) somewhat under control and into close ground. Also windrows the grass.

Code54 · Aug 22, 2014

Correct - it helps control projectiles.
Our BX has a rubber/plastic shield that is very flexible and works great. Our land is very hilly and we have some drainage ditches where the shoot has to lift and give or it would get ripped off. The BX does it every week and there is no damage to the shoot or the grass - I personally been impressed with how well it works.
Our commercial zero turn had a steel deflector chute and and I cracked the weld twice, and bent it several times before I ended up removing it.

dodge man · Aug 23, 2014

Yeah it keeps you from throwing things like rocks a half mile. I always have put a mulching kit on my mowers, my BX included. It's a pretty involved kit, new blades and some pretty big baffles. Pretty pricey as I recall, $300?? It says to leave the chute on but I took mine off, the chute ends up blocked off.

Scooby074 · Aug 23, 2014

I made a custom deflector. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...g/280364-building-mower-chute-blocker-bx.html It functions as a deflector and a mulch gate. (AKA OCDC)

[video=youtube;pA7PVtJv7BI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pA7PVtJv7BI[/video]

I had no luck with the factory mulch baffles and cut quality issues in general, which I documented here.

Som2 ZTR manufacturers make a soft rubber deflector, Toro is one .

dodge man · Aug 23, 2014

All I can say is I've been happy with the factory mulch kit on mine.

V1Rotate · Aug 23, 2014

I made my own mulching kit. I took a piece of heavy gauge sheet metal, cut it to fit the opening of the discharge chute, welded a piece of angle iron to the top of the sheet metal and then welded two 1/4 inch bolts to the angle iron. Theses bolts act as locating pins for the two holes I drilled on the top of the deck.
The whole thing just drops into position and blocks off the side chute.
Works pretty well.
The spring tension from the deflector chute holds the thing in position while mowing.