Kubota ZD326 - mulch kit vs. Gator G6 blades?

[sevensandeights]

I just picked up a mint condition 2010 ZD326 60" side discharge with 122 hours. I mowed today after about 2 weeks off (was on vacation!) and cut 2-2.5" off of 5" tall grass. The mower handled this with ease but left some serious windrows!

My last mower was a Gravely 152Z 52" deck and factory mulch kit. This mower mulched awesome with no windrows and tiny clippings.

My goal is to limit windrows and control clipping discharge from getting into flower beds and tree rings. Any suggestions on using the mulch kit vs. Gator G6 blades (without or without a homebrew blocking plate)?

Thanks!

 

[djdicetn]

I just picked up a mint condition 2010 ZD326 60" side discharge with 122 hours. I mowed today after about 2 weeks off (was on vacation!) and cut 2-2.5" off of 5" tall grass. The mower handled this with ease but left some serious windrows!

My last mower was a Gravely 152Z 52" deck and factory mulch kit. This mower mulched awesome with no windrows and tiny clippings.

My goal is to limit windrows and control clipping discharge from getting into flower beds and tree rings. Any suggestions on using the mulch kit vs. Gator G6 blades (without or without a homebrew blocking plate)?

Thanks!

I can't give you any experienced feedback, but because of the mild/wet July/August that we have had in Middle TN I have had the same problem with my Gravely Pro-Turn 152 I bought last fall. The grass is growing really fast and really thick!!! I debated on whether to get Gator blades or the Gravely mulch kit and decided to go with the factory mulch kit. My hopes are that, just like your prior experience with a Gravely factory mulch kit that I will obtain the same results. It was a bit more expensive($156) than getting gator blades but my dealer's parts guy said gator blades by themselves(without a chute cover) made windrows better...but the OEM mulch kit would do an even better job. We'll see. If Kubota has a mulch kit for the ZD326 you'll have to make that same decision!!

 

[sevensandeights]

Kubota makes a mulch kit for the ZD326 but it's $300!

I had great results with the factory mulch kit on my Gravely. The only downside was that I had to slow down quite bit to achieve a good cut.

I also tried G6 blades with the mulch kit. These blades pulverized the grass so much that the top of the deck would be covered with 1-2" of tiny clippings. However, the deck would need scraped much more often, especially when cutting grass with any moisture on/in it. Also, the deck would tend to unload excess clippings when taking a sharp turn or going backwards. Lastly, the blades are super heavy and really bogged down the engine when first engaging the blades and in high/heavy grass.

 

[djdicetn]

Kubota makes a mulch kit for the ZD326 but it's $300!

I had great results with the factory mulch kit on my Gravely. The only downside was that I had to slow down quite bit to achieve a good cut.

I also tried G6 blades with the mulch kit. These blades pulverized the grass so much that the top of the deck would be covered with 1-2" of tiny clippings. However, the deck would need scraped much more often, especially when cutting grass with any moisture on/in it. Also, the deck would tend to unload excess clippings when taking a sharp turn or going backwards. Lastly, the blades are super heavy and really bogged down the engine when first engaging the blades and in high/heavy grass.

WOW, that Kubota kit is twice what I paid:0(
That's why I've always considered Kubota as a high quality machine but seldom recommend it because they are so expensive compared to similar Gravely, Toro, Hustler, etc. ZTR's. Same thing with John Deere ZTR's....way too expensive for what you get(the JD that cost the same as my commercial Gravely had a "stamped deck!!!).

Yep, I'm fixing to retire so my plans for using the mulch kit will be mow often, under dry conditions and follow the "1/3 rule"(never cut more than 1/3 of the total height of the grass.....i.e if grass is 3" tall, cut at 2"). As I understand it, that will make for professional results when mulching.