MMM - Mulching?

[meburdick]

I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival / delivery of my JD2520, and have a mowing question...

I am purchasing the tractor with the 200CX loader (61") and the 54" front-mounted snowthrower. I have opted to not purchase a MMM, and it turns out that may be a very smart move for me!

My property is fairly level with a long driveway (about 110'). I intend to use the loader (sometimes with a custom set of pallet forks) to move firewood, mulch, move dirt and other landscaping items, etc... The snowthrower should be self-explanatory.

On a whim, I stopped into the dealer the other day to ask about mowing decks. One of my questions was about converting to mulching and was told that I wouldn't be able to do it with the tractor deck. I currently use a 42" riding mower with a mulching conversion, and never cut any other way than to mulch.

I'm wondering a couple of things:

1) How finely does the MMM deck cut the clippings? I don't want to rake, and I won't spend the extra $$$ on the collection system only to have to turn around and put down fertilizer on the lawn because I've been removing nutrients by removing the clippings.

2) Is there any option for a mower on the 2520 that would allow me to actually mulch?

TIA!

 

[gary_dsc]

My 62D on my 2520 has the mulching attachment installed and works great.

 

[meburdick]

Can you tell me more about the "mulching attachment"? Part number or similar? Cost? And, how new is your deck?

 

[boughtaJD]

As with most mowing issues - depends how often you mow. I have a 2320 with a mmm & I replaced the stock blades with gator mulching blades. They work great at chopping up the grass as long as you keep em sharp and don't go too long between cuttings.

 

[meburdick]

I found the BM21890 on the Deere web site. It seems to be the mulching kit for the 62D On Ramp deck that would fit the 2520. I've reached out to the dealer to ask for clarification since there seems to be conflicting information.

boughtaJD: Do you have some sort of discharge cover that you've installed as well? Or did you just swap the blades and still use the discharge?

 

[boughtaJD]

boughtaJD: Do you have some sort of discharge cover that you've installed as well? Or did you just swap the blades and still use the discharge?[/QUOTE]

I just swapped blades & use side discharge. The stock blades would not chop up the grass (especially if I waited too long to mow).

 

[meburdick]

boughtaJD: Do you have some sort of discharge cover that you've installed as well? Or did you just swap the blades and still use the discharge?

I just swapped blades & use side discharge. The stock blades would not chop up the grass (especially if I waited too long to mow).

Interesting idea. I'll have to keep that in mind as an option. Can you tell me a rough cost-estimate for those blades? And, did you say you were using this on a 2520 / 62D deck?

 

[Hammsman]

We have a 2320 with 62D deck. Works well as long as not cutting more than an inch or so at a time. We have the mulching "Kit" which consists of plastic inserts under the deck. Tried with just mulching blades but the results are much better with the kit. Think kit was around $200 which includes new blades.

 

[glc24]

One of my questions was about converting to mulching and was told that I wouldn't be able to do it with the tractor deck.

Are you talking about the 62D2 MMM which is made for the 2520?
If that is the case,I'd like to know how whoever told you that is still working selling for JD.
The BM21890 mulching kit is most definitely made for the 62D2 MMM for the 2520.
I bought mine last October,and it was 209.00.

Can you tell me a rough cost-estimate for those blades?

If you are referring about the Gators? There are plenty of online sites that have them for give or take 15.00 a blade

I tried the mulching kit with the Gators last fall when I started to get leaves.It did an excellent job (IMO),of cutting them up into very small pieces.I don't use the kit solely for grass,but I would think the results would be the same.

Greg

 

[meburdick]

Are you talking about the 62D2 MMM which is made for the 2520?
If that is the case,I'd like to know how whoever told you that is still working selling for JD.
The BM21890 mulching kit is most definitely made for the 62D2 MMM for the 2520.
I bought mine last October,and it was 209.00.

To be honest, I don't know *what* he was referring to specifically. I asked about a deck for the tractor and being able to convert to mulching. He said that there was no kit for that tractor.

I posted here, did a little searching on Deere's site, and then sent him an email and asked about that specific part number. He wrote back, said it definitely WAS for that deck, and said it would definitely work on the 2520 deck.

No idea why the wrong info in the first place... Got cleared up, and I'll be picking up the mower deck as well (provided they can bundle it into the finance deal that I have sitting on the table in some fashion).

I appreciate having the additional information about the Gator blades, too, though... So, coming here had even more benefit (as usual).