I have two mowers now the F2690 4wd and the Kubota X724 and both are side discharge with mulching kits because the dealer did not have a rear discharge deck on hand. They both cut great and stop the grass blowing in your face. I believe I'm now converted to side discharge with mulching kit being my favorite. But, I did buy another Kubota mower last week with a choice between a 72" rear discharge ZD1211 and a 60" side discharge ZD1211 which I was about to buy and add the mulching kit till I found the rear discharge deck. Did pay a few hundred dollars more for the 72". Have previously owned a ZD326 with rear discharge with NO ISSUES other than it would not climb my steepest hills and would slide uncontrollably down some somewhat steep hills. No stopping to clear screen of grass or dust until 4 hours of mowing completed on any that I've owned and have owned several of both style decks on both Fs and Zs.
Are you speaking from your personal experience or someone else? I've owned a ZD326 rear discharge with no such problem or issue and several Fs with rear discharge that never needed cleaning between 4 hours of mowing except for one time and I believe the alarm went off because I hadn't cleaned the screen in several mowings, had just forgot. I now always blow off the screen, tires and the machine and decks on all mowers, Zs and Fs side discharge deck with mulching kits and rear discharge decks with a leaf blower after I finish mowing or my grandson does mostly now. I guess if one lives in a particularly dusty area they would have to do this blowing/cleaning of screen with about any machine pretty often with dust blowing around and the fan sucking in the surrounding dusty air.
My own personal experience as I mow 8-9hrs weekly JOHNTHOMAS
My radiator screen stops up with fine grass clippings as quick as 1hr & as long as 3hrs SOMETIMES in thick green lush grass where itç—´ not powder dry.
I absolutely love the 72 RD but HATE Stopping to dump screen out.
I致e learned to reach back & rake fine clippings off all 3 sides of hood intakes every 10-15mins WHILE Mowing : to prolong dumping the screen
As THICK as my grass gets around the farm in most places : side Discharge Deck chokes down causing you to mow extremely slow waiting for grass to be processed.
BTW : Fluid Filling rear tires as mentioned a few times lol, will really make the ZD more user friendly on steep hills.
I looked at the rear of the deck and noticed it has what look like small down angled strips of what may be heavy rubber that look factory installed. I'm thinking earlier rear discharge decks just had straight opening across the back for discharge and almost positivesince I made my own down flap with truck mud flap on my old deck.