RFM rear or side discharge

[Hooked_on_HP]

I am looking at a KK 72" RFM. I wanted a rear discharge but the side discharge is $200 less, which I don't quite understand.
Is the rear discharge worth the extra money.

 

[Bird]

I wonder if that side discharge is cheaper because they can't get rid of it. Of course, I bought a RFM in '99 and at that time the dealer said he'd get either one for me at the same price. But he also told me that 3 years earlier, he couldn't sell a rear discharge, but by '99 he said he couldn't sell the side discharge; everyone wanted rear discharge. Now I much prefer the rear discharge, but for $200 . . . I don't know. I guess it would depend on the budget. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Birdhunter1]

I would think that a rear discharge would expel grass clippings faster sinceit doesn't have to pass clippings all the way across the deck.

Plus rear discharges won't blow grass into the road, flower beds, sides of barn etc.

 

[FortClatsop]

Side discharge will windrow to the side, where you may or may not go over it again based on direction. Rear discharge is supposed to evenly distribute behind you and you won't go over it again until you mow again. I am afraid of falling behind on my mowing and having to mow when it's wet. Based on my push mower experiences rear discharge in my climate is usually better. I think I paid more than $200 for the priviledge.

 

[Pooh_Bear]

I have a RFM. Big Bee brand. Got it used for $250.
I honestly don't know if it is a side or rear discharge mower.
One side is open. But it looks more like a plate is missing on that side.
And it doesn't seem to blow clippings out to the side.
And I can't see that it ever had a chute on it.
My guess is that it is a rear discharge mower.

Can't you just close up the side discharge and remove the chute.
And then cut a little of the rear of the deck out to turn it into a rear discharge mower.
Probably not one of my better ideas.

Pooh Bear

 

[Egon]

Just maybe a few things to consider but note I have only used a MM mower.

Rear discharge:
lets you travel in both directions without pluging chute in tall grass.
Grass can be cut higher
No side chute sticking out

Side discharge:
Allows one to blow grass clippings/ leaves etc. to one side.

Egon

 

[Tanberry]

On a KK the side discharge will be about 9 1/2" wider because of the grass deflector . It doesn't seem like much unless you have alot of trees to navagate . I have a side discharge RFM but going back would have paid the 200 for the rear discharge .

 

[wushaw]

It's worth 200.00 to get rear discharge. If I could have had it on my ZTR I would have got it.

 

[Boondox]

I've had both, and much prefer the rear discharge for a couple of reasons. First, with all the other chores on my plate the mowing was generally done when the grass was a bit long and sometimes wet from a heavy dew. The side discharge didn't like that, and as the chute became progressively narrower the mowing slowed down considerably. Secondly, it also blew the clippings into a neat windrow on the unmowed grass, so the mower would have to labor to remow those big clumps on the next pass.

I haven't mowed since the wife got sheep! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Pete

 

[creeper]

The rear disc. is easier on the mower and allows for faster ground speed without clumping up the grass.I think you would be happy you paid the $200