Scrap the 3 in 1 blade GT2542

[ducati996]

I agree, my little honda pushmower mulches like a champ, but trying to mulch with 42", 44" or beyone is a different ball-o-wax. IMO, the deck mulch plug comes in handy in the fall to mulch up leaves. It's dual purpose, reduces your leaves to nothing and power blasts the underside of your deck like you've never seen it!

Joel

You have nailed it!! each year I use my 44" deck (3000 series) and the mulch plug and pulverize acres of leaves(this year it was about 6 acres other years it was 10). It pulverizes it into dust with zero bagging. The other plus is the underside is cleaner than I could ever get by sandblasting...

When I use the deck for regular grass cutting, I always remove the plug and let it side discharge. The high lift blades do an incredible job on grass dispersal, with very little clippings to pick up. if there is any, then you hit it again with the machine. I also use the 50" deck which i feel cuts better than the 44" and is 50" for better trimming. I also have the 48" with gator blades and at this time I no longer need the 48". The deck shells on the 3000 and 2500 series are basically identical for the 44' and 50" so i would expect excellent results from either of these decks from both machines...

Duc

 

[Dave01]

Ducati, what is the difference between the 48" and 50" decks for the 3000 series? We have the 48" and use it for side discharge. I replaced the high lift blades with conventional ones because I didn't like raising a dust cloud every time we went over a sandy area.

I got my 1864 with 48" deck near the end of the mowing season. It has the mulch plug installed, first time I ever tried mulching with a garden tractor. Worked OK though the cut was a bit uneven. I'll probably remove the mulch plug in the spring but might give it a try a few more times. I used it on some heavy leaves this fall while towing my leaf sweeper and it worked great, I could go about 4 times farther before emptying the sweeper.

 

[ducati996]

Ducati, what is the difference between the 48" and 50" decks for the 3000 series? We have the 48" and use it for side discharge. I replaced the high lift blades with conventional ones because I didn't like raising a dust cloud every time we went over a sandy area.

The 50" is the new deck they introduced for hookup to the bagger. The deck shell is designed for high lift applications they call it a "cyclone cut" or something like that. The middle of the deck goes in and curved instead of straight like the 48" shell. The grass cut is excellent along with grass dispersal. It is also designed for a mulch plug to cover the discharge chute.
I like this deck alot, and I feel it cuts the best out of all them. However the guage thickness of the deck shell is thinner than the 44,48 or 54 and it does not have the full floating caster wheels like on the 44,48,54. I find it a very small trade off, for having a larger deck with an improved cut..IMO

 

[Dave01]

Thanks for the info, I haven't seen the new deck. The 48" cuts very well but I haven't liked the design in terms of accumulated grass. The metal inserts that form the contours for flow don't fit perfectly and grass catches and accumulates under and around them.

Our old 50" deck on a 1211 (early '90's model) was lower profile and much lighter in weight. Grass built up but not as much and it was easier to clean. Of course this deck was for side discharge only, couldn't convert it for mulching.

 

[pearlmanz]

This post is not intended to offend or argue against VT's post or anyone else not liking the stock mulching blade and finally getting a good cut, but simply to say, I mowed my yard for the first time with my new tractor today as in GT2542 and my grass was probably 6-8 inches in some places due to being the first time I have mowed this season and the first time the weather has finally broken for me to mow.....grin.

I have to say, I put the mulch plug in and yes I had to go back over some clumps and places due to the grass being so high, but it was no different than on my good old Snapper when the grass got that high. No biggie since the tractor has soooo much power and is so smooth when you get it up to speed and open it up.

I had to get use to not being able to mow in reverse and shutting off the PTO and lowering the throttle before doing so, but I will get it down.

Had a little trouble adjusting to those side hand rails which really get in the way and the new width and size of the tractor, but it will come.

The bottom line, other than some fit and finish issues as in scratches on the deck down to the metal and it just could have used a better paint job in my opinion, The tractor really gave me a nice cut on my 1.1 acre lot and handled the big hill in my back yard with ease even though it was a little scary the first time I cam up the hill in my back yard and was able to get in to my comfort zone with that.

I did lose the little bolt when I took the mulch plug out to clean the deck and blow the tractor off. Oh well, a trip to the dealer or hardware store, no biggie.

Just thought I would pass that a long as I am tickled to death with the nice looking lawn I now have!!! My wife even commented how nice it looked and she usually doesn't say jack as long as it gets done.....grin. You married guys know what I mean.

I do have to spend a little more time weed eating which I hate, but I just can't get in some places with this monster that I could with the Snapper. Matter of fact I was able to get the Snapper started and moved out of the parking space for new GT2542 and it feels and looks like a toy in comparison. I hope I can sell it for a few bucks as it still looks pretty good and would do fine for someone with a flat yard.

I hope this post doesn't offend anyone as that was not my intention. Just wanted to share about my first mow with the sweet CC ride!!!

By the way is it true you have to change the hydro transmission oil filter after 10 hours? If so, don't you have to empty the transmission before doing so? Also how hard is it to get the tranny oil filter? I know the break in oil has to be changed at 10 hours, but can not believe you would have to change the hydro filter after just 10 hours.

Thanks guys, sorry for the ranting, just a little excited. Time to go fill my tank with some good food and drink. The PMZ

 

[Northstar]

Pearlmanz- Glad to hear your happy with the new 2542, I'm still waiting to try my 2544 out for the first time. Hopefully by next week. My manual says to change the filter at 10,50 and every 100 hours after that but says nothing about a complete fluid change. My dealer said to just change the filter and top off the fluid you loose. Keep the new filter in hand because when the old one comes off the fluid gushes out.

 

[pearlmanz]

Jessh the fluid gushing out doesn't sound good. I just hope I can get to it without a lot of problem or having to take the deck off even if it supposed to be easy??? Thank you friend, The PMZ

 

[LBrown59]

1*Jessh the fluid gushing out doesn't sound good.
2*I just hope I can get to it without a lot of problem or having to take the deck off even if it supposed to be easy??? Thank you friend, The PMZ

1*You can prevent that by draining off 3 or 4 quarts of fluid before you remove the filter.
2*The filter is easy to get to so there is no need to take the deck off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There are 2 ways to change the filter. You will need at least a 1 gallon container in either case.

A*place the container under the filter remove old filter. When fluid stops flowing install the new filter. Now pour the fluid from the container back into the tranny fill plug.

B*Place container under the tranny drain plug.Remove drain plug and drain off about 4 quarts of tranny fluid.Reinstall drain plug.
Next move container to under filter and remove filter .After fluid stops flowing install the new filter then pour the fluid back into the tranny.

A varation of *B* is to drain all the fluid into a larger 2 gallon container .

PS Note for A or B: After Pouring the fluid back into the tranny check fluid level and top off with fresh fluid as needed.

 

[Bob_Bainbridge]

I changed the tran filter on my 3235 last summer and heeded the warning about lost fluid from others in this forum. I jacked the front of the tractor as high as I could and had the new filter all lubed and ready to install. I was able to replace it with a total loss of 1 pint of fluid. Pouring drained fluid back in is not a good idea unless everything is very clean underneath or you strain the oil first.

Bob B.

 

[LBrown59]

Keep the new filter in hand because when the old one comes off the fluid gushes out.

put a pan under the tranny open the drain plug.
drain off the fluid to where it is below the filter.
now remove filter this should prevent the fluid from gushing.