side discharge or rear?

[bester]

I mow 4 acres of grass with my 8N Ford tractor.I've been using a side discharge 5 foot deck.I would cut the lawn inward to "mulch" the clippings toward the center of the yard.It left a mess in the center of the yard but overall looked "pretty good".My deck has since rusted out and needs to be replaced.I'm trying to decide if I should give a rear discharge a try or will the yard look like a fresh cut hay field? Any suggestions?What brand is a good one on a tight budget??

 

[JiminGa]

TSC has very reasonably priced finished mowers, on the side or rear discharge, I have no idea which would be better...with that said, if you're using an 8N to mow your yard, I'm guessing you ain't lookin for golf course quality so I'd just go with which ever one is cheaper.

 

[radman1]

I have used side discharge mowers in the past but last year bought a rhino 84" rear discharge. I won't buy a side discharge again. The mowing looks better and I think easier to mow especially in thick/tall grass with a better cut and less strain on the tractor. With rear discharge, the mowing pattern can be more vaired since you are not commited to going the same direction each time. Side discharge requires paying more attention objects because of width. As you "mulch" the discharge toward the center of your mowing area with side discharge, it just makes cutting the new grass more difficult and probably getting overall worse cut.
For the money, TSC rear discharge may be the best deal. I still have a side discharge 5' model and had to change one bearing (probably wasn't getting greased correct) over 5 years. I previously had a side discharge 72" rhino. The TSC mower did a better job. The 84" rear dc does the best job of the 3.

 

[zzvyb6]

The only advantage of a side discharge is the ability to hook on a vacuum for grass or leaves.

You can block it off for a mulcher....

 

[Bird]

Personally, I prefer the rear discharge, but it's really a matter of personal preference. When I bought a new one in 1999, the salesman told me that 3 years earlier he couldn't sell a rear discharge mower; no one wanted them, everyone wanted the side discharge because that was what they were accustomed to and expected. However, by 1999, he said he no longer even stocked any side discharge mowers because everyone wanted the rear discharge. He did tell me he would order a side discharge mower for anyone who wanted one at the same price as the rear discharge.

 

[RalphVa]

Mulching means NO discharge. That is the safest way to go.

I've stopped so many times and made so many calls here telling people about the dangers or running with discharges open towards traffic that I finally gave up. Maybe when someone gets killed, a law will be passed so that the police can take over. I almost got killed by a commercial rig throwing something that made about a 50 caliber hole in my car's door just below my driver's side window. It happened to have some chains missing and an actual hole in the deck but still tells what can happen from open discharges.

Ralph

 

[CJ4]

I'm having the same delima trying to decide which mower to buy. So far i'm seeing mostly side discharge ones but i've just started looking. I'll be mowing around alot of trees and will be buying a zero turn. My gut keeps telling me that big ole chute hanging out the right side of the deck is an inefficient waste of width getting into places and just something that's gonna be getting tore off all of the time. Guess you could take it off and block the side for mulching and that would solve the problem.

 

[ccsial]

I used a side for years and then went to a rear. The only thing I don't care for about the rear is when I mow in reverse, and I do that a lot is the tighter areas, I drive into the dust and clippings. Other than that I like the rear.

 

[montanaman]

TSC has very reasonably priced finished mowers, on the side or rear discharge, I have no idea which would be better...with that said, if you're using an 8N to mow your yard, I'm guessing you ain't lookin for golf course quality so I'd just go with which ever one is cheaper.

Cheap isn't always the best answer and you might find that a local dealer that sells tractors can provide first hand experience and will usually have the mower assembled and ready to go for you too.

I can compete with TSC prices on several brands of mowers but find that after talking to a customer, they would often rather spend a little more for a better quality product.

 

[bester]

Thanks for helpful info. but decided to opt for a Scag Wildcat with liquid cooled Kaw.I blew my buget for years to come but I think its going to be better in the long run.The Ford 8N was looking forward to retirement anyways.