New X749 with 54C deck has terrible cut quality

[bubbacuse77]

Gentlemen, I have had my new 2012 X749 with 54C deck for 3 months now and I notice that I was very disappointed with the quality of the cut. Mainly because the deck didn't seem to be producing enough lift to pull up the grass that the front tires pushed down. So the lawn just looked terrible unless you went over the entire thing twice. Then I started thinking that maybe the mulch kit that is installed on the deck is the problem. I took the plastic mulch kit off and changed the blades back to the originals and man what a difference. The deck has so much lift that it just vacuums stuff up now. However now I have a mulch kit that was clearly an afterthought or the engineers at Deere and cost me $230 dollars and a non mulching mower that costs $13K. A bit of a disappointment to say the least.

Any Ideas from guys that have still mulched with there 54C deck with the original blades by fabricating something to block the end. The original side chute is obnoxious and just gets in the way. What about gator blades? I need some advice from the JD mower crowd on this one.

 

[Gator6x4]

I personally don't think a 54 inch mower deck is suited for mulching. A lot of volume is trying to get out and has no opening to escape. Small push mowers work fairly well as a mulcher.

With the mulching blades and the plastic plug removed from the exhaust chute you should experience an enjoyable mowing experience.

Try throwing the cut grass onto the just cut area instead of onto the area of grass to be cut. Also take a bungee cord and secure the flying debris shield in a up position. This will scatter the grass clipping instead of wind-rowing.

 

[ssls6]

Are you running the engine fast enough? The wheels slow enough?

 

[Nooodles]

Are you running the engine fast enough? The wheels slow enough?

yeah engine at full speed and about 5 mph

 

[bubbacuse77]

I do run the engine at top RPM when mowing to get the tip speed up. The thing cuts awesome with the stock blades and letting it go out the side discharge. I think Gator is right, these decks are not made for mulching. I guess when you think about it, you will never get the lift with a mulching set up because the air is constantly being forced down the area closest to the middle of the blade because it has no where to go like a sided discharge.

Anyone run gator blades?

 

[Nooodles]

I do run the engine at top RPM when mowing to get the tip speed up. The thing cuts awesome with the stock blades and letting it go out the side discharge. I think Gator is right, these decks are not made for mulching. I guess when you think about it, you will never get the lift with a mulching set up because the air is constantly being forced down the area closest to the middle of the blade because it has no where to go like a sided discharge.

Anyone run gator blades?

no. those should be used for gators only. They are pretty much model specific

 

[JD6400NZ]

no. those should be used for gators only. They are pretty much model specific

Never knew Gators came with mowing decks

 

[BBO]

It seems to me the simple standard straight blades are the best with these mowers.
The back side creates the suction to lift the grass and a sharp edge cuts it.
Then I want the air to throw the cut grass out 8 feet if possible, and I remove the safety deal on the end to help with this.
I am sure others will disagree with this, but it spreads the grass out farther and I never have to rake.

Any of the mulching blades suck too much dirt and rocks up for some areas in my 5 acres.
I mow around a farm and my deal is to cut it as fast as possible.

 

[Yellowfever440]

How many sets of blades did you have installed when you were mulching with 54c and x749. The reason I ask is because Deere used to have the owner install the regular high lift blade and a set of mulching blades so their was 2 blades per spindle. Then a chute deflector that kept everything in the deck. That deck should mulch and look almost identical to the way it is without the mulching kit on, the yard it self should look almost identical.

 

[s219]

I was wondering the same thing -- sounds like the mulching blades were not doing their job right.