New X749 with 54C deck has terrible cut quality

[bubbacuse77]

Yes, the mulching kit was installed by the dealer and yes the deck doesn't get nearly the same lift as the regular blades because of how the two systems work. Mulching blades push the air back down in the center of the blade and lift it Near the tips, this is how they cut the grass up so fine into little pieces. Regular blades get better lift because there is no down draft in the deck, rather it is out the side. I am thinking about building a hydraulic chute deflector for the side discharge so that i can close the side when i need to mow in tight spots or edge on that side of the mower. I believe gator blades will give me the same lift but will chop up the grass a bit finer before leaving out the side chute.

 

[buickanddeere]

Were the blades on backwards?

 

[mikehaugen]

Yes, the mulching kit was installed by the dealer and yes the deck doesn't get nearly the same lift as the regular blades because of how the two systems work. Mulching blades push the air back down in the center of the blade and lift it Near the tips, this is how they cut the grass up so fine into little pieces. Regular blades get better lift because there is no down draft in the deck, rather it is out the side. I am thinking about building a hydraulic chute deflector for the side discharge so that i can close the side when i need to mow in tight spots or edge on that side of the mower. I believe gator blades will give me the same lift but will chop up the grass a bit finer before leaving out the side chute.

Sounds like a perfect situation for their "mulch on demand" system offered on some of their zero turn mowers. Pull a lever and it closes off louvers in the deck instantly. Cool idea, but I am not sure how effective it is. Too bad they don't offer that on the tractors, as far as I know anyway.

 

[Dashe]

I have a x720 with the mulching kit and the JD mulching blades on a 54C deck and I get a great cut. I like the fact that I can trim with both sides of the deck without the chute on. If the grass is wet or too tall the cut suffers badly. I also have used G6 gator blades mustly for mulching up leaves and they work great too. Either you are mowing differently than I am or I am not as particuliar about my cut. I alway mow with the throddle full open.

 

[bubbacuse77]

I have a x720 with the mulching kit and the JD mulching blades on a 54C deck and I get a great cut. I like the fact that I can trim with both sides of the deck without the chute on. If the grass is wet or too tall the cut suffers badly. I also have used G6 gator blades mustly for mulching up leaves and they work great too. Either you are mowing differently than I am or I am not as particuliar about my cut. I alway mow with the throddle full open.

I probably mow every 5 days with the amount of rain we are having and by then I end up cutting 5inch grass down to 3.5 inches. The main issue is that I have found the mulching kit doesn't produce enough lift to do a good job pulling up the grass ran over by the front tires. I stopped at the dealer for some other stuff today and he told me that is a common problem that more than one person has complained about. I am going to run the stock blades for now and order a set of G6 Gator blades with a side discharge. I also plan to fabricate some kind of discharge blocker for the end and take off that big plastic chute. I want the blocker for when I am around the house and run the risk of throwing a stone into a window or want to edge on that side of the deck. I plan on using a small hydraulic cylinder in stead of the electric motor pictured since I have an unused hydraulic hook up only 8 inches away on the X749. I'm sure i will get some side blow out when it is down but the pros really like these things. I guess sort of a poor mans "mulch on demand" set up.

 

[Gittyup]

I have a 425 with a 54" deck. Bought it with the mulching kit. Hated it mostly. Great for leaves, but lousy for grass. Took it off and went to the original blades. I also pulled the pin and removed the deflector shield.

You might try the gator blades without the kit and see how they work. Some seem to like them.

 

[Mechanized ME]

I have a x720 with the mulching kit and the JD mulching blades on a 54C deck and I get a great cut. I like the fact that I can trim with both sides of the deck without the chute on. If the grass is wet or too tall the cut suffers badly. I also have used G6 gator blades mustly for mulching up leaves and they work great too. Either you are mowing differently than I am or I am not as particuliar about my cut. I alway mow with the throddle full open.

I am with you on that note Dashe, my X700 with a 48" deck and the mulching kit does a fantastic job!

 

[bubbacuse77]

I have a 425 with a 54" deck. Bought it with the mulching kit. Hated it mostly. Great for leaves, but lousy for grass. Took it off and went to the original blades. I also pulled the pin and removed the deflector shield.

You might try the gator blades without the kit and see how they work. Some seem to like them.

That is what I'm thinking, gator blades with no mulching kit. I still want the ability to not throw rocks into cars or windows so I am going to fab a hydraulic deflector.

 

[bubbacuse77]

Anyone want to buy a barely used mulching kit for a JD 54C Deck?

 

[Gittyup]

Even without the deflector my 425 doesn't throw thing up. It throws down and not very far. I actually clean my stone road of leaves in the fall by going over it with the tractor. It really doesn't pick up stones hardly at all. Might be different with your deck and mowing situation, but I'd try it without before going to all that trouble.