Mowing Mowing With Discharge Chute Up

glennmac · Jun 21, 2001

Many times I never think about the commonest things. Now I'm thinking about about what's wrong, if anything, with mowing with the discharge chute of a side discharge mower in the up postition.

I never thought about discharge chutes when I used a lawnmower. I always left the chute flap down in the so-called mulching position. Now that I have a 72" side discharge belly mower, I find that I always have to mow close to things things only with the left (non-chute) side of the deck and that I can't fit between some trees. So, the last time I mowed, I flipped the chute up for the entire 2 acre operation. I could mow close with both sides and I could fit between some spots I couldn't before.

I also noticed something else that seemed to be beneficial. When you put the chute up there is no mulching flap; the opening is still there. The cuttings dispersed in more amorphous pattern than with the chute and seemed to result in less windrowing. (Not that there is a lot of windrowing with the chute.)

So, what am I missing? All the effects seemed to be positive. Is there some benefit of a side discharge chute that I am forgetting. Yes, I know there is more chance of sticking your foot into the blades with the chute up, but I take other precautions to avoid that.

Knight9 · Jun 21, 2001

I believe part of the purpose of the discharge shield is to prevent objects from being thrown out from under the mower at high velocities toward people or objects of value! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Kevin

StoneHeartFarm · Jun 21, 2001

<font color=blue> toward people or objects of value </font color=blue>

Would that be, oh let me see... maybe the neighbors barking dog?

Now how do you lift that shield?

SHF

b8200hst4wd · Jun 21, 2001

On my Mower I've took the chute off totaly. It's fine expect Don't aim the shoot at windows if you can help it

Alex (B8200/HST/4WD/FEL/MidM/Tiller

watersjj · Jun 22, 2001

My discharge chute is off because that is where the grass catcher hose is attached; however, the chute is designed to propell anything thrown by the mower blades into a downward position in an effort to avoid the possibility of injuries or damages. Objects such as wire thrown by a mower blade can be very dangerous. Mowing machines along highway right of ways often have links of chains hanging down around the edge to stop objects from being thrown, but sometimes this does not prevent a car windshield from being broken.

skent · Jun 22, 2001

I too, have found that the clippings are spread better, but I only mow with it 'up' when I out in the meadow, far far away from people/breakables. Also seems to be less of a 'load' on the engine.

Steve

Gomez · Jun 22, 2001

I too, mow with the chute up. I found it sprays the clippings and raking is rarely necessary. Of course, I only get on/off from the left side since the blade is right there.

toddler · Jun 22, 2001

Funny timing,
Our grass has been growing fast, and with my wife on a tough rotation, it was getting cut only every other week. Two weeks ago I drilled two holes in the deflector, put a U-bolt on, and chained it to the sub-frame for the loader. Discharges much better, and nothing's boomeranged back at me yet. I just won't mow when anyone is around anymore, or I'll detach the chain (easy since I used a mini carabiner). Even better, if I'm lazy and lift the deck to travel but don't stop the blades, the deflector goes back down.
Todd

JonLeonard · Jun 22, 2001

In addition to deflecting thrown objects into the ground, the shute also serves as protection from the blade. Sort of like a pto shield, making is more difficult to come in contact with a very dangerous moving part.

You get less grassclumping with it up, but you take safety risks. You'll have to decide based on your own situation weather the risks are worth it or not. For me its easy, with children, animals, and lots of visitors at my house most any time of day, its essential to keep the shute in place.

scotd1 · Jun 22, 2001

This was the part of your mower designed by the lawyers. I have mowed many a yard in the last 20 years and have never used the chute. When I get a new mower, part of the set up is to remove this as it doesn't let the mower discharge grass cleanly (especially in wet or damp grass), keeps you from getting close to objects and makes the mower harder to get into tight spots. I have never had a problem or hint of a potential problem due to removeing a chute. Do not allow people to be in close proximity when mowing, mow so that the chute is pointing in a safe direction, wear eye protection, etc,etc. The best safety device is between your ears and if you don't use that one properly all of the others save you from yourself. Lawyers and liberals will disagree.

fishman · Jun 22, 2001

Glennmac,

A good friend of mine in college had 8 front teeth that were false. Seems as a child he was nearby while his grandfather mowed with a tractor. A rock was thrown and the next thing he knew he was in the hospital. I would agree that keeping the discharge chute on if persons/animals/items you value are nearby is a good idea. Otherwise, I can't see that it has any other value if you are in a remote area.

skent · Jun 22, 2001

Hey Todd,

Wonder if we could fit a hydraulic cylinder to it and run it remote? I figure valve, hoses and cylinder we could do it for under $250.

Steve

skent · Jun 22, 2001

The ONLY place I mow with the shoot up is a meadow that is 1000 feet from the house and any pets. It's a WIDE open area about two and a half acres and you can see ALL AROUND. Typically I only mow the meadow every other mowing of the lawns, so its typically higher and clumps easier. Occasionally if it gets taller than I can handle with the mid mount, I'll hook up the 7' sickle bar and believe me thats definately an implement that promotes paranoia (as far as safety). Six years ago I (accidently) hit a stray cat while sickle bar mowing alfalfa, he was hiding and tried to jump over the bar, didn't make it though, took part of two legs completly off and mangled a third. Poor thing didn't have a chance and as luck would have it, died quickly.

Steve

glennmac · Jun 23, 2001

Toddler,

Don't quite understand why you need the chain device. The shield on my 72" Kubota deck stays up by itself with springs. Is yours different?

Different point: I wonder if you can replace the long discharge shield with just a simple short flap that you could flip down for a mulching deck effect, and then flip up for a discharging effect with the small flap then acting as at least a small deflector shield.

hayden · Jun 24, 2001

I think the deflectors are all about the picture on the mower deck of the person getting their foot cut off.

On my little JD lawn tractor I have my deflector held upright with a bungee cord. I never mow with it down, mostly because of manuverability.

Peter

Rick Jay · Jun 25, 2001

Hi All,

I tend to be "overly-safety cautious" (according to my wife and friends), so I have to speak up here. I get really nervous when I see anyone operating a piece of equipment without the proper safety guards in place.

I guess I have a problem understanding why people are so ready to risk life and/or limb for a bit of convenience. If maneuvering is that big of a deal, wouldn't it make sense to get a rear-discharge mower?

Also, I know I live in a fairly populated area compared to many of you, so if you're sure you can operate safely in a guarenteed deserted area, that'll be your decision to make.

And I know many of you will say "I've been doing this for xx years and have never had a problem". And although that's true, I have never had a hydraulic jack fail and drop a car on me, but I still always use rigid jack stands under the vehicle after it's raised. Likewise, I've never been in an auto accident where I needed my seatbelt, but I still wear it everytime I drive. The truth is, we never know when an accident will occur, that's why I feel I should try to do everything possible to avoid one.

Personally, I can't see why we'd want to give the lawyers any more business (no offense, if any are reading this) by disabling a safety device and then getting sued after an accident happens.

Just my (overly cautious) $0.02.

Take care,

Rick Jay

Bird · Jun 25, 2001

Rick, I certainly don't disagree with you; we certainly need to be safety conscious all the time. And I wear my seat belt all the time, too; been wearing one since '62 and did need it once when my partner drove us into a tree so hard my seat belt broke./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif Of course, it probably would have killed me if the seat belt hadn't slowed me down before I stuck my head through the windshield./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif However, not all safety features are needed all the time.

Bird

toddler · Jun 25, 2001

Doesn't seem to stay up by itself Glenn,
60" mm deck. Maybe I'm missing something and wasted a lot of effort! Anyone else have the 60"mm deck?
Todd

dieselpwr · Jun 29, 2001

I gotta agree with Rick. I know things might clump more with chutes down but... If your anywhere near cars, people, animals or buildings you stand a pretty good chance of throwing things high & far with the chute up. One of my pet peeves is when morons mow ditches with the dicharge chutes pointing toward the road & don't shut the mower off for traffic to pass. I have gotten stone chips in my truck that way & even hit once while riding motorcycle. Let me tell you if you are on a bike & get hit with even a tiny stone as was the case for me - it hurts - even through the leather. God forbid you would get hit in the face. I'm not really into suing but... if I would get hurt due to somebody elses stupidity / lack of common sense I would be the first in line at the attorney's office... I'll get off my soap box now. I am just trying to say that the chutes do keep things from flying up at dangerouse levels & one should always use common sense in deciding if that is the right thing to do for them and those around them.

Troy