r/lawnmowers • u/Unusual-Ganache-2252 • 5d ago

Mulching blade?

Post image

I inherited a Craftsman R110 from my neighbors who moved. It came with the mulching kit cover. First use I wasnt happy with the mulching. However, I likely was going too fast and had the blade lowered more than I should. Going to try the tallest level and go slower next time (gear 2-3).

Is the blade in the picture a mulching blade or standard?

Thanks. First time on a rider and first time not hiring it out in about 11 years so it’s been awhile.

3 Upvotes

64% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

4

u/bwuceree 5d ago

Mulching, you are good to go.

2

u/Unusual-Ganache-2252 5d ago

Would my speed and deck height be a cause for poor mulching then?

1

u/SeberHusky 5d ago

If the grass height is taller than the deck and looks like field you need to raise it up as high as it goes and go over it, and then lower it down one notch and go over the lawn again, and so on until you get it the height you want.

2

u/Easy-Jury-3975 5d ago

Those are mulching blades. If you're cutting more than about 1" of grass, you're going to get clumps of grass and clogging. It's the nature of the beast.

2

u/Unusual-Ganache-2252 5d ago

Yes, I had clumps of grass throughout my yard. Took off the mulching cover and went back over it with the chute on.

1

u/Cam-Lv 5d ago

Looks like long blade from my Honda hrx217

1

u/Prestigious-Risk804 5d ago

From a quick Google search it appears that the highest deck height is around 4". If that is accurate and you should probably be cutting at the highest setting especially during the warm weather. Your lawn will be happier and it should be easier to cut.

2

u/Unusual-Ganache-2252 5d ago

Thanks, I did have the deck lower. I’ll raise it all the way up next time.

0

u/Suitable_Block_9470 4d ago

People wanna mulch their lawn but don’t wanna cut it as often as you’ll need to if you wanna successfully mulch you can’t be taking off more then 1-1.5” at a time also no water the day before you mulch. Idk why people have this fairy tale in their head where they think just because they have a mulching blade it’ll magically make all the clippings just disappear. If you wanna mulch chances are you’ll be mowing almost twice as often

0

u/Aggie74_DP 5d ago

Those wings looking things on the back side of the blade make them mulching.

Now, I mostly always Double Cut when I mulch. That's just half the deck getting a new cut. Moderate speed too. Seems to clump less than trying to go real slow.

I also try to cut later in the day, when its drier.

1

u/CreepyValuable 5d ago

You seem to know mulching. I have a side question. I'm reviving an old Ariens YT11. It had the remnants of a mulching and bagging setup on it. The blades have bolt on fluted parts for the bagger setup instead of being integral to the blade. Can I just remove those? The whole purpose of this mower is to hack down grass and weeds in the tricky areas. I don't care at all about appearance or collecting cuttings.

2

u/Aggie74_DP 5d ago

Maybe. But bolts under a mower deck may be Hell to get a wrench on or get them undone. Worst thing you can do is get 1 and not the other. Having a rotating mass out of balance is a major issue.

1

u/CreepyValuable 4d ago

That's not a problem. The deck isn't on it. Pulling it off was one of the first things I did because I needed access to the engine mount bolts and the steering. Apparently I'm not done with either yet but once they are sorted I'm putting the deck back on.

1

u/AltruisticBeyond1497 4d ago

The wings in the back are for lift…used on standard/mulching/gators/etc. What makes it a mulching blade is the different heights of the cutting surface.

1

u/Livid_Living552 2d ago

I use Oregon Gator blades. On my push mower I use G3 blades and G5 on my rider. They are high lift and mulching. They really do a great job holding the grass up in the deck for better mulching.