Mulching Kit

1. Rotate the cutting unit into the maintenance position; refer to your machine Operator’s Manual.

2. Thoroughly clean the cutting unit. Remove all debris to ensure that the baffles fit properly against the cutting unit.

1. Remove the existing wing-blade assemblies; refer to the mower-deck maintenance section in your machine Operator’s Manual.

   Set aside the bolts, spring lock washers, and curved washers for the mulching-blade installation procedure.

   Important: The right-blade assembly bolt has a left-handed thread. Turn the blade bolt clockwise to loosen it.

2. Save the existing wing-blade assemblies for use when you use the hopper for collection.

Parts needed for this procedure:

1. Use a bolt, washer, and nut to install the discharge-chute plug over the disharge-chute opening (Figure 1).

   If there is not a hole in the baffle, use the hole in the plug to drill a 9.5 mm (0.375 inch) hole in the baffle. Remove any burs from the hole.

   

   Figure 1

   1. Nut
   2. Washer
   3. Bolt
   4. Plug

2. Torque the bolt to 28 N∙m (21 ft-lb).

Parts needed for this procedure:

1. Hold a blade-assembly end using a cloth or a thickly-padded glove.

2. Use the previously-removed parts from the wing-blade-assembly removal procedure (bolts, spring lock washers, and curved washers) and spacers to install the blade assemblies to their respective sides (Figure 2).

   

   Figure 2

   1. Bolt
   2. Spring washer
   3. Spacer
   4. Curved washer
   5. Blade assembly (right side)
   6. Blade assembly (left side)

3. Torque the blade bolts to 53 N∙m (39 ft-lb).

   Important: The right-blade assembly bolt has a left-handed thread. Turn the blade bolt clockwise to loosen it.