To mulch my grass clippings, do I have to use the side discharge or can I simply remove the bag and insert the rear plug?

perhaps you are mowing too fast

Is this a centre rear discharge mower, if so has the mulch plug been left in? if so this will block the outlet chute, most mowers are fairly simple in as much as the blade cuts the grass and the wings on the blade tips create a draught to send the cut grass into the bag, any blockage in the chute will stop the grass being sent into the bag, insufficient engine rpm will also effect bagging, wet grass will tend to block the chute as well.

http://www.kmart.com/black-decker-side-discharge-grass-bag/p-9990000032185411P Try here.

Mulch plugs are typically a cover that is affixed to the discharge chute of a mower deck. As blades spin, they cut grass, and lift them up into the swirling air above the cut grass and below the mower deck. The clippings are suspended until they are blown out of the chute.

Mulching, is the process where grass clippings aren't simply discharged out of the chute after cutting; rather they are kept under the mower deck and spin around suspended in the blades resulting in repeatedly being cut. Instead of long clippings exiting the chute, much smaller clipping result from multiple cuttings and settle back on to the lawn under the deck. The smaller clipping allows them to decompose much quicker and return nutrients to the lawn.

Long clippings take longer to decompose and can turn into thatch on top of soil between blades of grass - effectively smothering the lawn. Long clippings can sit on top of cut grass and choke off sunlight, etc. and cause dead spots. Thatch can occur with mulching too - but takes longer to accumulate.

I nearly always mulch

it could be a low lift blade on it. try to get gator blade for mulching..... or a high lift blade. lol, size does matter!!! this may fix the issue. there is so many blades out there now, experiment till you find what your looking 4......

For mowers like yours, there are straight cut discharge blades (for bagging the grass) and there are more expensive upswept mulching blades. Any holes in the sides of the deck must be covered to mulch as the blade keeps the grass up in the air under the deck, repeatedly cutting it...over and over..till it falls on the ground.So use a solid deck with the upswept type blade.

Yes

there is a product called mowease that you apply to the blade and mowing decked after a good cleaning. it helps keep the grass from adhereing to the deck

The bag return on the 6.5 sits on two hooks. Standing to the left of the mower you should be able to grab the back handle with your left hand and then left the metal protective flap with your left hand so you can raise the bag assembly still in your right hand up and out of the two hooks. You'll then need to put back into the mower the mulching kit which blocks the rear discharge and makes the underside of the mower a complete circle so the mulching effect works. Obviously the mower will physically work without the mulching kit because the metal protective flap will cover the rear eject but it will NOT effectively mulch the clippings and you will get longer pieces that clump.

Hope this listing isn't too late to help.

sean

Most lawn mower mfgs offer a mulching kit which usually consists of a metal plate to block the discharge opening and a mulching blade which just has a longer sharpenned cutting edge.
With a little labor you can make your own.
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