Mulching with a walk behind?

:MTF_wel2: Well, as far as I am aware of Gravely did not make Mulching blades for the 40" mower however I have read where guys went to:
http://www.cutterschoice.com/cgi-bi...gory_id=69&find_keyword.x=34&find_keyword.y=7 and looked at Gator blades. I don't know how it did or didn't work as for the 30" the best I could offer is a sharp set of cross blades for it and with either deck don't let the grass get to long. Gravely did make a mulching deck for the pro machines it was the 36" Multi mode mower that could mulch or take a a bag (rare) it was big and heavy the book says 228lbs but when I had one and tried to lift it,it felt more like 500 and expensive and you needed a 12 or 16 hp tractor for it. Your 8hp would not be powerful enough to drive it. :MTF_wel: - Kris :rauch10:

On the 30 in brush hog decks Gravely offered a mulching guard for the front. It looks like the rear guard but with rows of holes about 1/2 inch. I've never seen a muching blade for one. I've seen Gator blades being offered for the 40in deck on e-bay, so you must be able to get them, but you might have to match them up instead of ordering by model. Good luck with the new machine, Ed

Nate - you could probably fabricate something easily enough that might serve to cover/capture those grass clippings and recirculate/mulch them in your mower. Absent that, you'd probably have to experiment with blade designs or make certain that your grass didn't get too long (as Kris mentioned).

If you're lucky enough to get your hands on a multi-mode mower, I would suggest grabbing it up. This mowing deck has a removable, under-deck rib that converts the mower from standard discharge (to be used with a removable bag unit - which I have), to mulching mower mode, absent the bag. I use this deck in mulching mode and it does a great job. It is heavy and bulky though - as mentioned - and you must be very careful when maneuvering it for blade changes, etc.

I also own a mid-80's 5260 tractor, that came "standard" from the dealer with the 36" multi-mode mower attached. My tractor has more than enough power to operate this mower - as it's not so much the weight of the attachment that affects performance, but more so the resistance the attachment and/or terrain presents to the tractor (IMO). The 8HP Kohler is actually a powerful little engine and since the multi-mode mower is intended for use as a finish mower, there's no problem mowing it around.

In fact, there will be very few attachments that your 5260 will be incompatible with. Your tractor might not be able to throw snow as far as a 12HP 5665, or mow grass as tall, but it will still do a fine job. Congrats on your acquisition and welcome to the Gravely family / MTF forum. :thThumbsU

Many thanks to all who replied! The multi mode mower sounds interesting! I'll see what I can do with some mulching blades. I've not tried the 40" yet but after much sweating and puffing tonight I got it attached. By the way probably about 8 oz. of oil came out of the advance casting when I removed the 30 inch deck and the quick hitch adapter. Is that normal? Tomorrow I will actually try mowing with the 40" with the regular blades. Also found this parts supplier:

http://www.mfgsupply.com/MowerBladesGravely.html

Note the top of the list. There's a 20.5" commercial mulching blade. It would seem to me this is just the ticket. May try it! Also note that there is no 30" mulching blade.

PS: Why is my quick hitch missing the long cone like pin? I noticed in the brochures that the 30" finish decks all came like that. It's a quick hitch with a missing pin! What gives?

Thanks again!

Nate

Just make certain that in the future you have the tractor tipped back slightly when you remove (and add) attachments. The Kohler tractors - unlike the Gravely engined ones - have a tremendous amount of oil in their transmissions (about 5 quarts) and will leak all over creation if tilted forward.

tinsley207 said:

Many thanks to all who replied! The multi mode mower sounds interesting! I'll see what I can do with some mulching blades. I've not tried the 40" yet but after much sweating and puffing tonight I got it attached. By the way probably about 8 oz. of oil came out of the advance casting when I removed the 30 inch deck and the quick hitch adapter. Is that normal? Tomorrow I will actually try mowing with the 40" with the regular blades. Also found this parts supplier:

http://www.mfgsupply.com/MowerBladesGravely.html

Note the top of the list. There's a 20.5" commercial mulching blade. It would seem to me this is just the ticket. May try it! Also note that there is no 30" mulching blade.

PS: Why is my quick hitch missing the long cone like pin? I noticed in the brochures that the 30" finish decks all came like that. It's a quick hitch with a missing pin! What gives?

Thanks again!

Nate

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