Just to note, I've went through my first mulch kit this year...replaced with yet another Composite Mulch Kit although I did order the Steel Version JD sent me the Composite lol! July 2024!
Thank you very much! I’m so stressed out today after driving 6 hours and buying my Deere x330. Literally no one has any in stock right now. I get home and cannot understand the instructions. I almost thought they sold me the wrong kit. You’re the man! Appreciate you for taking the time to show us how to do it quickly and to the point! Keep it up!
Oh wow hey thanks for saying this helped! I didn't intend to reach as many people as I did but this is great...6 hours lol I'd have done the same to get what I wanted so good job you picked a good machine.
Thanks for the video! I just put this mulch kit on my z335e after watching your instructions. The written directions from the manufacturer were almost useless. One thing I found useful was to "dry fit" the whole kit on its own before even going out to the mower. With that done, it was easy to see how and where it fit. I was able to install it without removing the deck. I just jacked up the front of the mower, which saved a little time.
Hey Pat, nicely done there with not having to remove the deck and using a jack lol! Guess that went a little quicker! I'm still running my mulch kit and it's been proven now that its pretty resilient to being hammered by everything that gets thrown at it! Nice machine you bought btw as it's pretty much the same as my Z345. Do you live in a warm climate where you can cut most of the year?
@@RogerDiottesort of, Roger. I live in Middle Georgia. We get a few months off yard work during the winter. I'm retired and help a few neighbors with their yards, so this new mower is like a blessing! This is my first zero turn mower, so I'm learning as much as I can about it. TH-cam videos like yours are gold!
@@patrickb4877 Ah thanks buddy for saying that about the video and am that much more appreciative to know I made a difference ha! Georgia ok that's somewhat foreign in that I've never been that far down that way on the East side of the US from up here in Canada! I envy you in that you can mow somewhat longer as that to me is always a great pleasure to putt putt around on my zero turn (they sure are amazing) and smelling fresh cut grass! This also is my first zero turn, always wanted one and finally tried it out and honestly unless something revolutionizes this type I'm sticking with them! Go on enjoying your retirement Pat...thanks for stumbling into the room also lol!
This video is extremely helpful, i watched it a year ago to install my much kit and rewatching it to refresh myself on the parts as i need to replace the mulch chute, it got destroyed by a rock! Great video, thanks!
Nice video. Just finished installing my kit on my x350. This video made the job so much easier. Thanks for the nice instructions. Took me about an hour to do and just needed two tools, 1/2 inch for the kit and a 3/4 inch socket for the blades. I did drop the deck onto a blanket and slid it out. Made it a bit easier to slide the deck.
A Blanket, well there ya go and I bet that made total sense lol. As you saw from the vid I had a ripe back at that moment so a blanket would have made the move easier. Regardless thanks Dave, who knows maybe you saved yourself one less broken window on your property by having the chute not discharging now! Glad this helped another person out really!
Awesome video, thank you, as everyone says John Deere should be ashamed of their instructions. I have a new Z515E and mulch kit, hopefully this will all be similar. Love your chipmunk friend!
Thanks for the video. Here's a tip when uninstalling or installing the deck. Don't push and shove the deck to get it out from or back under the mower. Just move the mower by hand away from it or back over it. You will have to disengage the transmission for both drive wheels, but this is as easy - just move the engagement levers. Also make sure the parking brake is off.
One thing about it with this mower you definitely need the mulcher. If not the clippings will be so big you will have to rake your yard afterwards. Great video. Thanks
I found and it was no easy feat a 3:45 m which I purchased and brought home 2 weeks ago While I was waiting a week for it I did order the mulch control kit and it came in a composite form I feel a lot better after watching your video that your composite one actually fixed the door issue I thought of installing it this weekend but my back also hurts and I have a mulch plug on my John Deere D130 which works very well I tried the plug version with mulching blades but it seemed not to do a good job the mulching the mulcher kit on the D130 does work very well the ability to side discharge and to bag is lost and it just depends on how tall the grass gets how wet it is or special occasions on where I will just use side discharge mulching or bagging I thank you very much for your video it was very informative I will be pulling off my deck when I do this project it seems a lot easier and at the same time I will be installing my Z Glide front suspension
Hey Leo, yea I'm kind of over my back pain wow that was something and sorry to hear about yours as that's the most deliberating thing one can have. So yes I've been using the mulch quite a bit and even in very deep grass and it works great! I missed the installation of the little lever in the video that I just realized after watching the video haha but don't worry about that part it's easy as you just simply plop it on from the top and bolt it tight. It's shown in the video installed @ 9:03, you see it's all one piece that you just place there and screw it down. So rest easy knowing that your composite part will work great and I'm kind of really interested in the Z-Glide suspension myself! I've watched several videos with them installed and they really do add to the overall ride! If you ever get a chance to give your thoughts on the Z-Glide feel free to message me on here about them!
@@RogerDiotte love all the seasons just as im getting sick of the heat here comes fall then winter and break out the ski equipment! first cut with the plastic mulch kit lawn look awesome soo much better than the side discharge JD 2 thumbs up!
That's great at least you have a better idea how to work along at it. Remember in the install the mulch lever on top the deck I missed that step on the video but you just place it in the bolts that pop through that are attached to the discharge chute assembly. Pretty easy as you have to bolt it on anyways.
I have mulch kit on JD x590. Works good, grinds up clippings and returns them to ground. Kit is metal. Vulnerable to being bent if happen to hit surface root, small stub of a stump, or other obstruction. Bends, then blade hit it. Have to bent back, not always an easy task. Blade hits gate from very beginning. Dealership couldn’t seem to get it in place. I finally took deck off and with large crescent wrench, I bent…fine tuned it, back into place. I’m thinking that the heavy duty plastic might be more resilient.
Well that's a different perspective about the metal part! Can't win for lose when choosing either. The plastic does work well at taking good jars from obstacles but as in my situation I've eventually broke the discharge chute door.
This helped me with an easy flawless install. The only thing left out was that i had to remove the factory metal diverter?! To install the abs kit parts onto the deck (it was only 3-4 screws). And then bolt the shifter lever onto the deck which is self explanatory. In All a lot easier then trying to follow the included book. Thanks
Hey Rich, you got it on then eh! I had my mower out the other day also but it's still not ready to do a proper cut lol up here in Northern Ontario Canada yet! I just took it for a spin and did a make believe mulch pass as I an itching to just get back to those long summer days and the smell of fresh cut grass! Anyways me like you appreciates seeing things done and reading manuals if only the last ditch option so thanks a lot for commenting and if at least if helps one person then they say the deed is done and pass it on! Pro-Tip from my experience is don't drive over anything that YOU know could do damage to your deck and you'll have a trouble free running system for a long time! Appreciate you responding Rich!
Right On Tracy! Now it's out to mowing and mulching grass without all the clippings flying around lol! Good stuff and I'm more than happy this guide helped to alleviate the stress and bewilderment upon opening the box.
Good video, Roger! Appreciate the detail you give in everything, man. Just bought the 'R' version of this mower, waiting on Lowe's to bring it in a few days. So I'm watching YT vids, trying to learn how to use and take care of it. 🤜💥🤛
Thanks Jim, how'd ya make out! I'm still using mine regularly and zero issues with anything on the machine! The discharge chute even plastic has taken many beatings now and it's 100 percent fine! Like I mentioned somewhere on here if you ever encounter that the handle doesn't properly close the trap door then simply tighten the nut on the handle that opens/closes the trap door as I've found out lol! Simple and works great still!
Thanks for the easy video to follow !!!! If you don’t mind answering ….. is their no way to change hydrolic oil on this machine ? Looks like I have to bring it to the dealer . I have no dipstick or anything
Sealed units...you don't have dipstick chum cause it's a replacement of all of it if it goes. Here's the right side replacement if ever you need it for example. www.rdoequipment.com/product-details/john-deere-transmission-ezt-c-right-hand-new-breath-auc12605 The Part Number Right Side AUC12605 The Part Number Left Side AUC12604
I had the bagger assembly installed, and am now installing the mulch control. It appears that I need to put the regular 'toe kick' back on in order to install the first baffle, because the toe kick that came with the bagger is angled in a way that I can't get the bolt in. I thought I read that the only thing that needed to be removed to move from bagging to mulching was the baffle, not the toe kick, so I wanted to make sure I'm not missing something...because I can't find the original toe kick...
@@claytonbing16 Sorry Boop Bop I was trying to find that info out myself as I have zero experience with the Bagger attachment....Anyways congrats on getting it on and good info also incase someone else see's your question!
I am having the same issue… I had John Deere install the bagger when I purchased the mower and I’m almost positive they didn’t provide the original ‘toe kick’
@@joeyzelasko8885 If you end up having more trouble, let's connect and can get it figured out. Cut yesterday afternoon with the mulcher on with the bagger toe guard (kick?) and the mulching blades. Cut beautifully!
I wonder if you could just spin the mower out from over the deck since it’s zero turn. Or what I do is place a long narrow piece of plywood under th deck before you drop it so it is easier to slide out when you have the deck unhooked.
Between TH-cam video & directions manual it’s now installed on my z345r JD mower. I’m not crazy about the discharge chute only being connected on one side like a flagpole. I’m not thrilled with the cost either since most others are 1/5th the cost & don’t require an under deck composite guide installed to streamline the discharge. This could have been addressed in the factory design since the mower deck is stamped out during fabrication. But I must say this mower is great. It turns everything into green dust &. It doesn’t seem to picky about what it cuts or how high either.
Hey thanks, so you managed the install and yea some picky points about the design for sure! I'd like to address some of them concerns with JD also like the chute thing also! I would be even happy if we could just use a flap trap like most other machines have where you bungy the trap on the chute discharge and your done! Anyways yes it mulches well nonetheless!
Right on, thanks for finding it I guess lol... mine still running strong! A pro tip, if you ever notice your trap door gets wonky and doesn't close just tighten the top nut on the handle a bit.. it does have a lock nut included but it did loosen a bit over time. Anyways a quick tighten and good to go, it works awesome wouldn't live without mulch.
The mulching works well, especially on a windy day to keep the grass out of your face. The hardest part of this whole job is pulling and re-installing the deck.
@@obimaul1 Your likely young(er) and got zero back pain....hauling your body down to the ground and laying there working underneath is the NUMBER 1 reason!
Great to see ya did it then Jon! Sorry about the missing part in the video as was noted by someone about putting the mulch lever handle on the top deck but I'm sure you breezed through that part! I'm envious of you getting to play with lawn equipment at this time of the year also as up here where I am it's still several months away from even beginning to think of going outside in a t-shirt lol.
It comes standard on the z365r I've been looking at. Its intriguing to say the least. I'm interested in it from the aspect of being able to close the discharge chute around roads,driveways,flower beds,etc. I do mulch occasionally, but sometimes have no choice about when to mow and the grass is damp,so I'd rather side discharge then. If itll both mulch and discharge pretty good,itd be worth it to me. If not then I'd just get a model that side discharges an mow slower and double cut sometimes.
Hey, if your kit is like this one sold at Lowes www.lowes.com/pd/John-Deere-54-in-Mulch-Control-Kit-Zero-Turn-Mowers/5001523153 then it's EXACTLY the same to mount it as in my video just that you likely have 3 blades! No difference so go ahead and follow along in this video just the same! Thanks for asking btw and nice mower you have!
Lol not sure why it's doing that? I've not witnessed this phenomenon myself in fact I'm super stoked how my zero turn never leaves strips like my Husqvarna did! Where exactly is the strip located on the finish cut? Middle, outside or 3/4 of cut? I'm guessing perhaps it must be blade related myself though?
@@RogerDiotte It is on the left edge, opposite of the discharge, and the center. I even mowed slow and fast, same outcome. When it mulches, there is no strip of grass clippings. Only when the discharge is open.
Thanks for the video. The mulch kit for my S220 is the BUC11053, which is somewhat similar. Very recently available and no videos for it. I noticed you didn’t show installation of the control handle. The handle for the 11053 appears to be signify different than yours, but it might have been helpful to see. Thanks.
Yea sorry Scott I did mention that to another poster below that I overlooked the install of the handle. So in a nutshell...the handle basically goes on top of the deck and secures with 2 nuts. The bolts come through from the underside of the deck that are attached to the swivel part of the mulch flap and the other long chute that is attached alongside the chute flap. So when those parts are placed underneath into the pre drilled holes that are on the deck, you'll place the handle onto them, then with the included nuts tighten it up and your done.
I am disappointed with mine. When it’s in the closed position it opens up half way just by the force of the air. It just won’t stay closed. I’m wondering if I installed the handle wrong or if this is common. I’m pretty sure it’s impossible to install wrong because the holes are already in the deck.
So right from installing new it has done this? If no, did it start quite awhile after then I'd have a good look at the nut/ bolt assembly on top where your handle is. With the handle on the opened position and the chute door in the open position can you grab the door and attempt to close the door then as that's happening does the door actually close? If so then your doors ĥ
Hey...is the steel available? NIce...yea I do say I'd tempt the steel yes...I've hit a bad rut of gravel and man it was nasty...regardless it did take hit to the chute door so! I'm contemplating a change out again and if steel....I'll swing for it!
Yea I've been under my deck since using one of them Mo-Jack lifts that lift mowers up and yea it could be done but you'll be naturally laying on your backside more but yea it's not impossible...
Don’t know if you tried to remove the deck or not yet. It’s really easy: remove the floor plate, raise the deck to top level, pull 3 clips and done. Putting it back on my wife held it steady while I pushed the mounting rods thru the mounts. A little awkward but still easy. Took 2 minutes 1st time.
i duck taped a piece of hard plastic over my chute, to avoid the cost and transition to mulch. i did not have to remove my deck, which is something i hate to do, what a pain to put back together... do you sharpen your own blades... ?
Quoted from the goats mouth...."Are John Deere Mower Decks Interchangeable? Simply put, yes. However, it’s important to check the dimensions and specifications of each mower deck to be sure it aligns with your current mower." Now here's the link with valuable info about what you likely after! blog.machinefinder.com/24653/john-deere-mower-deck-options-what-you-need-to-know#:~:text=Are%20John%20Deere%20Mower%20Decks,Simply%20put%2C%20yes.
I think John Deere says that once you install this mulch kit you can no longer attach the bagging kit without removing the mulching kit. Someone else said you can install the bagger if you remove one deflector piece. Can you comment on this?
Thanks also chuygrouch for taking something out of this video. As noted I didn't include the part where you mount the mulch door handle on top of the deck but it's pretty obvious where it mounts and screws down if you made it to that part. Yea the idea of the video was listening to others whom were not impressed with the instruction manual lol.
Hey, actually the mower is out on my farm doing it's mulch duty right now lol and yes it's working and works as good as mulchers I've used in the past which is without a doubt good! Naturally when something goes wrong you usually hear about it but Since July 22nd I've mowed quite a large (as you likely saw in the video) area and it's in my opinion working perfect! Again it comes with mulching blades included in the kit as does the big John Deere install manual but my video is very clear to install it. Also don't expect the clippings to fly out of the discharge chute the same as when you have cutting blades on because there's a noticeable difference in the difference in how cutting blades and mulching blades react to how the lift-cut and throw the grass! You should obviously know that and know the difference in the 2 but I'm just putting that out there because again some people complain (lol) that their performance isn't the same as before....OBVIOUSLY! I'm kind of flexible and I can bend down and move the operating lever from mulch to discharge easy without getting off the mower, also I've hit a few rocks and the unit has taken that licking without a whimper so it's durable LOL....
@@RogerDiotte thank you so much for that reply! It’s settled I’m ordering the kit tonight! One thing I noticed on my z345 is the fuel line rear on the muffler and it burned into it I had to zip tie it closer to the mount that holds it. Have you noticed that?
@@bensteeler1850 Um no I didn't but I'm going to head out to the shed to check that out right now actually...I'll be right back! Ok I just went to check and yes I see what your saying and how the line that is coming up and into the fuel pump lays right on top of the hot "OHV" cover! Mine is not worn "YET" but I do see a slight rub mark on the metal where it's been vibrating against the OHV cover! I'm going to address this tomorrow now just like you and I'll run a zip tie and wrap the fuel line with high heat tape for sure! Thanks Ben! So the mower just did another big workout this evening in grass that shouldn't be cut with a mower lol as we cut some of the front field where the driveway comes in that usually gets pulled down with the farm swather but we didn't knock it down. Anyways the mulcher went through that like a breeze and it's around a foot high and thick with weeds and what not and it was damp also so the mulcher is definitely working haha.... Glad to have helped you out so if 1 person found this helpful then hey I did my part! Keep in touch...I'll post to ya here in the future if I find anything odd happening also...Oh btw I added LED lights to mine...I bought a 40 dollar light kit from Canadian Tire...these ones and there's my review with pictures...www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/alpena-led-accentz-hd-0203439p.html?rrec=true#spc Anyways they work decent enough, I just wired them right to my battery and used a dremel tool to cut an opening on the right side beneath my seat to mount the switch. They work pretty decent so at least I can mow into dusk like tonight! They're not the durable type made of cast aluminum which I wish they were now but hey they're cheap and work. I just used a heavy duty velcro'd them to where I mounted them haha.... Those lights only draw 3.12 Watts / 0.12 Amps so they're very easy on the battery!
You have a beautiful barn. Get yourself an air compressor and a few air tools. You'll never be sorry you did. The mulch plug mistake everyone makes is they think you can mow grass or even tall grass with it and basically you can but that's gonna come back and bite you in the butt in the long run. It's a huge strain on the engine and over a period of time you engine will begin to show these by burning oil, low compression in the cylinders. Mulching plugs were basically designed for leaves. The idea you can mow/mulch all the time is a big mistake. Yes, when the engine is new it does the job with ease but your engine can't continue that pace over and over and over. It just wasn't designed to do that job continuously. Trust me on this guy's, I see everything from push mowers to 35hp zero turns prematurely causing damage to the engine from prolonged Mulching periods. Enjoyed your video very much and I would have gone with the plastic kit as well.
Thanks Dave for your knowledge and advice on the air tools! Noted! Oh and thanks for pointing out my barn, funny how when you have something it grows on you as something just well... there until another states a compliment! About mulching, explains the changeover of mandrels I would change on my previous Husqvarna riding mower which I used a mulcher plug more often than not!
Good, you got "er" done lol! Thanks Sean, just remember I left out the chute handle install but it's pretty relevant where the handle goes. Also the chute may not close fully at some point in the future when you flick the handle, again I found that the screw on the handle became a little loose so a quick tighten fixed that up! Perhaps if one had Loctite when installing the bolts that would help.
Hi everyone, I edited the description above if you click on it you'll see that I left out a step after installing the discharge chute. The step I missed is once you do that you will place the included handle that opens and closes the chute door with 2 included lock nuts. Thanks again!
@@LS-zo9iw Go with your gut feeling is what I'd say! If you know you have a yard that kicks up a lot of obstacles while doing a run then it's likely you already know your answer! Myself I have a pretty tame farm yard with barely anything I need to avoid!
@@RogerDiotte Thanks for the input I went with the steel version mainly because I can weld/repair steal if needed plastic is a one and done.. My lawn is debris free also, nice video though..
@@LS-zo9iw For sure, like you said it's hard to compare Steel To Plastic albeit the plastic is hard core however a boulder winging around under a deck can be a dangerous velocity so if someone had to pick a winner I suppose your decision would likely be the one! Thanks again Loren btw for the chat eh...enjoy your ride!
I have one of these kits (dealer installed) on my John Deere Z355E mower. In a word, TRASH! 50% of the cut grass still flys out of the existing discharge chute when the control is in the mulch position. Wouldn’t recommend!
Hey Greg, did you happen to notice if the handle where you flip to open and close your chute isn't properly shutting the door properly? I've had that happen to mine where my nut was a little loose and when you flip it to close the chute door the door would sit slightly open? Anyways it's also sometimes known that after awhile the grass clippings (especially is you've cut awhile with the chute open) will build up around the end of the chute door and when you flip it closed it leaves it slightly ajar opened. What's yours doing?
My chute is easily jarred open,it closes completely but if a big pile of grass hits it or I hit a bump, the chute will open about 50% of the way, even though the lever is in full close position. Not sure if anyone knows a fix for that? Not sure why my door got so loose!
@Villainous7 Look at the mechanism, I know kind of a bummer to get right up in it without a lift or removing the deck.. but where the chute passes through and up through deck... that part just ensure it's tight. Like if you hold the chute with your hand and the handle with your hand can you move the chute open close a bit yet the handle isn't resisting?
Plastic crap the new kit !!! I bought one for my new z335e. Lasted 2 mows !! Installed properly. I caught something I believe a very small tree was cut down less then 4” amd very very low to the ground. That’s the weird thing just caught it the right way and that was it !! Also grass would always spew out on the left side of the mower when the chute was closed. Constantly looked like I was missing spots on the grass. The Old kit was metal and is the only way to go. The new mulch kit is all plastic ! Avoid in my opinion. Not impressed at all. Metal may bend however won’t crack and bust up first time you bump something.
@@RogerDiotte when I went to purchase the mulch kit from John Deere I got two different prices and part number as was curious why. The more expensive one at $194.00 Canadian was all plastic the chute door along with open and close handle was also upgraded. This was a upgraded and new design. as apparently the metal one was having issues staying closed according to them at John Deere and from what I read online. The metal one was actually $173.00 at another John Deere Canadian. And from what I can understand the differences are one was metal cheaper price and the more expensive one was plastic. It’s kind of like the John Deere snowblower I have a 44 snowblower and the shoots are all plastic. Plastic cracks real easy for sure. So less then 30 days It broke. I mean I do understand I hit something but what’s the difference between that and another tree route if you go on in an area with the tree branches sticking out of the ground even if they’re not high or if you catch a curb or something when you’re driving to start mowing it’s plastic. Plastic and high-speed blades in flying debris don’t seem to mix in my mind.
@@justaviewerortwo2924 For sure, can we not just get a door plug that confines the chute? I'd be ok with that system again as my Husqvarna just had a steel bolted door period.
Just to note, I've went through my first mulch kit this year...replaced with yet another Composite Mulch Kit although I did order the Steel Version JD sent me the Composite lol!
July 2024!
Very helpful! Mulching kit in the mail, this gives me the confidence to do it!
Thank you very much! I’m so stressed out today after driving 6 hours and buying my Deere x330. Literally no one has any in stock right now. I get home and cannot understand the instructions. I almost thought they sold me the wrong kit. You’re the man! Appreciate you for taking the time to show us how to do it quickly and to the point! Keep it up!
Oh wow hey thanks for saying this helped! I didn't intend to reach as many people as I did but this is great...6 hours lol I'd have done the same to get what I wanted so good job you picked a good machine.
Thanks for the video! I just put this mulch kit on my z335e after watching your instructions. The written directions from the manufacturer were almost useless. One thing I found useful was to "dry fit" the whole kit on its own before even going out to the mower. With that done, it was easy to see how and where it fit. I was able to install it without removing the deck. I just jacked up the front of the mower, which saved a little time.
Hey Pat, nicely done there with not having to remove the deck and using a jack lol! Guess that went a little quicker! I'm still running my mulch kit and it's been proven now that its pretty resilient to being hammered by everything that gets thrown at it! Nice machine you bought btw as it's pretty much the same as my Z345. Do you live in a warm climate where you can cut most of the year?
@@RogerDiottesort of, Roger. I live in Middle Georgia. We get a few months off yard work during the winter. I'm retired and help a few neighbors with their yards, so this new mower is like a blessing! This is my first zero turn mower, so I'm learning as much as I can about it. TH-cam videos like yours are gold!
@@patrickb4877 Ah thanks buddy for saying that about the video and am that much more appreciative to know I made a difference ha! Georgia ok that's somewhat foreign in that I've never been that far down that way on the East side of the US from up here in Canada! I envy you in that you can mow somewhat longer as that to me is always a great pleasure to putt putt around on my zero turn (they sure are amazing) and smelling fresh cut grass! This also is my first zero turn, always wanted one and finally tried it out and honestly unless something revolutionizes this type I'm sticking with them! Go on enjoying your retirement Pat...thanks for stumbling into the room also lol!
This video is extremely helpful, i watched it a year ago to install my much kit and rewatching it to refresh myself on the parts as i need to replace the mulch chute, it got destroyed by a rock!
Great video, thanks!
Hey thanks for that response... glad your going to be good for another season!
Nice video. Just finished installing my kit on my x350. This video made the job so much easier. Thanks for the nice instructions. Took me about an hour to do and just needed two tools, 1/2 inch for the kit and a 3/4 inch socket for the blades. I did drop the deck onto a blanket and slid it out. Made it a bit easier to slide the deck.
A Blanket, well there ya go and I bet that made total sense lol. As you saw from the vid I had a ripe back at that moment so a blanket would have made the move easier. Regardless thanks Dave, who knows maybe you saved yourself one less broken window on your property by having the chute not discharging now! Glad this helped another person out really!
Great video, wonderfully paced and clear instructions. May God bless you with good health for your unselfish service to others.
Sorry Frank, I really must thank you for your kind words! Thanks for that....
Awesome video, thank you, as everyone says John Deere should be ashamed of their instructions. I have a new Z515E and mulch kit, hopefully this will all be similar. Love your chipmunk friend!
Hey thanks I'm sure it's very similar to your install! That 🐿 is still with me this year also.. he comes right into my house now.
@@RogerDiotte That's crazy, they are quite timid around here
Thanks for the video.
Here's a tip when uninstalling or installing the deck. Don't push and shove the deck to get it out from or back under the mower. Just move the mower by hand away from it or back over it. You will have to disengage the transmission for both drive wheels, but this is as easy - just move the engagement levers. Also make sure the parking brake is off.
Hey thanks Ken! I'll give your suggestion a whirl for sure....I had a tweaked that day I made this lol so yea any advice is WELCOMED!
One thing about it with this mower you definitely need the mulcher. If not the clippings will be so big you will have to rake your yard afterwards. Great video. Thanks
LOL likely but I've never really NOT mulched so!
I found and it was no easy feat a 3:45 m which I purchased and brought home 2 weeks ago While I was waiting a week for it I did order the mulch control kit and it came in a composite form I feel a lot better after watching your video that your composite one actually fixed the door issue I thought of installing it this weekend but my back also hurts and I have a mulch plug on my John Deere D130 which works very well I tried the plug version with mulching blades but it seemed not to do a good job the mulching the mulcher kit on the D130 does work very well the ability to side discharge and to bag is lost and it just depends on how tall the grass gets how wet it is or special occasions on where I will just use side discharge mulching or bagging I thank you very much for your video it was very informative I will be pulling off my deck when I do this project it seems a lot easier and at the same time I will be installing my Z Glide front suspension
Hey Leo, yea I'm kind of over my back pain wow that was something and sorry to hear about yours as that's the most deliberating thing one can have. So yes I've been using the mulch quite a bit and even in very deep grass and it works great! I missed the installation of the little lever in the video that I just realized after watching the video haha but don't worry about that part it's easy as you just simply plop it on from the top and bolt it tight. It's shown in the video installed @ 9:03, you see it's all one piece that you just place there and screw it down.
So rest easy knowing that your composite part will work great and I'm kind of really interested in the Z-Glide suspension myself! I've watched several videos with them installed and they really do add to the overall ride! If you ever get a chance to give your thoughts on the Z-Glide feel free to message me on here about them!
Update lol, I ordered the steel and they sent me plastic SOOOO im running the plastic,, nice vid made install stupid EASY!
Oh man really lol. Ah well then you get to test Plastic I guess hehe, also enjoy your yard cutting and the fresh cut smells whilst you can!
@@RogerDiotte love all the seasons just as im getting sick of the heat here comes fall then winter and break out the ski equipment! first cut with the plastic mulch kit lawn look awesome soo much better than the side discharge JD 2 thumbs up!
@@LS-zo9iw There ya go buddy! Hey I ski downhill also... It's just starting to warm up here in Canada..
Thanks Roger. Just got mine and hoping to install soon!! Appreciate the video to assist with the installation.
That's great at least you have a better idea how to work along at it. Remember in the install the mulch lever on top the deck I missed that step on the video but you just place it in the bolts that pop through that are attached to the discharge chute assembly. Pretty easy as you have to bolt it on anyways.
I have mulch kit on JD x590. Works good, grinds up clippings and returns them to ground. Kit is metal. Vulnerable to being bent if happen to hit surface root, small stub of a stump, or other obstruction. Bends, then blade hit it. Have to bent back, not always an easy task. Blade hits gate from very beginning. Dealership couldn’t seem to get it in place. I finally took deck off and with large crescent wrench, I bent…fine tuned it, back into place. I’m thinking that the heavy duty plastic might be more resilient.
Well that's a different perspective about the metal part! Can't win for lose when choosing either. The plastic does work well at taking good jars from obstacles but as in my situation I've eventually broke the discharge chute door.
This helped me with an easy flawless install. The only thing left out was that i had to remove the factory metal diverter?! To install the abs kit parts onto the deck (it was only 3-4 screws). And then bolt the shifter lever onto the deck which is self explanatory. In All a lot easier then trying to follow the included book. Thanks
Hey Rich, you got it on then eh! I had my mower out the other day also but it's still not ready to do a proper cut lol up here in Northern Ontario Canada yet! I just took it for a spin and did a make believe mulch pass as I an itching to just get back to those long summer days and the smell of fresh cut grass! Anyways me like you appreciates seeing things done and reading manuals if only the last ditch option so thanks a lot for commenting and if at least if helps one person then they say the deed is done and pass it on! Pro-Tip from my experience is don't drive over anything that YOU know could do damage to your deck and you'll have a trouble free running system for a long time! Appreciate you responding Rich!
Thank you so much for this! I tackled it myself and your guide made it super easy!
Right On Tracy! Now it's out to mowing and mulching grass without all the clippings flying around lol! Good stuff and I'm more than happy this guide helped to alleviate the stress and bewilderment upon opening the box.
Good video, Roger! Appreciate the detail you give in everything, man. Just bought the 'R' version of this mower, waiting on Lowe's to bring it in a few days. So I'm watching YT vids, trying to learn how to use and take care of it. 🤜💥🤛
Thanks Jim, how'd ya make out! I'm still using mine regularly and zero issues with anything on the machine! The discharge chute even plastic has taken many beatings now and it's 100 percent fine! Like I mentioned somewhere on here if you ever encounter that the handle doesn't properly close the trap door then simply tighten the nut on the handle that opens/closes the trap door as I've found out lol! Simple and works great still!
Thanks for the easy video to follow !!!!
If you don’t mind answering ….. is their no way to change hydrolic oil on this machine ? Looks like I have to bring it to the dealer . I have no dipstick or anything
Sealed units...you don't have dipstick chum cause it's a replacement of all of it if it goes.
Here's the right side replacement if ever you need it for example. www.rdoequipment.com/product-details/john-deere-transmission-ezt-c-right-hand-new-breath-auc12605
The Part Number Right Side AUC12605
The Part Number Left Side AUC12604
I had the bagger assembly installed, and am now installing the mulch control. It appears that I need to put the regular 'toe kick' back on in order to install the first baffle, because the toe kick that came with the bagger is angled in a way that I can't get the bolt in. I thought I read that the only thing that needed to be removed to move from bagging to mulching was the baffle, not the toe kick, so I wanted to make sure I'm not missing something...because I can't find the original toe kick...
Got it on, turns out I was trying to put the rear baffle 'tab' to the inside instead of the outside. fits with the bagger 'toe guard' just fine!
@@claytonbing16 Sorry Boop Bop I was trying to find that info out myself as I have zero experience with the Bagger attachment....Anyways congrats on getting it on and good info also incase someone else see's your question!
I am having the same issue… I had John Deere install the bagger when I purchased the mower and I’m almost positive they didn’t provide the original ‘toe kick’
Hmmmm I’ll try again with that added advice
@@joeyzelasko8885
If you end up having more trouble, let's connect and can get it figured out. Cut yesterday afternoon with the mulcher on with the bagger toe guard (kick?) and the mulching blades. Cut beautifully!
I wonder if you could just spin the mower out from over the deck since it’s zero turn.
Or what I do is place a long narrow piece of plywood under th deck before you drop it so it is easier to slide out when you have the deck unhooked.
Yes just drop it onto something like you said and pull...put rope through a plywood sheet to make a looped handle and your golden!
Between TH-cam video & directions manual it’s now installed on my z345r JD mower. I’m not crazy about the discharge chute only being connected on one side like a flagpole. I’m not thrilled with the cost either since most others are 1/5th the cost & don’t require an under deck composite guide installed to streamline the discharge. This could have been addressed in the factory design since the mower deck is stamped out during fabrication. But I must say this mower is great. It turns everything into green dust &. It doesn’t seem to picky about what it cuts or how high either.
Hey thanks, so you managed the install and yea some picky points about the design for sure! I'd like to address some of them concerns with JD also like the chute thing also! I would be even happy if we could just use a flap trap like most other machines have where you bungy the trap on the chute discharge and your done! Anyways yes it mulches well nonetheless!
So extremely helpful, and my exact model. Thank you so much.
Right on, thanks for finding it I guess lol... mine still running strong! A pro tip, if you ever notice your trap door gets wonky and doesn't close just tighten the top nut on the handle a bit.. it does have a lock nut included but it did loosen a bit over time. Anyways a quick tighten and good to go, it works awesome wouldn't live without mulch.
The mulching works well, especially on a windy day to keep the grass out of your face. The hardest part of this whole job is pulling and re-installing the deck.
Ugh for sure...should drop the deck onto a big piece of card board and just pull that out lol...
Just put this on for a customer, thank you for the video.
Again thank you also for finding this and it helped ya! Happy mulching/discharge!
I used a mower jack to put the mulch kit on my zero turn and changed the blade and the deck was still on the mower
Nice so easy! Gotta get one soon.
I don't get why everyone removes the deck
@@obimaul1 Your likely young(er) and got zero back pain....hauling your body down to the ground and laying there working underneath is the NUMBER 1 reason!
@@RogerDiotte nah im 49 and have plenty of back pain i just like to do the fastest method possible when working on stuff.
Thank you, your video helped alot installing my new mulch kit.
Great to see ya did it then Jon! Sorry about the missing part in the video as was noted by someone about putting the mulch lever handle on the top deck but I'm sure you breezed through that part! I'm envious of you getting to play with lawn equipment at this time of the year also as up here where I am it's still several months away from even beginning to think of going outside in a t-shirt lol.
It comes standard on the z365r I've been looking at. Its intriguing to say the least. I'm interested in it from the aspect of being able to close the discharge chute around roads,driveways,flower beds,etc. I do mulch occasionally, but sometimes have no choice about when to mow and the grass is damp,so I'd rather side discharge then. If itll both mulch and discharge pretty good,itd be worth it to me. If not then I'd just get a model that side discharges an mow slower and double cut sometimes.
Yea the double cut would work but again it's great to just flip the chute also!
Excellent video. Question: Will you make one on how to install the Mulching Kit for the JDZT Z515E as well?
Hey, if your kit is like this one sold at Lowes www.lowes.com/pd/John-Deere-54-in-Mulch-Control-Kit-Zero-Turn-Mowers/5001523153 then it's EXACTLY the same to mount it as in my video just that you likely have 3 blades! No difference so go ahead and follow along in this video just the same! Thanks for asking btw and nice mower you have!
What’s the fix for when the discharge is open and the mower is leaving a nice strip of cut grass.
Lol not sure why it's doing that? I've not witnessed this phenomenon myself in fact I'm super stoked how my zero turn never leaves strips like my Husqvarna did! Where exactly is the strip located on the finish cut? Middle, outside or 3/4 of cut? I'm guessing perhaps it must be blade related myself though?
@@RogerDiotte It is on the left edge, opposite of the discharge, and the center. I even mowed slow and fast, same outcome. When it mulches, there is no strip of grass clippings. Only when the discharge is open.
@@igrifaldo82 that's using the included mulching blades that came with the kit?
@@RogerDiotte yes
How is nobody commenting on the adorable prairie dog making the photo bomb??!!
LOL he's been with me for a few years now! The snows melting here in Canada and guess whom I saw today! LOL...yup.
Thanks for the video. The mulch kit for my S220 is the BUC11053, which is somewhat similar. Very recently available and no videos for it. I noticed you didn’t show installation of the control handle. The handle for the 11053 appears to be signify different than yours, but it might have been helpful to see. Thanks.
Yea sorry Scott I did mention that to another poster below that I overlooked the install of the handle. So in a nutshell...the handle basically goes on top of the deck and secures with 2 nuts. The bolts come through from the underside of the deck that are attached to the swivel part of the mulch flap and the other long chute that is attached alongside the chute flap. So when those parts are placed underneath into the pre drilled holes that are on the deck, you'll place the handle onto them, then with the included nuts tighten it up and your done.
I am disappointed with mine. When it’s in the closed position it opens up half way just by the force of the air. It just won’t stay closed. I’m wondering if I installed the handle wrong or if this is common. I’m pretty sure it’s impossible to install wrong because the holes are already in the deck.
So right from installing new it has done this? If no, did it start quite awhile after then I'd have a good look at the nut/ bolt assembly on top where your handle is. With the handle on the opened position and the chute door in the open position can you grab the door and attempt to close the door then as that's happening does the door actually close? If so then your doors ĥ
I’m thinking of buying this kit. How’s it working 2 years later? Should I order the steel one instead?
Hey...is the steel available? NIce...yea I do say I'd tempt the steel yes...I've hit a bad rut of gravel and man it was nasty...regardless it did take hit to the chute door so! I'm contemplating a change out again and if steel....I'll swing for it!
Can you do that without taking the deck off?.The front of the mower is so light can’t you prop it up on something?
Yea I've been under my deck since using one of them Mo-Jack lifts that lift mowers up and yea it could be done but you'll be naturally laying on your backside more but yea it's not impossible...
Don’t know if you tried to remove the deck or not yet. It’s really easy: remove the floor plate, raise the deck to top level, pull 3 clips and done. Putting it back on my wife held it steady while I pushed the mounting rods thru the mounts. A little awkward but still easy. Took 2 minutes 1st time.
This can be done without removing the deck. I had a lawnmower jack and lifted the front end without any issues
mowing over mole hills will definitely cake dirt and grass onto the underside of the deck. I know, we have moles - too many moles. One is too many.
i duck taped a piece of hard plastic over my chute, to avoid the cost and transition to mulch. i did not have to remove my deck, which is something i hate to do, what a pain to put back together... do you sharpen your own blades... ?
So I did sharpen them once yes...with a cordless milwaukee dremel tool and diamond bit and it worked ok! Normally I just buy new ones though.
How did it do as a mulch plug for you? Did the ductape and plastic hold up?
@@mbikerun5 no it just fluttered and broke away after a few times using. but it did last for 1 or 2 lawns.
Are the decks the same on a 42” zero turn and rider
Quoted from the goats mouth...."Are John Deere Mower Decks Interchangeable?
Simply put, yes. However, it’s important to check the dimensions and specifications of each mower deck to be sure it aligns with your current mower."
Now here's the link with valuable info about what you likely after!
blog.machinefinder.com/24653/john-deere-mower-deck-options-what-you-need-to-know#:~:text=Are%20John%20Deere%20Mower%20Decks,Simply%20put%2C%20yes.
Is this the special edition rocket powered JD mower?
"Batteries Sold Separately" only available in Canada....shipping to the US strictly forbidden! End of Story LOL...
@@RogerDiotte Damn.... I was going to order 6 sets of them.....
I think John Deere says that once you install this mulch kit you can no longer attach the bagging kit without removing the mulching kit. Someone else said you can install the bagger if you remove one deflector piece. Can you comment on this?
Hi, so I'm unfamiliar with the bagger however I recall someone in here mentioning the use of the badge with the mulch kit?
Thank you... Works like a champ! 🍻
Your Welcome Tom, enjoy the mulch!
This video is great! Thanks!
Thank you for posting this video, I almost gave up on installing my mulch kit.
The JD instructions the worst
Thanks also chuygrouch for taking something out of this video. As noted I didn't include the part where you mount the mulch door handle on top of the deck but it's pretty obvious where it mounts and screws down if you made it to that part. Yea the idea of the video was listening to others whom were not impressed with the instruction manual lol.
THX for the video !
Thanks back Joe...
With this installed can you still use the bagger?
Sorry Don, I'm not sure buddy as I don't have that bagger. I recall someone that was reinstalling their bagger with this somewhere though.
How does it mow, did the composite material fix the gate from swinging open? I need to purchase a kit for my z345m and I appreciate your input!
Hey, actually the mower is out on my farm doing it's mulch duty right now lol and yes it's working and works as good as mulchers I've used in the past which is without a doubt good! Naturally when something goes wrong you usually hear about it but Since July 22nd I've mowed quite a large (as you likely saw in the video) area and it's in my opinion working perfect! Again it comes with mulching blades included in the kit as does the big John Deere install manual but my video is very clear to install it.
Also don't expect the clippings to fly out of the discharge chute the same as when you have cutting blades on because there's a noticeable difference in the difference in how cutting blades and mulching blades react to how the lift-cut and throw the grass! You should obviously know that and know the difference in the 2 but I'm just putting that out there because again some people complain (lol) that their performance isn't the same as before....OBVIOUSLY!
I'm kind of flexible and I can bend down and move the operating lever from mulch to discharge easy without getting off the mower, also I've hit a few rocks and the unit has taken that licking without a whimper so it's durable LOL....
@@RogerDiotte thank you so much for that reply! It’s settled I’m ordering the kit tonight! One thing I noticed on my z345 is the fuel line rear on the muffler and it burned into it I had to zip tie it closer to the mount that holds it. Have you noticed that?
@@bensteeler1850 Um no I didn't but I'm going to head out to the shed to check that out right now actually...I'll be right back!
Ok I just went to check and yes I see what your saying and how the line that is coming up and into the fuel pump lays right on top of the hot "OHV" cover! Mine is not worn "YET" but I do see a slight rub mark on the metal where it's been vibrating against the OHV cover!
I'm going to address this tomorrow now just like you and I'll run a zip tie and wrap the fuel line with high heat tape for sure! Thanks Ben! So the mower just did another big workout this evening in grass that shouldn't be cut with a mower lol as we cut some of the front field where the driveway comes in that usually gets pulled down with the farm swather but we didn't knock it down. Anyways the mulcher went through that like a breeze and it's around a foot high and thick with weeds and what not and it was damp also so the mulcher is definitely working haha....
Glad to have helped you out so if 1 person found this helpful then hey I did my part! Keep in touch...I'll post to ya here in the future if I find anything odd happening also...Oh btw I added LED lights to mine...I bought a 40 dollar light kit from Canadian Tire...these ones and there's my review with pictures...www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/alpena-led-accentz-hd-0203439p.html?rrec=true#spc
Anyways they work decent enough, I just wired them right to my battery and used a dremel tool to cut an opening on the right side beneath my seat to mount the switch. They work pretty decent so at least I can mow into dusk like tonight! They're not the durable type made of cast aluminum which I wish they were now but hey they're cheap and work. I just used a heavy duty velcro'd them to where I mounted them haha....
Those lights only draw 3.12 Watts / 0.12 Amps so they're very easy on the battery!
Great work!
Thank you !!!!
No Problem, if it helped someone then I'm all happy!
You have a beautiful barn. Get yourself an air compressor and a few air tools. You'll never be sorry you did.
The mulch plug mistake everyone makes is they think you can mow grass or even tall grass with it and basically you can but that's gonna come back and bite you in the butt in the long run.
It's a huge strain on the engine and over a period of time you engine will begin to show these by burning oil, low compression in the cylinders.
Mulching plugs were basically designed for leaves. The idea you can mow/mulch all the time is a big mistake.
Yes, when the engine is new it does the job with ease but your engine can't continue that pace over and over and over. It just wasn't designed to do that job continuously.
Trust me on this guy's, I see everything from push mowers to 35hp zero turns prematurely causing damage to the engine from prolonged Mulching periods.
Enjoyed your video very much and I would have gone with the plastic kit as well.
Thanks Dave for your knowledge and advice on the air tools! Noted! Oh and thanks for pointing out my barn, funny how when you have something it grows on you as something just well... there until another states a compliment! About mulching, explains the changeover of mandrels I would change on my previous Husqvarna riding mower which I used a mulcher plug more often than not!
thanks the directions don't give a over all picture.
Good, you got "er" done lol! Thanks Sean, just remember I left out the chute handle install but it's pretty relevant where the handle goes. Also the chute may not close fully at some point in the future when you flick the handle, again I found that the screw on the handle became a little loose so a quick tighten fixed that up! Perhaps if one had Loctite when installing the bolts that would help.
Nice.
Thanks Rusty...
Hi everyone, I edited the description above if you click on it you'll see that I left out a step after installing the discharge chute. The step I missed is once you do that you will place the included handle that opens and closes the chute door with 2 included lock nuts. Thanks again!
ok im a bit leary of the plastic do you feel it will hold up as well as steel?
@@LS-zo9iw Go with your gut feeling is what I'd say! If you know you have a yard that kicks up a lot of obstacles while doing a run then it's likely you already know your answer! Myself I have a pretty tame farm yard with barely anything I need to avoid!
@@RogerDiotte Thanks for the input I went with the steel version mainly because I can weld/repair steal if needed plastic is a one and done.. My lawn is debris free also, nice video though..
@@LS-zo9iw For sure, like you said it's hard to compare Steel To Plastic albeit the plastic is hard core however a boulder winging around under a deck can be a dangerous velocity so if someone had to pick a winner I suppose your decision would likely be the one! Thanks again Loren btw for the chat eh...enjoy your ride!
That's exactly the part I wanted to see, lol! Great installation video aside from that.
Is no one going to talk about the chipmunk??
Hehe...yea I have a brood of them actually...also Squirrels. I don't know I like them around...
I have one of these kits (dealer installed) on my John Deere Z355E mower. In a word, TRASH! 50% of the cut grass still flys out of the existing discharge chute when the control is in the mulch position. Wouldn’t recommend!
Hey Greg, did you happen to notice if the handle where you flip to open and close your chute isn't properly shutting the door properly? I've had that happen to mine where my nut was a little loose and when you flip it to close the chute door the door would sit slightly open? Anyways it's also sometimes known that after awhile the grass clippings (especially is you've cut awhile with the chute open) will build up around the end of the chute door and when you flip it closed it leaves it slightly ajar opened. What's yours doing?
My chute is easily jarred open,it closes completely but if a big pile of grass hits it or I hit a bump, the chute will open about 50% of the way, even though the lever is in full close position. Not sure if anyone knows a fix for that? Not sure why my door got so loose!
@Villainous7 Look at the mechanism, I know kind of a bummer to get right up in it without a lift or removing the deck.. but where the chute passes through and up through deck... that part just ensure it's tight. Like if you hold the chute with your hand and the handle with your hand can you move the chute open close a bit yet the handle isn't resisting?
Plastic crap the new kit !!! I bought one for my new z335e. Lasted 2 mows !! Installed properly. I caught something I believe a very small tree was cut down less then 4” amd very very low to the ground. That’s the weird thing just caught it the right way and that was it !! Also grass would always spew out on the left side of the mower when the chute was closed.
Constantly looked like I was missing spots on the grass. The Old kit was metal and is the only way to go. The new mulch kit is all plastic ! Avoid in my opinion. Not impressed at all. Metal may bend however won’t crack and bust up first time you bump something.
Did you have the metal one before? Curious why and how that one lasted?
@@RogerDiotte when I went to purchase the mulch kit from John Deere I got two different prices and part number as was curious why. The more expensive one at $194.00 Canadian was all plastic the chute door along with open and close handle was also upgraded. This was a upgraded and new design. as apparently the metal one was having issues staying closed according to them at John Deere and from what I read online. The metal one was actually $173.00 at another John Deere Canadian. And from what I can understand the differences are one was metal cheaper price and the more expensive one was plastic. It’s kind of like the John Deere snowblower I have a 44 snowblower and the shoots are all plastic. Plastic cracks real easy for sure. So less then 30 days It broke. I mean I do understand I hit something but what’s the difference between that and another tree route if you go on in an area with the tree branches sticking out of the ground even if they’re not high or if you catch a curb or something when you’re driving to start mowing it’s plastic. Plastic and high-speed blades in flying debris don’t seem to mix in my mind.
@@justaviewerortwo2924 For sure, can we not just get a door plug that confines the chute? I'd be ok with that system again as my Husqvarna just had a steel bolted door period.
Incomplete. Apology helps you but not me.
LoL frustrations mount?
Great video, wonderfully paced and clear instructions. May God bless you with good health for your unselfish service to others.
Likewise to yourself also my friend! Likewise! Let's keep giving and receiving tips etc. TH-cam has been a great medium in my life!
This video is great! Thanks!
Thanks Ryan....Hoping ya got'er done!