How to Make a Mulching Mower

A mulching mower may create less work for you and add nutrients to your lawn at the same time. Conventional lawn mowers cut grass blades off at a certain height and expel them through a chute and must be raked up or collected in a bag. A mulching mower chops the grass blades more finely and deposits them back onto the lawn, eliminating raking or collecting. Mulching kits are made for most brands of lawnmowers so that your conventional mower can be transformed into a mulching mower. All you have to do is install the kit.

Wood blocks
Socket set
Ratchet wrench
Mulching kit
Torque wrench

Instructions

- 1
  Drive or push the front wheels of the mower onto wood blocks to make access under the mower easier. Apply the parking brake and chock the wheels to prevent movement. Remove the ignition key, if applicable.
- 2
  Wedge a wood block between the edge of one of the cutting blades on the underside of the deck and the metal baffle on the deck to keep the blade from spinning while removing the retaining nut. Remove the center nut securing the blade with a socket and ratchet wrench. Lower the blade and washer . Save the blade for possible future use. Remove the remaining mower blades in the same fashion, if applicable.
- 3
  Raise a mulching blade from the mulch kit into position on the underside of the mower deck. Ensure the side of the blade marked “grass” or “down” is facing downward. Replace the washer and tighten the retaining nut with a torque wrench to the tightness specified in your mower owner’s manual. Install remaining mulching blades in the same fashion.
- 4
  Position the baffle from the mulching kit to the underside of the mower so that the mounting holes in the baffle mounting bracket line up with the holes in the mower deck. Secure the baffle in place with the bolts, washers and nuts provided. Tighten the bolts with a socket and ratchet wrench.
- 5
  Raise the spring-loaded grass chute guard on the mower deck and hold it open. Push the mulch plug to the chute opening so that the mounting holes in the plug line up with the holes in the deck. Ensure the plug is flush with the outside of the deck. Secure the plug into place with the bolts, washers and nuts provided. Tighten the bolts with a socket and ratchet wrench. Release the chute guard.
- 6
  Remove the wheel chocks, release the parking brake and back the mower off the wood blocks. Operate the mower as you normally would.

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