Mulching Leaves - John Deere Mulching Plug vs Mulching Kit - John Deere S130 @DIY Boomers

[@flyingsodwai1382]

Thanks! Im a little lazy and overly logical, I tend to evaluate things on the work/reward ratio. For me the simple plug is the clear winner here because it is way easier and the insert is only a little better. Thanks for helping me decide.

[@DIYBoomers]

You’re welcome! Yeah, the plug is what I have been using for the exact reasons that you are saying. Always glad to hear that the videos are helpful. Thanks for watching.

[@harrymueller9058]

That is one detailed video thanks Harry from Buffalo NY

[@DIYBoomers]

You’re welcome. Thanks, hope it was helpful.

[@TheMinnow101]

Honestly, that plug looked to work as well as that kit that cost 3x more. And the ease to install/remove as needed is a huge benefit as well.

[@DIYBoomers]

Yes, there is definitely not a big difference between the two for mulching leaves. I will be interested to do another comparison in the spring and summer for mulching strictly grass when the grass is much thicker than in this video. If the difference is also minimal in heavy grass, I will more than likely be using the plug the majority of the time for exactly the reason that you mentioned, ease of use. For someone not having mulching blades already, the plug + blades would be around $73. It would be about $35 more than that for the kit which includes mulching blades.

[@MEEMOSS77]

@@DIYBoomers so it would actually be cheaper to buy the plug and blades separately than to buy the kit which would be more time consuming to install than the plug. I just bought the S100 and am thinking the plug will be the way to go

[@DIYBoomers]

Yes, it would probably be $35 cheaper to buy the plug and blades. Factoring in ease of use and comparable results, you really can’t go wrong with the plug and blades. I’m sure you will enjoy your new John Deere!

[@jeffhopper3526]

Hi Carl. We used the inexpensive plug for a couple of years, but it kept getting knocked crooked and stuff (I wasn't the only operator %-| ). It worked great otherwise,. I even drilled holes and used zip ties to hold in place. I'm sure the plug works great, but we have some "rougher" landscaping features and so now we're trying the BM21816 Kit. Best news is I get to remove that oversized discharge shoot.

[@joeysmith7555]

@@jeffhopper3526 I just installed the insert and have the discharge chute removed. It blows a LOT of grass out of the chute opening. I was disappointed in this versus the mulching cover. I ended up stuffing an old shirt in the chute opening to stop all the grass clippings from coming out.

[@bkminster]

Thanks for making this video. Very helpful to decide whether to use the plug or insert kit.

[@DIYBoomers]

You’re welcome. Always glad to hear that the videos are helpful. Did you decide on one or the other?

[@timpmuldoon736]

Great Video 👍🏼 I’ve been Mulching 🍁🍂past 10yrs with Husqvarna same setup as your John Deere.. Only difference I run all season with Gator 4 Blades .. they do fantastic job grinding grass & leafs 🍂🍁

[@DIYBoomers]

Thanks. Yeah, I’ve often given thought to trying Gator Blades. Heard a lot of good about them and they look like they’d do a great job. Overall, really happy with the results of mulching leaves. Thanks for watching!

[@TerriEnriquez-l9p]

great demonstration, very helpful. thank you

[@DIYBoomers]

Thank you, hopefully you found it helpful. You’re welcome.

[@geraldmolina1827]

I had a lot of problems with clumps when it came down to cutting grass and found some videos on changing the useless factory mulching blades to the Oregon Gator Blades... Best upgrade I have ever bought!!! I can not tell you about the other models but I have the G6 blades and absolutely love them all season long!!!

[@DIYBoomers]

Thanks for that info! This is the first spring that I have tried mulching grass and have also had clumping when the grass is so thick early in the growing season. The blades work fine with leaves but I was wondering how they would work in heavy grass. I will have to give the G6 blades a try! Thanks again.

[@tlm3574]

Thanks for info. I was afraid I'd lost a piece off. Glad I dont have to vuy new blades right away. Good mowing to you

[@DIYBoomers]

👍

[@FyrFytr998]

@@DIYBoomers late to the party, but from what I’ve seen the best Oregon gator you get for the S130 is a G3 blade.

[@DIYBoomers]

I haven’t tried any Gator blades yet. With a very wet spring this year, I’m dealing with a lot of thick clippings. I should give the G3s a try.

[@GuyMcBride-zg4bs]

When I purchased my S130 at Lowes, the sales person said he had ordered a mulching kit for a previous customer but when he went to install the new mulching blades they were the exact same blades as already on the mower. Also, there is a clip that is supposed to go inside the back edge, but iI could not get the locking clip to go on because the plug appears to be be shaped differently from the deck. In fact, I couldn't get the plug to go on at all. It appears from other reviewers owning the S130 that I was not alone in having that problem, while some people made it work by drilling holes and adding bolts. This video made it look easy, so I don't know what the rest of us were doing wrong.

[@DIYBoomers]

Hmmmm, don’t have any problem with mine. Do you have the right model number for the cover (plug)? The one that I purchased is the John Deere mulching Cover, Part #GY00115 (S130 42” Deck). I guess another thing could be using the right holes on the deck. If you use the same holes that I used, it’s a bit of a stretch on the second bunji strap, but very doable. You do need to make sure that the notched out section on the top edge of the plug is lined up and fits around the discharge chute on the deck. The rib on the bottom of the plug doesn’t always stay in the bottom channel of the deck, but overall, it keeps the discharge hole covered. I did have one small snafu however, I didn’t notice the slotted tab on the left side of the plug when I initially installed it on the deck. A couple of viewers pointed that out after I uploaded the video. As it does take a little more effort to get the tab on the inside of the deck, I usually just put it on without using the tab. It’s just faster and I’ve never had a problem keeping it in place. As far as the mulching blades, they have a longer mulching area on the blade in comparison to the standard blade as I pointed out in the video.

[@jeffhopper3526]

Nice job on the BM21816 Mulch Kit. We had the plug on previous LT 160, but hitting bushes here and there knocks it loose frequently.

[@DIYBoomers]

Thanks. Yeah, seems to be a good alternative to the kit as we haven’t had any problems with obstructions in the way. We have had a little grass clumping with so much spring growth and wetness with moderate temperatures. Shouldn’t be a problem much longer as temperatures are climbing. We tried different things to deal with spring grass clumps. Left plug on and attached our sweeper behind to mow and sweep all in one pass which worked well but has it limitations due to trying to mow in tight areas while pulling the sweeper. Ended up using mulching blades without the plug (in wet or tall spring grass) and holding discharge chute up halfway with a bungee cord to spread out clippings a little more. Seemed to work best but still had to go twice over a few spots that were the heaviest buildup of clippings.

[@Poncho502]

Great job on the video and the details of comparison one between the other I had a cup of coffee and enjoyed watching the video! I have a John Deere S220 and it’ll get a mulching kit installed this weekend by the John Deere store near me. Take Care be safe always wear ear plugs safety shoes and gloves when operating any machinery and safety glass covers - peace ☮️

[@DIYBoomers]

Thanks. Always glad to hear that the videos are useful. Yes, always be safe. Thanks for watching!

[@melsolomon9246]

I thought the S220 only has the MulchControl system that you can open and close from the top of the deck not just a mulch cover. The Accel deep deck on the S220 has more room and better flow of clippings, but part of the MulchControl baffle blocks the flow of clippings when it is open. I kinda feel that contrdicts what the Accel deck is better for. Also, if the Mulchcontrol system gets messed up or broken, I'd need the dealer to replace. The mulch cover I could easily replace. The muclcontrol is $250 and a cover is what like $50 bucks? The mulch blades with the mulchcontrol kit may be shorter also so as not to hit the baffle inside the deck. Yes the S220 has a better V twin cyclonic engine and the deep Accel deck and longer warranty but the internal mulchcontrol I think can be prone to more problems. I was told that I can't get just a mulch cover for an S220.

[@DIYBoomers]

Hmmmm, I’m not familiar with the S220 but like you say, I think the mulch control system could possibly be more trouble than it’s worth.

[@melsolomon9246]

@@DIYBoomers I was responding to Poncho502's comment. He mentioned the s220 and I am considering a purchase now. Comparing s220 to s120. My need includes good leaves mulching. Thanks for a great video. Very helpful.

[@DIYBoomers]

@melsolomon9246 You’re welcome! Yeah, I figured you were commenting on that, I just thought I’d put my 2 cents in on the mechanical cover. Good luck with your decision making and thanks for watching!

[@LarryBaker-o6v]

I recently replaced my John Deere LT155 with a S130. I collect leaves with a home made bin with a hose extension from the discharge chute to a 90degree duct into the top of the bin. The problem is the leaves “leak” from the front of the deck infront of the discharge opening of the deck. I must chase the escaping leaves to clean the lawn completely. I have a tremendous amount of tall tulip populars and prefer to collect them and “dump” in the woods rather than mulch. Any thoughts on how to assure leaves don’t escape but go into the discharge chute? Photos available. Thank you Larry Baker

[@DIYBoomers]

Wish I had a solution but it seems unavoidable that some leaves will ultimately be forced outside of the deck (at least with this level of mowers). I too have the S130 and when I use the mulching plug for mulching leaves, it never fails that some leaves get thrown out from under the deck. The only thing I can think of on your setup is if the hose is big enough to handle the volume of leaves that is discharged without backing up. Maybe others can give better advice. Thanks for watching.

[@benk4881]

I have the same mower with the plug, love it. My problem now is trying to level the deck to the recommended 2 1/4 on the setting, my issue is that im almost bottomed out on the deck hangers on both side and still a tad shot of meeting the 2 1/4 setting, any ideas?

[@DIYBoomers]

If you haven’t already checked the tire pressures, make sure that is done first as that can throw things off. After that, I would suggest making your adjustments at the 3” or 3 1/2” deck heights and matching the blade height to one of those deck settings. I don’t know if that would make a difference for you, but I’ll put two video links below that show making the adjustments from those heights. One of the videos is a John Deere video. And incidentally, 3 1/2” is the height that I used. If 2 1/4” is your preferred height for mowing, you don’t have to make the adjustments at 2 1/4”. It’s just a calibration that can be done at any deck height that assures all settings to be accurate. Hopefully that makes a difference for you. Let me know. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJfSlmuFjLJ8i5Ysi=SFikbkuTgzgqL_oo kzbin.info/www/bejne/jH_ck3Sja8yAd7ssi=nmfuL8-_NCIdw37d

[@benk4881]

@@DIYBoomers Thank you so much, did as you recommended, it works like a charm now, I really appreciate your assistance in this matter.....

[@DIYBoomers]

@benk4881 Absolutely, you’re welcome. Always glad to hear that I was able to help someone out. Happy mowing!

[@wlacalle]

Great job on video, thanks for the information!

[@DIYBoomers]

Thanks. You’re welcome!

[@tlm3574]

Do you have a plastic spindle cover on the right blade spindle? Can you use regular 3 in 1 blades with mulching insert?

[@DIYBoomers]

No, I don’t. John Deere doesn’t put a cover over the spindle & pulley on the right side of the S130. I’d say that’s probably because it is further under the tractor frame than the one on the other side and is not as much of a safety concern. Using the 3 in 1 blades, I don’t see a problem with them as far as fitting with the insert since the lift angle on the back of the 3 in 1 blade isn’t as high as the lift on the strictly mulching blade. The only question is would the 3 in 1 blade mulch as well as the mulching blade when used with the insert. I would think that the mulching blades might do a slightly better job but I doubt that it would be very noticeable.

[@jabster2957]

Is there a way to make your discharge chute stay up or do you have to bungee it?

[@DIYBoomers]

Yeah, whenever I don’t use the mulching plug because of the grass being too thick, I take a bungee cord and attach it to the bracket under the seat.

[@jabster2957]

Thank you for your quick response, one more question if you don’t mind, I read that some tractors can’t roll freely without the transaxle release pulled, but mine can still roll with it pushed in. It doesn’t seem as easy as it does pulled. Is this normal on newer lawn tractors? Again thank you for your informative information

[@DIYBoomers]

@jabster2957 You’re welcome. I can’t say if all makes of models with hydrostatic drives respond the same way with the engine off and the drive still engaged, but our John Deere S130, like you describe, can still be rolled although not easily. Hydrostatic drives rely on a pump to move fluid through the transmission that in turn drives the wheels. The activation of the manual bypass valve will allow the axles to roll freely by diverting the flow of fluid around the drive pump system. You can move the tractor without releasing the transaxle, but it is difficult because of the resistance of the fluid when it is not being pumped.

[@stanleychamallas2331]

So you need a mulching plug and mulching insert kit both? To be successful?

[@DIYBoomers]

No. To tell the truth, having used them both now, I would just purchase the plug. Initially, I really thought that the design of the insert would result in better mulching. In reality, I don’t see a noticeable difference. That, along with the plug being so much easier to install and remove makes it a no brainer for me. I haven’t reinstalled the insert since the fall of the year that I tried it out. You do get a set of mulching blades with the purchase of the insert, but It’s also cheaper to buy the plug and the blades separately.

[@ciphercode2298]

I have a cub cadet for personal use,but mow a commercial property for a friend with his john deere. Both cut well,but my cub is getting long in the tooth and I'm considering john deere as a possible replacement. I cant get a cub in this price range with an electric pto and it's a feature I'd really like to have. I mow my daughters and sisters property too and they prefer I mulch too. I'm gonna get a mulch plug and gator blades for my cub,but maybe next year upgrade to a john deere.

[@DIYBoomers]

Yeah, I don’t know if Cub does the same, but the more affordable John Deere models are built to compete with the other entry level tractors out there and are not quite the same quality as the higher end John Deere’s. For instance the higher end models offer a more reliable Kawasaki engine and are built with more durable parts overall. Not to say that the lower end models aren’t a good product, We only mow our 1 acre and so far, I am very happy with the S130 that we purchased last summer. It has features like an easy to use hydrostatic transmission, a high back on the seat, electric PTO, wide rear tires, electronic fuel gauge on the dash and a real difference maker in the height of the cutting deck. Tops for our old Craftsman was around 3 1/2”. Our S130 raises up to 4”. One half inch doesn’t sound like a lot, but it has made a big difference for keeping our tall fescue grass healthier here in the Midwest U.S. when it gets very hot and dry in the middle of the summer. A couple of weeks ago, the deck height lever somehow got bumped down from 4” to 3 1/2”. I changed it back to 4” when I noticed it. The difference in grass color was evident as the area that was cut at 3 1/2” was a little bit brownish. This was in a very hot stretch. We only cut around 4” when it’s very hot and dry. This spring we cut at 3 1/2” to 3 3/4” and will most likely do the same this fall.

[@ciphercode2298]

@@DIYBoomers Yeah,my yards only about 2/3 an acre and the other 2 I mow are only about 1/2 an acre,so I'm not mowing that much. My cub is 11 years old and the only trouble I've had is the manual pto. Both the cable and handle are worn out. I've replaced the handle and the cable is next. Bigger better tires would be nice too,and the low back cloth seat leaves alot to be desired. I've got til next spring to decide. Thanks for sharing.

[@stevenm2311]

Great video, thanks- is it possible to use the mulching blades with a bagger? I’d like to alternate bagging and mulching. Thanks

[@DIYBoomers]

Thanks! Yeah, I’m sure the mulching blades would work fine for bagging. The John Deere 3 in 1 blades that came stock on my S130 are recommended to do straight discharge, bagging and mulching. They have a little less mulching area and a little less lift angle than the mulching blades, but are still recommended for bagging. With a little more lift, I would think the mulching blades would work just fine.

[@paulbecker97]

I do!

[@RogerDiotte]

Did a great job obviously on the kit but even still the plug itself wasn't something to scoff at either! I sure would appreciate if JD would make a plug for their Zero Turn 42" rather than just the whole deck kit option like I had to use! Sometimes in a pinch a plug is nice for just slapping it on and going through some overgrown areas without worry of maybe damaging the whole kit option!

[@DIYBoomers]

Exactly. Especially in your case with the zero turn, I saw your mulching kit video and there are a lot of parts involved as opposed to the lawn tractor kits. An option for a zero turn plug would be great. I do however like the ability to switch between mulching and discharge on the fly with the zero turn kit.

[@DragonSlayer850]

Thanks for the comparison

[@DIYBoomers]

You’re welcome. I hope that you found it helpful!

[@wlliamkerker3549]

The back side has a plastic molded tab that needs to go inside the deck edge. If you look at the plug you will see it.

[@DIYBoomers]

Yeah, that was also mentioned by jms493 a few weeks ago. I hadn’t noticed the tab before that. It definitely fits better when installed correctly! Thanks for pointing that out!

[@wlliamkerker3549]

@@DIYBoomers No problem, my 2002 model has the same plug, hard to believe! 😉

[@HartfordWhaler]

I put this kit on my s110 this weekend. I removed the chute. Does it need to be on there? I see there is a small metal chute under the larger plastic one. I removed them both. Also, my belt comes off whenever I disengage with the deck set low. Wonder if other John Deere owners have that issue.

[@DIYBoomers]

You can certainly leave the chutes off if you don’t plan on mowing without the mulching kit. Personally, I alternate using the kit, the plug and normal discharge, so I just leave the chutes on all the time. In the spring when the grass is so thick and growing like crazy, I leave mulching blades on, but don’t use the kit or the plug. I also hold the big chute up a little with a bungee to allow the clippings to spread out more on the lawn. Late spring and through the summer after the grass has thinned out a bit, I’m normally using the plug with the mulching blades. That makes it easy to take the plug off if the grass is still too thick and starts to clump. I use the mulching blades and kit late summer and fall. I think the kit works best for mulching leaves. As far as the belt coming off, I’ve never had a problem with that. Is the mower and/or belt new? If it is, I would definitely be contacting your dealer or John Deere itself. If not new, I would still consider talking to my dealer to see what they recommend. You could take a look at these two videos I found (links below), that discuss issues with the belt. The first describes engaging the belt at low idle which can make a difference. The second video shows how to adjust tension on the belt if the belt is too loose. These are just two that I found real quick, you can find many others by searching. Good luck! kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3aWZH14ZayrnqMsi=17y7QxZVq6R27vWt kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4ncYaGJm8xqnpYsi=eoGDds64ya9ofDNn

[@johnmonroe3]

I just got a S110 and am doing the same procedure. Did you get any info on removing the plastic guard? Thanks!

[@DIYBoomers]

@johnmonroe3. Is this a question for @HartfordWhaler or @DIYBoomers? If it’s for me at DIY Boomers, I don’t understand the question. Could you explain further? Thanks

[@johnmonroe3]

@@DIYBoomersthe question was for Hartford Whaler. He had just completed the same procedure on his John Deere s110. Thanks for your response.

[@HartfordWhaler]

@@johnmonroe3 had to figure it out myself. Remove the plastic chute. To do it, take the whole chute assembly off, then take the pin out and take off the large plastic chute. Put the springs and pin back on the smaller metal chute and mount that back to the deck. It will work without the metal chute, but it looks better, is safer, and prevents grass and dust from flying around. Worth the effort. I love the mulch kit.

[@pickin4you]

Boy, prices have changed. They want $252 for the kit today. I will be checking to see if they still make the plug and if it will fit my 2023 model deck. If so, that plug is all I need. Not even a need to switch blades.

[@DIYBoomers]

I searched for the kit and Amazon sells the John Deere BM21816 Mulching insert Kit for $140.40 which is probably $35 more than I paid for it. They also sell the plug for $31.71. (See the link below). Honestly, we use the plug instead of the kit as it’s a lot easier to use obviously, and I think it does just as good as the kit. www.amazon.com/stores/page/885F1C0A-F3BD-4BC9-AE30-D3B151C6F9D3/search?ref_=ast_bln&terms=Bm21816 I see the listed models for the kit do not include the S130, but that information has always been confusing. The BM21816 does fit our S130 with a little persuasion from a rubber mallet as you see in the video. Where did you see a kit for $252, was it the BM21816?

[@fb510m]

And i just paid 35 for the jd plug and 57 for the jd mulching blades same that come w the mulch kit. So for 170 difference. I went w the plug and blades over the kit. and save the on off hasell thanks for the vid!

[@DIYBoomers]

@fb510m Yup, I’d have to say that you made the right choice! I’m using the plug exclusively these days. Thanks for watching!

[@Big-Daddy-96]

You have the cleanest mower I’ve ever seen. How old is that S130? I just bought one and my new mower barely looks better. Well done sir. Nice video.

[@DIYBoomers]

Thanks. Yeah, I wish it stayed that way. Those first few S130 videos were shot in the second half of the mowing season in 2021 with around 30 hours on it. (Bought it in August 2021). I keep it as clean as reasonably possible by blowing it all off with my leaf blower after each use. It now has 146 hours on it and like any other tractor that we’ve had, the underside of the deck gets covered with dried grass residue. I just recently scraped that all off this spring. Probably should do that more often but you know how that goes.

[@Big-Daddy-96]

We just bought our S130 at Lowe’s along with a Bagger attachment. The bagger came with the mulching blades ironically. You would think they would just add the mulching plug as well, but that needed to be purchased separately. I wonder if they don’t think the factory blades are good for bagging?

[@DIYBoomers]

The mulching blades are angled up a bit more on the back edge which gives more lift, so maybe that enters in to their thinking. That’s the only thing that I can think of.

[@donflash1128]

I have 2 John Deere’s. Nice video!

[@rednug87]

Thanks

[@freakboinate82]

What was the shadow at 11:50?

[@DIYBoomers]

Ha haaaaaaaaaa. That’s funny. I noticed it before I uploaded to KZbin but just let it go. That was me, the amateur videographer making adjustments at the tripod.

[@2011studies]

The plug seems to work just as well. I always do two passes for leaves anyway. How many people tell you that you and Kevin Bacon look alike? 😉 Ty for the vid.

[@DIYBoomers]

You’re welcome, thanks for watching. Honestly, I can’t say there’s a big difference between the two. If I had to choose one, I’d go with the plug since it’s so much easier to install and remove. As far as the look alike, it doesn’t happen very often, but it seems I can recall it happening once or twice. 😎

[@terryflanagan8349]

is there a particular height for the mower deck that is recommended while using the mulching kit? I just ordered one based on this video. I have the plug and I’m not thrilled with it, i’m hoping for better results with the kit.

[@DIYBoomers]

It seems that the recommended height for mulching is around 3”. But that also depends on the variety of grass that you have. Some varieties could be cut a little shorter, so I would suggest looking up the recommended mowing height for your particular variety. We live in the Midwest U.S. with hot summers so we have fescue in our lawn which needs to be mowed at a height of 3 - 4 inches. So we actually mulch at 3 1/2” - 3 3/4”. Another consideration is trying not to cut more than 1/3 of the grass height when you mow which is healthier for the grass. Also, leaving it a little taller in prolonged heat is less stressful on the grass. You didn’t mention whether your question was for mulching grass or leaves. Both the plug and the insert kit work great for mulching leaves. Grass, on the other hand is more of a challenge for us in early spring when the grass is thick, sometimes wet and is growing like crazy. We have found that, in early spring, the best procedure for us is to use the mulching blades, but not use the plug or the insert and hold the discharge chute up somewhat with a bungee cord in order to disperse the clippings as not to leave any clumping. We did try using the plug and pulling the sweeper while mowing. That worked well for eliminating clumps, but made mowing in tight areas difficult. Of course you could use the plug or the insert and then follow up with a sweeper afterwards, but that’s a lot of extra work. I was hoping for a better result with grass mulching but springtime has proved to be a little heavy for us. Summer and fall are not a problem for mulching grass. Your type of grass and your location could prove to be an entirely different situation for you. Good luck!

[@tlm3574]

I've had the kit on ny LT160 for years but line the versatility you seem to have with thw plug.(plus cleaning and cutting with factory blades). With the kit you can only use the mulching blades. Great video and thanks for the thoughts.

[@DIYBoomers]

Thanks and you’re welcome! Always glad to hear that the info is helpful.

[@Jaspel]

Exactly what I was looking for- thanks.

[@DIYBoomers]

Great, glad it was helpful! You’re welcome.

[@johnludwig2446]

I have a S120 with the mulch plug and it works great for mulching leaves. Insert kit looks like to much work to install. Thanks for the video.

[@DIYBoomers]

Sure, you’re welcome. Can’t argue with that. The plug does a great job.

[@davidcollis4758]

John Ludwig, I just purchased an S120. What is the part number on the mulching plug that you purchased? Thanks and take care.

[@johnludwig2446]

@@davidcollis4758 mulch plug GY20417 Blade kit AM141033

[@davidcollis4758]

@@johnludwig2446 Thank You from one boomer to another.

[@johnludwig2446]

@@davidcollis4758 Your Welcome

[@jms493]

The plug was installed incorrectly. There is a tab cut out on the left side of the plug that goes inside the deck to keep it tight.

[@DIYBoomers]

Right you are! I hadn’t noticed the tab. It hasn’t been a problem not using the tab but it would no doubt make it a better fit. Thanks for the heads up!

[@youmbgtube]

Thanks for the installation video. I just installed the mulch kit on my new S130. Even noticing the notch on the left it still needed a couple blows from my dead blow hammer. For some reason it took me many trials to get the bolt in the deck hole.

[@DIYBoomers]

You’re welcome. Yeah, either one of the mulching options are going to save you from clumps of clippings.

[@timharbeck4934]

I couldn't tell if the first test, using the plug, was also using the standard 3 in 1 blade, or using the dedicated mulching blade?

[@DIYBoomers]

I used the dedicated mulching blades for both the plug and the insert.

[@timharbeck4934]

@@DIYBoomers Thanks. A John Deere dealer near me seemed to indicate I couldn't get the mulching blade without the insert kit.

[@DIYBoomers]

@@timharbeck4934 Don’t know what size you need but here’s a link to the John Deere Store with mulching blades for a 42” deck like I ordered. For some reason, John Deere still hasn’t updated their information on the S100 series. They show these blades fitting the E100 series but don’t say anything about the S100 series. The S100 series replaced the E100 series and they do fit the S130 that I have. www.johndeerestore.com/jdb2cstorefront/JohnDeereStore/en/John-Deere-products/Genuine-Parts/Replacement-Parts/Mower-Blades/Lawn-Mower-Blades-%28-Mulch-%29-for-100%2C-D100%2C-E100%2C-LA100%2C-LT%2C-S200%2C-SST%2C-X300-and-Z200-Series-with-42%22-Deck/p/AM141033 It’s interesting that I noticed the description for the blades saying that they are for use with a mulching “kit”. I refer to the cover plug as just a plug. But if you look at the link to the “plug” below, they call the “plug” - a Mulch Cover Kit. So to avoid any confusion, the mulching blades, which can be bought separately, are intended for use with both the insert kit and the cover plug which they also call a kit. www.johndeerestore.com/jdb2cstorefront/JohnDeereStore/en/John-Deere-products/Genuine-Parts/Mulch-Cover-Kit-/p/GY00115

[@timharbeck4934]

@@DIYBoomers Thank you!

[@mic982]

Boy, could I use a mulching kit or plug when it comes time to deal with all the leaves we get on the grass here. But, how tall can the grass get before the mulching kit or plug become a problem? Any idea, now that it's been over a year since you began mulching this way? Thanks.

[@DIYBoomers]

Actually, we’ve only been mulching for a few months at the end of summer and fall 2021 (in Midwest US). Before that, I never thought it would disperse clippings & leaves enough to avoid raking or sweeping when needed now and then. I was wrong, mulching works great. As far as grass height, we try to cut our cool season variety grass between 3” and 4” per recommendations (a bit higher during any high heat or summer drought). You can google recommended cutting heights for your grass type and geography. Another recommendation for maintaining healthy grass is to try not to cut more than 1/3 of the grass blade when mowing. I’ve seen where some homeowners cut their grass way too short and for one, it stresses the grass which can lead to disease, and for another reason it leaves the lawn looking like a cut hay field that needs to be baled. Mulching will do you no good in that situation and removing that much grass is a huge job in itself. Cool season variety grass should not be cut shorter than 2 1/2”. So I can’t comment on mulching taller grass as we try to get it cut before it gets out of hand. I can say however that cutting it to around 3 1/2”, and no wet conditions, mulching both grass and leaves works great on our lawn. Another benefit of mulching is that it puts nutrients back down into the lawn. Before we started mulching, (if grass got too tall) we would occasionally get a very small amount of grass accumulation in spots that needed to be either raked or swept up with a sweeper attachment. That hasn’t happened since we started mulching. We haven’t come across wet conditions while mulching yet, but we may use the plug in the spring so that we can easily remove it when it gets too wet. On a side note, we do use fertilizer and weed control to keep the lawn healthy, but that’s a whole ‘nother story.

[@mic982]

@@DIYBoomers Thanks for your reply. I'm going to purchase a larger machine than my LA-135 because of some extra property I've picked up (giving me over 3 acres to mow). But I can't find a simple, affordable solution for the larger machine (X590). So, I guess I'll keep the 135 around for mowing around the flower beds and mulching under our maples, apples and plum trees. I don't think they make anything under $300-400 for the 590 and once on the deck, it won't be easy to remove. I'm estimating I only need to mulch about 1/5 or less of that 3+ acres. A mulch plug like you showed us here might be just the ticket for the 135 making it a dedicated mulching machine. Good video, thanks.😃

[@DIYBoomers]

You’re welcome. Good luck!

[@craigs7473]

Thanks, very helpful video.

[@DIYBoomers]

You’re welcome. Glad you found it useful.

[@donflash1128]

I mulch then bag what’s left.

[@cemx86]

at 3:30 he is installing the mulching cover incorrectly. He started with the forward/front hook. He should start with the rear/back hook because the cover has a split tang that goes inside of the mower deck for stability. You can see the tang starting around 3:39. This is explained MUCH better in video kzbin.info/www/bejne/jnLFd32Dq8-Ai8U.

[@DIYBoomers]

Correct. I have previously explained that after someone else pointed that out about the split fitting inside the deck. But honestly, it’s more of a pain in the butt to get the tab behind the deck than it’s worth doing it. The cover stays in place perfectly without fighting it.

[@tlm3574]

It looks like you should be able to just turn the discharge side blade and not have to remove it.

[@donflash1128]

Can you show us how the jack works?

[@DIYBoomers]

Sure. I will add that video when I get a chance. Check back in a week or so.

[@carbo2950]

Gator blades work like tomorrow.

[@DIYBoomers]

Yeah, I’ve often thought about giving them a go. Reviews are always good.

[@donaldjohnson394]

Just so you know, John Deere calls it a deck mulching cover in case someone is searching for it.

[@DIYBoomers]

Yeah, the box that mine came in labels it a mulching cover. Interesting though, if you look for it online at the John Deere Store, there, they call it a Mulch Cover Kit, which is kinda confusing since it is only the cover. Whereas the Mulching Attachment Kit, which is the deck mulching insert, includes mulching blades in the “kit”. www.johndeerestore.com/jdb2cstorefront/JohnDeereStore/en/John-Deere-products/Genuine-Parts/Mulch-Cover-Kit-/p/GY00115

[@user-db9yx2eb1j]

Seriously. You just remulched the mulch plug with the insert mulcher. Flawed analysis.

[@DIYBoomers]

I never said that the mulching for the two methods were exact. It appears that you’re more interested in nit pick carping than comparing the plug and the insert. Your observation was not a revelation. In fact, if you were listening, I mentioned twice during the insert passes that it wasn’t a completely fair comparison since I had run the plug in that area the day before. Even so, there was hardly any residue left after the second pass of either method. So little that I saw no reason to not use the same area for the insert. For those that were viewing who were really just interested in seeing the difference between the plug and the insert, it was pretty clear that there certainly was no big difference between the two in the end. If there was any accumulation after the second passes of either of the two, I wouldn’t have posted that video.