Rear discharge mower decks?

Are there any JD decks made currently with rear discharge?
Are there downsides to rear discharge?


I do not collect my grass, never have. Am tired of riding in a cloud of dead grass blown out the flap and have learned dearly not to take that flap off. The cloud got worse, even though I could get through tighter spaces...new engine at low hours as I did not take the thing apart for cleaning in time.

So why not rear discharge? I am not into fancy mow patterns on the lawn, short is best. I drag a lawn sweeper around when I want dried garden mulch. Your experience and opinion, please. Leo. 5 acres of old farmstead grass, gopher mounds and mole hills!

You didnt say what JD tractor it would go on. I havent ever seen a L&G tractor deck that is rear discharge. Not sure how it would be better. Your cloud of grass would just end up packing in the underside of the tractor, causing other problems. I know baggers are a PITA, but its the best option to contain grass clippings.
Maybe a self powered tag along mower?
Untitled URL Link

There are several you tube videos on this subject.

https://www.deere.com/en/mowers/lawn-tractors/x300-series/x350-lawn-tractor-collect-mower/

I have a couple of older Case decks that are rear discharge. Great for fall lawn cleanup with a tow behind sweeper. They lay down a 16 wide strip between the rear wheels that the sweeper gets in one pass. For normal mowing without sweeping they leave an unsightly strip unless the grass is really short. I let mine grow to long between cuttings for that.

John Deere did make a rear discharge mower deck. You might want to visit your Deere dealership.

Our church has a large Grasshopper zero-turn with a 72 rear discharge deck and I've been impressed by it. As others have said if the grass is really long there can be some windrowing but in any kind of normal conditions it does a great job. I use it to mow in our cemetery and for work like this being able to trim close on both sides is a real benefit. And, like you said, if it's windy not having clippings blowing over you is a very nice thing. If I was delinquent in mowing soon enough and there is some windrowing just another pass over breaks it up and levels things out pretty decent.

The X350R is the current rear-discharge Deere model. Many (most? all?) of the side discharge models also have mulch plate options. I have one installed on my 60 deck.
Deere X350R rear discharge

I am using a JDX354 all wheel steer with a 54? deck to mow an old farm yard, mostly not level but the only steep places are the county road bank facing me and with liquid in the rear tires for winter time snow blowing the ride is pretty rougn. I priced new rears for summer work, but the thought of struggling with those heavy wheels, dissed that idea

I have two 60 inch tow mowers needing some work and even tried pulling both of them at once, the clumsiness of hooking and unhooking to get through some places was too much. The reason I bought those tow mowers was to mow more slowly over this rough ground and that worked somewhat. The tow mowers simply did not have capacity, so I had to go slow, even as I repowered one with and 18hp engine. So as this and that broke on them, I just speeded the JD up and hung on....got the job done in about the same time.

My little bit of heaven is 6 acres of old farm yard here in NE Iowa with old buildings, old rotting maples, small garden at least 100 new trees and bushes the wife and I planted and watered...some are knee high with rabbit cages, some are 6-10 feet high with three steel posts to save them from buck deer fall rubbing season and a few are 20-30 feet high and thriving. So this 4 wheel steer JD rider has been perfect for all the turning.
Usually cannot mow until after lunch due to dew.

Each session takes about 4 afternoons to complete...about 4 hours each. Our normal rains might mean mowing each week or two. The JD has been fairly trouble free but the gophers and moles and old rotting tree stump locations make it a rough ride even with 3 pillows. At 88 years old, I guess I will have to try the very slow pulling the tow mower again, even though this type of rider was not meant to pull much of anything. I hope this is not seen as complaining because I like to be outside running machinery and do not want to move back to the city and sit around picking my nose....just trying to find better ways of coping, This board, I know, is pretty familiar with mowing, hence my post.

Thanks for reading, and already found out the answer to my question that JD does make a rear discharge deck. I will investigate. Leo

Sorry, I am using an X534 with a 54 cut. About 10 seasons old. Leo

You put the flap back on? I took mine off years ago (JD345 w 54) as without the chute flap the mower does a much better job of spreading out the clippings.

Tim

I have a Wheel Horse 520 with a 60 rear discharge deck.

Wisbaker, does your rear discharge cause any problems with the rear end of the tractor getting plugged up with cut grass? Do the rear wheels pack some of it down on the ground. I am not looking for a super neat lawn (short is good!)but am tired of fighting wind direction driving how I mow and always seem to have a cloud of last mowing dead stuff circulating around me and the engine cooling air intake in the hood. Leo

no. It's no the best mower deck I've used but it's okay

I know nothing about rear discharge in other brands,but I have had a lot of experience with Wheel Horse rear discharge decks.Enough so that I will never use a side discharge on them again.If the grass is tall enough that I leave a windrow,it is a wide one.The biggest thing is that I never have to run over my previous windrow,making it bigger.My old 73 and 75 tractors have hubcaps,and the grass WILL fill them up.The funny part about that is the grass in there is always dry,with no moulding when they sit.Whenever I find Wheel Horse rear discharge decks I grab them,even if they are only good for parts.I have three nice 4 foot side discharge decks that I will probably never use again.

I thought I wanted one because the wind is always blowing clippings back in my face with a side discharge. Reason I didn't was because I looked at the available area and considered wet conditions, which is all you get in the spring when new grass is rampart, I figured that it would clump rather than be scattered and decided against it.....the only reason.

What you really need is a 60 inch Zero turn. My new Ferris rides good, and has cut my mowing time by 3 hours. I have been running a front deck JD for years,I can't believe how much time I am saving.If you have room between things you really should have a 72 inch deck. I can't get around mom's yard with one,too many things in the way.