Pros & Cons of a Rear Discharge Deck On Zero Turn Mowers

Great video mate! As a professional contractor I use a mix of both side discharge (fitted with chute blockers) and rear discharge mowers depending on the job. For our maintained properties we usually run with the side discharge machines, but we also do a lot of overgrown lawns, slashing jobs and contract work where rear discharge decks are required for safety and efficiency. All your points are very valid and correct, you're never going to get a good cut from a RD deck, they're designed for making long grass short as fast as possible, but they are definitely the best way to go for roadside work and super long grass that you want to smash down. So far my favourite RD mower is my 72" Kubota F3690, it just doesn't stop for anything.

Great video! I just bought the z930m with the fastback 60 deck for home use and love it. Great cut and I like that I can trim with both sides of the deck.

Thank you for this video. I have been wanting a rear discharge but most salesmen talk me out of it. Now that JD makes one I will be trying it for sure.

Have mowed last 2 years with JD Ztrak 994 with the rear discharge deck and love it. Get as good of a cut as I did with my previous side discharge machine and ability to mow along parking lots in commercial areas is great. Also easy to load on my trailer without having to account for discharge chute. The diesel engine on the 994 has also been a great improvement with plenty of power to mow through the toughest grass. Haven’t had any problems with excess clippings on my deck. All in all, I love the rear discharge and wouldn’t switch back.

I got this mower specifically to be able to drive it through a 36 inch door youtube.com/post/Ugkx1VWTrayKBdCKAjzAcZ_Eg4dhHTae3… also recommend or gate It is a little tight with the grass deflector installed but has more clearance with the deflector replaced by the recycler/mulcher. This model appears to be popular and a little harder to find for that reason. I can't judge the dependability as I have only mowed the yard twice but everything else on the mower is very nice and working fine so far. I added options for the run hour timer, arm backrests, recycler/mulcher, towing bracket, deck lift assist and cover.

There are definitely pros and cons on rear discharge decks. We have one specifically for cemetery’s and commercial areas that have narrow grass strips between parking areas and buildings to reduce stuff thrown out from under the deck. And in our experience they do really well if your mowing well maintained areas. Once you get into really tall or really damp grass side discharge really is better.

Great review 👍🏻

Great job, Thank you. I agree with everything you said.

Rear discharge decks work well in cemetery and municipal environments. If grass is taller and or wet/damp, performance can be reduced somewhat. Takes a little more horse power possibly. And create more dust and grass clippings around the engine compartment and sub frame? Over all a good choice

We use JD mowers with mulch decks in Florida with zero problems when you mulch grass you can only cut 1/3 of the grass height if you cut short all year long it won't work 👍👍

I've had the rear discharge for 2 seasons now and it has become a nuisance. True enough, weekly commercial properties, the clippings left behind aren't too bad. But for any tall grass or biweekly properties, especially in mid summer when the grass is dry, it creates a wake of hay in the passes. And in return, creates extra clean up time. Nearly 15 to 30 minutes per quarter acre, if you want to leave a clean appearance. And when time is money and quality of the finished product matters, it's been costly

You msn, you gotta try the new EGO string Z6 riding mower and put it head to head what the gas mowers and see how they compare

nice video thanks.

Solid info, I appreciate the realistic pros and cons. I value that you aren’t always “this is the best thing ever created” and you actually give pertinent user info. What are your thoughts on the Twheels? Do you notice much difference riding comfort wise?

The have two z997s. One 72" side discharge one 60" rear discharge. The disadvantage i find is radiator placement. I have to constantly blow the rad out on the rear discharge mower

I have the rear discharge Z930m and it definitely gathers a ton of grass in the motor area. After ever mowing, I have to be intentional in cleaning as much of the grass clippings out of the area where the battery sits. I've found that the grass can impede the handbrake from being able to engage. Another MAJOR issue is the grass clippings it leaves behind your mower. It takes up soooooo much time to clean up where you mow. If you're not mowing a property every 5-10 days, you'll always have a hay field to clean up once you're finished. I either have to double or triple cut, rake, or blow every property to spread the clippings out so the grass can be seen. And that adds time to each job. And we all know, time is money. I'm almost afraid of how leaf season is going to be. Ateast with a side discharge I could direct the clippings to one area and clean them up instead of an entire yard.

nice mower

Rear discharge in dry grass will block a vertical mount radiator screen when the radiator is at the rear end . John Deere do this in the ztr . When located horizontal above engine the radiator blocks less . Radiator vertical behind seat vertically blocks way way less

I have kicked the rear discharge idea around, but where I am the turf is almost always overgrown in even a weeks time, and they struggle for a clean looking finish. Do you find you need to double cut at all?

Hi, any thoughts on the Deere mulching kit available for the rear discharge deck? Would that change your decision for home use?