Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I just picked up an old but in very good condition 8hp  Snapper 26" Hi-Vac ReR. I have been told that snapper does not make a mulching kit for this model. If I manufactured a deck plug from sheet metal could I then install a gator mulching blade and expect good results? Thanks for all the replies in advance..... Paul Gruber

Hi...

I say it's worth a try... Not much $$$ or time...

Maybe thick rubber instead of sheet metal may be easier to construct for the discharge closure... ???

Dave...

It's really the design of the deck that keeps it from being a good mulcher. The oblong or "non round" decks were designed to be side dischargers and sometimes used for bagging but not with as good results. The round deck, 28" and 33" are designed with to provide a ton of vacuum, that combined with the smooth, deep, round underside makes a great mulcher and bagger.

If it were me, I would try to find a Gator Blade and use it without a plug, just let it fly. The grass clippings will be much smaller than with a regular blade and will sink down in the grass, though not as fast as with a Ninja mulching set up.

Here's one....Jacks Small Engine

Thanks for the link....Just what exactly does " punched for high lift deflector 79-724" mean?

Paul6506 wrote:
Thats for the wings that bolt on for the bagger. If you dont have the bagger you dont need the wings. But i think all the stock blades have the holes at least all the ones i have ever bought did. Now my gator blade dont but its not made for bagging.

Hey Paul

Do you know what model your Snapper RER is? 

I used to have an older 28" Simplicity RER but I don't believe it was a Hi-Vac.  We actually received a deck plug with ours, however, after trying it a time or two, I thought it was more of a pain than helpful....would clog if the grass had any dampness on it whatsoever.  I think the gator blade is the way to go...cutting the grass fine so it will actually help thicken your grass, keep moisture in. 

BTW....if you didn't receive a manual with yours, you may be able to download one off their website.  I did that for ours. 

Paula

P.S. Great name, BTW.  LOL

jodyand wrote: Jody's got it nailed.

Why would gator blades be punched for the wings? The picture of the gator blade shows the blade with the upturned "claws". Or is this a generic picture?

Paula, I don't have the model number off hand as the mower was a gift for my dad.I do know it is a series 6 with a 8hp B&S. He has a small yard and has always pushed. His health requires my son to push mow or for him to ride. I did get the owners manual(s). Mower and engine. I can stop by dads place  and look for the model number. The thing has killer vacuum. It's just dad is not to steady on his feet and dumping the bagger would be a bit difficult for him. He has always mulched in the past. I was hoping I could keep this simple for him. 

Thats where I think the Gator blades would help to keep things simple for your dad.  Should cut the grass fine enough that bagging wouldnt' be necessary and he gets to mulch as he is used to doing.  Also, by adding the deck plug, he may have to deal with getting down and digging out grass from underneath the deck if there is any dampness to the grass....even just dew.  This way, the clippings still shoot out but fine like mulch.  The best of all worlds, IMO. 

Paula

Good question, I was thinking about it myself. Call Jacks and ask them because here at 11:01PM my brain is not coming up with it. Maybe it's punched through the claws and when installed makes it to where the claws are covered by the wing either in front of it or on the back? That way it becomes a dedicated bagging blade. But that makes no sense because you might as well just have a separate regular blade with the high lift wings and just swap blades. You're sure not going install and then take those damn wings off everytime you want to mulch or bag. 

Maybe they are punched to be mounted inside the claws, toward the middle of the blade, then you have the wing and the claws to the outside of it so they'll still be effective?

I love my Gator blades!!!!  Sorry, couldnt resist praisin dem Gators, and not the ones from Gainesville.

Paula wrote:

This is a great point Paula....I should of thought of this. Thanks for doing so for me.

You're welcome Paul

I wound up cleaning out the deck a few times after mowing some damp grass and that was enough to convince me to take off the deck plug.  What I did was just mow counter clockwise so that I ran over the grass I had already mowed which cut it up fine enough to be mulch. 

Paula