mbsl98, I think you may be confusing "high lift" with "high vaccumm". With mulching, the special blade causes additional turbulence _above_ the blade making the cut grass fall into the blades again and again. As a matter of fact, I would think that mulching decks would have less vaccumm since the air flow isn't quick in and quick out, but in and continuous cut.

-gh

I don't think I am mixing things up here - High lift in my mind refers to blades that create more vacuum to lift up the grass and also force it up the bagging chute with the added air flow created by that same lift action. I am just interested to see if other Freedom operators notice that there doesn't seem to be much lift or added air-flow around the deck. Other threads on mulching frequently refer to the need for high lift to get the grass blades to stand up tall for cutting, and the dust, etc. created while doing it, and that is really behind my interest here since my Freedom seems to be the opposite. As I said, it works great as is, just a question of how others think their decks compare.

mbs198, I have a Simplicity 40 inch mulching deck. This seems to be similar in design to the JD Freedom deck: it also has 2 counter-rotating blades linked by a timing belt. I also noticed the same as you - there is little apparent lift, so at lawn edges, the grass growing outwards from the edge does not get pulled upright into the deck. Also, twigs, and even some leaf stalks, are not picked up. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it does nevertheless pick up leaves and turns them into dust, and the mulching action on grass is amazing - the cuttings do seem to vanish.

mbs,

Up until now, I have only used Gator blades. I became intrigued with all the chatter about mulchinig and decided to purchase the mulch kit for my 2210. After the first few mows, I was prepared to discard the kit. After a few more, I am undecided . . . although less so in favor of the discarding.

A mulching deck is different and operates differently. Conditions are important, as well as intervals between cuts.

You mention the picking up aspect. In this regard, the mulching setup fails miserably. Plain Gators will suck up everything you want and don't; the mulching kit just clips off the top of the grass.

Although I have another set of Gators on order, I'll continue to play around with the mulch kit.

Cheers

JDFANATIC

I was forced to go from the Gators back to the JD mulchers after hitting some surface roots...and ruined a spindle too!
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The original JD blades were so quite...I was amazed...but after a few mowings I have ordered a new set of hi-lift Gators....They have a real advantange if the grass has grown over 5" ,,,I think they are the best blade you can run...I will update you when I have the new set on!

I too have a Freedom 42 deck and noticed the same thing as you -- not a lot of suction to suck up the grass. However, this deck does an AWESOME job cutting grass and not bagging is quite a treat. However, I do find I have to make two passes if the grass is really tall otherwise I find myself clumping (I've found you can either go really slow and make one pass or go fast and make two passes). The bugs are bad in my area so I tend to make two 'fast' passes.

Beyond that, I'm very happy with the deck and am glad I got it.