My understanding is hi-lift blades are used in mulch kits, along with a discharge chute blocking arrangement.

Gator blades also mulch, but are used without the discharge chute blocking thingee. With Gator blades, you're mulching, but to a slightly lesser degree than the mulch kit enables you to do.

I just started mulching this year.
I bought the kit (blades plug and baffel) that was designed for my deck.
I would be carefull about using gator blades with your multch kit because I noticed that with the baffel ,things are sorta tight under the deck.
Be prepared to cut your mowing speed down , more frequent deck cleanings and LOTS of dust if dry.
Aside from that , the cut looks great with just a very small windrow of grass on each side of the deck.

djw,

I have the same tractor you do, simplicity regent 18 hp 38 inch deck.

Since mine is setup for side discharge or bagging, I was looking into getting a mulching kit when I purchased the gator blades last year. It worked fine just blowing it out the side. In fact, I think preferable because I notice that tractors setup for just mulching (even with gators, like my neighbor) sometimes clumps when they get overwhelmed. When side discharging, if you plan your passes correctly, you get another shot at mulching the any remaining material.

When I say plan correctly, I start on the outer perimeter and work blowing material in. So everything is going toward the center. At the end of the mow you'll have one or two rows of material. Just do a few passes on it to vaporize.

I've only done leaves with them. No grass yet. I plan on starting mulch my grass in the summer, when it's dry. In the wet spring I'll continue to bag w/the factory blades.

You'll really like these blades for leaf cleanup! I fiddeled around with many gadgets and methods of collecting leaves the past few years. The gators work great. Like others have said, I'll never go back.

I'll add my $0.02 on the gators.

I use them without a mulch plug on my Deere LX176 w/38" deck. I mow high, so good suction is key for getting a good cut.

My cut is very good- I get striping action from the tires pressing the grass, but the cut is even.

Out my side discharge I get a finely ground pulp of grass shooting out the side. Sometimes it'll clump up a little, but setting a good pattern that basically has you passing over where you discharged to will cut down on the clumps.

I have never had anything mulch this good.

i have a simplicity tractor it's a 1989 but works well ,it's a series 6500 my blades are on a spline plus a bolt holding it on.i here a lot about gator blades can some one give me a web. site on where to get info .my tractor has a bag system if that matters thanks