Best 318 mower deck
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111 Posts
Frank,
First of all, welcome to WFM!!!
My 1st. 318 came with a 50” high lift deck. Unfortunately I sold this tractor & deck many years ago. My 2nd. 318 came with a 46” deck. The 50” deck by far out performs the 46” deck.
Last year I picked up a 48” replacement deck with “Tri-Cycle” mulching Kit. It cost an arm and a leg. More than I paid for the tractor. I mow about 2 acres, and have plenty of trees. With the mulching kit on the tri-cycle, I never need to rake or mess with a bagger in the fall. So for me, the new 48" was worth the extra price.
I must also add, this new replacement deck is extremely quite. I do not hear the deck blades at all when it is running, even at WOT. Normally though I only cut at ½ throttle with very good results.
If you are not looking for mulching capabilities, I would go with the 50” deck. In my experience, it did the best job of cutting.
First of all, welcome to WFM!!!
My 1st. 318 came with a 50” high lift deck. Unfortunately I sold this tractor & deck many years ago. My 2nd. 318 came with a 46” deck. The 50” deck by far out performs the 46” deck.
Last year I picked up a 48” replacement deck with “Tri-Cycle” mulching Kit. It cost an arm and a leg. More than I paid for the tractor. I mow about 2 acres, and have plenty of trees. With the mulching kit on the tri-cycle, I never need to rake or mess with a bagger in the fall. So for me, the new 48" was worth the extra price.
I must also add, this new replacement deck is extremely quite. I do not hear the deck blades at all when it is running, even at WOT. Normally though I only cut at ½ throttle with very good results.
If you are not looking for mulching capabilities, I would go with the 50” deck. In my experience, it did the best job of cutting.
Joined
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304 Posts
I will have to agree with Tim. Our 318 has the 50" deck and it has a great cut. Just as good if even better than our new zero turn. I also have the 48 replacement deck on my 140. It does an excellent job too but mine is not mulching.
Quinten
Quinten
I don't mean to change the subject but how come the 50" deck always shoots the grass out the front edge of the chute and once in a while will throw out clumps even though the deck is clean with new blades and the 46" deck we have on our 265 only throws the grass half as far but does a nice even job. We have a Jacobson Turfcat at work with a 72" deck called a deep tunnel wich is a lot like the JD 50" deck and it works the same way Do the deeper decks throw the grass farther?
My 332 has the 50" deck, speed-up pulley, properly adjusted and very sharp medium lift blades. Running WOT at about 1/2 ground speed on level ground, it cuts great at 2 to 2-1/2" high. A 3" and higher cut usually leaves two trails of missed grass between the blades, unless I slow way down. This is probably a combination of higher deck less suction, and the tough Florida Bahia grass I'm mowing.
Joined
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111 Posts
Eric,
JMHO - Assuming blade RPM & Blade lift are close to identical on the decks, the decks with the longer blade length have a little more velocity at the blade tips which results in the grass being thrown further. The 50” deck (and other deep tunnels) also have more lift on the blades which also creates more air flow thru the deck, further increasing the discharge output.
The majority of the airflow is at the tips, and is being redirected via the deck blade shields and outer side contour. If the deck does not have some type of airflow deflector built in, the majority of the grass will always exit at the front edge of the chute on a side discharge.
Clumping is generally a sign of high moisture, too fast of a ground speed, long grass; or a combination of all of these. With a high lift blade in moist grass, the grass will tend to be pressed to the top of the deck (even on a clean deck) until it packs so tight the weight and/or air flow causes it to drop back into the blades to then be discharged as a clump.
JMHO - Assuming blade RPM & Blade lift are close to identical on the decks, the decks with the longer blade length have a little more velocity at the blade tips which results in the grass being thrown further. The 50” deck (and other deep tunnels) also have more lift on the blades which also creates more air flow thru the deck, further increasing the discharge output.
The majority of the airflow is at the tips, and is being redirected via the deck blade shields and outer side contour. If the deck does not have some type of airflow deflector built in, the majority of the grass will always exit at the front edge of the chute on a side discharge.
Clumping is generally a sign of high moisture, too fast of a ground speed, long grass; or a combination of all of these. With a high lift blade in moist grass, the grass will tend to be pressed to the top of the deck (even on a clean deck) until it packs so tight the weight and/or air flow causes it to drop back into the blades to then be discharged as a clump.
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