Seems the only ones available require mulching blades to replace the blades that already come with the mower.

Anybody make a dedicated self propelled mulcher with blades already installed?

Honda?
Mine works great.

Honda

https://youtu.be/ZWO4IPjpdy4

Same experience as 220-9er. Our Honda does a fine job mulching - provided we mow every week. If the grass gets really long we tend to bag it.

Ditto on Honda. Their mowers have "universal" blades, which can be used both for mulching and bagging.


Also, swapping blades isn't that big of a deal.

Even if it comes with mulching blades already installed, you're going to be removing/reinstalling the blades once or twice a year anyway, for sharpening purposes.

And a set of new blades is like $30.

Replacing the blades takes like 5 minutes and doesn't require any specialized tools.


So find a mower with the feature you like (again, I'd recommend a Honda), and only then figure out if it already comes with blades suitable for mulching, or if you'd need to spend another $30 on a set of dedicated mulching blades to install.

Yeah Honda again.

I have and heartily suggest a Toro Super Recycler.

I understand honda makes a great motor, but my Toro is simply amazing, and has been trouble free for 5 years. Lots of power, and it mulches like a dream.

I have the aluminum deck, it is simply fantastic.
I love that it remains running, and disengages the blade as well, so I am not constantly restarting if I am bagging.
The walk behind feature, where it goes at my pace, is also a great upgrade from normal mowers with a lever to engage the wheel drive.

quote:

Originally posted by Dreamerx4:
I have the aluminum deck, it is simply fantastic.

Some of the Hondas are available with NeXite decks, which is a polymer with a lifetime warranty. Same anti-rust purpose as aluminum decks.

quote:

I love that it remains running, and disengages the blade as well, so I am not constantly restarting if I am bagging.

Yep, that's a great feature. Also available on some Hondas, where it's known as "Rotostop".

Per lots of recommendations from here, I purchased a Honda HRX-217 mower last year and absolutely love it. Got the Hydrostatic Drive model and I'm glad I did, this thing is a beast in a good way.

The polymer deck will never rust out and makes maneuvering it very easy and it's got self-propelled speeds from turtle to full-run-to-keep-up-with it.

I have two big trees in my yard with very tough leaves and this thing happily purees them right up, I bag them and dump at my curb for collection but it also does an excellent job of mulching the grass without the bag and leaving very fine clippings to serve as fertilizer. I even run over all the hickory nuts and hulls my neighbors tree dumps and it chews those right up too.

At around $1200 it was not cheap but it will last forever.

I was down to the Toro and the Honda and after trying my neighbor's HRX-217, I was sold:

(stock photo):

I bought a Self propelled Honda based on reports from people here. I have not regretted it. It’s one of the best, if not the best mower I’ve ever used.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
Per lots of recommendations from here, I purchased a Honda HRX-217 mower last year and absolutely love it. Got the Hydrostatic Drive model and I'm glad I did, this thing is a beast in a good way.

My newest Honda purchased last year is an HRX217 as well. Well worth the increased cost over the lower tier Honda mowers I had previously owned, which were dependable but lacking in features.

I wanted a HRX217HYA with the Hydrostatic transmission, but this was mid-2020-shutdown, the local Honda dealer said there weren't any left available in the supply channel, and Honda wasn't producing any more at that time since they were focusing their limited production capacity on the better selling models.

So I settled for the HRX217VYA with Select Drive instead. (Besides the type of self-propelled drive, otherwise identical.)

Just want self propelled mulching mower, won't use bagging attachment. Already have tractor for cutting grass (don't bag) but now with the leaves falling and covering the ground, really just want to mulch leaves into the ground.

Currently just have a small corded mower with mulching blades but the cord is a pain and it's small and not self propelled. Takes forever.

quote:

Originally posted by RogB:
Just want self propelled mulching mower, won't use bagging attachment. Already have tractor for cutting grass (don't bag) but now with the leaves falling and covering the ground, really just want to mulch leaves into the ground.

Currently just have a small corded mower with mulching blades but the cord is a pain and it's small and not self propelled. Takes forever.

So on the Honda....you turn the knob to mulch and you put that bag away:

My current mower is a 1990s era Honda commercial with the aluminum deck and shaft drive to the transmission. Fifty bucks out of the local classifieds, and a simple fix of the drive shaft. I love that mower. I have three older Hondas in the shed. The other two are HRM215, with the GX series engines. You will go through lots of bags because the mowers last forever.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
So on the Honda....you turn the knob to mulch and you put that bag away:

Yep. I haven't touched the bag since I bought it. I mulch 100% of the time.

Another Honda vote Get the model with two blades and rear propelled.Mine is about ten years old so the model of mine want help you.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
So on the Honda....you turn the knob to mulch and you put that bag away:

Yep. I haven't touched the bag since I bought it. I mulch 100% of the time.

Do the blades that come with mower need to be changed to mulching blades?

I have three years on my Honda, it's been worry-free. I mulch and bag, depending on the situation. Electric start and lightweight deck, it's the last mower I ever plan to buy.

quote:

Originally posted by RogB:

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
So on the Honda....you turn the knob to mulch and you put that bag away:

Yep. I haven't touched the bag since I bought it. I mulch 100% of the time.

Do the blades that come with mower need to be changed to mulching blades?

Both my Honda mowers came with the double blade, so no changing to switch between bagging and mulching.
My first lasted 15 years and the second one is through its 9th season.

Never had any issues with either. The first one's Hydrostatic drive went at 14 years; everywhere my else was good, but I got tired of pushing it after a year and replaced it.

I opted for a Toro with a Honda motor. It’s 22” FWD. i bought from Home Depot earlier this year. I mainly use it for trimming while I use my 50” cub cadet for most of the yard.