Craftsman Advanced Mulching and Bagging Blade. For 21 inch, 22 inch, 42 inch, 46 inch, 50 inch Decks.
Craftsman has introduced the best mulching and bagging blade for your mower. I have been using this style of blade for over 20 years on both my commercial and homeowner mowers and hands-down this is the best blade you can get for all of your mowing needs.
- 21 inch Advanced Mulching Blade
The original inventor of this style blade named them ‘Gator Blades” because they chew and cut your grass clippings, leaves, and debris into tiny pieces. The clippings are cut up much smaller than what is left by the conventional Craftsman mulching blades you now have on your mower. In fact, I think these blades are equal to or better than the Snapper “Ninja” and the Toro “Recycler” blade systems. I currently have this style of blade on my 30″ riding mower and my 21″ trim mower. I have both mowers set up to mulch and I don’t even think about picking up leaves. The blades just make the leaves disappear.
The blades cut up the grass clippings much finer than conventional mulching blades and because of that you have fewer problems with thatch build-up in your lawn. The smaller clippings decompose more quickly and help fertilize your lawn. On bluegrass if you set your mower to 3 1/2 to 4 inches and aerate every two years you will effectively eliminate the need for fertilizer and weed control. (The clippings fertilize and the higher setting shades the ground so dandelions and other weeds can’t grow.) I can show you a 2 acre lawn near Albany, Ill were this type of blade has been used for about 10 years now. The bluegrass lawn is so thick and weed-free that you can sleep in it.
The Craftsman Advanced Mulching and Bagging Blade also throws well so it doubles as a great bagging blade. The advantage for bagging is the blades cut up the clippings a lot more than conventional bagging blades so you can get a lot more into your bagger. You will be pleasantly surprised at how well dry leaves get ground up.
Pros:
- Delivers greater mulching and bagging performance
- Reduces the size of grass clippings by up to 50%
- Fewer dumps when bagging grass clippings
- Produces a more even cut, cleaner cut that helps to prevent a ragged or frayed lawn
- Reduces thatch build up
- Heavier than a standard blade. You can resharpen them
Cons:
- You need to be aware that this blade cuts and mulches differently than a conventional mulching or bagging blade and it will leave a mess if you try to mow tall grass when it is wet. This is only a problem usually with side discharging and during your lawn’s high growth season. For example, you didn’t have time to mow your lawn last week so you need to cut 4 or more inches off. And this week the only time you can mow is early in the morning when there is a heavy dew or it’s been raining all day. When you mow some of the clippings get left on top of the lawn because of the excessive amount you are trying to cut and it being so wet. The next day when they dry it looks like Fluff or cotton balls all over your yard.
- There are two things you can do to fix this or keep it from happening. First, if you have to mow when the lawn is long and wet ….. SLOW DOWN! Mow at half the speed you normally mow at. This will give the blades more time to chew up the clippings. If you are side-discharging overlap your path so you are cutting the clippings twice. Second, after the lawn has dried and you have this “fluff” all over your yard don’t feel you have to rake it all up, just go back and mow it again. The fluff will disappear.
Here is an updated set of links. There has been a lot of questions about finding these blades and the mulch cover (plug) for the decks. These are the right ones!
Walk-Behind Mowers
Craftsman 22″ Advanced Bagging and Mulching Blade (HOP circle hole pattern) Your Mower Model Number Starts With 917 Most Popular
Craftsman 22″ Advanced Bagging and Mulching Blade (HOP star hole pattern) Your Mower Model Number Starts With 917
Craftsman 22″ Advanced Bagging and Mulching Blade (MTD hole pattern) Your Mower Model Number Starts With 247
Craftsman 21″ Advanced Mulching and Bagging Blade Your Mower Model Number Starts With 917
Craftsman 21″ Advanced Dethatching and Bagging Blade Universal Fit.
Lawn Tractor & Zero Turn Blades
Craftsman 42″ Advanced Mulching and Bagging Blade Set Your Tractor Model Number Starts With 917
42″ Craftsman Advanced Bagging and Mulching Blade (MTD hole pattern) Your Tractor Model Number Starts With 247
Craftsman 46 in. Advanced Mulching and Bagging Blade Set Your Tractor Model Number Starts With 917
Craftsman 50″ Advanced Bagging and Mulching Blade (HOP star hole pattern) Your Tractor Model Number Starts With 917
50″ Craftsman Advanced Bagging and Mulching Blade (MTD hole pattern) (Set 3) Your Tractor Model Number Starts With 247
Mulch Plug – Cover Plate
For 917 Tractors Craftsman Tractor Mulch Plug for 42″ Decks
42 inch Mulcher Plate Assembly. For 917 Tractors From Sears Part Direct Mulching Cover Assembly It is Sears Part No. 198383
46 inch Mulcher Plate Assembly. For 917 TractorsFrom Sears Part Direct Mulch Plug It is Sears Part No. 532406581 or 406581
Just more stuff below:
21 in. Advanced Mulching and Bagging Blade
The Craftsman 21 in. Advanced Mulching and Bagging Blade is designed for your Craftsman push, front-propelled and rear-propelled walk-behind mower. The blade replaces part numbers 33275 (406712), 33521 (406706), 33363 (180459), 33364 (159267).
42 in. Advanced Mulching and Bagging Blade Set
The Craftsman 42 in. Advanced Mulching and Bagging Blade Set is designed for your 42 inch Craftsman Deck. The blade set replaces part numbers 24652 (138971), 24676 (134149), 24757 (139775).
42 or 46 inch Advanced Mulching Blade Set
46 in. Advanced Mulching and Bagging Blade Set
The Craftsman 46 in. Advanced Mulching and Bagging Blade Set is designed for your 46 inch Craftsman Deck. The blade set replaces part numbers 24004 (152443), 24015 (176084), 33285 (405380), 33286 (403107)
Craftsman does not offer this blade for the 38 inch, 48 inch, and 54 inch decks. If you have a Craftsman Professional Zero-Turn contact me and I’ll help you find a set of Gator Blades for it.
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Craftsman Advanced mulching blade
Great blade! You can barely see the clippings; it almost turns the grass into dust. As long as grass isn't tall, I don't even have to blow the driveway. The ONLY negative I have (had) with installation was the directions saying the blade had to face up. Depending on how the lawn mower was sitting, up is (was) confusing. YouTube was no help; and it wasn't until I went to a site and saw the written words "blades facing towards the bottom of the mower" that I was satisfied. Maybe a girl thing, but an arrow or clear box directions would have saved time..
Response: I know.. I always say \"Put the pointy side up, towards the deck\"
@Tony, I’m not mulching this summer but I think I remember where I put the plug. I’ll look for it tomorrow.
Paul: Could you send or post a pic or diagram of the wooden mulch plug you made? It sounds like the best way to replace the plastic cover that got chewed up by my mower the second time I used it!
@Andy, Your Professional PYT9000 was made for Craftsman by MTD. The 5 hole pattern is a Husqvarana built exclusive pattern.
This is the wrong time of the year to find blades if your local store is out of stock. They won’t be back until next May or so.
But, Cub Cadet uses the same deck and the blades for it will fit…………….
Paul – I have a PYT9000 Tractor 46 inch deck that has the MTD hole pattern (6 point star hole) in the blades. Sears only sells the 46 inch mulching blade in the 5 point star hole pattern. Do you know why they went from 5 to a 6 point hole pattern? Can’t find any mulching blades that fit (6 point hole pattern).
Thanks,
Andy
@gregg, I don’t have the part number for the MTD plugs. The plugs listed are for the Husqvarana built decks. I never had a chance to open up a mulch kit at a store for the PYT’s because the kits were in very short supply this year.
What is the correct plug for the PYT9000 model # 28888. Sears can’t get me one!
The metal mulch cover plate on my Murray was the same gauge steel as the deck and it bolted on to the deck. It became a part of the deck and lasted 15 years and was still like new when I got rid of the Murray. The plastic mulch cover on my previous mower (Weedeater, made by AYP I think ’cause the plastic cover looks the same as the YT-4000 one) lasted maybe 2 years. The plastic broke where the spring clips attached and I had to tie it on to the deck. Then the cover got pushed into the blades when I brushed the deck against edging stones while making a turn. Now the cover had a 4 inch hole in it. I’ll choose a metal cover any day of the week, but apparently nobody makes one for these newer AYP mowers.
@Keith, Not that I’m aware of. Even the metal plugs don’t last and at least the plastic ones don’t throw hazardous objects when they fail.
The metal mulch plug on my Dixon lasted 3 years. I caught a stick in the deck and bent the plug enough that the blade caught it and tore it into a ball before I could get the deck turned off. At least the discharge on the Dixon was designed so that I could take a 2×6 and fashion a plug for it. That wooden plug has lasted me 5 years now.
The mulch plug for the 46″ deck is part #406581 and I found it on searpartsdirect and elsewhere. It looks like the same style cheap plastic plug like I had on my last 38″ deck tractor which lasted only a couple of seasons before the plug broke, and then it got sucked into a blade and a huge hole got torn in it. It’s a long shot, but is there a compatible metal plug for the 46″ deck? My old Murray had a metal plug and it lasted longer than the mower, about 15 years.
@Brett, Sorry, you have them on upside down. The teeth should point up.
I just bought these blades… Do those alligator teeth face down to the ground or up…. i have them facing down and they seem to work but want to make sure as I went by a tree root that was sticking a little out of the ground and now it looks like claw marks all over it.
@John, Look at the end of the blade. There is a flat side and the other side is beveled. The flat side goes down towards the ground.
In other words when you cut the grass, the beveled edge cuts the grass and throws it up into the deck. The rounded inside of the deck throws it into the recutter (curved portion)
The recutter is the curved part you are talking about. The recutter (curved) goes up (into) the deck.
Hi Paul,
I just bought a brand new LT2000 lawn tractor. Model#247.288841 I also bought the advanced mulch kit for this tractor. Part #71 34012 The instruction sheet that comes with the mulch kit says to install the blades with the part # facing the ground. (or it might say “bottom” on blades) My blades have the part # on them. In the diagram it shows the curved blades facing up towards the deck but if I put my part # towards the ground then my curved part of the blade is facing toward the ground. Which is the right way?
I looked up the parts manual Dixon 46and it looks like the mulch plate will fit. The deck is very close if not the same as the 46 inch Craftsman.
Going to searspartsdirect and looking at the 46 inch deck for the 28924 even the parts are labeled the same.Craftsman 46
I have a new Dixon D22KH46 that I would like to use the gator blades on. I am sure these 46" blades would work, but it does not look like the mulch plate would fit this model. Any replacement part suggestions is much appreciated!
Thanks Paul. I have to say that whenever I deal with Sears it’s disappointing, but no one else has the mower selection for the price. It too 45 min on the phone to even get the tech scheduled, because I got transferred 8 times and disconnected once. I just wanted a new upper chute (there was also a fit issue with the chute). I’ve posted on MySears, had also posted on their other site “ManageMyLife”. They make this social marketing thing way too confusing.
@Rick, I suggest calling service back and ask for a “seasoned tech” The way I understand it, if you bought the bagger with the mower it will have the same warranty as the tractor. If you bought it on a separate receipt it will have a one-year warranty.
If you have problems with service get on mysears.com and post in the disscusion boards. Or send a direct message to JulieK. She will get you in touch with the right people to get this issue resolved.
Paul:
As I said on Twitter, I bought the 46″ Gator blades from Sears and put them on my new 46″ Sears mower. Sometimes we bag, using our new two bag soft bag system. The full indicator doesn’t spin, so when Sears Tech came for something else he looked at it and said it’s due to the Gator Blades not pushing enough air (but they bag just fine). He took it apart and said the hole is there, and the part is fine. I wasn’t home, but can’t understand how grass can fly by it yet not spin the indicator. He told me to put the regular blades back on and try it, but I’m not wasting my time doing it. Indicator spins fine with your finger.
Anyone else have this trouble? I’m going to ask Sears for a new indicator, the Tech couldn’t order it since the mower is the warranteed item (what a crock).
@Travis,
The advanced mulching blades will only be available for the YT 3000 and YT 4000 series tractors for 2010. The LT series and professional series will not get those blades this year.
The mulch plug by itself will not be available for the LT series either. The 33748 mulching kit will be available but it looks like at least May before that is here.
You may try Amazon.com for gator blades. The pattern is a standard MTD. Search for 42 inch MTD gator blades. For more info you can go to http://www.oregonchain.com/homeowner/products/lawn_garden/blades.htm
no the advanced 42 inch blades are the 5 point star pattern
ok I guess it is a 2010. But the blades are a 6 point star pattern. You know where to get the plug for this deck?
thanks
@ Travis,
I’m really confused. The 247.28901 is the 2010 model. I can find no record of an old 28901 model all the way back to 2002.
The 33748 number is the right number for the current 28901 but it is probably not available yet. I expect it to be available by May 1st.
Does the hole pattern for your blade look like it has three flat sides instead of a star? If it does you can measure the length of your blade and then go to
Oregon Gator Blades. Find the right blade length and center hole from the pictures.Let me know what you find out.
If you are looking out on the web, you are looking for an MTD 42″ deck.
I have a holdover Craftsman 42″ rider model#247.28901 and have tried numerous times to get the right mulch kit (plug and GATOR like blades. The plug never fits and the star pattern is not the same.Can you tell me the proper kit that fits my mower? Sears says #33748 but can not be found and like I said I want the gator like blades. Plug # would help greatly. Thanks
@Graffeo,
The part is NOT available on sears.com. Please click on the searpartsdirect banner below the article or on the right side of your screen and search for the part there.
I can't tell what tractor or deck the mulch plug that you found is for.
The searspartsdirect is a completely separate division of sears.
I'm looking for a mulch plug for our new 42" craftsman mower. I was able to find Item# 07133472000 Model# 33472 on Sears.com, but nothing came up when I searched for the part number you gave have listed in this article. Is it not available for the general public? Or is there a certain way I need to go about ordering it?
Thanks
@Mark,
<img src="http://www.todaysmower.com/images/guest-post-mistakes.jpg" alt="OOPS" />
The 42 inch mulch plate is Sears Part No. 198383
The 46 inch mulch plate is Sears Part No. 532406581
I took both part numbers directly from the instruction sheets that came in the mulch kit assembly box.
AHHHHH! I must be Dyslexic!!!!! The numbers were backwords in the mulch article.
I'm really sorry for that mistake…
I've ordered the 46 inch Mulcher Plate Assembly. It is Sears Part No. 198383 according to your website. Twice they've sent me one for a 42 inch deck are you sure these part numbers are correct? talking to the sears parts people on the phone is if its not listed for your tractor its not available, any help would be appreciated
Fyi, I am planning on getting the advanced mulcher blades, which do not come with the cover.
Question for you: The regular mulcher kit comes with a cover for the side discharge. Is this cover necessary? I have the part # for it, but don't want to spend $ for something that is not needed.
@ chrisincanada
If we can't find a way to get the blades through Sears go to http://www.gatorblade.com/ and ask them if they will ship a set to you.
I want a set of these blades!!!! I thought about getting a set on my next shopping trip down to Buffalo but since we need a passport to cross the border now (and we don’t have one) does anyone know if Sears USA will ship to Canada?