Guide · Mulching kits and mulch plugs
John Deere MulchControl kits
John Deere sells MulchControl kits by deck and machine. BUC11053 for the 42A deck, BUC11529 for the Z370R Electric, and what the S240 needs before bagging.
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Short answer
John Deere sells MulchControl kits by deck and machine. BUC11053 is for the 42A deck, with a baffle opened and closed by a lever on top of the deck.[1] BUC11529 is a separate lever-action kit for the 42A deck on the Z370R Electric zero-turn.[2] On the S240's 42-inch deck, Deere says the rear MulchControl baffle must be removed before the bagger chute goes on.[3]
Kits by deck and machine
| Kit | Deck | Machine (Deere's listing) |
|---|---|---|
| BUC11053 MulchControl | 42A | No model list on the page[1] |
| BUC11529 MulchControl | 42A | Z370R Electric, Z370RS Electric[2] |
| BUC10705 MulchControl | 48-inch | S240[3] |
| AM141033 mulching kit | 42-inch | D100 42-inch maintenance sheet[4] |
Deere's BUC11053 page describes the baffle but gives no full contents list or model list.[1] Do not assume it includes blades. Check your tractor's model and deck on Deere's parts lookup or with a dealer before ordering.
Picks that fit1 product
Choose BUC11053 for a John Deere 42A deck, after confirming your tractor's model and deck on Deere's parts lookup; Deere's page lists no models and no contents.
MulchControl kit for the John Deere 42A deck
Picks that fit1 product
Choose BUC10705 for a John Deere 48-inch Accel Deep (48A) deck; Deere lists general-fit models from the S220 and S240 through X300, X500, X700 and X900 tractors and several Z-series zero-turns, but no years and no contents, so confirm your deck on Deere's parts lookup.
More on choosing
On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or John Deere.
MulchControl kit for the John Deere 48A deck
John Deere BUC10705 lever-action MulchControl kit for the 48 in Accel Deep (48A) deck
Deere also sells the BM21816, a mulching attachment for 42-inch decks with StarLock blade mounting. It is not a MulchControl kit: Deere lists special mulching blades, mulch baffles and a discharge closure, with no lever.[5]
Picks that fit2 products
Choose BM21816 for a John Deere 42-inch StarLock deck on Deere's general-fit list (D, E, L and LA tractors through the S100 to S240, X100 to X520 and Z225 and Z235), not for a 42A deck, which takes the BUC11053; Deere gives no blade count and no years, so select your equipment on Deere's lookup.
More on choosing
Choose Oregon's 92-615 (two 21-3/8-inch Gator G3 blades, 7-point star) if you want blades only, without Deere's baffles or discharge closure, and Oregon lists your old blade number, such as GX22151 or GY20850. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or John Deere.
Mulching attachment for John Deere 42-inch StarLock decks
John Deere BM21816 42 in grass mulching attachment (mulching blades, baffles and discharge closure)
Gator mulching blades for John Deere 42-inch decks
Oregon 92‑615 Gator G3 blade set for 42 in John Deere decks, set of 2
On Amazon, check that "Ships from / Sold by" shows Amazon.com or John Deere.
How the lever works
On the BUC11053, John Deere says the MulchControl baffle is opened and closed using a lever on top of the mower deck.[1] The BUC11529 for the Z370R Electric works the same way, with the lever on top of the deck.[2]
John Deere says MulchControl still mulches about one third of the material in side-discharge mode.[1] That is Deere's figure, not an independent measurement. Use the lever positions your operator's manual describes, and keep the deck's discharge chute and guards fitted as the manual says.
The S240: baffle out before bagging
John Deere says the rear MulchControl baffle on the S240's 42-inch Accel Deep deck must be removed to install the bagger chute.[3] On the S240's 48-inch deck, Deere says the baffle can be opened or closed with the Power Flow blower installed, and lists that deck's MulchControl kit as BUC10705.[3]
Deere lists an optional 6.5-bushel rear bagger for the S240's 42-inch deck and says special blades are not required, though they can be installed for enhanced performance; the same page says high-lift bagging blades are included with the bagger chute.[3] See the S240 42-inch page and the riding mower bagger fit guide.
Older tractors: the D100
John Deere's maintenance sheet for the D100 with a 42-inch deck lists mulching kit AM141033, alongside bagging kit AM141034, blade GX22151, blade kit GY20850 and gage wheel GX10168.[4] The sheet does not describe the kit's contents. Confirm your serial number and any newer number with a Deere dealer before ordering. See the D100 42-inch page.
What we could not confirm
A mulch cover for the John Deere 115 with a 42-inch Edge deck, which some sources give as GY00115, could not be verified on a Deere page. We give no kit number for the 115.
Next
Questions
Which John Deere mulch kit fits my deck?
The one Deere lists for your deck and machine: BUC11053 for the 42A deck, BUC11529 for the 42A deck on the Z370R Electric, and BUC10705 for the S240's 48-inch deck. Deere's D100 42-inch sheet lists mulching kit AM141033.[1][2][3][4]
How does MulchControl switch between mulching and discharge?
John Deere says the MulchControl baffle is opened and closed with a lever on top of the deck. Deere also says the system still mulches about one third of the material in side-discharge mode.[1]
Can I bag with MulchControl installed on an S240?
Not on the 42-inch deck. John Deere says the rear MulchControl baffle on the S240's 42-inch Accel Deep deck must be removed to install the bagger chute.[3]
Is the Z370R Electric kit the same as BUC11053?
No. They are separate part numbers. Deere lists BUC11529 for the 42A deck on the Z370R Electric and Z370RS Electric zero-turns.[2]