Guide · Mulching kits and mulch plugs
Mulch plug vs mulching kit
A mulch plug is one part; a mulching kit can be a plug, or blades and a baffle. What Cub Cadet's two 42-inch kits contain, and how to check yours.
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Short answer
Cub Cadet says mulching kits generally consist of mulching blades and a mulching plug, and advises checking a particular kit's contents with a parts distributor.[1] Its own two 42-inch kits show why: 19A30055100 includes one molded plug and mounting hardware,[2] while 19A70041GFP includes two mulching blades, a mulch baffle, mounting hardware and instructions.[3] Read the contents line before you order.
The parts
- A mulch plug closes the deck's side or rear discharge opening so clippings stay under the deck.
- A mulching blade is shaped to cut clippings more than once before they drop.
- A baffle is a deck insert that changes how air and clippings move under the deck.
- A mulching kit is whatever set of these parts the maker sells under one number.
Which parts a deck needs is set by its maker, not by the parts' names. Mulch only in the configuration your manual describes, and never by removing or bypassing a discharge chute, guard or plug.
Two Cub Cadet 42-inch kits compared
| Kit | Plug | Blades | Baffle | Hardware | Deck and models (maker's words) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cub Cadet 19A30055100 | One molded plug | Not listed | Not listed | Yes | Cub Cadet and battery lawn tractors and zero-turns with 42-inch decks; Troy-Bilt Super Bronco 42E XP and Mustang Z42E XP[2] |
| Cub Cadet 19A70041GFP | Not listed | Two mulching blades | Yes | Yes, plus instructions | "Most" Craftsman, Cub Cadet and Troy-Bilt riding mowers and RZT models with a 42-inch deck, 2015 on[3] |
Cub Cadet's 19A30055100 replaces part 19A30046100.[2] That is a supersession; it does not tell you the old kit had the same contents. Cub Cadet gives no model years for the 19A30055100, so check your exact model on Cub Cadet's lookup. For the 19A70041GFP, "most" is Cub Cadet's word: a model check is still needed.
Picks that fit1 product
Choose 19A30055100 for a plug and hardware only, on a 42-inch Cub Cadet or battery lawn tractor or zero-turn, or a Troy-Bilt Super Bronco 42E XP or Mustang Z42E XP, after checking your model on Cub Cadet's lookup.
Choose 19A30055100 for a plug and hardware on a listed 42-inch deck
Cub Cadet 19A30055100 mulching kit for 42 in cutting decks (plug and hardware)
Picks that fit1 product
Choose 19A70041GFP for the kit with two mulching blades, a baffle and hardware, on a 42-inch Craftsman, Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt or RZT mower from 2015 on that Cub Cadet's lookup lists.
Choose 19A70041GFP for mulching blades and a baffle on a listed 42-inch deck
MTD Genuine Parts 19A70041GFP mulching kit for 42 in cutting decks (blades, baffle and hardware)
Picks that fit2 products
Kit with blades: the CRAFTSMAN CMXGZAMA70041 (two mulching blades, a molded plug and hardware, 42-inch deck), a number Cub Cadet lists as replaced by its 19A70041GFP; check your model on that list.
More on choosing
Plug only: the EGO AMP4200, one plug for EGO's 42-inch Z6 zero-turns and the T6 TR4204. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or the brand.
CRAFTSMAN-numbered full kit for 42-inch decks
CRAFTSMAN CMXGZAMA70041 42 in mulching kit (2 mulching blades, molded plug and hardware)
Mulch plug for EGO 42-inch riding mowers
EGO AMP4200 mulch plug for 42 in Z6 zero-turn and T6 riding mowers
Picks that fit4 products
Kit with blades: Husqvarna's 531 30 96-41 (mulch plate, mulching blades and hardware) for 42-inch stamped decks such as the YTH18542, or the 531 30 96-42 for 48-inch stamped decks; Husqvarna gives no blade count.
More on choosing
Blade only: Oregon's 95-302, one 21-inch wavy mulching blade for 42-inch Husqvarna decks that already have their mulch plate, if Oregon lists your old blade number. Plug only: the EGO ABP5200, one plug for EGO's 52-inch Z6 zero-turns. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or the brand.
Plate and blade kit for Husqvarna 42-inch stamped decks
Plate and blade kit for Husqvarna 48-inch stamped decks
Mulching blade for 42-inch Husqvarna decks by part number
Oregon 95‑302 21 in mulching blade for 42 in Husqvarna decks
Mulch plug for EGO 52-inch zero-turns
Picks that fit2 products
Kit with blades and baffle: Cub Cadet's 46-inch kit (19B30005100; two mulching blades, a baffle and hardware) for most 2009-and-later XT1, XT2, Series 1000 and RZT mowers with a 46-inch deck.
More on choosing
Kit with blades and plug: the 19A30042100 (three Xtreme mulching blades, a molded plug and hardware) for most 2015 to 2021 XT1, XT2 and RZT mowers with a 54-inch deck. Check your model on Cub Cadet's lookup, and on Amazon check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or Cub Cadet.
Full kit with blades and baffle for Cub Cadet 46-inch decks
Cub Cadet 19B30005100 mulching kit for 46 in cutting decks (2 mulching blades, baffle and hardware)
Xtreme kit with three blades and plug for Cub Cadet 54-inch decks
Picks that fit3 products
Kit with blades: Husqvarna's 531 30 95-80 (mulch plate, mulching blades and hardware) for 46-inch stamped decks such as the YTH22V46, or the 531 30 96-43 for 54-inch stamped decks such as the YTH24V54.
More on choosing
Recycler kit with a mulch plug: the Toro 137-7042 for 2018-and-later TimeCutter SS and SW 42-inch decks; Toro lists no contents, so confirm whether blades are included. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or the brand.
Plate and blade kit for Husqvarna 46-inch stamped decks
Husqvarna 531 30 95‑80 mulch kit for 46 in stamped decks (plate, mulching blades and hardware)
Plate and blade kit for Husqvarna 54-inch stamped decks
Husqvarna 531 30 96‑43 mulch kit for 54 in stamped decks (plate, mulching blades and hardware)
Recycler kit for 2018-and-later Toro TimeCutter 42-inch decks
Toro 137‑7042 42 in Recycler kit for TimeCutter SS and SW (2018 and after)
On Amazon, check that "Ships from / Sold by" shows Amazon.com or the brand.
Plugs sold alone
Troy-Bilt's 21-inch hinged mulch plug 687-06029 replaces part numbers 687-02516, 687-02516A, 987-02516 and 987-02516A.[4] Its page gives no model list and no description, so it does not prove fit to any 21-inch mower. Match it by the number on your old plug or your mower's parts diagram. See 21-inch deck parts.
Other mulching systems
- Toro 22-inch Recycler 21465. Toro says it comes from the factory ready to recycle clippings back into the lawn, with the grass bag fitted when you want to collect.[5] No kit is needed. See the Toro Recycler 21465 page.
- John Deere MulchControl. On Deere's BUC11053 kit for the 42A deck, the baffle is opened and closed with a lever on top of the deck.[6] The John Deere MulchControl guide covers each kit.
Blades and mulching
- Oregon says the teeth on its Gator mulching blades circulate cut grass back into the deck multiple times.[7] That is Oregon's description of the design, not a measured result. See the Oregon Gator blade guide.
- EGO says the high-lift lower blade in its AB2102D set is interchangeable with its Mulching Blade and Extended Run Time Blade on Select Cut mowers.[8]
- John Deere says special blades are not required for the S240's optional 42-inch bagger, though they can be installed.[9]
What the extension services say about grasscycling
Grasscycling means leaving clippings on the lawn.
- University of Georgia Extension says you do not need a special mower to grasscycle and advises keeping the mower blade sharp.[10]
- University of Illinois Extension says University of Missouri studies show grass clippings can supply 25 percent of a lawn's total fertilizer needs.[11]
- Kansas State University reports that a five-year Michigan State study, which shredded up to about one pound of leaves per square yard with a mulching mower, found no long-term effects on turf quality or thatch thickness.[12]
These are the institutions' statements about mulching in general. They are not a promise about any kit, plug or blade. We could not verify a city grasscycling guide or Greenworks' mulch plug manual, so we quote neither.
Next
Questions
What is the difference between a mulch plug and a mulching kit?
A mulch plug is a single part that closes the deck's discharge opening. Cub Cadet says mulching kits generally consist of mulching blades and a mulching plug, and advises checking a kit's contents with a parts distributor.[1]
Does a mulching kit include blades?
It depends on the part number. Cub Cadet's 19A70041GFP includes two mulching blades, a baffle, hardware and instructions, while its 19A30055100 lists one molded plug and mounting hardware.[3][2]
Do I need a mulching kit to mulch?
Set up your deck the way its manual describes for mulching. University of Georgia Extension says you do not need a special mower to grasscycle and advises keeping the blade sharp.[10]
Will a 21-inch mulch plug fit any 21-inch mower?
No. Troy-Bilt's 21-inch hinged plug 687-06029 lists only the part numbers it replaces and no mower models, so match it by part number, not by size.[4]
Can I mow with the discharge chute removed instead of a plug?
No. Mulch with the plug or kit your mower's maker lists, installed as its manual says, and never remove or bypass a chute, guard or plug.