If you've just picked up a Toro TimeCutter 42” Zero Turn Mower (Model 77401), your next big question might be, should you stick with side discharge mowing, or upgrade with the Toro Recycler mulching kit? The answer isn't as clear-cut as you might think. To help you weigh your options, we put both styles to the test on a yard with thick, shaggy grass, mix of St. Augustine, and tough weeds. Read on for everything you need to know about the Toro Recycler kit—cut quality, installation, what it’s actually like to mow, and the advantages (and drawbacks) you can expect.
Understanding Your Toro TimeCutter and Mulching Choices
The Toro TimeCutter 42” Model 77401 is a homeowner favorite for a reason. Its 42-inch stamped deck makes it light and nimble, perfect for beating back overgrown yards or tackling tight turns. The model featured here has the latest Briggs engine, which runs smooth and strong. Being able to zip around obstacles and change directions quickly takes a lot of work out of mowing.
When it comes to grass management, you've got two main options:
Side Discharge: This shoots cut grass out the side of the deck, spreading clippings across the lawn.
Recycling/Mulching Kit: This blocks the discharge chute, using special blades to chop grass up fine, dropping it back onto the lawn as tiny clippings.
Here's what each method brings to the table:
Side Discharge Pros:
Handles tall or thick grass with fewer bog-downs
Can mow faster in most situations
Simple, ready to use out of the box
Side Discharge Cons:
Can spray rocks and debris toward people, windows, or cars
Limited in which way you can mow (need to avoid blowing toward walkways, driveways)
Leaves longer clippings, which can form clumps in wet or thick grass
Mulching Kit Pros:
Chops grass up fine (helps act as fertilizer for the soil)
Fewer issues with dust, debris, and spray
Lets you mow in any direction without worrying about where clippings go
Mulching Kit Cons:
Can bog the mower in thick or overly wet grass
Slower mowing for best results, especially if grass is tall or mixed with weeds
May miss some “tall boys” on weedy or patchy lawns
Let’s dive deeper into how these mowing styles perform, starting with side discharge.
Mowing With Side Discharge: First Impressions and Performance
The first test began with a yard full of overgrown St. Augustine, scattered weeds, and some dry patches. The goal? Take the grass from nearly 8 inches down to about 3 1/2 to 4 inches, a dramatic reduction for a real-world challenge.
What stood out right away:
Maneuverability: The 42-inch deck handled the turns and house edges with ease.
Even Performance: With side discharge, the mower kept a steady pace, handling everything the yard threw its way except the toughest weeds up front.
When tackling stubborn, thick weeds, the mower sometimes left a few standing tall after the first pass. A quick double cut fixed most of these, but it’s a reminder that certain weed types can throw even the best mowers for a loop.
No matter how tall the grass started, large clumps were rare. The side discharge spread most of the clippings in a fairly even layer. However, there were a few clear limitations:
The discharge chute forced circular mowing patterns, sticking mainly to clockwise loops to avoid hitting the house or driveway with clippings or debris.
Anything solid on the lawn—stones, twigs, toys—always carries some risk of getting launched out the chute.
Installing the Toro Recycler Mulching Kit: Simple Upgrade, Big Change
The Toro Recycler Mulching Kit (Part #137-7042) is built to fit TimeCutter SS and SW models from 2018 onward. It includes a discharge blocker, special “Recycler” blades, and all the hardware you need to convert your side discharge mower into a mulching one.
What’s it take to install? Not much. The process is designed for DIYers. The hardest part is changing blades, which you should do regularly anyway. Here’s what you need to do:
What’s it take to install? Not much. The process is designed for DIYers. The hardest part is changing blades, which you should do regularly anyway. Here’s what you need to do:
Raise the mower safely on a stable surface. Avoid the road or uneven ground.
Remove the current blades if switching to the Recycler blades supplied in the kit.
Attach the discharge blocker (mulch plug) over the side chute.
Secure the blocker using the new “tommy knob” or wing nut provided—no specialty tools needed.
Check everything is seated tight, blades are secure, and the mulch plug blocks the chute entirely.
Lower the mower and you’re ready to mulch.
Taking the kit off is just as easy. The latest design shines here; old mulching kits often needed you to climb under the deck, dealing with hard-to-reach nuts and bolts. This one pops on and off with a single knob, so swapping back to side discharge for thick summer growth only takes a few minutes.
Tip: Always keep safety in mind when working under your mower. Secure it against rolling and wear gloves.
Real-World Results: Mowing With the Mulching (Recycler) Kit
After fitting the Recycler kit, mowing the same yard gave new perspective.
Cut Quality
With the mulching kit installed, the first thing you’ll notice is a slight difference in cut. Taller weeds, especially those with stiff “pom-pom” seed heads (as seen on many common American lawns), sometimes escape the first pass. These “tall boys” mostly pop up in patches where the original lawn has been invaded by weeds or different types of grass. High-quality St. Augustine seemed to cut cleanly, but mixed “American blend” lawns were more of a challenge.
This isn’t unique to Toro—most mowers (and blades) struggle with very wiry or patchy weed populations. Healthy, dense turf offers better results.
Advantages of the Mulching Kit
Direction Freedom: No need to plan every pass to avoid blowing clippings toward fences, cars, or the street. Mow in any pattern you choose.
Cleaner Air: Less dust, pollen, and debris kicked up—a relief if you or your family suffer from allergies.
Nutrient Cycling: Fine clippings filter down between grass blades, feeding the lawn naturally instead of blanketing it in thick patches. Mulched clippings don’t just look tidier; they decompose quickly, returning nutrients to the soil.
Mowing Speed and Cut Quality
A key lesson: speed matters with the mulching kit. When mowing quickly, the blades can miss more of those tough stalks and leave behind strips of uncut or poorly chopped grass. Going at a steady, slightly slower pace dramatically improves the finish.
Pro Tip: For the best results with the mulching kit, slow down your mowing speed. This gives the blades enough time to process and recycle each cut.
A notable difference compared to side discharge: the regular mowing speed with side discharge still produced an even finish, but the mulching kit shines most when you take it easy, especially with variable grasses.
User Feedback and Practical Insights on Mulching Kits
Having tested the kit and gathered customer feedback, here’s what’s clear.
What Works Best
Easy to Install: Quick to add or remove as the season or grass type changes.
Cleaner Finish: Chops leaves well (great for fall), keeps the yard neater, and doesn't spray debris across walkways or into landscaping.
Safer for Homes and Pets: Blocks rocks and debris from going airborne, reducing risks to pets, kids, and windows.
Allergen Reduction: Keeps dust and pollen down, which is more comfortable for allergy sufferers.
Where It May Fall Short
Thick/Heavy Grass: In high summer or after heavy rain, if grass is dense or wet, you might need more mower power to prevent bogging, or you might need to remove the kit temporarily.
Weed Management: Can miss some types of tall, wiry weeds, or leave a few tough patches behind if mowing too fast.
Cut Quality: Slightly less crisp finish in tough, mixed or weedy lawns compared to open side discharge at high speed.
Here’s a quick summary:
Feature
Side Discharge
Mulching (Recycler) Kit
Handles tall/thick grass
Yes
Sometimes bogs down
Mowing speed
Fast
Slower for best results
Safety
Can eject debris
Safer, blocks objects
Mowing patterns
Restricted (avoid obstacles)
Any direction
Airborne dust/allergens
More
Less
Lawn nutrition
Good, but can clump
Better, grass chopped fine
Cut finish (tidy)
Good
Varies with speed/grass
Final Takeaways: Should You Upgrade With the Toro Recycler Kit?
The Toro TimeCutter Recycler Mulching Kit offers easy installation, clear safety upgrades, and the freedom to mow with fewer pattern worries. For most lawns, the difference in cut quality is minor—just make sure to slow down for the best finish, especially if your lawn has mixed grasses or weeds.
Is the kit worth it? For most users, yes. If you want a tidy yard, natural fertilization, and peace of mind about shooting rocks or debris, it's a sound investment. The easy on-off design means you can swap back to side discharge in thick summer growth or if you're bagging heavy clippings.
Best of all, it’s great for homes with kids or pets, families who want to reduce allergens, and anyone wanting a fast switch between mowing styles.
Have you tried a mulching kit, or are you thinking about it? Share your results or questions in the comments!
Great video followed up with excellent customer service
From a Google search I found their video about my toro front wheels constantly flat. We have large & thorny blackberry thickets that I mow up to. They recommended the no-flat replacements, and they arrived on time!
Order arrived promptly. Received exactly what I ordered and came well packaged. I haven’t installed the mower tires because I’m waiting on my old ones to flatten again. Hopefully these no flats will work great.
My grass was long. My blades were dull. I ordered these blades. The shipping was fast (unlike some other parts dealers for ventrac who have a shipping department run by the sloth from Zootopia.. cough cough Weingartz). I put them on my tough cut. As I mowed it was like three little angles had come down from heaven and cut each blade of grass by hand and gently laid them in rows. The only way I know to describe the whole experience is to say it was awe-inspiring.
