Cub Cadet i1046 Operator's Manual page 16

Mulching
The i1000 series tractor decks are equipped with a mulching
kit. The mulch kit which incorporates special blades, already
on your tractor, in a process of recirculating grass clippings
repeatedly beneath the cutting deck. The ultra-fine
clippings are then forced back into the lawn where they act
as a natural fertilizer.
Observe the following points for best results when mulching:
• Never attempt to mulch if the lawn is damp. Wet grass
tends to stick to the underside of the cutting deck
preventing proper mulching of the clippings.
• Do not attempt to mulch more than 1/3 the total height
of the grass or approximately 1-1/2 inches. Doing so will
cause the clippings to clump up beneath the deck and
not be mulched effectively.
• Maintain a slow ground speed to allow the grass
clippings more time to effectively be mulched.
• Always position throttle control lever in the FAST
(rabbit) position and allow it to remain there while
mowing. Failing to keep the engine at full throttle
places strain on the tractor's engine and does not allow
the blades to properly mulch grass.
NOTE: It is not necessary to remove the chute deflector to
operate the mower with the mulch plug installed.
• The mulch plug installed at the factory was removed
earlier in the "Setting up your Lawn Tractor" section. To
reinstall the mulching plug, proceed as follows:
Installing Mulching Plug on 46" Decks ONLY
• Raise and hold the chute deflector in up position.
• Locate the 1/4 inch hole in the top of the mulching
plug. With the hole facing upward insert the mulching
plug fully into the discharge opening of the deck.
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ectiOn peratiOn
• Align the mulching plug hole with the hole in the top of the
deck discharge. Insert the carriage bolt through the top of
the deck and the mulching plug and secure with the wing
nut. Refer to Figure 3-2 on page 9.
Installing Mulching Plug on 50" Decks ONLY
• Pivot the chute deflector up to access the deck discharge
opening.
• Locate two notches in the chute deflector hinge bracket
above the deck discharge opening.
• Insert the mulch plug into the deck discharge opening.
Make sure the two tabs on the top of the plug are in the
notches of the hinge bracket. Lightly tap on the plug with
your hand to assure that the tabs fit snugly into the
notches.
• While holding the mulching plug in position, fully lower
the chute deflector. Refer to Figure 3-3 on page 9.
WARNING!: The mowing deck is capable of
throwing objects. Never operate the mower
deck without the chute deflector in its down
position, even with the mulching plug installed.
Failure to do so could result in serious personal
injury and/or property damage.