GrassFlap® for John Deere

GrassFlap® is an Operator Controlled Discharge Chute (OCDC) that blocks or opens a mower's discharge chute on demand. It opens a full 180 degrees to completely clear the edge of the mower. 

Some models come with the option of a foot pedal or hand lever for controlling the discharge chute. 

The hand lever allows operators to quickly raise, lower, or partially raise the chute blocker with a quick pull and release of the hand lever. So, you do not need to keep your hand on the lever while operating, but instead just set the chute blocker to your preferred position and keep both hands on the controls while mowing. 

For the foot pedal, a cable connects a floor-mounted foot pedal to a blocker plate at the chute. Pressing the GrassFlap® foot pedal opens the chute, pressing it again closes the chute. You can also apply foot pressure to the pedal to partially open the chute.

GrassFlap® covers John Deere's full zero-turn lineup: 

• Residential and commercial ZTrak Z300, Z500, Z700, and Z900 Series riding mowers (Z355E through Z997R)
• QuikTrak stand-on mowers (Q810E through Q865R, plus legacy 600-series models)
• Commercial walk-behind mowers (W36, W48, W52, and W61 Series). 

That’s only a sampling of the models that we have GrassFlap® chute blockers for. Since exact fitment varies by footpan and discharge shape, we let you search for your specific unit through the GrassFlap® Lookup tool.

Model number, deck size, and model year, all determine which GrassFlap® unit you need since John Deere has changed footpan and chute designs across production years. 

Before ordering, you need your model number (e.g., Z355E, Q820M), confirm the deck width printed on the deck shell, and note the approximate model year.

Enter that info into the GrassFlap® Lookup tool to find the correct fit.

GrassFlap® supports the common John Deere deck widths: 32”, 36”, 48", 52", 54", 60", 61", and 72". 

Since certain models have more than one deck option, you cannot rely on model name alone so always confirm the actual deck size through the Lookup tool.

Most models of GrassFlap® chute blockers do not require drilling to install. These models have a direct bolt-on installation. For these models, you don't need to drill new holes into the John Deere's deck to mount the blocker plate. 

Some of our chute blockers do require drilling, so be sure to check the blocker’s product page to confirm. 

You can find our installation guides for John Deere mowers here.

Yes, most owners can complete installation with basic hand tools. GrassFlap® provides written installation guides and a library of John Deere-specific instructional videos covering plate mounting, cable routing, and pedal adjustment.

The GrassFlap® Blocker plate is equipped with a spring to pull it open or closed once it passes the balance point. The Hand lever and the pedal are used to move the blocker to the balance point, once there, pressure can be relaxed to allow the spring to finish opening/closing the chute. The hand lever has a partial open position that it can be placed in while the foot pedal lets you hold a partial open position with light pressure on the pedal.

The hand lever requires you to pull and release the lever to open or close the chute blocker. You can also set the hand lever to a partial open position. 

Press and release the foot pedal to open or close the blocker plate. "Feather" the pedal by resting your foot at a partial depression to hold the chute partly open near beds or hard surfaces.

Yes, raising the blocker plate gives enough clearance for most drop-on baggers to operate normally. No bagger components should have to be removed. For a specific bagging setup, GrassFlap® support can confirm clearance for your exact configuration.

GrassFlap® discharge chute blockers controls when and how much material exits the chute. This gives operators open, closed, or partially open control. 

A mulching system processes or finely re-cuts clippings while keeping the clippings under the deck.

Plastic blocker plates are more forgiving when they get accidently hung up whereas steel is rigid and tends to cause more damage when hung up. Steel plates do not require any special modifications at install where plastic plates require modifications at install. Typically plastic blockers are supplied with lower volume brands since they can be modified to fit any deck.

For operators with plastic blocker plates, GrassFlap® offers plastic-to-steel conversion kits lets you upgrade later.

Fully open, GrassFlap® doesn't change your mower's normal side-discharge cut. Partially open ("feathered"), it reduces clipping scatter while still releasing material. 

Feathering is useful in heavy grass to avoid clumping. Fully closing the blocker plate for extended periods in thick grass can cause clippings to build up behind the plate.

Email support@grassflap.com with your mower brand, mower type, deck size, model name, and model year, along with a few photos of your foot deck and discharge opening. Our team will confirm compatibility and help you select or special-order the right unit.

Keep the blocker plate and chute area clear of built-up clippings. Regularly inspect the cable for proper routing because hard bends are a common cause of premature cable failure. 

Make sure mounting fasteners are snug and the blocker plate pivots freely. 

Replace any worn hardware to keep the pedal action smooth and precise.

Yes, GrassFlap® stocks replacement cables in 50" and 70" lengths, replacement pedals, spring mount hardware, and both steel and poly blocker plates through the Spare Parts collection.

All units come with a 90 day warranty on material and workmanship. Refer to our refund policy page for information on returns in general. 

Still have questions about fitting a GrassFlap® chute blocker to your John Deere mower? Use the GrassFlap® Lookup tool to find your exact unit, or contact our team directly for help.