I removed and left off the chute on my mower. I did this cuz the grass is thrown out more evenly instead of having definite lines of cut grass across the lawn.
I drill hole in the edge of the discharge chute and install a 1/4 inch eye bolt and fix a short bungee cord to the tractor and I can use the bungee to hold the chute up when going into close quarter areas that would normally rub on the chute and when I need to use the chute to keep rocks and debris from being flung into things such as when mowing close to the house, windows and vehicles I just unhook the bungee from the discharge chute.
Also using the bungee saves the discharge chute from getting damaged when not really needed. Can be dangerous at times when mowing without a discharge chute in use.
A replacement OEM discharge chute is costly now days and the lesser priced China clone chutes are wimpy.