RER SR1028 Mulch Kit or Chute Plug?

[Bster13]

Hello,

I wish I knew the exact model #, but I literally just purchased this Hi-Vac, 2006 RER and I pick it up Friday:
Snapper Riding Mower Model SR1028 Excellent | eBay

Anyway, my mother is looking for Xmas ideas and I'd like to mulch my grass clippings day to day and bag my leaves in the Fall. A few questions:

1) I keep seeing the ninja mulching kit:
Snapper 7600100 NINJA (28") Mulch Kit
But this website says it won't fit my 28in SR1028 from 2006, is that true? I don't see any other kit out there for older model Snapper RERs.

2)Since the RER that was sold to me is a hi-vac and has a bagger with it, I assume hi-lift blades, or perhaps "standard" blades... definitely not Ninja blades...heck maybe do-it-all Gator blades, we'll see. But it seems a chute plug (like this, but I'm not sure if it fits my model or they are one size fits all?: Snapper 7016814YP PLUG CHUTE ADAPTER ($10.15)) is much cheaper and easier to install. True?

3) If I use a chute plug for mulching or the entire bagging system, will I only be able to get up nice and tight on the left side of the mower? Will I need to remove the entire bagger assembly to get a tight cut on the right side? (This may sway me to the mulching kit)

I read this post and that's where I got the chute plug idea:
Snapper mower with mulching blade - Lawn Mowers Forum - GardenWeb
the ninja is not desighned to mulch leaves-it has no vacume and cannot lift the leaves to mulch. it is a great mulcher for grass. you need the gator blade mentioned above! it mulches and bags as well so its the only blade you will ever need. you can also buy a plug to go down the chute so you dont have to install a cover to mulch. snapper with a gator is the best leaf mulcher $ can buy. i am a lawn service operator and know what i am doing-unlike your dealer.

 

[bwdbrn1]

If the owner's manual is like the one I just downloaded for the 25" RER I just picked up, there should be a page that lists the RER accessories, with part numbers. I'm no expert, but I believe that plug you're looking at might be for a walk behind mower and not the rider. BTW, that's a fine looking mower.

 

[Bster13]

Crap, you're right. The big quote I had there talking about a gator blade and a chute plug was for a push mower. Thanks.... so mulch kit is the only option for mulching with a RER, correct?

If the owner's manual is like the one I just downloaded for the 25" RER I just picked up, there should be a page that lists the RER accessories, with part numbers. I'm no expert, but I believe that plug you're looking at might be for a walk behind mower and not the rider. BTW, that's a fine looking mower.

 

[bwdbrn1]

From the list that's in my owner's manual, I'd say that's correct. The one I just got is a little 25" Series 21, and from what I can tell so far looking at accessories, many have been discontinued, but again, I'm no expert because I'm new to the Snapper RER world too. When you go to Snapper's web site, they show a new RER.

 

[Bster13]

I called Snapper and they gave me the mulching kit #:
OEM Parts

Yeehaa!

I also called my neighbor with an older Snapper RER and he stated he has a gator blade and just removes the bagger and stuffs a rag in the chute and that seems to mulch fine.

Do I ~need~ this mulching plate? Or more so I need the gator blade?