Z345R ZTrak™ Mower with 42-in. Deck • C & B Operations • John Deere (2024)

Z345R ZTrak™ Mower with 42-in. Deck • C & B Operations • John Deere (1) Z335E ZTrak™ with 42A Mower Deck

Z345R ZTrak™ Mower with 42-in. Deck • C & B Operations • John Deere (2) 42A Mower Deck

The 42-in. (107-cm) Accel Deep Mower Deck is a stamped-steel, deep, flat-top design that delivers excellent cut quality, productivity, cleanliness, durability, and versatility.Optimal performance and dispersion of clippings is provided, even at faster mowing speedsor in tall grass:

  • 4.97-in. (12.6-cm) deep throughout the entire deckshell for optimum mowing, mulching, and bagging performance
    • Optional MulchControl™ system provides superior mulching performance and versatility
  • Stamped-steel design eliminates sharp edges and corners where material can build up and diminishmowingperformance
  • Mower deck suspended from the vehiclefor a smooth and level cut
    • Adjustable mower wheels, positioned just above ground level, help reduce scalping
  • 0.25-in. (6.4-mm) cut-height increments allow the mower to be set at the desired cut height
  • Compatible with efficient 6.5-bu (230-L) two-bag cut-and-throw material collection system
Excellent cut quality

Z345R ZTrak™ Mower with 42-in. Deck • C & B Operations • John Deere (3) 42A Mower Deck top (similar mower from X300 Series Tractor shown)

Z345R ZTrak™ Mower with 42-in. Deck • C & B Operations • John Deere (4) 42A Mower Deck underside (similar mower from X300 Series Tractor shown)

Deep mower-deck stamping gives excellent cut quality. It allows the cut and suspended materialroom toexitthe deckwithout getting recut:

  • Reducing the amount of recutting enables more power to be used to cut incoming grass, which greatly improves mower capacity.
    • Helps maintain excellent cut quality at faster mowing speeds
  • Clean flow of material out of discharge area prevents cut material from interfering with cutting the incoming grass, making it possible for the blades to cut incoming material cleanly.
  • Even in mulching mode, cut evenness is improved compared to other designsbecause the additional depth allows for continuous circulation, optimal recutting, and an even distribution of clippings.
Productivity - gets the job done fast

Z345R ZTrak™ Mower with 42-in. Deck • C & B Operations • John Deere (5) Side-discharge chute on Accel Deep 42A Mower Deck

Deep mower-deck stamping gives high productivity, which gets the job done fast. It allows the cut and suspended materialroom toexitthe deck quickly, reducing the amount of recutting so more power is available toprocess incoming grass:

  • Greatly improves the mower's capacity to maintain excellent mowing performance in difficult mowing conditions and at higher speeds

Large discharge opening is both high and wide to handle more material:

  • Gives a smooth, even discharge of clippings at all mowing speeds
  • Reduces the chanceof plugging, especially important when operating in wet, thick, or dense grass and when bagging
  • Cut-and-throw chute has a large, optimized inlet which aids in collecting materialbyusing airflow from the large deck opening
Cleanliness - for the mower and the operator

Z345R ZTrak™ Mower with 42-in. Deck • C & B Operations • John Deere (6) Accel Deep 42A Mower Deck

Z345R ZTrak™ Mower with 42-in. Deck • C & B Operations • John Deere (7) Accel Deep 42A Mower Deck

Theflat-top shape of the deck stamping is optimal for keeping itself and the operator clean:

  • There are few placesto catch and hold material on thetop and underneath the deck.
    • Top of deck stays cleaner, reducing time and effort needed for cleaning and service
    • Underside of deck is self-cleaning to maintain optimum performance without build-up of material to interfere with the flow of air and clippings
    • Less need to clean and remove build-up of material fromunderside deck
  • The depth of the Accel Deep Mower Deck minimizes the amount of material thatescapes from the front of the deck
    • Limited amount of material to drift onto the operator and mower deck
    • Even flow ofmaterial discharged out the chute, less recutting results in larger pieces that are less likely to end up on the operator
    • Mulching prevents the discharge of material completely and MulchControl makes mulching a practical solution for most mowing situations.

Cleaning a mower deck, both top and bottom,is one of the most frequent maintenance activities:

  • The flat-top design reduces places for material to build up and makes material that does collect easy to remove.

Z345R ZTrak™ Mower with 42-in. Deck • C & B Operations • John Deere (8) Mower wash port

Z345R ZTrak™ Mower with 42-in. Deck • C & B Operations • John Deere (9) Mower wash port with hose connector

A wash port is provided to make cleaning the underside of the mower deck easy.

  • Hose connector is included with the mower deck.
Superior durability is designed in

Z345R ZTrak™ Mower with 42-in. Deck • C & B Operations • John Deere (10) Spindle pockets on the 42A Mower Deck

Z345R ZTrak™ Mower with 42-in. Deck • C & B Operations • John Deere (11) Mower deck wheels are double captured

The 42A Mower Deck has strong spindle pockets, to keep the bladesaligned, even after years of tough service:

  • Ribs in the deck shelladd strength where it is needed.
  • The 42A has a 16 percentheavier overall weight than theEdge™ Xtra 42-in. (107-cm) Mower Deck that it replaces.

Mower wheels aredouble captured:

  • Provides greater strength and durability for longer, trouble-free life.
  • Single-bolt adjustment makes setting wheels to the correct height for the cutting height quick and easy.

Low-tension belt-drive design reduces the side load on the engines lower bearing and mower deck bearings for longer life.

Rolled outer edge of the deck provides extra strength and protection.

Dual-stage E-coat and powder-paint coatings provide extra protection from rust.

Z345R ZTrak™ Mower with 42-in. Deck • C & B Operations • John Deere (12) MulchControl handle

  • The MulchControl handle is located on top of the mower deck and used to open and close the discharge baffle.
    • The operator is required to get off the machine in order to engage or disengage mulch mode.
  • Changing from mulching to side discharge or vice versa takes only a few seconds.

MulchControl is well-suited to the following mowing situations:

  • Usually mulch, but side discharge when grass gets too long
  • Usually side-discharge, but would like to be able to close the chute to control clippings
  • Always mulch a main lawn, but often side discharge secondary lawns
  • Bag clippings, but want to go farther before emptying bags

While in the side-discharge mode, MulchControl still mulches about one third of the material. Therefore, the side-discharge mode is essentially a partial-mulch mode. This can be an advantage when side discharging or bagging, as it helps to reduce the amount of material being discharged. Other times this could work as a disadvantage:

  • When cutting strong southern grasses, such as Zoysia and Bermuda
  • When cutting in wet, high-growth conditions, such as those found in the Pacific Northwest United States
  • When optimum bagging and lawn cleanup is desired
Versatility - easy to change between side discharge, mulch, and bagging modes

Z345R ZTrak™ Mower with 42-in. Deck • C & B Operations • John Deere (13) Rear MulchControl baffle (A) that must be removed for bagging

Z345R ZTrak™ Mower with 42-in. Deck • C & B Operations • John Deere (14) Rear MulchControl baffle removed to allow for chute installation (Mower shown on X330 Tractor)

The 42A MowerDeck is designed for maximum versatility, providing the greatest ease in changing from one mower discharge mode to another:

  • With the optional MulchControl system installed (along with the special mulching blades), changing from side discharge to mulching or vice versa is done with the simple flip of a lever.
  • The cut-and-throw rear bagger can be used with MulchControl installed by removing the rear MulchControl baffle (A) before installing the bagger chute. The baffle is held in place with two carriage bolts. To return to mulching, the chute needs to be removed and the baffle replaced.
MulchControl option

The MulchControl system for the 42A Mower Deck is an optional field-installed attachment and makes mulching practical for many mowing situations because it not only does an excellent job of mulching, but it also allows the mower to be easily converted for times when it is more desirable to side discharge or collect the lawn material. Advantages of mulching grass clippings include:

  • A beautiful looking lawn
  • Grass clippings not blown onto the operator, driveways, or flower beds
  • Less fertilizer use
  • Elimination of the effort needed to dispose of clippings
How MulchControl works

Z345R ZTrak™ Mower with 42-in. Deck • C & B Operations • John Deere (15) MulchControl baffle open

Z345R ZTrak™ Mower with 42-in. Deck • C & B Operations • John Deere (16) MulchControl baffle closed

MulchControl is an innovative, simple design that is easy to use and maintain:

  • The MulchControl attachment includes baffles to control the flow of material under the deck.
    • When the MulchControl baffle is open, most of the material passesthrough the discharge opening.
    • When the MulchControlbaffle is closed, the material stays within the deck and gets chopped into mulch and deposited in the turf.
6.5-bu (230-L) rear bagger

Z345R ZTrak™ Mower with 42-in. Deck • C & B Operations • John Deere (17) Z335E equipped with optional rear bagger

An optional6.5-bu (230-L)cut-and-throw rear bagger material collection system (MCS) is available for use with the 42-in. (107-cm) Accel Deep Mower.It provides an efficient means of collecting grass clippings and leaves.

The hopper design provides modern styling,great bagging performance, cleaner operation, and easy-to-empty bags:

  • 6.5-bu (230-L) capacity
  • Easy-to-attach lower chute
  • Air exhaust duct
  • Convenient spring-latch
  • Airflow fill indicator
  • Quik-Tatch™ mounting
  • Sealed hopper top
  • Loose-knit bags available
Mower blades

Z345R ZTrak™ Mower with 42-in. Deck • C & B Operations • John Deere (18) Mower blades shipped with the rear bagger

High-lift bagging blades are included with the chute. They provide optimum performance when bagging in difficult conditions, such as when the grass is moist, dense, orlong:

  • High-lift bagging blades also work well when side discharging material.

Mulching blades are included with the MulchControl attachment. They can be used for mulching, side discharging, and bagging in most conditions.


Mower blade use chart

Mode(s) of operation Mower blade
Side discharging mode only Side-discharge blade (shipped with mower)
Bagging mode only Bagging blade (shipped with rear bagger chute)
Mulching mode only Mulching blade (shipped with MulchControl)
Side discharge and mulching Mulching blade (shipped with MulchControl)
Side discharge and bagging Bagging blade (shipped with rear bagger chute)
Side discharge, mulching, and bagging Mulching blade (shipped with MulchControl)
Z345R ZTrak™ Mower with 42-in. Deck • C & B Operations • John Deere (2024)
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