Caltric 48" Deck Mulch Plate Cover Compatible With Husqvarna Craftsman 954040502

What It Is

This is an aftermarket mulch plate cover designed to close off the discharge chute on a 48-inch cutting deck, converting side-discharge mowers into mulching machines. It’s intended for use with Husqvarna and Craftsman lawn tractors that use OEM part 954040502.

Fitment & Compatibility

Before buying, confirm your mower has a 48-inch stamped steel deck (not fabricated or fabricated welded). This plate fits models like Craftsman GT5000, GT6000, and Husqvarna YTH24V48, YTH24K48, and similar, but check your deck’s part number against the OEM 954040502. Measure the discharge opening: it should be roughly 13 inches wide and 6 inches tall with two bolt holes spaced about 6 inches apart. The plate uses existing mounting holes—no drilling required. If your deck uses a different discharge cover design (e.g., a chute deflector with a spring), this may not align. Aftermarket fit can vary slightly; test fit before tightening.

Key Things to Know

• Build quality: Caltric is a budget aftermarket brand. The plate is painted steel but may have sharp edges or thin paint that chips easily. Inspect and file rough spots before install.
• Installation: Simple bolt-on, but you may need to remove the existing side-discharge chute and spring first. Use the provided hardware or reuse original bolts (1/4-20 thread is typical).
• Performance: It blocks clippings effectively for mulching, but if your deck doesn’t have a mulching blade kit installed, you’ll get poor cut quality and clumping. This plate alone won’t mulch well without proper blades.
• Common gotcha: The plate can warp slightly under heat or if over-tightened. Don’t crank bolts—hand-tighten plus a quarter turn.

Should You Buy It

Buy this if you have a 48-inch Husqvarna or Craftsman tractor with the standard discharge opening and want a cheap, functional way to convert to mulching without buying an OEM part. Skip it if you need a perfect paint match, plan to mulch without mulching blades, or have a fabricated deck—those usually require a different plate or adapter kit. For $23, it’s a reasonable budget fix.