Just thought I'd post a pic of a mod/addition to my 17" machine. To aid in mowing without catcher and sending cuttings all over the gardens and pathways, I cut up a piece of plastic and fixed to the front roller bar with zip ties. Then I can just fold/curve under deflector plate, or if using catcher it folds under the catcher. I find it lets the clippings circulate through the reel a few times giving it a better chance at making its way into the foliage for mulching. Works well at cutting up to 4mm.
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]