Why Choose a Reel Mower over a Rotary Mower?

reel mower revolution 26

When it comes to achieving a pristine, professional-quality lawn, the type of mower you choose can make all the difference. While rotary mowers dominate the market for their convenience and versatility, reel mowers offer a level of precision and cut that quality rotary models simply can’t match. Whether you’re a homeowner, a lawn care enthusiast, or someone striving for that golf-course-worthy finish, understanding the differences between reel and rotary mowers can help you make an informed choice.

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How to Clean a Reel Mower: A Step-by-Step Guide

clean reel mower

Proper cleaning is essential to keep your reel mower in top shape, ensuring smooth operation and prolonging the life of your equipment. Whether you own a Revolution reel mower from Reel Rollers, Tru Cut, California Trimmer, McLane, or Swardman, maintaining cleanliness prevents rust, keeps blades sharp, and helps avoid wear on moving parts.

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How and When to Winterize a Reel Mower

winterize a mower

Winterizing your reel mower is essential to ensure it remains in excellent condition and performs well in the next mowing season. Proper winterization helps prevent damage from cold weather, moisture, and inactivity. This guide will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how and when to winterize your mower effectively.

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Recommended Grass Mowing Heights Using a Reel Mower

grass mowing using reel mower

Using an engine-powered reel mower offers unique advantages when mowing heights. Unlike rotary mowers, which can tear grass blades, reel mowers provide a clean, scissor-like cut. This allows you to maintain your lawn at shorter heights without compromising its health. Understanding the optimal mowing heights for different grass types will help you achieve a lush, healthy lawn while maximizing the benefits of your reel mower.

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Essential Maintenance for Your Reel Mower

Like any powerful tool, routine care of your reel mower is the secret to maintaining peak performance. We get it — you want your reel mower to roar, not whimper. That’s why we’re here to guide you through the essential maintenance rituals that will keep your reel mower not just cutting grass but making a statement on your lawn.

Reel Mower TLC

Prolonging the Lifespan of Your Reel Mower

Just as a well-crafted story improves with time, your mower evolves gracefully when given the care it deserves. Regular maintenance isn’t just a chore — it’s a commitment to extending the life of your reel mower. The precision-engineered components thrive when tended to.

Safety First: Mow with Confidence

Safety isn’t just a feature; it’s a cornerstone of the reel mower experience. Regular maintenance is pivotal in ensuring your mower operates safely. From checking vital components to ensuring secure connections, our maintenance rituals are designed to provide peace of mind.

Unleash the Maximum Potential

Why settle for good when you can have exceptional? Regular maintenance isn’t just about preventing breakdowns; it’s about unlocking your reel mower’s full potential. Our goal is to maximize efficiency and performance, starting with simple yet effective maintenance practices.

Basic Maintenance Steps

We understand the journey to a pristine lawn begins with the care you invest in your mower. Follow these essential maintenance steps to ensure your reel mower not only stands the test of time but continues to redefine your lawn care experience:

Checking and Changing the Oil

Oil is the lifeblood of your Reel Roller’s engine. Like any internal combustion engine, a reel mower’s engine consists of various moving parts that generate friction as they operate. Without proper lubrication, these parts would wear out quickly, leading to reduced efficiency, potential damage, and a shortened lifespan of the mower.

Oil serves several critical functions in the engine of a reel mower:

  • Lubrication: Oil forms a protective layer between moving parts, reducing friction and minimizing wear. 
  • Heat dissipation: As the engine operates, it generates heat. The oil helps dissipate this heat, preventing the engine from overheating.
  • Cleaning: Oil also cleans the engine by carrying away dirt, debris, and combustion by-products.
  • Sealing: Oil provides a seal between the cylinder walls and the pistons, preventing leaks and maintaining the proper compression ratio.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Oil on Your Reel Mower

Maintaining your reel mower involves periodic oil changes to ensure optimal performance and longevity. Follow these step-by-step instructions to effortlessly change the oil and keep your mower in top condition.

1. Determine the Frequency of Oil Changes

  • Change the oil annually for regular home use.
  • For heavy usage (40 hours a week or more), consider monthly oil changes.
  • Check the oil by dipping a gloved finger into the tank; if it’s thick, dark, and dirty, it’s time for a change. Clean oil is thin, clear, and golden.

2. Choose the Right Oil

  • You can opt for SAE 10w30 synthetic or petroleum oil for your mower, or you can check what the mower manufacturer recommends for your model.
  • Disregard the manufacturer’s instructions and fill the engine right up to the brim.

3. Prepare for the Oil Change

  • Wear thin rubber gloves to protect your hands during the process.
  • Place a rag beneath the mower to catch any oil spills.
  • Locate the drainage bolts on your mower.
  • Remove the air filter for cleaning.

4. Drain the Old Oil

  • Run the mower engine for around five minutes to warm up the oil.
  • If the engine doesn’t start, add a couple of drops of gasoline into the carburetor, put the choke on, throttle up, and give it three pulls. This primes the engine, ensuring it starts properly.
  • Remember to look away or wear goggles when pulling the starter cord. Turn off the engine once it has been running for around five minutes.
  • Locate the oil drain bolt and use a draining tube (if needed) to direct the old oil into a waste pan.
  • Tip the mower slightly to ensure complete drainage.

5. Refill with New Oil

  • Once all the old oil is drained, use a funnel to refill the engine with new oil up to the brim. You may need an entire bottle of oil.
  • Replace the cap securely.

Following these simple steps will keep your reel mower’s engine running smoothly, ensuring a beautifully manicured lawn every time you mow.

Changing The Air Filter

1. Role of the Air Filter in Engine Performance

The air filter in your reel mower plays a pivotal role in maintaining engine performance. Think of it as the first line of defense, safeguarding the heart of your mower from harmful debris and contaminants. 

As your mower operates, it draws in air for combustion, and the air filter ensures only clean, particle-free air reaches the engine. By preventing dirt, dust, and debris from entering the engine, the air filter promotes efficient combustion, optimal fuel-air mixture, and overall smoother operation.

2. Cleaning and Replacing the Air Filter

Cleaning:

Regular cleaning of the air filter is essential to ensure a constant flow of clean air to the engine. Follow these steps:

  • Locate the air filter housing, usually positioned near the carburetor.
  • Carefully remove the air filter cover or housing.
  • Take out the air filter and inspect it for dirt and debris.
  • If the filter is only mildly dirty, you can clean it by gently tapping it on a hard surface or using compressed air to blow out the contaminants.
  • Ensure the air filter is completely dry before reinstalling it.

Replacing:

Over time, air filters can become worn or damaged, compromising their effectiveness. Replace the air filter if:

  • It is excessively dirty or damaged.
  • Cleaning no longer restores optimal airflow.
  • You notice a significant decrease in engine performance.

To replace the air filter:

  • Purchase a replacement filter compatible with your mower’s make and model.
  • Open the air filter housing and remove the old filter.
  • Install the new filter, ensuring it sits securely in the housing.
  • Close the housing and secure it in place.

By keeping the air flowing freely to the engine, you ensure consistent performance and extend the life of your mower’s engine, contributing to a pristine lawn every time you mow.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Oil on Your Reel Mower

Regularly inspecting and replacing the spark plug is crucial for maintaining a reliable and efficient reel mower engine. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Tools and Materials:

  • A new spark plug compatible with your mower’s specifications.
  • Spark plug socket and wrench.

Replacement Steps:

  • Disconnect the spark plug wire to prevent accidental starts during the replacement process.
  • Identify the spark plug, typically positioned on the top or side of the engine. It will have a wire connected to it.
  • Use a spark plug socket and wrench to loosen and remove the old spark plug.
  • Inspect the old plug for signs of wear, fouling, or damage.
  • Before installing the new spark plug, check the gap using a spark plug gap tool. Ensure it matches the specifications provided in your mower’s manual.

Install the New Spark Plug:

  • Hand-thread the new spark plug into the socket to avoid cross-threading.
  • Use the spark plug socket and wrench to tighten the plug to the recommended torque.
  • Ensure the wire is securely connected to the new spark plug.
  • Start the mower to check for smooth operation. If needed, make further adjustments to the spark plug gap.

Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for spark plug replacement intervals, and you’ll keep your reel mower running smoothly season after season.

Backlapping the Blades

Backlapping is a maintenance technique for reel mowers that sharpens and fine-tunes the cutting blades. The process involves applying a specialized abrasive compound between the reel (the rotating cylinder with blades) and the bedknife (stationary blade). By manually or mechanically turning the reel backward, the blades come into contact with the backlapping compound, effectively grinding and honing the edges.

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the backlapping process:

1. Selecting the Abrasive Compound

Choose a backlapping compound designed specifically for reel mowers. These compounds typically consist of fine abrasives in a paste and come in a specific grit. The most common grit for backlapping is 80 grit, but some folks use 120 or even 240 grit. At Reel Rollers, we sell backlapping compound and backlap tools for McLane, California Trimmer, Tru Cut, Rolux, Revolution, John Deere, Toro, Jacobsen, Swardman, and Allett.

2. Shut Off The Fuel

Ensure you shut the fuel off before backlapping your mower if your engine has a fuel shut-off lever.  Never lay your mower back on its handlebars for an extended period. At Reel Rollers, we will not prop a reel mower up beyond 45 degrees because the oil and gas will become mixed if your engine is horizontal. This will result in the pull cord locking up and, in most cases, needing to replace all oil, gas, and air filters or spark plugs, depending on the severity.

3. Disassembly

Start by removing the chain or side belt cover to access the sprocket that drives the reel. Then, remove the reel chain or belt by first taking the tension off the chain. Next, identify the master link on the chain and remove the clip holding the master link in place with needle-nose pliers.

4. Securing the Mower

Next, prop the front of the mower up using blocks or the Sidekick Reel Mower Stand. Ensure you also block the back roller or wheels to prevent the mower from rolling. It is critical that you DO NOT prop the mower up past 45 degrees. Propping the mower up allows easier access to the reel and bedknife. We prop our mowers up only 3-5″ to make testing the reel to bedknife easier.

5. Setting the Reel to Bedknife

Each reel mower has its specific tolerances for setting the reel to bedknife. It is very important to have equal distance/contact between the reel and bedknife when backlapping to avoid coning of the reel. The reel should have only the slightest contact with the bedknife. At Reel Rollers, we backlap in five-minute intervals with an 80-grit compound.

6. Applying the Compound

Apply an abrasive compound (such as 80 grit) to the blades evenly with an applicator brush. Ensure coverage on all blades, including the corners.

7. Rotating the Reel

If you own a McLane or California Trimmer, you can use one of our backlap tools to spin the sprocket on the end of the reel under the side chain cover. If you own a Rolux, Tru Cut, or Revolution mower, you need to spin the reel using a socket that fits over the nut on the end of the reel. For Allett and Swardman mowers, you need to contact the manufacturer because we are unaware of a backlapping tool that fits the pulley on the end of their reel.  

 

Connect the socket or backlapping tool to a corded or battery-powered drill and rotate the blades backward, allowing the abrasive compound to sharpen the blades uniformly.

 When you mow the lawn, your blades spin forward; to backlap, the blades need to go backward — the clue is in the name. You don’t need to spin the blade at high speed; that will only fling the compound into the air and over your mower. Go slow and steady so that the compound stays on the reel/bedknife,  and apply moderate pressure to ensure even sharpening.

8. Monitoring the Process

Observe the backlapping process to ensure the abrasive compound is evenly distributed across the blades and each blade makes contact with the bed knife.

9. Duration of Backlapping

The duration of backlapping can vary based on your reel mower’s specific requirements and the blades’ condition.

10. Reassembly

Clean off excess compound and debris from the blades and components using a hose.

Reassemble the reel mower components, ensuring proper alignment and tension of the chain. Use motor oil to lubricate the chain for smooth operation.

11. Adjusting Reel-to-Bedknife Clearance

Loosen the bolts securing the reel and bed knife, allowing for adjustments. Use a fine-tuning approach to adjust the clearance between the reel and bed knife. Tighten the bolts gradually while testing the cut quality. Check for even contact between the blades and bed knife across the entire cutting width. Make adjustments as needed to achieve a clean and consistent cut.

12. Final Checks

Double-check all bolts and components for proper tightness and alignment. Conduct a test run on a small section of grass to ensure the mower is cutting cleanly and efficiently.

Benefits of Backlapping

  • Sharpens blades: The abrasive compound effectively sharpens the cutting edges of the reel blades, enhancing cutting performance.
  • Ensures even cutting: By smoothing out any nicks or irregularities on the blade edges, backlapping helps achieve a more even and consistent cut across the entire width of the mower.
  • Extends blade life: Regular backlapping can extend the lifespan of the cutting blades by reducing wear and preventing the blades from becoming excessively dull.

It’s important to note that backlapping is not a substitute for more comprehensive blade grinding or reel adjustment, which may be required periodically based on the mower’s usage and condition. Always refer to the manufacturer’s guidelines and recommendations for your reel mower model when performing maintenance tasks like backlapping.

Cleaning the Fuel System Components

Over time, contaminants and debris can accumulate in the fuel system, affecting performance. Regularly cleaning the fuel system components is crucial for preventing clogs and maintaining efficient fuel delivery to the engine.

Steps for Cleaning the Fuel System:

  • Disconnect the spark plug wire before any fuel system maintenance to prevent accidental starts.
  • Run the mower until the fuel tank is nearly empty, or use a hand pump to remove excess fuel.
  • If your mower has a fuel filter, remove it and clean it thoroughly. Replace the filter if it is excessively dirty or damaged.
  • Check the fuel lines for any signs of cracks or damage. Replace any compromised fuel lines to maintain proper fuel flow.
  • If your mower’s carburetor is accessible, consider cleaning it using a carburetor cleaner. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for the specific product you need.

Regular maintenance of the fuel system components ensures your reel mower receives a consistent and clean fuel supply, promoting efficient combustion and overall engine performance.

 

Safety Tips for Maintenance

Ensuring safety during the maintenance of your engine-powered reel mower is paramount. By adhering to proper safety practices, you protect yourself and contribute to the longevity and efficiency of your equipment.

Importance of Safety Gear

1. Protective Clothing

To shield yourself from debris and potential hazards, wear appropriate clothing, including long pants, closed-toe shoes, and a long-sleeved shirt.

Wear safety glasses or goggles to protect your eyes from flying particles during maintenance tasks.

2. Gloves

Always wear sturdy gloves when handling sharp or potentially hot components.

Gloves provide additional protection against cuts, abrasions, and chemical exposure. For more intricate tasks, wear thin latex gloves, like when changing the oil and testing the color and consistency of the old oil.

3. Hearing Protection

If your mower is particularly loud, consider using ear protection to safeguard your hearing during prolonged maintenance tasks.

Disconnecting Power Sources before Maintenance

1. Spark Plug Disconnection

Disconnect the spark plug wire before performing any maintenance tasks to prevent accidental starts. Ensure the disconnected wire is kept away from the spark plug to avoid unintentional reconnection.

2. Battery Removal (If Applicable)

For mowers equipped with batteries, disconnect the battery before working on electrical components. Store the battery in a safe location, away from moisture and extreme temperatures.

3. Safety Switches

Familiarize yourself with any safety switches on your mower and ensure they are engaged or disengaged as required during maintenance.

Proper Handling and Disposal of Maintenance Waste

1. Oil Disposal

  • Dispose of used oil following local regulations. Many areas have recycling facilities that accept used oil for proper disposal. 
  • Avoid dumping oil into the environment, as it can harm soil and water.

2. Fuel Handling

  • Store fuel in approved containers designed for gasoline storage.
  • Use caution when refueling, ensuring the mower is in a well-ventilated area and the engine is cool.

3. Waste Disposal

  • Dispose of any maintenance waste, such as old filters or worn-out parts, following local waste disposal guidelines.
  • Recycle materials whenever possible to reduce environmental impact.

By prioritizing safety gear, disconnecting power sources, and responsibly handling maintenance waste, you safeguard yourself and contribute to the overall well-being of your environment. 

Maintaining an engine-powered reel mower requires a combination of precision, care, and safety considerations. From sharpening blades and changing oil to ensuring fuel system efficiency, each aspect contributes to the longevity and performance of your equipment.