Got Reel Mower Questions?

Last night, as I was mowing, I discovered that sometimes when I push the mower the blade doesn’t catch and rotate. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t. Why? And more important, how I do fix it?

Thanks, John

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What kind of a mower do you have?

Typically, there is a gear inside of the wheel of the mower. When you push the mower, the gear turns the blades. In some mowers, the gear is plastic, and can wear out over time. In other cases, it could be that the wheel filled up with grass or something like that.

If the cog is worn out, you can typically get a replacement from the manufacturer for just a few bucks.

So I would take off the wheel and take a look and see if that is your problem, and then go from there.

Thanks. I’ll give it a try.

My reel mower squeals really badly and someone suggested I set the blade back a little. How do I do that? How much noise is normal for a reel mower, they aren’t silent are they? It is unbearable at this point, like opening an old rusty gate.

I tried wd-40 on the blade but feel very eco-unfriendly and it only keeps the squeal away for 1/2 the mow.

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How the blades are adjusted depends upon the mower brand and model.

Most of the American Lawnmower models have two screws on each side that adjusts the cutter bar closer or further away from the blades. You can see photos on this page that explain how to adjust the blades on a Scotts Classic. Maybe you can figure out your own mower model from looking there?

I purchased an 18″ Great States/American Reel Mower with a basket to catch the grass. We have dogs in our yard, and for ease of keeping the dogs “grass clippings free”, would like to use the basket. My problem is, the basket dumps the grass blades that it catches back into the rotating blades, which in turn throws the clippings in front of and under the mower. The basket is attached by a plastic clip underneath that runs the width of the basket, onto a rod on the mower. This clip rotates up as I mow, much like a dump truck emptying its contents. There is also a chain and hook to attach to the handle above the basket. The model of the mower is 816-18. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you for your time.

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One thing that might help is emptying your basket more often. Although the basket will hold a lot of grass, as it starts to fill up, it isn’t as effective.

In general, reel mower catchers aren’t quite as effective as power mower catchers, because you don’t have the vacuum action like you get with a power mower. It’s just mechanical force and gravity throwing it back.

Decades ago I remember seeing reel mowers that worked backwards and forwards, so that when you came to the end of a row, you could just switch the handle to the opposite side and mow the return row without having to turn the whole mower. Does anyone remember these? Do they still exist?

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I am familiar with a Black & Decker corded electric mower that works that way, but I have never heard of a push reel mower like that.

If anyone would know, if would be the gentleman who runs this site:
http://users.crocker.com/~jricci/ Reel Lawn Mower History & Preservation Project

I resently bought a Reel mower and am trying to find some information and/or manuals for it. It is a Pro-Master, Wheel Drive Mower. Has a sticker that sais Kato Equipment Company, Whittier Calif. There is a service sticker on the engine that Sais Ralph’s Garden Equipment in Whittier, Calif, with a phone number of, OX 8-8356. That number tells me it’s from the late “50′s early “60′s. What can you all tell me?

Jim

I have a 16″ Scott Reel Mover Turf, and you can’t push it. What’s the problem?

am wanting to buy a reel mower – The Fiskars model with 4 wheels looks nice – is it really worth the extra money ?

I need to do small slopes and shallow hills etc. Does a particular model or size work well for this?

@Laura,

The Fiskars mower seems really, really heavy when you pick it up. Pushing it through the grass on a flat surface isn’t a problem, but I wonder how it would be to push it uphill. (Still waiting for the grass to start growing here to do a full test of the Fiskars.)

For the northern half of the country, a lightweight mower is typically easier to maneuver and push, because of the types of grasses. But in places where you have Zoysia, St. Augustine, or Bermuda, a heavier mower will plow through those ultra thick grasses easier and the weight works as an advantage.

Not knowing where you are or what type of grass you have, I can’t really say which mower you’d be better off with.

@Sam,

It might be that the blades are adjusted in a way that they are too tight against the cutter bar, preventing them from turning.

If you need to adjust the blades, here are instructions:
http://www.reelmowerguide.com/scotts-classic-push-reel-mower-information/ Different mower, but blade adjustment is similar.

@Graham, A reel mower should not be any more difficult to push in moist grass as a rotary mower. You may want to begin bringing soil in to fill in the low spot which should force the water to the outer parts of your lawn.

The Razorcut 38 is another option for mowing 1/2 to 1.5 inch grass.

@Jim Boicourt, I also have a promaster that I bought from Ralphs in the early 80′s. They were the ones who built them, but they closed down around the late 80′s. I still have the manual for mine, but the manuals only had a few pages, with very little info.

@Chris

The Task Force was a Lowes exclusive, I believe. I am not aware of it being sold anywhere else. I think maybe they were just having them made in China, although I don’t know that for a fact. So your best bet would be to go there, and see if you can find one and take a peek in the manual that way.

@Catherine

The problem with reel mowers is that they have wheels on both sides of the blades. So if you’re trying to mow up against an edge of some type, there is always going to be several inches of grass that doesn’t get cut. (If you envision a typical regular mower, you can see how the blades cut as wide as the mower itself.)

But aside from that issue (and it sounds like you’re weedeating already, which is the solution), I think it might work. But I wouldn’t say definitely yes.

Reel mowers don’t like tall spindly weeds like dandelions though, and will often roll right over them without cutting. So you’d need to consider that too, if you have a large number of dandelions or other tall weeds.

@Neal

Reel mowers will often choke on really overgrown grass. So it might not be the mower. The best way to handle the situation is raise the cutting height to the maximum and suffer through it, and keep it better under control in the future.

Reel mower blades aren’t supposed to be sharp like a knife, so that’s okay too.

I’m not a big fan of the Taskforce mowers in general. They are on the low end of the quality scale, in my opinion.

I would adjust the blades so that they are just barely scraping against the bedknife, evenly on both sides. If you put them in too close, the mower will be too hard to push. And too far away, there’s no contact and it doesn’t cut as well.

Hope this helps!

@Steph

You can get replacement handle parts for the Scotts Classic from the manufacturer, American Lawnmower. http://www.reelin.com. They have parts listed on their site, and also an 800 number where you can call in the order.

@mike paulk.

My father in law would have knocked me one for something like this, sounds like you are more patient. Without the make and model I would not be able to tell you if I have a diagram or not. Once you have the manufacture name and model, try going to their site and looking it up. They will likely have the instructions on their site. Or give them a call.

@Toby, The Mclane 17″ with 10 blades will be much more difficult to push compared to the Fiskars. We have tested the Fiskars mower and it did extremely well.

Hi. C onsidering purchasing a reel mower for a small yard in Fla. Yard is very shaded, grass is not St. Augustine (probably mostly bahia and weeds) but there is a lot of leaves and oak tree debris especially during the spring and likely at other times. with rotary mulch mowers, you don’t need to rake unless you let the leaves pile up. How are reel mowers with yards that accumulate a lot of leaf litter??

@Kay,

Here is the customer support number. Give them a call and they will take care of you.

Consumer Hotline: 1-800-633-1501

@ Tony,

Check out this site, http://users.crocker.com/~jricci/
I’m not as familiar with the older models as this guy is.

@amy j,

Check out this site, http://users.crocker.com/~jricci/
I’m not as familiar with the older models but they may be able to put a value on it.

What is the best way to cut grass on a slope with a reel mower?

@Scott,

Reel mowers work best if you stay on top of your mowing. In other words don’t let it get overgrown, which means you might need to mow a little more often then you would traditionally with a gas powered mower. It sounds like the tall grass must be what’s getting caught up on the side between the unit and wheel. Give it a try.

@sam zirpolo,

The best mower for thicker grass like Bermuda and St. Augustine is a heavier mower like the Mascot or Fiskars mower.

Try this site,
http://www.cleanairgardening.com/mascot-reel-mower.html
http://www.cleanairgardening.com/fiskars-momentum-reel-mower.html

I hope that helps!

I just recently picked up two old reel mowers. One looks pretty standard while the other is a half size with only one wheel and a 1/4″ steel plate on the other side. I believe it would be used along the edge of a building to get a closer cut. Ever come across anything like this or is this a rare piece from a groundskeepers past?

@Sue, I have the manual for the Scotts Classic and assuming the “c” ring is the same and the “e” ring as described in the manual you will need a pair of pliers to get it on. Basically the ring is used to keep the handle from coming off.

Using your fingers slide the “c” ring so its close to being in place, then using your pliers pinch the “c” ring into place. It would be like using your fingers to force it on but using the pliers in place of your fingers.

If that does not help try calling American Lawn mower directly. 1-800-633-1501

we have a great states 400-st reel mower and can’t seem to find anything about this model online. we were wondering if you could tell us when or approximately when it was made?

My mower is squeeling like crazy. I have disassembled it, lubed, cleaned and sharpened the reel/wheels and it still squeels everytime. I have reset the blades so far back only a few inches were touching and it still sqeeled where the reel hit. The only way I can use it is to rub soap on the blades; that gives me about 7min of pushing before the noise comes back. I have even cleaned and filed the self sharpening bar!
Any ideas??

HI , HAVE YOU COMPLETED YOUR EVALUATION OF THE FISKARS MOMENTUM IN ST AUGUSTINE GRASS? IF SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?

@earl, Check out this site, http://users.crocker.com/~jricci/ I’m not as familiar with the older models as this guy is.

Have a Pro-Master Wheel Drive Mower by Kato Equipment Co. Has only the Marking 26W B8092 (Serial “?) Would like to get a manual on it or instructions on how to properly adjust the chains.

How well do reel lawn mowers handle gum balls/monkey balls? My yard is filled with them.

I just bought a house in Virginia Beach, VA. I was actually wondering if you might know what type of grass might typically grow in this area. Not sure if this helps: our house is not on the water, but is fairly close to the Chesapeake bay and a smaller saltwater bay and it borders a marshy area.

If I might have the tougher Bermuda, St. Augustine, and Zoysia grasses but could have the easier grasses, would it be best to go for one of the models capable of cutting the tough grasses just to be safe?

@Jeffrey LaPage,

Check out this site, http://users.crocker.com/~jricci/ I’m not as familiar with the older models as this guy is.

Hello,
I came across an old Toro Sportsman mower last year in an old rental garage we were cleaning. Brought it home and now that the weather is nice, got it out today. It looks old, the handle is worn and weathered wood, but it appears to be in great working order except the blades might need sharpened. My question is what is this worth? I can send photos if that would help. Not sure I have a use for it other than its pretty cool. Thank you! Mark

Steve,

I am building a LEED certified second home in the mountains of NC. According to the eco friendly nature of the home we will have limited fescue grass to mow. We will be able to mow it weekly most of the season but on occasion it will be a two week growth span. We have moderate temps and can have moist days frequently. Which mower would you recommend for us?

@Steve Rose, Check out this site, http://users.crocker.com/~jricci/ He is more familiar with older models and can help you out.

A search function on this valuable website might be nice as I don’t see my particular question, tho it may have been asked before. Is there a way to tighten the wheels on a older Great States mower? I’ve discovered that our cogs need replacing so maybe that’ll help a bit? They are just very wobbly with only that small cotter pin holding them on.

@AMO, The Scotts will work, however when the St. Augustine begins to really get thick in July and August it will be much tougher to push. The reason I like the Mascot is it has the muscle to work in thick grass. Another mower to consider is the Fiskars, it has the greatest range in height adjustment. http://www.cleanairgardening.com/fiskars-momentum-reel-mower.html

@Steve, great website and I’ll see if I can get answer from mftr.

@Nancy, If going with a electric mower I would use the Toro, http://www.cleanairgardening.com/toro-electric-mower.html
Its by far one of the better electric mowers on the market and the cost will be worth it in the long run. It should work on that slop with no problem. If going with a Reel Mower, the Fiskars is a great choice http://www.cleanairgardening.com/fiskars-momentum-reel-mower.html
It has a wide path and weighs just over 50 lbs.

I have an American built reel mower. I think it is a model 13303-14. It is a 16 inch mower. Anyway I used to have trouble with the wheel locking up. I messed around, I shook it around a little but I couldn’t figure out how to get the wheel off. Now the wheel is really loose and is rubbing against the metal hub. How do I fix this. Can someone tell me how to get the wheel off.
Sincerely,
That guy that curses at his lawn mower

@Robert, Check out this site, http://users.crocker.com/~jricci/ they may be able to help you out. They are more of an expert on older models.

I bought a Mascot 18″ 6-bladed reel mower a few weeks back. I live in central Illinois where most of the grass is bluegrass, fescue, & rye. While mowing yesterday, the right wheel started locking up at various intervals – nothing you could gauge or predict – going forward & backward. I’m thinking a stick or something has lodged in the wheel/gear area. Does this sound feasible? One of the posts mentioned a bent axle. I realize these mowers are pretty new, but would I be able to pop the wheel off myself to check? I spray the heck out of it w/WD40 after each use. Thanks for any help!

BTW – mower works GREAT on the thinner, straighter grasses. It WILL NOT cut anything over about 3-4″ though. The extra weight on the Mascots comes in handy for even slightly bumpy yards – keeps the mower from bouncing over some patches. Also, it’s obviously much quieter than a power mower, but nowhere near “silent”. I would compare it’s sound & volume to that of a sewing machine – somewhere in that neighborhood. This reel mower is a little harder to push than non self-propelled power mowers, so while you won’t have to make any trips to the gas station – or breathe in pure carbon monoxide in the summer heat – your sweat equity will increase. My yard is about 7,500 sq/ft & it takes me 2 hours to mow – but that includes a few breaks.

I have a Craftsman 18″ reel mower, have breen using it happily for 2 summers now. This is the third summer I’ve pulled it out to start mowing, and it’s tearing up the grass rather than cutting. So I bought the sharpening kit, followed the instructions, but only the middle 2″ or so sharpened – the rest of the blade width didn’t. How do I adjust the stationary blade to fix this? It seems to me if I move the blades closer that it will totally jam up in the middle? Fescue grass, Western Wa, btw…Any advice??

Good grief! Thanks for your input. Takin’ ‘er back to Sears to see what they can do for me…

Scratch that, those are part numbers I take it. I just rechecked after cleaning it with water and I got two different numbers, “908″ and “907″. Again it’s in good operational condition but with total body oxidation/rust.. nothing really that steel whool and elbow grease won’t help..

I believe this mower is from the early twenties and would like to know what it is worth.

I have a new-to-me yard in Dallas that is part St. Augustine, part bermuda, with heavy doses of junk grass and weeds mixed in and a Mascot reel mower. I’m working on getting rid of the extra stuff, so I don’t mind weedeating/pulling the seed stems on the junk this year (dallis grass earlier, now crabgrass and bluestem), since some of that truly looks bad. Leaving some of the bermuda seed stems behind when I mow doesn’t bother me, since they’re pretty fine and not that tall, I have a neighbor who thinks otherwise. Do you have any recommendations to improve the cutting of the taller stems on the bermuda?

@c dahlgreen, You should be able to buy one from American Lawn Mower, they’re the manufacturer.

I found an old reel mower at the dump. On the wheel it is written Eureka Woodstock Canada. I want to sharpen the blades and I purchased a sharpening kit with compound. My problem is that I am unable to remove the wheel to use the crank provided. Does anybody have any idea or tip?

@Eric Scott, I suggest you check out this site, http://users.crocker.com/~jricci/ they may be able to help you out. They’re experts on older models.

Hello,
I’ve recently bought an Eclipse model “M” push reel mower from an Amish for $100. The mower is in awesome condition and is complete with a grass catcher with the number 5591 on it. I’m sure the mower is all original and not restored.
I appreciate any help, and can e-mail pictures if necessary.

Thanks a lot, Richard Taggart

@Richard Taggart, What exactly did you need, did you have a question about this model? Since we are not experts on older models this site may be able to help, http://users.crocker.com/~jricci/ They’re experts on older models.

I have inherited a reel mower, unknown brand that is seized. I need to know how to go about returning this mower to its operating condition. If you could help me, that would be great.

Do you know where I can get a schematic in order to take it apart and put it back together?

@Julia, My wife is just a few inches taller at 5’4 and she has no problems with our Scotts Classic. Like rotary style mowers the handle has a range, allowing it to go up and down, but push mowers have a slightly higher range. I think you will be fine.

@trish, Since we are not experts on older models this site may be able to help, http://users.crocker.com/~jricci/
They’re experts on older models.

@Cory, It likely needs to be sharpened. There are several different reel mower sharpening kits on the market.

@Steve Tatar, I found this phone number for Mclane, you should be able to call them and get the info and parts needed. (562) 633-8158

I have an old Clemson Reel lawnmower. I got it at a yard/junk sale. I need to adjust it so i can mow grass? I dont have a manual, so if i could find one of those would also be nice. However, i cant find one. So, if you could direct me to a link for that, it would be great. But i mainly want to know how to adjust it, so i can mow it.

Older Silent Scott’s Reel Mower -Model 10-M-3

Tuning up a recently acquired Scott’s 10M3 reel mower. Unit has a height adjustment on top of the frame.

The scale on the adjuster has readings from 1/2 to 2 1/4 inches. I can only achieve a maximum height of 1 3/4 inch where the adjustment is fully extended. Is there a way to ‘set-up’ or ‘calibrate’ the adjustment screw? I’d would like to have the full range of adjustment.

I have changed the position of the roller, but that does not open it to maximum (2 1/4inches).

Does any one have the assembly or parts manual for the 10M3?

I have a full set of documentation for a Silent Scott’s 16″ 5M9 mower to share with anyone who requires the information. Also have documentation on the Agri-Fab 18″ Silent Reel Mower.

Hi,
I just purchased an American 16 inch, 7 blade reel mower, model 1705-16.
I’m attempting to assemble the handle.
When I attempt to fasten the 3 hex nuts on the 3 hex bolts that hold the handle
together (bullets 2 and 3 in the “Handle” part of the instructions),
the hex nuts stop rotating after only partially fastening.
This seems to be due to there being plastic inside the hex nut, so that the
thread doesn’t run all the way through. The plastic seems to block the
smooth passage of the bolt.
I’m not sure whether this is intentional or not.
Do you know whether I should just fasten the nnuts to the point of contact
with the plastic, or whether I need to use a tool to fasten the nuts
right down, having the bolt pass through the plastic portion?
Thanks!
- Farmer

I have inherited a good reel mower. It is labeled Sears and the stamped tag on it says Product of Yard-Man Inc Jackson, Mich Order parts from Sears Roebuck and on the handle it is labeled SEARS. It has what appears to be a model number on the stamped tag of 123.81721. Is there any chance anyone out there recognizes this mower and would know whether there is an owners manual for it and if one could still be purchased somewhere. It seems to be an older model but in very good condition. I would like to know how to service, adjust, and sharpen it.

@Glen, This site may be able to help, http://users.crocker.com/~jricci/
They’re experts on older models.

Are there any reel mowers that you recommend for greens grasses, such as bentgrass?

I have a “Great Lakes” reel lawnmower with operating instructions – BUT other than a model #128.81201, have no idea of age (no date on instructions) – sold through Sears,Roebuck and Co.-USA or Simpsons-Sears limited in Canada. Still works great. Any idea how old or its possible worth? Thanks!!

I was looking for some information on a recently acquired reel mower. On the wheels are stamped “Interstate G.L.M. Co.”. It used to be my grandfathers. Can anyone assist me with this.

I have a Kato 25″ reel lawnmower and i am missing the catcher do you have any idea where i could ordr a catcher for this style of mower.

@Tony, On the Scotts 16 inch reel mower the reel should just barely touch the cutting bar.

@Tony, No, I dont think there should be a wave, I wonder if the reel is warped. Maybe take it back to where you bought it.

@Matthew, Either one will do will, however I am partial to the Fiskars Momentum reel mower or maybe the Brill Razorcut 38 reel mower.

Hi Steve,

I live in Florida and have 2500 sq/ft area of St. Augustine over my septic field that grows richly and fast. How often would I need to use a reel mower?

Hi I live in Mexico and i do have a small garden but when looking for a bermuda-saint agustine grass manual mower I discovered that down here I dont have many options, pretty much I can buy a craftsman from seas or a truper , which are made in chine which i dont like but I tried looking on the internet and havent found anyone shipping to mexico I live in Tampico Tamaulipas in the gulf so a mascot lawn mower would be a great investment any sugestions or help? thank you

I bought a Task Force 16″ reel mower used it once and now it is locked down. Can anybody tell me how to unlock it. I thought this would be easier than a push mower, now I think I may be in over my head. HELP!

@Eric

The “handle falling off or breaking” is typically people who don’t assemble the mower correctly. Some people attach the handle to the orange height adjustment knobs instead of attaching it to the handle attachment point. This also makes it hard to push. The hubcaps falling off was an issue with one year of production, but it isn’t very common anymore.

The Scotts Classic has its own issues these days. The production quality doesn’t seem as good to me as past years, and I hear complaints about the handles for it breaking or bending.

I would probably go with the Brill over the Scotts Classic in Canada, and would additionally look at the Fiskars mower, which is quite good.

Hello we are getting a new TIFGREEN Lawn soon and we have a Great States Push Mower we found at a thrift store as a joke now it seems we actually have to use it.. Do you know if it will work on this lawn, and should we get the blades sharpened? Thank you for your time.

How do I buy the mascot reel mower?
How do I obtain the larger 10 inch wheel for the mascot reel mower?
Thanks,

Hi, I am strongly considering a reel lawn mower to replace an 11 year old Toro gas mower that is on its last legs. My yard is not huge, and while it has a fair number of weeds, most of them are low weeds like clover and ground ivy. I like the fact that a reel mower will be quiet enough, and safe enough, that my young children will be able to play in other parts of the yard while I am mowing (and also, no dangerous fumes either).

So Anyway, I have my eye on the Fiskars Momentum, but I am worried that the small wheels in the front could cause issues on some of the rougher spots. Another mower that looks interesting is the Ellison/Husqvarna Evolution mower. So am I right to worry about the small wheels in the front?

Oh, I also have a small but fairly steep hill in the front of my yard (say about 200 square feet, 30-40% grade) to cut. Would either of the mower I have mentioned do ok on that? Its not a killer, since I might end up landscaping that anyway since it is in a fairly shady spot.

Thanks.

I have the newest Fiskar mower and like it a lot. I’ve only used it twice, but it cuts really well, and is easy to push.

Raising the blade height helps on hills.

I haven’t had any problems with the small front wheels.

@Sue, Typically it works very well when mowing a hill with a reel push mower. However, the grade of the slope is obviously going to be a factor. If using a gas mower is hard because it tends to be to heavy too push along the slope then a reel mower being lighter should do the trick. Keep in mind, this is assuming the grass is kept mowed regularly and there are not a ton of weeds, which reel mowers do not typically do well with.

I live in San Diego with Aloha Paspalum sodded. Just laid this past November and since It’s a warm season grass it just started taking off. Reel mowers are recommended, so I’ve borrowed a fiskars momentum to try it out. Obviously, on the higher settings it pushes great, however at the 1″ and 1 notch above 1″ it bogs down and leaves horizontal lines/rows of uncut grass. I’ve tried “stepping” down the height but always bogs on the 1″ setting. Although the aloha should be fine at higher heights. It’s better at lower heights and is the look I want. Is the Mascot a better option? And more general question should I bee catching the clippings to reduce thatching?

@Mike, You may encounter the same problem with any reel mower, however the Mascot is a little different than the Fiskars. No, you do not need to catch the clippings, we recommend letting them break down on the lawn.

I have a Clemson push reel mower. Are just the tires available for replacement or do I have to buy the whole wheel w/ the tire?

I just got a vintage reel mower and we’re all trying to figure out what the wood rollers behind the blades are for?

@cheryl

It typically controls the height of the bedknife, which keeps a steady cutting height.

I bought one last August at Sears. There are at least 3 companies that still make a reel mower.

I have a reel mower which I discovered on purchasing a lake house.
It is made by F & N Lawn Mower Co and has an coloured stamp on the handle ‘Ideal Ball Bearing’. Can you tell me the approximate age, and where I can purchase new rubber wheels. Thank you.

I have a old reel mower by the rose brothers co. i do not have any idea how old it is

@Marian, Reel mowers work best with well manicured lawns which are fairly even and weed free. I suggest trying another electric mower. There are some good ones out there. http://www.cleanairgardening.com/toro-electric-mower.html

A friend moved into a new house and found an old Scotts Silent mower 10-M-3. I tried to mow the lawn, but discovered the mower only went the wrong way! It moves easily backwards — so the blade is pointed the wrong way, and doesn’t cut — but it won’t move an INCH forward. What’s up? I’m thinking it has to be some weird safety mechanism. Thanks!

@Julia

Yes, that is the same guy. Looks like he finally got a dedicated domain name for the site.

I have a Task Force 16″ Reel Mower that did work well and now will not turn the blades to cut any more. What can I do to correct this?

Hi,

I have a Husqvarna 18″ easy push reel mower, When I start to push the mower the gear seems to not be able to catch and turn the blades. This is just about two months old and I feel this problem should not be happening. I have taken some pieces off to try and get a closer look, but seem to be stuck. Any suggestions?

@ Vicki….my Task Force 16 inch locked up recently, I hit it (not extremely hard) with a rubber mallet a few times on the blades in the direction it turns to loosen it up. I imagine there is crud inside the assembly, but this will free it up for at least the time being.

I have the Great States 18″ reel mower with a hybrid bermuda grass in southern CA (Orange County)….

I LOVE using the reel mower as I can get the bermuda down to where we like it at around .6 – .7″ in height without burning the grass. When I cut it, the mower seems to leave a very consistant “bump” in the grass. The best way to describe it is it has the texture of a sand that’s been raked. The grass is not smooth. Does this make sense? If i look at the cut lawn across the length of where it is cut, it almost looks like the grass has been raked like those sand zen garden things?

It’s not terrible, but I know it shouldn’t look like that. If I cut the grass when a bit damp (in the morning) it almost seems that in some areas, it will rip up the grass. The mower is new and the blades are sharp. I looked at the blade adjustment, and they are just barely scraping the cut bar. I tried loosening the blades bareley, and it wouldn’t cut.

Is it just becuase it’s a 5-blade mower? I can’t find anything online about this…

.

I’m getting “tired” of mowing my yard with only 3 wheels on my 20″ Task Force. One of the back small tires, with the plastic center, came off, and there’s the mechanism sticking out that digs down into the yard when I back up. I just couldn’t deal with it until now. I am hoping beyond hope that this wheel or the whole part can be replaced. I have no idea where to go, as the reel mower was given to me by a neighbor years ago. Thank you, Jean.

@Jean day, I believe task force is a Lowes brand, I think that is a good place to start.

Jeff, Readjust the reel back to the way it was and try cutting the grass in a different direction, in other words if you were cutting it from north to south, try cutting it from east to west.

I tried loosening the cutting bar and the grass wouldn’t cut at all. I tightened it, and it does the same thing, but now the mower sounds like I’m riding a bicycle with playing cards in the spokes. ha.

Really strange.

PS – the blades perfectly cut a piece of paper at all inches through the mower. So I know that’s all good.

@Sandy, Sorry I am not an expert on older mower, but this guy is: http://www.reellawnmower.com/

@Donetta Zimmerman, This one is just short of the size you need so it will sharpen 85% of the blades: http://www.cleanairgardening.com/prison-reel-sharpener.html
Or you can get this one and use a hack saw to trim it to the size you need: http://www.cleanairgardening.com/20-inch-sharpening-kit.html
It takes about 10 seconds to cut it with a hack saw and a pair of scissors to trim the strips.

@Jeff

That mower is never going to cut it with thick St. Augustine, in my opinion. I don’t think adjusting it is going to help you much.

I believe that brand is a Lowes house brand (where they just get something private label manufactured in China), so you might go there and see if they have a manual for the mower that you can look at.

@George, Watch this video of George putting the handle on the Scotts Classic, I believe he uses a pair of long nose pliers to pinch the “c” ring in place. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilmul17JZ78

I’m looking to replace a pinion gear in an old push reel mower. Not sure of the Make or Model. I can give the dimensions of the gear I need to replace: Inner Diameter = 5/8″; Outer Diameter = 1 & 5/16″; Length = 1 & 5/16″. Know where I might be able to find one?

Hi

I have a suffolk 14″ reel mower it’s yellow and says made in englland. Do you know how old it would be and what it might be worth.

Thanks

Frank

Reel mower sticks when trying to mow lawn. Lawn recently cut by rotary mower (grass not high at all – kind of low) and there are no sticks or obstacles in the grass. Runs fine on cement – sticks only when starts cutting grass.

where can I buy 8″ inside and 10″ outside and 1.75″ wide tires for a gw davis 1931? reel mower

Have a 6 month old fiskars push mower that worked well until yesterday. I started to mow then it locked. Didn’t hit anything, small level lawn. It just won’t move. Can’t see anything sticking to it. How can I get it to work?

Steve,
Thanks for the reply and will do tomorrow A.M.
Will post the outcome.

I’m not sure if my posts are not going through or not?

Before the season kicks back in, I was hoping that someone might know why my mower is causing the grass to have perfectly even/uniform bumps after a cut of around .75 inches tall. on hybrid bermuda grass. It looks like what sand would look like if you raked it with a metal rake. Each “trough” is about 1″ apart. It’s perfectly consistent. Could it be the number of blades on the mower? Great States 18″…

Hi, I have a reel mower. I had to remove the wheels to replace the bearings, but now I cannot get the wheels back on. I have tried to push/pop them back on and gently hit them with a hammer. Is there some advice on how to get them back on?
Thanks

@cathy, Pull off the wheels and apply grease around the axle, etc.

@MDS, You can try larger wheels if you find some that will help, however with thicker grass, much like pushing a manual gas mower, you are the driving force so thicker grass is harder to push through.

Wheel very hard to turn, other wheel turns freely

@Dee

It might just be that the blades are adjusted wrong, so that they are so tight against the cutter bar that you can’t even push the mower. Do a search for the owner’s manual to that mower and try loosening the cutter bar so that the blades are not jammed up against it and see if that helps.