OT: How to sharpen a reel mower

[mross]

Been through the web and saw the backlapping and take it to a pro. Anybody
know how to do it by hand? Thanks.

 

[ddean]

:

http://www.reelmowers.info

This site sounds like they essentially sharpen by 'stropping'
apply compound & lap the blades against the machine's own metal
backwards of however the operation normally proceeds

Looks easy to make any sort of handle to turn the blade assembly
once it's released for backward rotation





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[kamkazmoto]

To tell the truth I used to sharpen the rotary blades with a mill file and then clean up the fixed edge. I would do it the same way that you sharpen scissors being careful to maintain a straight edge but no one ever called me real smart!

 

[stevomiller]

I don't know if this is the right way, but as a kid my dad always used cylinder honing compound put on the blades, adjusted the blade to run closer to the steel shear plate??? than normal, and then run it around the drive way for a while. When I moved out I used the same method until I was the mac daddy and bought a gas mower

 

[mross]

To tell the truth I used to sharpen the rotary blades with a mill file and then clean up the fixed edge. I would do it the same way that you sharpen scissors being careful to maintain a straight edge but no one ever called me real smart!

kamkazmoto; This was my thoughts that it worked like a scissor, so sharpen it like one. I did this with a small mill file. The thing that's been scaring me is all the stuff I'm reading says take it to a pro, it's to hard to do yourself.

I don't know if this is the right way, but as a kid my dad always used cylinder honing compound put on the blades, adjusted the blade to run closer to the steel shear plate??? than normal, and then run it around the drive way for a while. When I moved out I used the same method until I was the mac daddy and bought a gas mower

stevomiller , ddean; That method is the back lapping. It uses a buffing compond to strop the blade. This would be ok if you are just touching up. I
bought my mower at a yard sale and it needs an edge.

Are there any old timers who used to do this? I expect using something like a course diamond hone would get a good edge then a fine diamond hone to finish. Before I bought the hones I was hoping to hear from someone who does this. Thanks.

 

[ddean]

no personal experience,
but that never stopped me.

A quick browse says what makes sense...

...it's extremely difficult to get the edge -even- along the length
when using a hand file;

whether you get it sharp or not.

the cutting action depends on the rotary blade edge
meeting the bed blade edge precisely.

But............[my highlight below]

"From: "Jim Gregory" <jim@...>
Date: Sat Sep 16, 2000 12:37 pm
Subject: Re: [CarFree] RE: mowers jim@...
Seth wrote:
> I've had trouble finding someone who knows how to sharpen and set one of
> these mowers as well. Maybe if enough of us get them, the businesses who
> used to do it will start doing it again.

One way you can sharpen a reel mower yourself is put some valve lapping
compound (available at auto parts stores) on the bed knife (the stationary
blade on the bottom), adjust the bed knife until it just touches the blades
on the reel, then turn the reel backwards by hand. Repeat the process a few
times until the blades are sharpened. Wipe off all of the lapping compound
and readjust the bed knife before you use the mower.

If you have any large nicks on any of the blades from running over rocks
etc., file the nicks smooth with a file first before applying the lapping
compound.

The American Lawn Mower company sells a reel mower sharpening kit
(http://www.reelin.com/amsharp.htm ) for their mowers that contains the
valve lapping compound, an applicator brush, and a handle to assist in
turning the reel backwards. If you have an American or Great States mowers,
this would be a worthwhile kit to have, as turning the reel backwards
without a handle is a slow, tedious process. The kit is available at
http://store.yahoo.com/cleanairgardening/reelmowshark.html.

BTW, looking at the Lehman's link you provided (www.lehmans.com), I'd agree
with their recommendation in buying their "best" mower over the "good" one.
There are two types of reel mowers, "standard" (for lack of a better term)
reel mowers and "silent" reel mowers. In a standard reel mower, the reel
blades contact the bed knife on every revolution, while on a "silent" mower,
they come close, but don't quite touch. I find a silent mower (like
Lehman's "best" model) is significantly easier to push than a standard reel
mower (their "good" model). The quality of the cut is the same.
-Jim"




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<> THEY call me 'Dean' -fYI-fWiW-iIRC-JMO-M2C-YMMV-TiA-YW-GL-HH-HBd-IBSCUtWS-theWotBGUaDUaDUaD
<> Noobee <> Tips <> Baha'i Prayers Links --A--T--H--D

 

[dantastic4]

Two suggestions:

First, click on this link for decent advice on do-it-yourself care of your reel mower: http://grounds-mag.com/mag/grounds_maintenance_back_lap_reels Golf courses use power reel mowers to cut the greens, but the blade maintenance principals are the same for a hand-powered mower.

Second, see if there is a small public golf course in your area with a friendly greenskeeper...those guys at the fancy country clubs have way too much money and probably have their bit riding greens mowers professionaly sharpened every month. But the old guy at the local muni 9-hole course probably has a 20-year old walk-behind that he keeps running with lots of TLC and he might just offer to sharpen yours if you ask nicely.

Good luck!