Lawnmower types

azmonkey – posted 29 April 2004 16:40

Forgive me for not being able to figure this out for myself. I’ve searched all over the internet and have come up with almost nothing. I live in Arizona, and bermudagrass is the norm around here. Everywhere on this site and others, everyone mentions reel mowers and verticut mowers as the best ways to handle bermuda.

I had a human-powered reel mower once, but other than that the only lawn mowers I see being sold anywhere are rotary mowers. If reel and verticut mowers are best for bermuda, why can’t I find one anywhere?

I’ve been to Home Depot, Lowe’s, Sears, etc. Anywhere that caters to normal people only carries rotary mowers. I want to find out the prices on a power reel mower or a verticut mower, but how can I find a price if I can’t even find one for sale?

And is there any such thing as a manual-powered verticut mower?

Anyone?

Thanks!

cohiba – posted 30 April 2004 08:51

Azmonkey,Reel mowers out perform and keep their edge longer than any rotary mower on the market. The problem with them is that of cost and maintenance. I just bought one for mowing putting greens last year and paid over $3000.00. Yes it is a walk behind model with an engine. I suggest a few things If your serious about your lawn and mow it religousily consider a home owner model type reel mower. The maintenance issue could be solved by becoming friend with a golf course mechanic in your area. Most have the grinders needed to sharpen the reels. Backlapping can be done at home but the adjustments that have to be made are tricky. If money is not an issue: Contact your local golf course equipment supplier. most have service departments. Toro and Jacobsen make the high end $$$$ machines.

Mclain makes a a good home owner model that is a little less pricey.

I don’t know of any verticut, manual mowers But one of the manufactures make a mower now that you can replace the cutting reel with a verticut reel. That may be an option. Consider buying a used golf course mower. Alot of times courses (with big $$$ budgets) get rid of these mowers as a way of changing over their fleet.

Check out the link below for more info: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4587982/

Good luck and if I hear of a mower for sale in your area I’ll post some info.

Take Care……

ted – posted 30 April 2004 13:53

go to power41.com- you’ll get a true picture of the costs involved.

azmonkey – posted 30 April 2004 16:13

Thanks, guys. I had a manual reel mower several years ago. Once I cut a 4-inch ryegrass yard down as low as it could go (end-of-spring scalp). Annual ryegrass is very wet, and the thing rusted and never worked again. So I’m a little leary about getting another one.

I saw on that MSN artical that Brill makes a rechargeable electric reel mower for $300. But I don’t understand why more home lawn mower manufacturers aren’t jumping on the reel-mower bandwagon. Is there something about a reel mower that makes them undesirable for a home owner? Would an electric one rust up and never work again?

My current lawn mower, a gas-powered Craftsman from Sears, cost me $170. It’s not much more than that manual Brill reel mower. But inhaling the gas fumes when I mow is awful. So if I ever ditch it for an electric, I’d like to do it right and get a mower that my lawn is supposed to be mown with. But as you can see, I’m not a big spender. Oh well. I guess I’ll just have to choke on fumes until the electrics get cheap.

josepht – posted 09 May 2004 13:07

The reason that more equipment suppliers are not building the reel mower is because the Research and devlopment cost would not ever be covered with sales, due to the fact that 95% of home owners are not about to spend that kind of mone OR time in ther yard

trm – posted 13 June 2004 11:53

Lowe’s sell’s a 20″ Mcclane model that is fine for the average homeowner and is 600 bucks. Tru-cut sells them for about 1000 for a 20″. I just bought a 27″ for 1,500 and love it. go to tru-cut.com

trm – posted 13 June 2004 12:27

sorry the website is advancedmower.com for tru-cut mowers

Brian Landreville – posted 20 June 2004 01:35

I use a trimmer power reel mower. They are commonly referred to as Cal Trimmers. It is a front throw reel mower with adjustable heights. You should be able to find a used one for 2-300.00 I got mine for 100.00 I then spent 150 on it getting it tuned up, sharpened, new bed knife etc.. if you look in the classifieds you should be able to find one. Or go to a lawn mower shop, the ones in my area (Seattle) always have some for sale. Though you will pay a little more. Mclane makes one almost identical too. This is what you want.

Brian

bwmaier – posted 23 June 2004 11:18

I swear by Honda rotary lawn mowers. They may not be as appropriate for bermuda lawns as reel mowers, but they are tough mowers. Get a Masters series or higher (Commercial) grade. They are just about bullet proof!

jvolstad – posted 02 July 2004 21:47

I love my pollution free Black and Decker electric mower.

TClawn – posted 15 July 2004 23:46

I really don’t think that you need to reel mow bermuda in my opinion. every body out here uses a rotary mower on bermuda and the results can be quite striking. also I would recommend the toro personal pace super recycler if you interested in the rotarys.

sodoff – posted 08 August 2004 21:58

trm,

Just curious. How large is your yard? Would a 27″ be overkill for an 8,000-9,000 sf yard?

buck – posted 17 August 2004 06:58

I have a Mcclean 25″ with 10 blade reel that I use on my bermuda 419. Any rotary mower cannot come close to the quality of cut I get. I generally set the height at 11/16ths, but bring it up to 15/16ths late in the season. I am not aware of any rotary that can get that low, or that does not quickly lose it’s edge and leave split ends. I only have about 2,000 sq. ft. of lawn, but it is the envy of everone in my neighborhood. If you have a bermuda 419, GN, or some other quality variety you really should take advantage of how great it performs when properly mowed.

Brad – posted 17 August 2004 13:36

Mowing bermuda or zoysia with a reel mower makes you a contender. Mowing bermuda or zoysia with a rotary mower makes you a pretender. So, what’s it gonna be boy? If you’re using a reel you are for real!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sodoff – posted 18 August 2004 19:18

Buck,

In what part of the country do you live? Where do you get the blades on your Mcclean 25″ sharpened? What does a sharpening cost?

Buck – posted 23 August 2004 15:04

I live in the Raleigh/Durham area of North Carolina. I think it costs about $50 for ten baldes and the bar.

cohiba – posted 24 August 2004 09:27

Buck, Is your Mclean ground driven or does it have an engine? I too applaude your mowing techniques. Reels Rule, Rotaries Drool.

To sharpen, get hooked up with a golf course mechanic. Some will do it for a six pack! Grinding reels and bedknives is an art. The best part about it is that they might only need sharpening once a year. The rest of the time is adjusting and/or back lapping which can be explained easily by someone in the know.

Keep the lines straight………….

Buck – posted 29 August 2004 09:15

My Mcclean has a 6hp Honda engine. 419 is way too dense for a wheel driven reel. Been there – the reel locks up on the cutter bar and the wheels just slide rather than turn.

cohiba – posted 29 August 2004 19:20

Buck, I had a friend,(he moved to Naples FL.) that grew-in a bentgrass putting green in his yard. He purchased a McClain push(no motor)mower; but was unable to physically mow the green. I suggested he attach an electric motor to the mower reel. It worked, but too good. The mower was blowing the clippings beyond the catcher! The reel speed was way higher than needed. We attached a dimmer switch to the motor and it worked like a charm. He found that in certain times of the year he could speed up, or slow done, the reel depending on the turf conditions.

It was great! As long as the extension cord reached.

FYI: I saw a few reel mowers on ebay last night. A Jacobsen greensmower for $500. A good deal.

Take care and keep up the good work!!!!