Using a reel mower right???

SunDevilDave – posted 19 June 2005 09:18

I just purchased my first McLane Reel Mower at a yard sale yesterday. 20″ 7blade. All in great shape. Sharp blades.

It is self-propelled and I notice after gowing over my complete yard at 1 inch, I have “lanes”. So I go over it again perpendicular to the first cut. Better but I still see edges from my various paths.

I try mowing the clutch disengaged (no self propelled). I pick up a ton more grass.

Even though it is more work pushing the mower, is it better to spin the blade over the grass at a higher rpm as I move forward at a slower pace. I think I would get a more consistent cut this way.

Does this sound right?

Thanks,Dave

Buck – posted 20 June 2005 11:49

7 knives is probably not enough for a fine texture turf such as 419. I have 10 knives on my Mcclean and that works well. Pushing that thing must be a chore. I’d look into either a smaller sproket for the reel or a larger one for the drive wheel. I don’t believe Mcclean makes a 10 knife reel for anything smaller than 25″

You have the right idea, get the reel moving faster with respect to the forward motion.