Manual reel mowers are reasonably simple devices; they depend on just a few moving parts and the basic application of force. The mower's overall construction is that of a small cart with a long handle. Most reel mowers feature two primary wheels on a single axle with either a bar of rollers or a set of smaller, secondary wheels in the rear. The rear roller or rear wheels simply provide balance, while the primary wheels provide the motion needed to turn the mower's bladed cylinder.
The best way to understand how reel mower parts work is to follow the flow of force through the mower.
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- A person pushes on the handlebars, applying force.
- The applied force moves down the handle, pushing the mower forward on its wheels.
- As the axle turns, it sends a pair of gears spinning. The first gear has a larger diameter than the smaller pinion gear. When a larger gear passes its rotation force, or torque, onto a smaller gear, the torque increases. This is why the blades of a reel mower turn much faster than the wheels. For more information on the physics of this, read How Gear Ratios Work.
Lee Valley Reel Mower Manual
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The brush bar on the front of the mower bends tall grass, folding it over into the spinning cylinder blades. The spinning reel may look impressive, but it doesn't actually cut the grass on its own. All the cutting of the grass takes place where the spinning edges meet the stationary cutter bar in the rear of the mower. Think of it as the point of contact between the two blades of a pair of scissors. The cylinder scoops up the grass and moves it to the cutter bar the same way a barber uses a comb to position hair for snipping.
Most of the grass clippings then fall behind the mower, allowing for the use of a collection tray or bag on many models. Reel mowers differ drastically from rotary mowers in this respect, as the latter's fan-like blades actually tear grass, which can more easily expose the plants to disease [source: University of Tennessee].
Sound like a great addition to your tool shed? Turn to the next page to learn how to use and maintain a reel mower.
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Properly adjusting the blades of your manual-push reel lawnmower ensures that it cuts grass blades cleanly without any tearing that can open the grass to disease. Reel mowers have five twisted cutting blades arranged in a cylinder. As you push the lawnmower, the blades spin and cut the grass against a fixed-position cutting bar at the base of the mower. The blades and cutting bar must be positioned close together without touching. When adjusted correctly, the blades can cut a strip of paper cleanly, just as you would cut it with a pair of scissors.
1
Set the reel mower on a table or work bench for easy access to the reel. Chock the wheels with small wood blocks to prevent them from moving and turning the cutting blade cylinder.
2
Spin the reel with your hand to determine the type of adjustment required. If you hear a metal scraping sound, adjust the blades away from the horizontal cutting bar. If the reel spins freely, move it closer to the cutting bar.
3
Locate the four adjustment screws on the reel mower. There is one screw on either side of the reel, and one screw on either side of the cutting bar.
4
Insert a flat screwdriver in the screw slots on the sides of the blade reel. Tighten the screw to move the blades closer to the cutting bar, if needed. Loosen the screws to move the blades away from the cutting bar. Turn the screws only a fraction of a turn so the adjustment is slight.
5
Turn the screws on either side of the cutting bar in the opposite direction from how you turned the blade reel screws. If you tightened the screws to move the blades closer to the cutting bar, loosen the cutting bar screws. If you moved blades away from the cutting bar, tighten the cutting bar screws. Turn the cutting bar screws to the same degree as you turned the blade reel screws.
6
Spin the blade reel to determine if further adjustments are needed. Turn the adjustment screws a little at a time until you achieve the proper position.
7
Cut a piece of paper into strips about 2 inches wide. Slide a paper strip up between the cutting bar and blades. Turn the reel slowly so the first blade passes over the cutting bar. If the blade cuts the paper cleanly, no further adjustments are needed. Push the paper up and turn it slightly to check the performance of the other four blades. Adjust the blades further until each blade makes a clean cut on the paper.
Reel Mower Gas Powered
Tips
- The slightest turn of the adjustment screws makes a major change in the blade and cutting bar position. You might find it easier to use a ratcheting socket wrench to adjust the screws because you can count the number of clicks with each turn of the screw. Screw sizes might vary, but usually require an 11-mm socket.
- Although there a numerous makes and models of reel mowers, the position of the adjustment screws is relatively consistent among all of them. Your user's manual can provide specific information if you have difficulty identifying the adjustment screws.
Warnings
- Move your hands out of the way quickly when you spin the reel to check for contact with the cutting bar.
- Use a new strip of paper if the paper strip becomes too short to hold it in place while keeping your hand clear of the blades.
References (5)
About the Author
A former cake decorator and competitive horticulturist, Amelia Allonsy is most at home in the kitchen or with her hands in the dirt. She received her Bachelor's degree from West Virginia University. Her work has been published in the San Francisco Chronicle and on other websites.
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