Probably last ya at least 5 years. Annually, you can back lap the reel/bedknife, but the grinding needs done much less frequently. Can I ask ya where you're takin it to get it ground? Pro Power in town just does back lapping as far as I know.

Thx, Dan

Okcdan, Okgrassguy said he was taking it to the golf course mechanic. I can almost guarantee you that the golf course mechanic doesn't have a $30,000 reel and bedknife grinder in his garage at home... so it's getting ground at the golf course.

Okgrassguy:
I worked at a golf course as the head mechanic for a couple years. Our conditions in WI are surely different than OK. But let me make a estimate of how long our Toro 21" powered reel mower walkers lasted between grindings. Let me look up in the records....

It looks like we did about 150-200 hrs on each grinding with backlapping, occasional bedknife replacement, daily greasing as well as daily bedknife gap and height check.

Now, you won't be cutting as low and your cut appearance won't be as important. That will throw the numbers off a bit.

I think the important things are propper reel and bedknife relief, proper reel to bedknife gap, and height of cut (HOC). We were cutting between .110" to .140" of cut height on our greens. You'll be cutting much higher. I higher HOC will get you out of the small rocks and sand which will extend your reel and bedknife life. On the other hand, at the higher HOC be carefull not to mow too frequently (especially if the grass is dryer) because you'll overheat the reel and bedknife. When they got hot, the gap between them gets closer... and soon you're rubbing the two together. It won't stay sharp like that.

Talk to the golf course mechanic and be sure to tell him your conditions. Grass type? Sunny or shady? Wet or dry?

The key to long cut life is the original setup.

I called every single golf course around, Earlywine told me to try Rons lawnmower at 5700 S. Western. They grind reels but I dont know if the spin or relief grind. I finally got ahold of the mechanic at Trosper park. He said he would do it for $75.

Hopefully he will let me watch and pick up some tips.

You'll definately want the relief ground reel. The table-top spin grinders are nice because they are fast (and that means cheap to you) but you'll need to grind the reel more often without the relief. The relief allows you to run with a little more bedknife gap and keeps the reel and bedknife sharper longer. As you mow, the front of the reel rounds off and the material transfers to the back of the reel. Basically the back of the reel will grow in mass and this area will become the grass cutting area. This will lead to a mushed up/torn cut that will kill the ends of the grass blades.

With the relief, you'll end up with less surface area making the cut. This will create more of a concise cut.

I have always set the bed knife so the machine will cleanly slice a sheet of foolscap which means the knife and reel contact. From what I read here, that is too tight. If so, how do I properly set it?

Okgrassguy -- thanks for that info -- I think I'll hit him up after the grass goes into dormancy.

I have to admit, I messed with my reel to bedknife gap, and while I cannot cut paper with it (because there's NO contact,) it cuts my lawn just fine! The reel spins freely & I think it should last far longer that way between back lapping/grinding.

Good day fellas, Dan

canguy:

You should set the reel to bedknife gap so that with the paper horizontal to the cutting plane, it will just knick it. With the paper vertical to the cutting plane, it should cut. In other words: about a paper's thickness of a gap between the reel and bedknife.

Dan, he said give him a call and check if he has time, his name is Alan.

He said the reel had enough relief left but it was past its half life and he didnt want to add more relief. He said it might take off to much material.

He did a spin grind and left plenty of relief, backlapped and set the reel.
That bad boy is sharp. It slices that paper like butter.

I'll give him credit he went above and beyond what I asked him to do. The sprocket key was nearly shaved off and he replaced that. Replaced a few bolts about to twist off, fixed the throttle cable and a few other things.

Here is a link that might be useful: Here is a local manufacturer of compound he used

Thanks wiseguy, I have a handpush reel in the store I will try that on.

okgrassguy

Thanks for that info! I'm still mowing every 3rd day. I'm thinkin I'm just gonna wait a few more weeks when I plan to raise the height & I can use the rotary. Then I can drop off the Tru-Cut over there with Alan & there's no rush.

Good day, Dan