Reel mower questions

[Wingdesigner]

I spose this is not quite the right spot to post this question, but here goes:

I just picked up a reel mower from freecycle today, and took a couple swipes on my lawn. It seems to work OK, but this is my first one ever and have no idea on how to maintain it, adjust the height, etc. No owner's manual with it. I'd rather not break it the first time around, so if anyone can help with directions, I'd appreciate it. Seems more and more of my front lawn disappears every year :rolleyes: and this is just the right size and hopefully less bother than hauling out the rotary mower and 1/2 mile of cord.
Thanks in advance.

[Audwoman]

I have not seen one since I was a kid which is more years than I want to remember.

I do remember it had to be easy and safe because all my sisters and I mowed the lawn from the time we were 10 we had to take turns just like taking turns to wash the dishes. The one we had had a little lever on the side for hieght we had to walk the yard and make sure there were not any rocks or limbs in the way before we mowed. My parents had a thing that looked like a file that they sharpened the blade.

The only thing I can suggest is try to google the model and see if they say anything about what you have.

[Gregory]

I used a reel mower for years back at my old place before the glorious spring that I removed all the grass. The adjustment on the blade is tricky to get right for an even mow and if yours is cutting even, then maybe a light sharpening on the blades might be all you need? Also be careful when you sharpen it, the clearance on the blade is usually fairly tight and taking off too much material off can also mess up the adjustment. I had a love/hate affair with mine, the high points where that it did not make noise, was good exercise and took almost no room to store and needed no gas, the low points where that it just did not do as good of a job as a gas mower, did a terrible job on moist grass and made late fall and early spring cutting a problem and for something so simple, adjusting it to make an even cut on the horizontal was something I never got exactly right. I think the key to owning these is to find some really old guy with a shop who knows exactly the right way to sharpen the blades and get the adjustment just right. I never found him.

Gregory

[Wingdesigner]

Gregory, I noticed the tolerances are really close, so I won't be fooling with that anytime soon. As for horizontal perfect--don't care--as long as it looks like it's been cut and there are no ragged grass blades, I'm happy, and so is the City. Will keep looking. As for the old guy part, well, I qualify for some of that but don't feel confident taking the thing apart w/o some direction. Sharpening is not a problem, I sharpen other stuff around here.

[Gregory]

The old guy comment was meant in a respectful way.:)

Gregory

[Wingdesigner]

Oh heck, Gregory--no insult inferred! If you haven't noticed, it gets a lot worse around here...:lol: I'm rather fond of my curmudgeonly status, even if no one else is. :p Most of the "old guy" gardener/hand tool types are unfortunately long gone, and I miss 'em. I'm finally at a point in my life to appreciate their wisdom and they're not around to ask. Sigh. Well, enough of that sadness. Thanks for your help with my new toy. :)