How To Sharpen A Manual Reel Mower - Backlapping

[@garbagejones]

Small correction, it is my daddy's mower. My daddy was born in 1912. It's not great-grampa's, he used a scythe. Me, I used this reel mower all my life. The things I love about the reel are no noise, and I can mow at night without disturbing anyone, and I love the simplicity and that I put the fuel into my mouth, not into a tank, and I also love how it is so much easier than my very heavy aluminum Toro that I had for a while. Never gums up, always easy to start. And get this - I have a much larger area to mow than any of my neighbors. Hill sides too. It's enjoyable how well it cuts and what a nice job it does as long as it is kept sharp and adjusted, and as long as you mow regularly so the growth doesn't get too long.

[@MatsDawson]

Great points. Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate the comment.

[@MM-ux7kp]

Reel mower is absolutely a joy to use. Anyone here ever use a scythe? Or a double-serrated blade on the end of a stick? Now that's a full body workout, I tell you hwat

[@pablovagnor]

Awesome vid .. I LOVE my reel mower. Live ( well right on the outskirts ) in a huge well known college campus . Every house around mine is students renting. I don't have a garage or shed. So I had to deal with a reel mower. & I ❤️❤️❤️❤️ it ... I also thoroughly enjoy the odd looks & puzzling stares from today's youths .

[@MatsDawson]

Thank you for sharing!!! It's great exercise too!

[@myladycasagrande863]

Yup, my reel mower draws a lot of attention and comments from passersby... especially older men who used to use similar ones!

[@lkratz83]

Super helpful -- exactly what I needed to know and the perfect length video!

[@MatsDawson]

Glad I could be of service.

[@johnearley9924]

I've been using my Craftsman reel mower since 1973 and I've never spent more that 5 minutes to sharpen the blades with a file. Works great and cuts grass like a champ. Also I regularly lubricate the gears.

[@MatsDawson]

Outstanding!! They don't make them like they used to.

[@MikeJones-jr5hb]

Well… it’s one of my mowers 😂 but I am a grandpa, Dad had one back in the 50’s but it had the 5hp on it,nice one. I think he sold it in the 70’s. I was raised on reel mowers

[@MatsDawson]

They are the Supreme of mowing styles in my opinion.

[@humitasdulces]

Thank you so much for posting this. You explained the process really well, now I will be able to do it myself :)

[@MatsDawson]

I'm glad that I could help you!

[@Jacobres]

Great video, thank you! However I’m struggling to get the c clip back onto the mower to hold the wheel on. Anyone have any tips?

[@MatsDawson]

Try using a pair of needle nose pliers to clip it back in.

[@joeburrier2273]

I have 2 gas mowers and a reel mower. Ill use the gas if im doing my rental or neighbors house, but i feel like the reel mower gives a great cut on my relatively small yard.

[@MatsDawson]

I agree. It's a beautiful cut.

[@CalitranoN]

my mower is way older and it is my grandpa's for us older guys we had those...at our grandparents.

[@MatsDawson]

I always remembered my grandparents will gas mowers. My grandfather was very very good at taking care of his equipment and making it last forever, but ya I guarantee he had a push reel mower at some point. Thanks for the comment!

[@CalitranoN]

@@MatsDawson up here in Buffalo NY we have a lot of immigrants so was my family... right from the farms in Italy... so ya, everything was manual... we still have the grass cutter if thats what its called lol.

[@MatsDawson]

That's really cool. Thanks for sharing. The current term is a reel mower or a cylinder mower.

[@griffturfcare5061]

Good stuff! may have to do that soon to my new push reel mower!

[@MatsDawson]

It's easy peasy. If you can't find the a kit, buy grinding compound at an auto store. It's water soluble so you can thin it out and make it last. And the handle you can probably fashion something or use a drill attachment.

[@vertigospumante]

I wish i could see more qbout how to adjust the screws so the plate is on at the proper angle. My mower is older and ive done all the steps but i realized the metal plate doesnt seem right and isnt sharpening all at once.whoch also tells me the blades may have never been adjusted with the plate right. As i use the compound, i keep seeing pits with the silver. So i guess i just keep going until there are no more little black dots? Or is that just discoloration?

[@keithcorrigan658]

If you can't get you hands on some back lapping paste Mix some toothpaste .,clean sand. , Washing powder and some cut and polish car polish ! It works really well ! 👍

[@MatsDawson]

I usually head to the auto zone and get their liquid lapping compound.

[@cretene1]

easy kid im 55yrs old!

[@petrol.318]

Thanks for the useful video. Wouldn't you want to do the paper test with all blades before you move to different section of the knife?

[@MatsDawson]

If you were going to adjust the bedknife, yes. Ill do another video on adjust reel to bedknife contact soon. Thanks for the compliment neighbor!

[@rebeccaoliver7977]

Why take the wheels off? Seems like I could just put the stuff on my mower and pull it on the driveway back wards. Any reason that wouldn't work?

[@MatsDawson]

It's all about consistency of the backward motion and the grit.

[@rebeccaoliver7977]

@@MatsDawson, so you're saying there isn't any reason to remove the wheels? I can see why a company would say to remove the wheels; it clears them of responsibility for an accident. They also don't get to sell a "kit"

[@MatsDawson]

My mower does not spin backwards when I pull it backwards. Does yours?

[@johnchestnut5340]

​@MatsDawson I don't know if it was intended, but if you put tension on it, like an old coaster bike, you can then run it backwards pretty quickly. At least that was what we did with my grandfather's mower. We also ran it upside down. Maybe it was a gravity thing? We never took it apart; we were kids playing with a dangerous toy!

[@MatsDawson]

You got all your digits lol.

[@user-jv9qz2bu1r]

nice direct instruction, subbed

[@MatsDawson]

Thank you!! I hope it was helpful.

[@anthonydeleeuw]

You are missing other important steps such as adjusting your cutting blade with the four screws to make come into contact with the spinning blades.

[@MatsDawson]

That's an entirely different beast that most users do not need to know in order to backlap their reel.

[@ronmaday947]

Of course you need to do that step! That's how you raise the bed knife so the blades touch it. How else are the blades supposed to sharpen??

[@MatsDawson]

Fair enough.

[@wildcard2884]

@@ronmaday947 100% right

[@MatsDawson]

You are correct but to be fair, I've never had to adjust thr bed knife on mine

[@PlantVisionz]

Simple and informative video... Tks for sharing

[@MatsDawson]

Thank you for watching!

[@nuance8530]

The kit is unavailable. Anywhere else I can get one of those crank handles?

[@MatsDawson]

www.homedepot.com/p/Reel-Mower-Sharpening-Kit-SK-1/100664236

[@MatsDawson]

Shoot. That's sold out too. I'll around the web tomorrow and reply back.

[@nuance8530]

@@MatsDawson I had tried Lowe's too and found unavailable online, out of stock in my area. I think I can get the paste and then spin it backwards by hand until my arm gets tired a couple times. About how many times does it need to spin? Thank you for the video and help.

[@MatsDawson]

@@nuance8530 a lot of people use a drill too. If you can get a socket that fits in your drill and over the axle cam that would work. I usually get it spinning pretty fast backwards for about a minute.

[@lisarainbow9703]

Valve grinding compound from Autozone , and a wrench can work

[@randomness8819]

I did all that and reassembled but now the blades aren't turning. What do I do please??

[@MatsDawson]

It needs loosened.

[@wollins2]

NIce vid. Question. I have about 1000sq' of front lawn that I'm considering buying a reel mower for. If you were to take a guess ... how long do you think that blades would stay sharp if I were to mow three times per week? Guesstimate? ;)

[@MatsDawson]

Assuming that your yard is free from sticks and stones. Its should stay sharp for about 2 to 3 weeks before a back lap is needed. Once you get the hang of backlapping its very easy to do.

[@MatsDawson]

Also, I'll add that you will start to pick up on when your reel mower is starting to cut poorly.

[@dondoes4303]

You are the man if you are going to use a manual mower for 1000 Sq feet!

[@MatsDawson]

@@dondoes4303 I did 6000 for awhile. Gets difficult in the summer.

[@craiglee8904]

Perfect. Thank you.

[@MatsDawson]

Thanks for watching. :)

[@worstblondenightmare]

Thanks!

[@MatsDawson]

Thank you!

[@1ntwndrboy198]

My Dad had one in his basement 😆

[@MatsDawson]

Great way to mow.

[@michaelmusialowski9888]

Do it in a tent with the door zipped up, those c clips fly everywhere

[@MatsDawson]

Heard that! I've gotten a bit used to them from experience, but they do like to take off.

[@mikehannigan848]

use a magnet.

[@MatsDawson]

@@mikehannigan848 great idea!

[@mikehannigan848]

@@MatsDawson I'm still looking for one clip about half the size of a dime for an early 80's Hitachi carb...so obviously the idea came to me AFTER that happened.

[@MatsDawson]

Man that would drive me nuts for years.

[@cassiehowder9782]

Since King Gavin Newsom has banned all gas powered mowers, blowers and edgers by 2030, Mike might have to get one!

[@MatsDawson]

Haha. It's good exercise. To be honest it seems that the electric models are capable of doing a great job.