Locke Lawn Mower - Triplex - How to Start and Tips for Maneuvering

These lawn mowers ruled for decades before the Zero Turn rotary mowers were introduced. Scissor Cut and very maneuverable six foot wide cut in a small package. This video is an attempt to capture some of what I learned while cutting with these machines for the past forty years before it was sold and just a memory.

[@FrannyWard]

My Dad had a landscaping business in the 60's and 70s. Had me and my friends out all summer using these "Locke's". We had 2 - 70" and a 75"' with reverse. No sulky. Even was taught how to backlap the blades. Thanks for the memories.

[@donaldpurcell5243]

Thanks for sharing! I’m glad I have this video to remember mine. Don P

[@kurtvonknipper3902]

I was employed in the mid 70's by a company in Michigan that primarily sold and serviced commercial mowing equipment. Locke triplex mowers were used by landscapers along with parks, municipalities, cemeteries and the like. Although not truly complex, there were a lot of parts that made up these mowers. The type of use our customers gave them meant that they were in at our place over the winter months for refurbishment so that they were ready to go in the spring. We would have hundreds of them dropped off in late fall. If they did a minimal amount of maintenance, they typically could go a whole season without any major attention. Remember that these were in use all day 5 or 6 days out of every week. I imagine that they could go for decades when being used by a homeowner. A co-worker did all the work on the reels. The disassembly and repair along with sharpening the reels and replacing the bed knives, shoes and whatever was required along with reassembly. I handled all the chassis repair/refurb as well as the engine work. About the time I moved on to greener pastures they were becoming too expensive to justify using them commercially.

[@jeffwells8646]

I operated one of those for an entire summer down on Cape Cod. My lawn cuts were a work of art! Wish I had one today.

[@rjchiedog]

i have one for sale. all original. it doesnt have the sides though, just the center cutter

[@driverjamescopeland]

I don't know of anyone who makes a triplex walk behind reel anymore. Good news is... there's a few cordless reels out there to build one fairly easily.

[@blu65gibson]

When I was a little boy, my Dad had a landscaping business and had this mower. He had the attachment you could ride behind on it. And yes, it was the zero turn of the day.

[@donk499]

I remember my first job at "the power shoppe" repairing mowers. "John" would do the Locke repairs, mostly for the commercial guys. The Lockes were complex machines that required frequent maintenance, but they rewarded you with a great machine and beautiful manicured yards...

[@donaldpurcell5243]

thanks for sharing! I agree.

[@thebeaconlight8271]

Nice triplex footage. I love mine.

[@davidlabaree7001]

I've done just the opposite. I originally used a Husqvarna riding mower - took 3 hours to do the lawn. I recently adopted 2 Lockes (one with a sulky) on Craigslist. With the Locke, just 1.5 hours. It uses less gas (not running it at top rev) and I find the extra maintenance to be the fun part. With the rope start and the exposed whirring chains, its the coolest mower on the block. Now I just use the riding mower for the edges.

[@paint52]

I had a 70” and a 75” as well as 72” Toro Professionals. The Lockes gave a much smoother cut as the Toros had rollers that made the reels bounce. We had a Peerless sharpening machine and bed knife grinder that did a great job. They are a great machine but maintaining them can be difficult.

[@donaldpurcell5243]

Thanks for sharing.

[@SylvesterTheSupernatural]

That thing moving by itself is terrifying

[@donaldpurcell5243]

funniest comment yet! :) I have three acres, it was a ways from hitting anything!

[@TheAoperator]

I used this mower when i was 10 yrs old. My head was in line with the handle bars

[@donaldpurcell5243]

That's funny I remember that my dad didn't let me run it myself until I weighed 100lbs. He thought lighter than that and I would not be able to horse it around!

[@dram6262]

cool mower! Thanks for showing it.

[@johnmontoya265]

Kickass Video and exact what I was looking for. Great job

[@donaldpurcell5243]

Thanks! I didn't see any other good Locke videos out there and I made this the day I sold it just hours before it was gone. I'm glad I have the memento; I wasn't keeping up with the grease fittings and sharpening etc. I'm glad it's in better hands now!

[@liborobst3387]

nice video. Thanks. Regards from Czech.:-)

[@jakobgmunder5024]

Super mit Brixen Motor

[@bookemdano1317]

I ran lockes working for a landscaper when I was 19 back in 1984. I love lockes, I own 4 of them, but don't have them running. It wouldn't take much to get them running, but funnily enough I own a landscaping business and am usually too busy mowing with my rotarys to take the time to work on the lockes. It's a really lousy conundrum.

[@donaldpurcell5243]

Sometimes I regret selling mine the rollers seemed to flatten the lawn and I'm definitely nostalgic but having it gone makes room for the hovercraft that I'm working on! :)

[@bookemdano1317]

@@donaldpurcell5243 Hovercraft?! Then I hope we're going to get some videos!

[@earlsmith3894]

I found one with 9hp Honda installed will that work well?

[@swampyankee72]

Im curious how tall are you? It appears as if you have to hunch over to operate it?

[@donaldpurcell5243]

Good point, I'm 6ft 4inches tall so pretty tall. I didn't typically have an issue hunching over. For comfort, I would walk next to the handles steering it with one hand walking next to the handles on the down hill side whichever that was down hill, most lawns aren't flat. You get more grass on your shoes that way though.

[@swampyankee72]

@@donaldpurcell5243 Thank you for your reply. I plan on restoring one after my shop is done.

[@donaldpurcell5243]

@@swampyankee72 You won't regret restoring it. They are good machines!

[@swampyankee72]

@@donaldpurcell5243 I'm 5'10" so I think I won't be hunching.

[@wilfredorosa3742]

Nice!!! What’s the max height it can cut?

[@donaldpurcell5243]

I'm not sure, if you let the grass get too high then the reels push the grass down and don't cut very well. I'd say up to 6 or 8 inches you are fine but higher it's difficult. In the case where I had to cut grass that was high, I'd cut once in one direction and then come back the other way. The first past cut 1/2 the grass and laid the rest down so that on the 2nd pass it was already angled in to the reels.

[@fietereichel1305]

Does anybody know the engine capacity of this?

[@donaldpurcell5243]

8hp briggs

[@4XLibelle]

Impressive! I’m guessing that you miss it? Quick question: Do you recall the cutting height range? I’d love to find one of these.

[@donaldpurcell5243]

Sorry, I don't know. I'd look on Craig's list and ebay, they show up sometimes.

[@elmoreglidingclub3030]

@@donaldpurcell5243 Actually, I bought one a couple of weeks ago. It’s a 1961 75” Triplex. I’ve been refurbishing it; will be rebuilding the carburetor and replacing the sulky tires this weekend. Thoroughly enjoying it! Also, as a bonus, I found that I’m a distant (quite distant) relative of SD Locke.

[@donaldpurcell5243]

Best of luck with your new mower. Funny how some people are attracted to similar hobbies. I'm a tail dragger pilot with a 1947 Aeronca Champ and a bunch of Super-cub time. I haven't added on a sailplane rating yet but it might be in the future. My brother is a glider pilot, used to have a Schweizer 134 but now has an ASW20. Take care Don P.

[@elmoreglidingclub3030]

@@donaldpurcell5243 Very cool! My good friend has a Champ; a fine airplane! I love the Cub (and similar) myself as it’s just relaxing and enjoyable. I’ve enjoyed some Stearman time, which is uniquely fun and challenging. Best of luck if you start flying gliders. Most of my soaring was in Libelles-excellent gliders. If I had ever “moved up” it would have been to the ASW-20. Those are awesome sailplanes, especially for the money. I could just never find one for sale! Best, Jim.

[@donaldpurcell5243]

I have about 9 landings in a Stearman 3 from thew back seat. Very cool. Your right about the ASW20 it took my brother a long time to find one, I expect he'll never sell it! Take care! Don P.

[@billywilliams7827]

Was this sold

[@donaldpurcell5243]

Yes, I sold it very reasonably to somebody that would value it and use it and keep it going. Made the Video the same day it went!

[@donaldpurcell5243]

yup, sold and gone but to a good home. someone who wanted to maintain it.

[@earlsmith3894]

We’re do I find the dog bones

[@donaldpurcell5243]

I honestly don't know. My dad has a pair of the long ones, I think there were long and short ones. He has 3 9.5 inch long ones.

[@chuckbenzing134]

What Masshole would give up this instrument for any price? Sub'd to see what could be better than this finely built piece of iron

[@donaldpurcell5243]

Found it a good home, still in Mass though!

[@donaldpurcell5243]

got tired of the grease fittings and backwards lapping the blades to sharpen and went with a Husqvarna 54inch. I miss the locke but not the maintenance. Maybe when I retire I'll get another Locke Again!

[@paint52]

Pumping the throttle does absolutely nothing to help start a Briggs

[@donaldpurcell5243]

You got me there, never had the carb apart. I thought I was giving it a shot of fuel. Whatever hocus pocus I did served me well. I had several spring time 1st starts on the 1st pull! :)

[@donk499]

you are so right, no "accelerator pump" in those carbs