Reel Mower Backlapping - How To Backlap Your Reel Mower and Increase Cut Quality

[@clintmardis]

Please do more on the Tru-Cut c27 Backlapping kit and Adjustments. Thank You Love Reel Mowers!

[@spankyslawncarellc7822]

Tru-cut would be great, more info on back lapping

[@LG-cz4hb]

I also appreciate the tip on when to use 80 grit vs 120 grit. I think most folks just assume that the higher number is better.

[@reelrollers]

We had to learn too! Always good to share info!

[@yuvrajjaiswal874]

120grit cast

[@happyhome41]

I have a Cooper Klipper ACA-20 -- happy to purchase from you that is not throwing away money.

[@themowerman]

Fantastic video mate hi from the 🇬🇧

[@reelrollers]

Thank you sir, and hello across the pond!!!

[@LG-cz4hb]

Thank you for promoting PPE👍

[@jimgreyard6623]

Thanks guys

[@jeffreymalone5986]

Awesome video! Thanks for posting,

[@reelrollers]

Hopefully it's helpful, Jeffrey!

[@elmoreglidingclub3030]

Helpful video-thanks for posting! I ordered your back lapping compound today, both 80 and 120. Question: You said you ran it “for a couple of minutes.” Is that all it takes? Is there a general rule-of-thumb for the time? I have a Cal Trimmer I’ll be back lapping soon. I’m also restoring a 1961 Locke Triplex that came with the rare, hard to find back lapping hand crank. Should be fun!!

[@taylorbrawner2052]

Solid work Andrew!

[@reelrollers]

Hey thanks Taylor! When are you going to come get a mower from me?! 😁

[@taylorbrawner2052]

@@reelrollers hahaha I wish! I do need to come get a little part for my McLane soon though.

[@reelrollers]

@@taylorbrawner2052 C'mon, dude! (if it's a roller, we can help you out, but we don't actually carry McLane repair parts) :/

[@jdramr4]

Please please please do a truecut backlap video. I'm having a hard time adjusting the real to bedknife.

[@reelrollers]

Stay tuned and subscribe, John! We'll get there!

[@juliansalinas3154]

Bought my kit for McLane last year. 👍works great! So I am scalping a section of my yard to reseed. I assume it's best to back lap after the scalp, is that correct?

[@andrewguy763]

You're absolutely correct, Julian! You can use the prior year's dull blades to scalp (because scalping will ONLY dull your blades) and then follow up with a backlapping. You should have a few weeks to knock it out too as it'll take a little while for your grass to rebound! We appreciate your business!

[@RonHenry]

Great job Andrew. Made it look easy! 😎

[@caysonmorgan7245]

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[@sincereroger605]

@Cayson Morgan instablaster ;)

[@caysonmorgan7245]

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[@caysonmorgan7245]

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[@sincereroger605]

@Cayson Morgan no problem :D

[@GiovanniGiorgo]

Great video, thanks for demonstrating this. About how much of the small container do you use per backlap?

[@reelrollers]

Thank you Bryan! Every time we conduct a backlapping, I'd say that we go through about 1/4 to 1/3 of the compound. Not a lot, and not a little!

[@VanillaCoke]

0:20 k I backlapped inside my home and now there’s grit splattered everywhere. What’s the next step?

[@reelrollers]

Clean it up! Then take your mower to the garage and continue! ;)

[@VanillaCoke]

@@reelrollers lol! Thanks for the awesome video! Let’s get a TruCut demo next please! Adjusting the reel is a real pain on them, so to see the pros do it would be beneficial!

[@dzep91]

So, after you backlap the blades, do you leave the reel tight or do you loosen it?

[@maureenmacart5478]

Do you have a video or tip for when the adjusting bolts are free spinning. I think I'd have to take the reel off completely to fix the problem but I'm just curious.

[@kittyhawk7060]

Here I thought backlapping was getting on your back and taking a lap in the swimming pool. 😁

[@reelrollers]

HAHA! It can mean that if you want it to, Kitty Hawk! Great comment!

[@steffen707-]

Start replacing your old videos with the Revolution 26. Show how you backlap on the R26!

[@bmc5180]

How can I determine if my mower needs an actual grind job versus a back lap? Is there any possibility to do a grind at home?

[@reelrollers]

Great question! A grind at home would be difficult. There are special machines that one would need to possess to get a proper grind to a cylinder. However, if you stay diligent, and backlap frequently enough, you may never need to take your machine in for a grind!

[@riccardogalbier3715]

Hello. Can lapping also be performed on Molinello swardman? Lf so, with what number of emery paste? Thanks for your resp. Greetings from. Riccardo!!

[@stable.diffusion]

Why does he put the chain retaining clip on backwards? 😮

[@__Andy]

Alright guys

[@adamrickman2461]

3:32 Unfortunately not any that are very good. If possible I would love to see a McLane version

[@reelrollers]

Hey Adam! We're planning on doing some more instructional videos in the future! Subscribe so that you catch some of our upcoming helpful videos!

[@dlandes14]

Does that adapter work for jacobsen mowers as well?

[@reelrollers]

We're afraid not, sir!

[@johnmatheney533]

You should be further away, in the golf industry I've met tons of mechanics that have lost fingers doing this too closely to the reel. If it grabs the brush, your instinct is to pull back, but you can't, it'll pull the brush in and stop the reel when it gets clogged. But your fingers are holding that brush.... If you use a longer brush, you'll give yourself time to realize what's going on and let go.

[@dannyrexknight]

The reel to bed knife adjustment system on that mower is awful. That must suck to do all the time.

[@reelrollers]

Agreed. Admittedly, this is an older model, and the manufacturer has since changed the design of the adjustment to the reel. However, one thing to note is this; practice makes perfect. More more you do something, the more you learn, and the better you can become! After enough experience, even the most difficult machines can become very easy to work with.

[@jeremyweber8874]

It’s really not difficult at all. I’ve had all my trimmers have these adjusters. Easy to do. Also the new 25 inch trimmers still hide those adjusters.

[@butette]

How much contact between reel to bedknife because it seems to me like if you have a little more contact the paper cut test will always be very good but perhaps not good for the machine. I have seen some video from Reel Rollers before where it says you should not have any touching between reel to bedknife and test with card stock kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKewq3aZqt6lr5I which made it impossible to cut with regular paper test. I think that information seems to be the most inconsistent out there.

[@reelrollers]

Thank you for the reply. The California Trimmer, Tru Cut, and McLane mowers all have a relief grind which you commonly backlap between full grinds. That’s what this video was showing. The video link referenced from before was for a Swardman mower which is a spin ground reel (flat edge vs relief). Swardman reels (flat edge) are different even though the videos both came from reel rollers. Relief grind = backlap more contact with reel to bedknife. Spin grind for swardman reels = little to know contact. Sorry for the confusion, but great question.

[@butette]

@@reelrollers Thanks for the reply! I have a McLane and bought your backlapping kit last year. It is still very confusing to me how much touching you should have between the reel and bedknife and I just don't see that guideline anywhere. If I have it a little tight, it will cut paper great but is a little too noisy because of too much contact. If I have it not tight enough, it won't cut paper very good but cut cardstock great and not too noisy. From your video, it seems like it is tight.

[@reelrollers]

For the McLane, paper test and it should not be “tight”, but be able to spin by hand. If you can’t cut paper by turning reel by hand, you may need to backlap more or need a need relief grind. Good news, if you watch Ryan Knorr’s you tube channel we’ll have a video with him out in a week where we show how the largest reel mower service shop in the country adjusts and laps reels! Hood that visual/ video will help

[@butette]

@@reelrollers Look forward to seeing that video. In the McLane when I say "tight", I can still "spin" the reel by hand but not spinning it. I think if it spin freely w/o touching the bedknife, I will never be able to cut paper :). I guess the trick is how "tight" should I allow the contact to be? Is there an actual measurement?

[@reelrollers]

@@butette I hate to say it, friend, but it's a "feel" thing! As you spin the reel manually with your hand, (when you're loosening for a backlapping) you should both listen and feel- listen for a very slight touch, and feel for a slight grab against the bed knife. When tightening after the backlapping, do the same- listen for contact all the way across, and feel for tighter contact with the knife. If you find that it's very difficult to move the reel with your hand, it's too tight. It takes time to get the technique down, so we typically instruct folks to continue to work with it, get to know the oddities of the machine! You'll get it!

[@deckchaironthetitanic]

How is this a "reel" mower?