1946 Gravely Gang Reel Mower Cutting Grass Part 1

[@billyhighfill]

My grandpa had one of these. And used it till he was 90 and physically couldn't anymore. It was cool to see one mowing again!

[@rw3dog]

Billy Highfill that’s a neat story

[@bigskyguy1611]

Ah yeah! Brings back memories. My had has a late 40's - early 50's commercial walk-behind three gang reel mower with a Wisconsin engine. The thing was a monster. Wish I still had it!

[@bc8968]

Unbelievable amount of grass cut in 15-20 mins. with 7-8 hp. Thanks for the show

[@rw3dog]

Barry Conklin thanks and this is only 5.5 Hp

[@daw162]

It could probably do it on two or three horsepower. I used to cut grass on a diesel jacobsen F10. 14 feet wide, 7 reels, diesel - less than a gallon of diesel an hour at 5 miles per hour. Incredibly efficient way to cut grass. If you cut it low and kept after it, there was never much material that needed to be mulched into the grass. Mid summer when the grass went fallow, there wasn't a need to cover ground more than once a week. The rest of the year, if grass got tall, we just gave it two passes in the heavy areas.

[@zacharycurry4528]

Is it just me or was anyone else happy asf when that lawn mower cranked up

[@Tokyochris-wj8gu]

It’s not a lawn mower

[@jeffscott8323]

Sorta like old Panhead Harleys. So I've heard.

[@jayablejay]

Thanks for posting, I am old enough to remember using a rope to start a rotary mower. My son is having a difficult time comprehending starting power equipment this way.

[@jeffscott8323]

No push buttons no electric start. Raw muscle power good workout.

[@billmoran3812]

Love those old power reel mowers. Similar to the old Locke walk behinds that were ubiquitous for many years. It’s a shame they don’t make the Gravely two wheeled tractors anymore. Wonderful machines.

[@Iabeerbrewer]

Wish reel mowers would make a comeback.Give an awesome cut.Less stress on the turf.Drawbacks if any..sharpening..

[@larrythecableguy7285]

They already did

[@jenplummer2833]

And sticks are the worst

[@Doppelganger333]

all drawbacks are worth considering the difference in quality of the cut.

[@jaybee2344]

Well if they would make a gas Reel mower. For about $300 to $500 they would make a HUGE come back!

[@johnb8956]

Jay Bee yeah it’s a shame, you’d of thought that they would. It’s nice that they’re coming back in America, we’re losing them over here in the UK, the only problem I see over in the US is that people seem to either get the cheap DIY store ones, which are cheap, not great and really not enjoyable, or they go for a second hand golf greens mower which is really not a suitable mower for most homeowners. If your interested, you might want to have a look at Allett mowers, apparently they’re in America now. I expect they’ll be a bit pricey, but I think that it’s the cheapest ones of decent reel mowers.

[@TheLawnTools]

THIS.... is awesome!!

[@chasingwaves11]

Man that thing is so awesome!!! I want one!

[@jeffscott8323]

Can this also be converted to a rotary plow for garden work. ?

[@_P0tat07_]

Such a cool mower. Needs some maintenance on it to give a better cut. But still a cool machine.

[@mackdog832]

We had one of these ….pulling that damn belt lol…..we used it to low snow with a dog eater…up in Boston…ran it for three days during the blizzard of 78

[@CTmoog]

That is a one cool mower! Was the grass wet?

[@rw3dog]

CT moog the grass was really wet. The side reels cut like champs but the center was too low and kept getting clogged.....

[@jamesrussell7488]

This one is similar to the Toro 3250 tri-plex that we use on the golf course, only a ride on and 2000 year models. Reel type mowers cut better than rotating blade types, depending on the height adjustment and grass type

[@GAROmx]

I knew I should’ve not gone with the Scott’s elite 16’’ 😅

[@jamessullivan9992]

Am trying to use a gravely single reel mower can't find any info on how to sharpen and adjust are you on your own with these things?

[@rw3dog]

The old manuals say how to back lap the reels etc. go to manuals.gtcoa.com I believe the reel mower manual was part of the model L manual. To sharpen the reels and bed knifes you need special equipment. A golf course equipment company may be the only place to get it done.

[@jamessullivan9992]

@@rw3dog Yes found it , mine is beyond that I am going to try to use a hand grinder to sharpen it . I could take the whole thing apart and find out where the golf course does trier's but that's just too much . Mine is real dull and the adjustment to bed knife gap is to large, mine must be one of the last ones no grease jerks on reel bearings and no skids but does have steel rollers wheels.

[@harrymurphey2634]

The Golf Courses/CC's likes the Reel Ganges ... someone down below mentioned a "Locke" ... I ran one of those too ...

[@CarGuy-uz7gz]

Does it have a self propel system?

[@rw3dog]

Yes, two speeds forward and two speeds reverse

[@FJB8885]

That is some cool Gravely stuff. Do you have a unicorn log splitter? You have so much Gravely equipment. 👍🇺🇸

[@TheShadeTreeFixitMan]

Wide swath there for sure. Nicely done with the old machine.

[@rw3dog]

The Shade Tree Fix-it Man thanks.... it needs a little tinkering but I had fun playing with it....

[@mxthunder2]

amazing!! Love watching that old L do its thing!

[@nicolasverhaegen4308]

Reliable machine making an efficient job !

[@offgriddlifestyle2544]

nice machine cuts grass really good

[@alzaidi7739]

I think my wife's uncle had one of these. He referred to it as "the widow maker". I can see why. One stumble and uh-ohhh.

[@wayneessar7489]

That is a sweet cutting rig!

[@mikeg884]

Sweet mower!

[@lelandrentz755]

what an amazing video

[@leebarnhart831]

A wise man from down under said it best - Danger, Danger, Danger

[@rogeroconnor5182]

you need a sulky and a beer holder,lol. but wait there is more rain coming all next week

[@jonathanmeeks7666]

I would change out your points and condenser in the magneto and clean carb for those hard starts. My 1952 model L starts on the first pull.

[@rw3dog]

Jonathan Meeks the issue here was a clogged fuel shut off on the gas tank barely Letting any fuel threw and clogging the carb bowl Up with rusty metal from the gas tank

[@alaskalamb]

That’s cool! Nice job!

[@marctorrades1760]

Brilliant machine. Didn't know it .

[@TheDistur]

Wow now that's a mower.

[@extra330sc]

Mine too but his had a sickle bar attachment. Wicked looking thing. His was green however. John Deere perhaps. He’d never let me get near it let alone run it. I was 10 so…

[@LouCFur90]

Rain, tall grass and reel mowers don't mix very well. Thanks for show it though. :)

[@johnkramer7161]

Rain, tall grass and mowing don't mix very well. But it looks better than it would have if he would've used a regular mower.

[@bryanmartinez6600]

@@johnkramer7161 what if I ls swapped my Briggs mower?

[@chadmoore4530]

Vary nice

[@chrispatterson8210]

Would love to see this thing cut a yard that wasn't being cut for hay. : )

[@davidakin9629]

I used one of these as a Kid Growing up and it sounds like he needs to crank up the RPM's grease those Zerks!

[@jwodehouse7087]

Wish I had that gang

[@rw3dog]

J Wodehouse it was fun

[@brianstclair8311]

That thing will mow some grass.

[@modhacker5405]

I need to buy 1

[@noworriesmate8287]

Where did you get the ear protection? Had to type something while you started the engine. Sounds like you need to take the gas tank off to clean and seal it🤔 I start mine then my wife does the mowing. Now you did it you screwed up the camera 🤪. Where did you go? That’s going to be a lot of raking.

[@caratcranker5874]

You got one of these in OZ? just going by your name cobber. Oz myself.

[@circuscalipso]

klasse Spindelmäher

[@kevinbentley4245]

Made short work of the yard

[@hydroblast2209]

WoW I never

[@thepheasantman]

too short

[@blipblip88]

Guess it leaves you to rake up all the cut grass...or leave it t molder like my dreadful neighbors do..

[@abigor315]

Hide it from Connor Ward!

[@zerozilch]

😁