[TRU CUT REEL MOWER] - Detailed REVIEW C25 C27

Detailed review of Tru Cut C25 C27 gas-powered reel mower. Are you thinking about getting one of these TruCut mowers? I discuss the good, bad, and the ugly.
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[@RonHenry]

Guide for Creating Your Golf Course Lawn: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmjTmYSdoraqf8U

[@RonHenry]

😎

[@sonsofguns1903]

My neighbor had a tru-cut for 30 years and maintained it very well. He gave it to me today. I am ecstatic

[@RonHenry]

Wow! That's a pretty awesome gift Democracy Shack.

[@butette]

Ron, best powered reel mower review I have ever come across. Thanks for making the video!

[@RonHenry]

butette you’re very welcome. Glad that you enjoyed it!

[@sprince0124]

I agree

[@mykill88]

Thank you! You are the first to actually talk about a reel mower. You mentioned cost, maintenance and how bad ass it is. Thank you

[@RonHenry]

Captcrunchberry Thanks! I’m really glad that you found it useful. I realized I’d never spoken about the tru-cut so I made the video. Thanks for your comment!

[@gergemall]

You are a master . I now understand why you have such a passion.❤ thx Ron .

[@RonHenry]

I appreciate it

[@eiknarfzepol]

I had a true cut and a McLean. I live in California and we have Bermuda grass.. it takes a lot of work to keep the grass green with reel lawn mower because it cuts it short ( 1/4-1/2 inch .. you have to make sure that it's level and you're going to spend money on fertilizers to keep the grass green. But it does look nice. Currently I have a Honda propel lawn mower I keep my grass at 1 in-1 1/4 in and it looks good.

[@RonHenry]

Very cool Francisco. I agree that a reel mower is a lot of work especially if you're cutting it on 1/4 - 1/2". Honda makes a great mower. 1 - 1 1/4 height of cut is still great for Bermuda. Your lawn must be very level to be able to cut that low with a rotary mower. Nice work.

[@neal6473]

You did a great job Ron thank you for explaining of how this power reel mower works 👍.

[@RonHenry]

Very welcome. Glad it was useful!

[@waiex1]

Just found your video today Ron. Great overview of the TruCut C25. I have owned a TruCut 20" for about 20 years (bought used back then btw) and replaced the original engine with the Honda GX160 about 8 years ago. Great running motor. Mine is going to the shop this week for a new bed knife, sharpening and new wheels. I use it on about 5000 square feet of St. Augustine grass and always love the outcome each time it is mowed. Thanks again for the in depth review. Happy mowing!

[@RonHenry]

Glad you found the overview useful Brad. I appreciate you watching. If you’re interested, I’ve also done a comparison between the TruCut and Toro Greensmaster here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/apmli6Kqhbifrqs Thanks for watching. 👍😎

[@Platoface]

I appreciate you doing this video. I just ordered a Rolux 20”with the Honda engine and 9 blade. Looking forward to it. I have a Fiskars is how I got into reel mowing. Thanks again.

[@RonHenry]

Glad I could help

[@greghemming4414]

Very good review and I like how you showed it working and convinced me

[@RonHenry]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@RatmanSays]

Great video. Love how detailed you are.

[@RonHenry]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the review

[@mykill88]

I ended it to soon, I like that you mention using the Scotts push mower. Thats what I am currently using. I am in the market for a gas mower and you just helped me make a decision

[@RonHenry]

Captcrunchberry I used the Scotts for a year and half before switching to the tru-cut. It’s made a huge difference. The lawn never looked like this with the push mower.

[@chrishalcomb7393]

In my 19 years of having a 25" trucut the only problem I have had is getting painful arthritis in my left thumb from all the years of using it to keep the drive engaged. That is one design flaw I see with the mower, otherwise it has been very dependable mower and is still going strong.

[@RonHenry]

THat used to be bother me a lot too. I think I've just gotten used to it over time. I mow pretty frequently so I suppose I've built up a tolerance to it.

[@MrJohnnycearley]

Damn, this is a great video. Best channel ever.

[@RonHenry]

I appreciate it Johnny. If you’d like to see a comparison between it and a greens mower check this out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/apmli6Kqhbifrqs Appreciate you watching. 🙏😎

[@normanfoster6103]

Thanks Ron, I didn’t even know that roller existed and I’ve had my C-25 since new 20 years.

[@RonHenry]

Hey Norman. There's also a grooved front roller available too. Reach out to Reel Rollers. They carry both solid and grooved rollers for the TruCut.

[@joejenkins8315]

You did a pretty good job Rob hitting some key points about the mower and maintenance of the turf. Keep up the good work and keep on growing and educating yourself on proper turf care. Regards, Joe Jenkins

[@RonHenry]

Thanks Joe. Your video on the Tru-Cut is what inspired me to take my lawn to the next level.

[@joejenkins8315]

@@RonHenry Thanks Ron, it's good to see so many people now using reel mowers all over the country to take care of their creeping grasses. I've retired from the industry I'm glad to hear that you were inspired by one of my videos. Where are you located in GA?

[@RonHenry]

joe jenkins I’m in the Gainesville area. Northeast GA. Can’t wait for us to get some more hot weather so the Bermuda will take off.

[@joejenkins8315]

@@RonHenry I'm West of Atlanta in the Douglasville area. This is Georgia and one thing is for sure hot weather is on its way

[@harveygarcia5292]

Awsome review I am so glad you have a power mower now makes mowing so much fun great choice I have a trucut as well

[@RonHenry]

It's definitely a bit timesaver and produces a much better cut. I love it.

[@ndhudecz]

Well laid out video...Great info...

[@RonHenry]

Thanks for watching!

[@robertvandermolen230]

Thanks for the review. Pretty sure I’m going with the 25. Need to test drive it first.

[@RonHenry]

Let me know once you get it!

[@tonywilliams49]

I purchased a 20 Ca trimmer. My goal is to trade up to a true cut 25 or 27 inch mower. I will wait until the end of cutting season to make my purchase then sell my Ca trimmer at the height of cutting season next year.

[@RonHenry]

Sounds good man. You're going to love it once you get one. Let me know!

[@sbender9518]

Mowing with mine for the first time tonight! You make it look easier than I think it'll be the first few times, but thank you for explaining exactly how it works! Can't wait to see the results. These aren't easy to find on the south side of ATL, by the way!!

[@RonHenry]

I'm sure you'll do fine with it Sheril. They take a bit of getting used to. A tip when using the traction drive (left knob) is to treat it like a clutch in that you push on it until the mower starts to move but don't lock it in all the way. The Tru Cut will move waaaay too fast if you lock the knob in. That's how I mow with mine. You'll see what I mean once you start using it.They're pretty popular mowers so I can see it being tough to find one especially as the weather gets better for mowing. Congrats! :-)

[@sbender9518]

@@RonHenry thank you! I'll let you know how it goes. Also, remember I told you about my spreader learning experience? Dark green lines and designs, mostly lines... Well, instead of doing more Milo, I have some simple green solution liquid. I was thinking of spraying that instead. Would that be a good idea? Over lap it when I spray also? Can I hurt the lawn if I use too much?

[@RonHenry]

Ehhh. The Milo is unlikely to hurt the lawn. The Simple green can potentially burn the lawn I’d you put it down too heavily. I would apply the Milo personally. 😎 At the end of the month you can apply the simple green to the entire lawn at that point. With this heat it won’t take long for the Milo to start working.

[@sbender9518]

@@RonHenry I called it the wrong name. It's Simple Lawn Solutions. Does that change anything? I'm sorry about that!

[@RonHenry]

@@sbender9518 no problem at all. I figured that's what you meant. It doesn't really change anything as far as how I'd apply the product. I wouldn't apply it until the end of the month (another 2 weeks) You can apply Milo now though without issue.

[@joegarcia9126]

Great review! Extremely helpful....Thank you!

[@RonHenry]

Glad you found it useful Joe! Let me know if I can help with anything else!

[@SMIJX2]

Thanks for the detailed run through - I am aiming for a reel mower purchase (likely FEB 2024) for next season; my thing is, I'm going to need to pay someone to do the maintenance necessary (backlapping, sharpening, etc). Ideally it will be someone that can travel to my property to perform the once a year maintenance onsite (I will not have a vehicle where i can take it to a shop). Do you know of anyone on southside of metro ATL, that offers that type of service?

[@RonHenry]

There are several services that will pick up the mower at return it. Reel Works, Atlanta Reel Mower, and a few others.

[@kellysoutdoors8955]

Ron, I just found your channel this morning. Great stuff, thank you! I noticed that you don’t use a grass catcher when you mow. Why is that? Thanks again!!

[@RonHenry]

Hi Kelly. I mow so frequently that the clippings that come off the grass are very small and break down quickly. It’s free fertilizer. Have done it this way for years. The only times I catch clippings is when I’m scalping the lawn. Thanks for finding the channel and watching the content. Let me know if I can help with anything else. 😎

[@ferraridriver2685]

Nice job on that review Ron. I have the 27 inch commercial Tru Cut mower which I have my gardener use and I wanted to see if there was a requirement to grease it.

[@RonHenry]

The shop that does my servicing and reel sharpening does the heavy stuff. I primarily just keep the chains lubed.

[@K9388-n3z]

Just got the C27. Selling my greensmaster 1600....

[@Brad901]

How come? I've heard nothing but positive things about the 1600... I'm starting to debate if the Truecut might be better for me next year due to my yard not being perfectly level or smooth

[@K9388-n3z]

Brad H it’s a greens mower. If you have a really flat yard and your worried about cutting to the 100th of an inch it’s good. I have one part of my yard that has a really good grade and the true cut handles it way better with a lot less effort. But the best thing is having the ability to feather the speed with the reel at full throttle...

[@Brad901]

@@K9388-n3z appreciate the feedback..I'm really starting to think I should start with the TC and then move to the GM 1k , 16K or a Flex if possible in the years to come...I have a grade also in my yard and thinking the wheels on the TC might handle it better than the drum grip wise....

[@K9388-n3z]

Brad H it will trust me. There’s only one speed on GM. So much easier with the TC. Just bought a 2015 C27 super clean for 1k.

[@RonHenry]

I've never had any other powered reel mower than a Tru-cut and can vouch for its reliability. I broke a chain once but that was due to lack of lubrication after coming out of winter. Love mine!

[@Brettsgrasscapades]

What made you decide on the tru-cut over like a John Deere or Toro greensmaster series? The throttle and reel engagement on this is a great idea. That's one of the things I wish either of my reel mowers had. Great video man!

[@RonHenry]

The Tru Cut is a bit more rugged and it's very easy to adjust the height. A well-setup Toro Greensmaster probably gives a better cut when you're cutting under .5 inches. My neighbor also has a Tru-Cut that's treated him well for the past 18 years. It's hard to argue with a track record like that. I also liked the fact that the reel drive and mower drive are separate. Gives you more options for how you cut. Thanks for your comment!

[@andrewp.619]

Price would’ve driven that option for me. The Toro Greensmasters and John Deere are usually 8-10k new, and about 500$ -1500$ used. Try Cut’s, whether they be 20” or 25” can be had for 300$-500$ in my area, used. They’re very easy to operate and the clutch mechanism on them is kinda cool, as long as it is maintained yearly and is not being ridden all day. It really needs to be engaged fully to not wear down the clutch pack.

[@Brettsgrasscapades]

Andrew P. I've got a JD 180B that I purchased from an auction for less than $200 and it's been fantastic. I will say that some of the features on the tru cut seem great! The ease of height adjustment and engagement of the reel and the drive wheels seems awesome. I didn't see how you adjust the tolerances of the reel to bedknife, are they easily adjusted?

[@RonHenry]

Andrew P. Agreed. Eventually I’d like to get a greensmaster. The tru-cut is doing a pretty good job for now though. :-) To your point, it’s very easy to operate.

[@RonHenry]

Brett Goodyear it’s not bad. There’s a bolt on each side that moves a can of sorts that moves the reel closer or further from the bed knife. It’s not bad to adjust. You don’t have to do it very often. As long as you’re only cutting grass and staying away from twigs and pine straw, it holds an edge very well. I recently had it sharpened after verticutting since the turf was pretty sandy.

[@doctoroctos]

2 or 3x a week. Dang. But, the proof is in the pudding. That lawn looks amazing.

[@RonHenry]

Regular mowing makes a big difference.

[@eleazaraguilar1796]

Excellent video. I just received my reel mower. How low do you cut Bermuda grass? Or how low do you recommend cutting with a reel mower?

[@taylorlan3754]

Great looking yard!

[@RonHenry]

Thanks so much Taylor. I appreciate it sir. Thanks for watching. 👍😎

[@TonysLawnCare215]

Great Machine But how do you sharpen the Blades ?

[@RonHenry]

You can either backlap it yourself or take to shop for sharpening.

[@elmoreglidingclub3030]

Excellent insight, Ron. Very helpful. I’m shopping and leaning toward a California Trimmer (any thoughts on those?) but the TruCut sure looks nice as well. Always appreciate your videos!

[@RonHenry]

Hi Elmore. I'm more a fan of the TruCut. Prefer the way the propulsion system works vs. the Trimmer. Both mowers cut great though.

[@elmoreglidingclub3030]

@@RonHenry Thanks. And I agree on the propulsion system. It does look like a smart setup. I checked and Reel Rollers’ website says they’re out of inventory for 2022. I met a guy locally who has a Cal Trimmer and I may get a chance to try his out soon. Just learning….. Really appreciate and enjoy your videos.

[@elmoreglidingclub3030]

@@RonHenry Update: Sadly, I can’t find a Tru Cut dealer anywhere (except Reel Rollers, who is out of inventory for ‘22). I called the factory and they don’t have the ability to look up dealers (?). She (the very nice lady who answered the phone) said they’re primarily a factory-direct operation. To my location that adds $150 shipping, $75 fee for residential delivery, and a $95 fee for the required lift gate. Whew! Getting ‘spensive! Any idea of a dealer in the southeast, or some place to see one up close??! Looks like a nice machine; but, quite an investment, sight-unseen.

[@zaineridling]

Excellent review! Thank you.

[@RonHenry]

Thank you! Glad you found it useful.

[@andersos5429]

Overview of all your lawn equipment! :)

[@RonHenry]

Scott Anderson Great idea. I’ll work on it!

[@Boodieman72]

Great video but I'm going to be getting a Allett mower which has a powered roller at the back for better striping.

[@RonHenry]

I think you’ll enjoy that. The reviews I’ve seen on the Alletts has been good. The interchangeable system is pretty cool.

[@Boodieman72]

@@RonHenry I was going to buy a Swardman until I discovered the Alletts.

[@logancarter0183]

Hey Ron, I noticed you discuss the maintenance for the mower, how often do you need to grease the fittings on the trucut? Also how often do you need to adjust the clutches? I have a scotts pro 7 blade manual push reel and I'm looking at a used h20.

[@RonHenry]

Hi Logan. It depends on use, but doing a monthly greasing of the grease points is good enough for most people. I've never adjusted the clutches on my mower.

[@LouSassole]

Ron, great video. I just bought a Tru-cut C25 7 Blade. I have searched far and wide and I cannot find this answer. What are the cutting increments? There are 11 holes, are these 1/8" increments? or 1/4" increments? Thanks.

[@RonHenry]

That's a good question The Real CP3. I believe it's 1/4" increments.

[@LouSassole]

@@RonHenry Thanks for the reply. So what would you say the highest cut is and the lowest cut with there being 11 holes at 1/4” increments?

[@dcfrank9326]

Hi, great video. Is the self propelled feature fast?

[@RonHenry]

It can be. I feather it.

[@wadeb.5509]

Absolutely beautiful. Heading out to my bermuda side yard now with some round-up. Zoysia seeds on order in 3-2-1

[@RonHenry]

Nice! Let me know how it works out for you.

[@EricInTampaAcoustic]

Hi Ron, very well presented. What attachment options can you get for this mower? Dethatcher, aerator, etc. thank you, Eric

[@RonHenry]

I believe just front roller and a front bucket for catching clippings. Regular mowing and PGR make the basket less of a necessity. I rarely use mine.

[@HazyTom]

Ron Great video. I'm lookng at a 20" Cali trimmer, would like a Tru Cut but not sure I can find one close enough at the smaller size. I've also thought about getting either a Toro or Honda rotary and leaving my grass at 1 1/2" as this is probably the easist way to cut my Bermuda. The price is lower also. What do you think about rotary's at that HOC. Thanks!

[@RonHenry]

It really comes down to the look you're after and how much time you have Tom. Bermuda cut at 1.5" with a rotary can look really good. That said, the same lawn cut at the same height with a reel mower will look better. It comes down to how the cutting is done. I would decide based on your budget and time you have available for mower. For either of them mowing twice per week is what it's going to take to have it look awesome. Hope this helps.

[@ronaldbryant7710]

Would you chose the Tru-Cut over the McLane and California Trimmer?

[@RonHenry]

Yes. I prefer the TruCut's propulsion system.

[@botrosmarzouk6561]

Hello Ron, I just bought a used c25 trucut the tires are almost bald where and how can you replace those. Thank you in advance and thank you for getting me hooked onto reel mowing

[@RonHenry]

Heya Botros. I’ve been told it costs around $400 to replace the tires on a TruCut. It’s pretty labor-intensive to do. If you’re in the Atlanta area, I believe KeyStone Rental in Duluth, GA can do it. Hope this helps. Appreciate you watching. 🙏😎

[@Mitch-zr4wb]

Good stuff dude. Thanks

[@RonHenry]

Thanks so much Mitch. I appreciate it.

[@TREBOR070607]

Nice Job

[@RonHenry]

Thanks for watching. I appreciate it.

[@swisswend8177]

Excellent review! Purchasing a Trucut 27 next month for over an acre of tif 419. Any recommendations on how/or what you use to verti cut the bermuda?

[@RonHenry]

I have a local provider do my lawn. I did it last year but don't think I'll do it this year. It probably helps a little but probably not a game changer in my opinion. If you're going to do it, now would probably be good since it's so hot. Your Bermuda will recover quickly.

[@badnam008]

Great Review Ron, do you have a video on maintenance of a reel mower, such as carb clean up.

[@RonHenry]

Hi badnam008. Unfortunately I don’t. The mower really only gets serviced once per year. I take it to a local mower place to get that work done. Do you have a TruCut too?

[@badnam008]

@@RonHenry was looking at getting one used. There are a couple in my area for $300 but they all need a tuneup. I’ve been wanting to get a power reel mower for awhile. I love the way the turf looks with reel mowers.

[@RonHenry]

@@badnam008 wow. $300 is a really low price for a Tru Cut. Figure that you should probably take it to a shop to have the reel and bed knife sharpened. They should be able to also do a basic service then too. Carb clean, oil change, air filter, etc.

[@badnam008]

@@RonHenry It looks like it’s an older model but like any other machinery, if you take care of it, it will take care of you! There are a bunch of mcclanes too around the $500 range.

[@MrJpatel181]

Ron I am amazed and impressed at your video and review of Tru Cut Lawn Mover. Where are you located? I meant what state, as your lawn looks amazing. We live in Tallahassee Florida and we are in the market to purchase Reel mover and debating between California Trimmer and 27"Tru-Cut for our Empire Zyosia lawn we have had installed 2 years ago. Currently a landscaper moving it every other week for us at 3 1/3" height and i don't like the looks of it. I have a totally bad right ankle because of a car wrack but I am confident that I can manage to walk behind a self propelled mover as we don't have much incline. Any responses and input would help us. Thank you. Jay.

[@RonHenry]

I’m in north Georgia. About 40 miles north of Atlanta. For Zoysia you’ll want to it it shorter than 3.5 inches. It will look shaggy and not very dense at that height. Can you ask the landscaper to take the height of cut down to 2 - 2.5 inches and see how it looks free a few weeks of that. Also how often is the lawn being mowed? It needs to be cut twice per week to have it looking nice in most cases.

[@williamleach7274]

Ron, do you have a video review of the California Trimmer 25"?

[@RonHenry]

Hi William. No I don't unfortunately.

[@RB-hl3ux]

I’m in the Dallas-Fort Worth area & the Local mower shop carries Tru Cut. I went by and spoke with them they recommended a speed reducer be installed from the factory. Are you familiar with this? Thanks ☺️

[@RonHenry]

Hi R B. I've heard of the addition but I've never used a TruCut that had one. The mower can get going pretty quickly so if it reduces the max speed of it, could be useful.

[@RB-hl3ux]

Great review!

[@RonHenry]

Thank you!

[@DJW701]

Great Review! I was just looking at the C-27 today. But could not find any real good videos on it until I came across yours. Now I wish I would have purchased it.

[@RonHenry]

It’s a great mower. I love mine. I’ve been cutting with it for several years. I’m adding something new to the stables but I’m keeping my Tru-Cut. 😎

[@sbender9518]

Where can you buy one?

[@RB-hl3ux]

Do you think the grooved roller is better than a smooth roller? Thanks 😊

[@RonHenry]

I like the results with it more than a smooth R B. If I had a choice, I would go grooved.

[@RB-hl3ux]

Thanks 😊

[@deaninvirginia]

Ron, what front roller do you have on your mower, and what front roller do you recommend for the Tru Cut C-27H? Reelrollers? Grooved or smooth? If grooved, what do you recommend? Thanks Ron, I appreciate your videos.

[@RonHenry]

Reel rollers is good. I'm using the one from TruCut. It's a smooth roller. This is it amzn.to/2VyWXVl You'll want to get the 27" version for your mower.

[@deaninvirginia]

@@RonHenry I have the Reelrollers roller arriving tomorrow. Thanks for replying and thanks for your great video and tips. Very much appreciated.

[@RonHenry]

Nice! Let me know how it works for you. I think you’ll really like it. #lawnstripes

[@deaninvirginia]

@@RonHenry I've had the 27" Tru-Cut reel mower with the Reelrollers front roller since May 21st. It has done wonders to my common Bermuda grass lawn. I hope to convert my lawn to Arden 15 someday. I have the seed on hand, but am looking for advice for success with the seed. Your videos are great. Thank you Ron.

[@RonHenry]

You’ll need good seed to soil contact to have the Arden 15 take off. I’d recommend a good aeration prior to putting the seed down. After that, it’s just ensuring that you keep plenty of water on it. Let me know how it works out. Thanks for watching!

[@69mjar]

Great review and beautiful grass. Can you adjust the speed at which it travels or is it one speed?

[@RonHenry]

Yes you can. There’s a clutch type mechanism. So you can slip it to an extent in order to moderate speed.

[@donburkert3620]

hey Ron, enjoy watching your videos, very informative!! Quick question, if you had to choose between a used John Deere reel mower or a new Trucut for around $2,000. which would you recommend? My yard is small 4500 square feet, first time buying a reel mower. Thanks for any input to help me decide. Thanks

[@RonHenry]

Heya Don. Ugh. That’s a tough one. The John Deere is going to produce a better cut than the TruCut. The TruCut is a bit easier to noice with though. Do you have any obstacles in your lawn to mow around? Reason for asking is the John Deere has axles that stick out from the side that will limit how close you can get to obstacles. TruCuts can get closer. You won’t wrong with either mower. They’ll both produce a great cut. If you go with the TruCut be sure to get one with a front roller. Hope this helps. Let me know if I can answer anything else. Thanks for watching the content. I appreciate the support. 👍😎

[@Moondoggy1941]

Great review.

[@RonHenry]

Thank you!

[@AaronPennington1]

How long does it take you to mow? We're about to move into a house with probably 10k and I've thought about going to the C25 or C27 from my rotary zero turn, but I don't want to take forever to mow.

[@RonHenry]

Depending on obstacles, you should be able to get 10k mowed in just under 1 hour Aaron.

[@rudyrivera2964]

I had a landscaper take over my yard for a little over a year since work prevented me from staying on top of my lawn. I now took over the lawn and I want to lower the grass height. The landscaper had my empire zoysia at 4".. It got to the point where the tires would make the grass lay onto itself and everything under the tracks were dying. The grass is very patchy and has a bunch of thatch.When I mentioned how bad the yard looked I found out it was his first house with zoysia. He was cutting it similar to St Augustine. I have recently lowered the HOC to 3" and bagged it while doing so. I plan on lowering the HOC to 2.5" with my rotary mower since the yard is not even. The next notch down on my mower is 1 3/4". Should I work on scalping the lawn down to 1 3/4" in a few weeks? I'm also in Clermont (Central FL). There are a few spots in the lawn that seem to have so much thatch and clumps of grass from his mower that it killed anything underneath. I do plan on mixing top soil with sand and laying it down in those areas to see if it'll help. If not, I'll resod or pick up some zoysia plugs. I also have a company coming out that will fertilize the grass and keep an eye on it for me. Any help would be extremely helpful! I'm overwhelmed at this point but I plan on turning this lawn around.. I would love to eventually pick up a reel mower.

[@RonHenry]

Rudy Rivera sorry to hear about the poor experience. Yes. I would work on lowering the height of cut as long as your mower isn’t scalping. Depending on how bad the thatch is, you might want to consider verticutting your lawn. That will get rid of the thatch and thin the grass out a bit. You’re probably looking at a month or so for the lawn to fully recover after doing this but it will be worth it. Fertilizer will help but the single most important contributor to a great looking lawn is the mower and mowing frequency. The more often you cut it the better it will look. A reel mower is ideal because it doesn’t damage the grass like s rotary mower does. You’ll also be able to get the height of cut below 2 inches which is what Zoysia likes. If you’re going to use a rotary make sure that you keep the blades sharp. That will do a lot to keeping the lawn healthy. Just be prepared for the lawn to look pretty rough as you take the height down. Ultimately it will recover and you’ll end up with a healthier lawn. It’s just the part of the process. 4 inches is way too high for Zoysia. Like Bermuda, it will look clumpy like dirty carpet at that height. Hope this helps.

[@rudyrivera2964]

Ron Henry thank you Ron! I’ll get on this ASAP.

[@taufiq051]

Hi Ron, is there any battery powered reel mover that you could suggest.

[@RonHenry]

I believe Allett makes one that people seem to really like. I don't have direct experience with it though.

[@fcah333]

I guess what Im really asking is if you didn't cut your lawn for 2 weeks would it cut the grass in 1 pass or would u have to cut it multiple times? Thank you for the info.

[@RonHenry]

I’m not sure. The idea of not cutting my lawn for 2 weeks during the growing season doesn’t really compute. :-) It would probably still cut it fine though. The lawn won’t look good though. With grass the more often you cut it, the better it will look.

[@lt1pnyklr]

I just recently picked up a Tru cut mower and had the blades sharpened, however when I make several passes over my lawn I'm noticing white tips on the ends of my Bermuda which from a distance makes a white hazy look over my lawn. Up close some of the blades look like they were cut clean and others look torn or ripped and I think that is where that white look is coming from.

[@RonHenry]

Sounds like they possibly didn’t adjust the reel to bed knife clearance properly?

[@lt1pnyklr]

@@RonHenry I noticed on one side I can cut paper all the way across the bed knife with the exception of the last 10 inches the right. I tried to adjust it myself but I do not have a spanner wrench and this thing is a major pain in the rear.

[@RonHenry]

I would take it back to the place that did the work and have them fix. It sounds like it wasn’t adjusted properly.

[@manuelangulo3992]

Question does it tear up the grass on turns, or more ideal for straight passes

[@RonHenry]

Not at all Manuel. It has a differential so the tires can turn at different speeds without issue. I haven't experienced damage issues on my lawn. Thanks for watching. Let me know if you have any other questions.

[@Deluxe5337]

Hey Ron, I’m also in N. Georgia. How old was the unit you purchased? I found one in our area, but it’s about 16 years old. It’s had one owner and used by a homeowner that owns a lawn maintenance company. So I’m sure he took good care of it. It’s in excellent shape, but the age worries me a bit. It has the Honda engine and he says it’s been sharpened and serviced every spring. What say you?

[@RonHenry]

Drew L I bought mine brand new. My neighbor has one that’s almost 20 years old. They last a really long time if they’re well taken care of.

[@Deluxe5337]

Thanks for the quick response. The lawn looks fantastic. How do you feel about the McLane reel mowers?

[@RonHenry]

@@Deluxe5337 I don't know that much about them honestly. The people that have them seem to like them. You can't go wrong with TruCut though. :-)

[@williamgates2466]

Good video

[@RonHenry]

Thanks!

[@Taylor-xw8op]

Hey Jon, i just recently bought a TruCut p20 reel mower because they dont have any of the bigger size either 25 or 27 inches. Do you think mine p20 is good enough or should i go for the bigger size?

[@RonHenry]

Depends on the size of your lawn. For smaller lawns a 20" mower is great. For larger lawns, I prefer a wider stripe, but that's really a preference thing.

[@dcoynea]

You need to be on TheLawnForum

[@RonHenry]

aenyocd I’ll have to look into signing up. Lot’s of good discussion there I imagine?

[@dcoynea]

Yes, lots of guys with low cut turf

[@RonHenry]

aenyocd sounds like my kinda place!

[@RonHenry]

Can you share this video on the lawnforum?

[@dcoynea]

thelawnforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=5301 Join up and add to the thread. Some good info and quality people

[@reelmowingromokeepingitree2191]

what is your cutting height?

[@RonHenry]

At this time of year I keep it between .75" and 1 inch. It stripes better and stays green between cuts. It's also low enough to keep weeds away since most of them don't tolerate that cutting height very well.

[@RB-hl3ux]

Is your C-25 a 7 or 10 blade reel? Thanks 😊

[@RonHenry]

Mine is a 7 blade R B.

[@trevorhannon900]

spark plug replacement is not needed every year . it should be sanded a bit to clean off any carbon residue. they should only be replaced if the center electrode has eroded away or the tip broken off

[@trevorhannon900]

i know of many cases where spark plugs can last for decades.

[@RonHenry]

Ok. It depends on how the engine is being used. A speak plug is so inexpensive to replace that it’s not a big deal to do annually. The mower runs noticeably smoother after a new plug is installed.

[@KaPPy83]

Would it be worth investing in one of these if my yard isn't leveled well?

[@RonHenry]

Yes. It still will give you a great cut. It will be better with the lawn being level though.

[@MrRandypoe]

Ron, Great video!. What is the max cutting height of your 25 in Tru-cut?

[@RonHenry]

The highest I go is just over 1 inch.

[@sidkhondker]

Hi Ron - I am looking at a 25” tru cut that’s 4 years old with Honda engine, basket and front roller. Reel and bed-knife need sharpening. I think it needs an overall servicing $100-$200. Seller is a lawn enthusiast and has been for much longer than I have. Is $900 on the unit a good price?

[@RonHenry]

Hmmmm. If the mower is in good shape, $900 isn't terrible. I wouldn't consider it an amazing deal but not bad if it's in running condition. You should be able to get it serviced and reel sharpened for under $200

[@alexreyes7764]

Does the trucut have a grass catcher? Do you worry about to much thatch if you don’t bag?

[@RonHenry]

It does have a grass catcher. Not worried about thatch. The clippings are so fine that they break down quickly. It’s actually good for the lawn. Free fertilizer.

[@tonywilliams49]

The reel mowers with the Honda engine are best.

[@RonHenry]

I agree.That Honda is so easy starting. They make a great engine.

[@RonHenry]

I believe it. If you take care of it, it'll last forever. My neighbor's tru-cut is almost 18 years old on the original engine!

[@RonHenry]

Nice. :-)

[@RandallSavageOhhYeah]

How long does it take to cut your lawn with the trucut?

[@RonHenry]

About 45 minutes.

[@RandallSavageOhhYeah]

@@RonHenry that is way faster than I would have imagined! Is it because there are no obstacles to mow around? I am looking to buy a tru cut but worried about the time it will take me to cut since I'll need to increase cut to 2 times per week.

[@RonHenry]

Randy The Macho Man Savage yep. Practically no obstacles other than the rocks in the corner. Makes it go quickly. If I mow a special pattern like thick stripes it takes a little longer.

[@ronaldbryant7710]

Does your Tru-Cut have a 5,7, or 10 blade?

[@RonHenry]

It's a 7 blade.

[@XXTHEBIGKEVXX]

Why not a John Deere or Toro?

[@RonHenry]

These are just super popular around here. It cuts pretty well. That said, I am looking at growing the family. Stay tuned! 😎👍

[@randyman8984]

Hey Ron, Really enjoy your videos. I really like this reel. I would like to have one. But had a question before maybe considering a $2k purchase. I have double the lawn you have( A little over 25,000 sq ft) I would say about 20%, maybe less is level ground. My house sits on a hill side. The hills arent super steep(maybe 15-20 % grade) Ive been mowing with the popular twin blade honda mowers you get at home depot the last 7 years. I am like you, i really enjoy mowing. Think the tru cut might work well for me? One thing ive seen and heard is they pay for themselves by how long they can last. Like your neighbor has had his for awhile too

[@randyman8984]

Looking at your front lawn I have hills similar to that but would maybe consider yours steeper(I would guess your hill is 25-30 % grade by looking it.

[@RonHenry]

I think it will work well. Remember that the tru-cut is a commercial reel mower. The construction is steel and it uses chains for the drive system. It's very rugged. For a 25k square feet, I would definitely go for the 27" unit. Less passes. I would definitely get the roller option so that you get stripes and also reduce the likelihood of scalping. One of these bad boys. You can get the roller on Amazon here: amzn.to/2C8rle3

[@randyman8984]

You would flip out if I told you how high my bermuda lawn is currently. 4 inches. Its always looked great at that height over the last few yrs but this summer was very disappointed in the looks, Especially from 12-4 pm when the sun is shining straight down on it. The sun exposes alot of brown. Its like the grass blades are leaning alot this year that exposes the brown underneath that gives it that unappealing look. Proably due to all the rain we had this growing season. So want to change it up next spring by cutting it lower with possibly a reel. I do have alot of bumps too So Will defantly go roller like you. BTW I am in chatsworth,Ga just north of you.

[@RonHenry]

4 inches is pretty high for bermuda. Ideally you want it at 2 inches or less. Once it gets much past 2 inches, it will start to thin out. If you think about how the grass stays green it makes sense. The longer the plant, the more leaf material there is to catch sunlight. So the bermuda doesn't really have a reason to grow laterally since it's getting all the sun it needs growing vertically. Once you start consistently cutting it shorter, it will start to run horizontally in order to expose more leaf to sunlight. Basically the grass says - "This guy keep cutting me when I grow vertically so I'll grow along the ground in order to catch the sunlight I need". Not literally but you get the idea. Top dressing your lawn will be important if you're after that pool table look. 25k square feet is A LOT to do though. Even if you don't top dress, the lawn should look really nice if you cut it at 1.5 - 2 inches. Any lower than that, and top dressing will become a necessity. It's a lot of front-loaded work but it's totally worth it. :-)

[@randyman8984]

Thats what I am thinking, I will keep it about that height you suggested for the first season and see how it looks going forward. Whats crazy is my bermuda lawn was only around 10,000 sq ft 4-5 yrs ago. I have sprigged over 15, 000 sq ft of bermuda in areas where I removed trees and cleared off my property. I think I have bit off more than I can chew lol. Seriously, it looks awesome but could look so much better with a reel cut instead of rotary cut.

[@funkyduckproductions.8844]

Ron. I'm in the UK and a C27 Is coming up for sale. I'm a gardener by trade. But these machines are new to me. Are they only good for perfectly flat lawns that are not uneven? Also. Are they heavy? I'm thinking of loading and unloading in my van in between jobs. I currently use a Honda Izy. A 16" for smaller gardens and a 22" mulching Izy for the larger ones. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts. Thanks. Oh. By the way. I've subscribed.

[@RonHenry]

Hi Funky Duck. Thanks so much for subscribing. Really appreciate it. As far as the Tru-Cut goes, they are pretty heavy. Between 200 - 300 lbs for a C27. The mower is self-propelled though so it's not much work to move it around. They definitely work better with a flatter surface which is why I recommend top dressing your lawn if it's very bumpy. I recently put out a video on how I go about top dressing here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYWxl6t5otWCfac As far as loading and unloading, you're either going to need ramps or have someone with you to help with loading and unloading. It's a great mower that's very rugged. It has commercial build quality so it should serve you well between jobs. Are you planning on using it on you're customer's lawns? Appreciate you watching from the UK! 😎👍

[@funkyduckproductions.8844]

@@RonHenry Thanks for the detailed reply Ron. Yes. It's for my customers lawns. The gardens over here seem much smaller than you seem to get in the U. S. The mower is on sale over here for just £250 (UK sterling) so it's cheap enough. But space is limited in my van so it would have to earn its place if I bought it. I'm not that sure it would. Plus a lot of the gardens I see to are very lumpy and my customers won't pay for me to fix them. They just want the grass short. So again, it casts a doubt. But the superior cut and commercial build is drawing me to it. I think I'll have to give it a couple of coats of thinking about before I make a final call on it. Thanks again for your reply and help.

[@RonHenry]

@@funkyduckproductions.8844 Perhaps if they see how well it can cut, they might spring for having you level their turf to get that really smooth look. You never know. 😎 Surely some of your customers will appreciate the better cut quality of the reel mower and will ok with paying a bit more for it? Let me know if I can help with anything else.

[@funkyduckproductions.8844]

@@RonHenry will do. Thanks Ron. Stay safe buddy

[@RonHenry]

@@funkyduckproductions.8844 Will do. Thanks again.

[@kingkon164]

@9:53 You forgot to engage the 2-step 🚗💨💨💨

[@RonHenry]

It’s always engaged. Boost is always on tap. :-)

[@SuperFalino]

What level of throttle do you put it at when mowing? I Just bought a tru cut and mine bounces alot when I'm mowing. Dont know if it is a leveling issue or something else.

[@RonHenry]

100% throttle. If the mower is bouncing a lot, it could be that your turf isn’t level.

[@frankgenner782]

How low can that mower mow ? Is 1/2 inch Doable?

[@RonHenry]

Hi Frank. Yes, the TruCut can cut below half inch without problem.

[@marilum5184]

How much do they typically cost new?

[@RonHenry]

Hi Marilu. Brand new between $2000 - $2500. Let me know if I can answer anything else.

[@marilum5184]

@@RonHenry thank you, I found one used close to the 900 mark. So I was doing some research on it to see if it was a good deal and worth investing in.

[@RonHenry]

@@marilum5184 $900 is a good price if it's in good shape. For that price, it should have recently been serviced so that you're good to start cutting as soon as you get it. It should also come with basket and roller. How old is it?

[@lt1pnyklr]

Does the front roller help balance the mower? I recently picked up a used 27" and it currently has the front castor wheels. I notice when cutting it will slightly pull to the left or right and I'm thinking it's from small ruts in the yard and wondered if the roller will smooth it out? Also, my drive seems to stay engaged a little while after I release it and continues to pull. I can pull the lever back with my hand and it will stop but it doesn't naturally stop on it's own once released.

[@RonHenry]

It helps with balance and it also helps to stripe the grass. You have a greatly reduced chance of scalping when you have a front roller. Definitely worth getting one.

[@lt1pnyklr]

@@RonHenry I'm definitely getting one. I haven't sharpen the blades yet because I've been scalp and cleaning up the yard with a first. Any idea what's causing the drive to stay engaged?

[@RonHenry]

That I'm not sure about. It sounds like the clutch is dragging for some reason. Maybe the linkage is binding slightly and that's causing it to stay engaged?

[@arsenic0]

Why wouldnt you want the roller on the back of the mower like traditional rotary ones? Seems silly to lay the grass down BEFORE you cut it,

[@RonHenry]

It’s just the way the tru-cut is setup. Because it has actual drive wheels with tread, it does better on inclines. Toro does the same thing with their mowers. It doesn’t negatively impact the cut.

[@fcah333]

Can u cut taller grass with this style mower?

[@RonHenry]

Probably a max height of 2.5 inches. The idea behind reel mowers is to mow low though. I don’t ever mow much higher than 1 - 1.25 inch

[@Eclipce051]

2 or 3 times a week cutting?

[@RonHenry]

Yep. If you want a great lawn, that's what it takes.

[@justforcommenting205]

12k sqr ft, can’t imagine what you pay for fertilizer, pre emergent, post emergents!

[@RonHenry]

Not inexpensive for sure.

[@timh363]

whats your thoughts on switching to a grooved front roller from the solid one?

[@RonHenry]

Heya Fred, I've not yet own a mower with a grooved front roller so I can't comment for sure. They're supposed to help provide a better cut by laying the grass more evenly but again, I've not personally tried one. I'm looking at a greensmaster so I might be able to offer an informed opinion here soon. 😎👍

[@timh363]

@@RonHenry yeah they channel the grass through for better cut.. they are a couple of hundred bucks. i just thought id ask because some of the Supplements you use on your yard run that much lol.. and your great at testing pretty much everything. they just bolt on and off the tru cut. reelrollers.com grooved tru cut roller if you decide to take a look

[@RonHenry]

I'll look into it Fred. I didn't know there was a grooved roller option for TruCut. 😎

[@timh363]

@@RonHenry yessir.. just click the link i sent in the above message and scroll... 189.00 for the 25 inch

[@RonHenry]

@@timh363 Nice. Thanks for doing the research for me. Much appreciated.

[@Boodieman72]

You can backlap your own reel btw its easy.

[@RonHenry]

You have a how to on it?

[@Boodieman72]

@@RonHenry This is for the Allett mowers but they are all the same, just some have to be done on the machine. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6aTiH-qp6eAmpo

[@TheJohnberger]

Bro why didn’t you mention this thing goes 4000 mph? I just picked up a c27 and it dragged me through the lawn, broke down the fence, scalped half the neighbors yard, and cut down a tree before I realized what was happening.

[@RonHenry]

Sorry John! I don't lock the drive down. Ride the clutch with your thumb. That's how I use it. That way you can easily control the speed.

[@markdent4052]

How much it costs ???

[@RonHenry]

Depends. Anywhere from $300 used to $2000 new.

[@axlcamayo9730]

You have to low the speed before turning it off.😉

[@RonHenry]

Really?

[@axlcamayo9730]

Ron Henry yeah, I’ve been working on gardening service for almost two years and every one I had work with had told me to do so.

[@steveknopf3954]

It seems like Tru Cut, California Trimmer and McLane are all pretty much the same.

[@RonHenry]

Not really. The propulsion systems are different and how they’re operated is different.

[@69mjar]

I want one so bad

[@RonHenry]

You need one. :-) They are awesome.

[@Derddy]

want

[@RonHenry]

You need one.

[@theunkownmr.562]

That mower is loud as heck. 😂

[@RonHenry]

It is! Here's a sound comparison: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaCzZ6NtmNuFpZY

[@rafagarcia6828]

I personally do nat recommend this mower due to the fact there is no adjustment for reel to bedniife contact and you will never get a quality cut as you would with a deere or a toro..

[@RonHenry]

Is that correct Rafa? There is an adjustment that you can make on both sides of the reel that locate it to the bed knife. I've personally adjusted it myself so I know it's there. You probably can get a slightly better cut with a toro greensmaster mower but you're comparing apples to oranges in my opinion. In most cases, a new Toro Greensmaster costs more than 3 times what the Tru- Cut does. If you look at the cut on my lawn, that's accomplished with a Tru-Cut. I think most would agree that it looks pretty good.

[@rafagarcia6828]

@@RonHenry I agree with you that maybe im comparing chicken to steak but about 7 years ago I worked on one of those machines tru cut owned by a family member and did not had adjustment for reel to bedknife contact maybe the latest models do , also im hoping you not getting confused with the heigh of cut adjustment that i know this machines do have. To make it short this family member ended up buying a used toro greensmaster 1000 from the golf course i used to work for only 300 bucks. His customer was 100% happy with the quality of cut. And yes i understand a deere or a toro are about 9k to 10k new but you can find some nice used ones on craiglist for under 1000.

[@dennisdavis3564]

It takes a tuning fork type tool, not as easy as a threaded adjuster but it get the reel to bed knife where you need.

[@Boodieman72]

My reel mower uses a roller at the back not wheels.

[@RonHenry]

Which mower are you using?

[@Boodieman72]

@@RonHenry Allett Kensington 20H

[@RonHenry]

Do you get good stripes with it?

[@Boodieman72]

@@RonHenry Amazing stripes.

[@RonHenry]

I’ll have to look for some video of it in action.