Love my Scott's push reel, but seems that the blades are too tight for my taste (not a maintenance issue, was like that from the start). Any suggestion on how/if the rotation of the blades can be looser??
@rorographics Yes...check my other scott's videos, you can back the blade off a bit and that will help it spin for sure...should be somewhat easy yet still cut paper/grass. The problem I started running into was it was cutting well in some spots, but to cut all the way across the blade it would be too tight...a sharpening kit fixed that, it runs great now.
Love my Scott's push reel, but seems that the blades are too tight for my taste (not a maintenance issue, was like that from the start). Any suggestion on how/if the rotation of the blades can be looser??
There are two set screws on the side that is not cutting. They operate on opposite sides of a pivot in the blade. These can be adjusted and set against each other to bring the blade closer to the real on that end for cutting all the way across the blade.
They should have design a roller instead of the two back wheels don't you think? I used to have a push reel mower with a fillin roller at the back (fill with water) a bit heavy to push but gave me a very clean cut and bend the grass nicely.
@Tupeutlatesla No...I actually don't like the roller design. I've always found that a drawback traditional reel mowers. The wheels make is easier to push and a good cut. I like them. They still make rollers if you want them.
@Turbo231 thanks for your reply I am currently using a Toro rotary model. Which model of reel would you recommend me for the finest cut (lowest cut)? I was considering the Brill Razorcut Premium 38.
@Tupeutlatesla They are all good choices. I picked the Scotts because of its mowing height...if you want to go lower, then a lot of reel mowers will do the job. I have no idea of reviews of other mowers, just this unit.
I saw a lady demonstrating this kind of reel mower on HSN or QVC and anytime she'd hit a wood chip or something it would jam the reel. Not permamently, after she removed the chip she could roll again. Does that happen with yours too?
Yes. It depends on the object. Small twigs and such are no problem, but larger sticks and objects that can't be cut by the reel will make it stop. Because of this, you need to have a clean lawn. I always go over the lawn in the beginning of the mowing season with a bagging rotary motor, takes care of most issues.
I don't have too...the clipping tend to disappear in a few days and usually stay green until they do. I guess you could rake or use a basket, but I just leave them.
I have been using a Scott's classic 20 inch reel for 2 years. From the factory my cutting blade was slightly bent. There is no adjustment that can fix the blade. I have even tried to bend it. Helped a little, but I think the large blade is not sturdy enough. Once its bent it will never cut perfectly.
I think the important thing is to loosen the cutting bar (ends) from the mower before using the adjustment screws since this bar could be bound up from being tightened in the factory. Thanks for the videos!
I just purchased a Scotts Classic 20" mower, and checked the adjustment, and it would not cut paper at the edges either. I tightened it enough to cut at the edges, and it wouldn't push because it was too tight. I'll be calling to see if this is common, and if there is a fix. I would assume your mower was like this from the beginning. Ours misses some grass though, it sort of cuts it, and it falls over, but doesn't cut it clean off.
Actually, I've tweeked it quite a bit since then and it does a great job. The blade is very fine to adjust, but I did get it to cut all the away across yet still be happy spinning. Eventually I'll sharpen the blades which will hone the blades to the bar.
This is the reply I got, which may help you adjust your mower if it needs it.
"It is an adjustment to the mower. Since it is new you can try to exchange it or if you would like to try more adjustments you can loosen the bolts on each end of the cutter bar that hold the cutter bar to the mower. So loosen those and try adjusting the adjusting screws and then snug those back when finished. Also please use a 1 inch strip of paper when testing the cutter bar this will give you a better test. "
I have a weedy yard, but the yard is very small(less than 2000 sq feet). It takes me probably 6 hours to pull the weeds by hand. I am not concerned with it looking nice or being hard to push. I am hoping I can get a reel mower and do it in much less time. I know people say it is not good with weeds, but I'm curious if it is at less significantly better than pulling by hand. I am hoping I can just mow often enough that I keep them very short.
Its not as much weeds as the problem as long, thin tall weeds. It has no issues with broad leaf plants and if you keep on top of them, (the tall things) Then it works great.
It just looks nice because the video makes it blury. :p
We had a soil test done and it tells you what you need to do for grass. We were running a low PH, so just make the adjustments and the grass will grow. Climate up here is wet, so no watering is required, not that we would.
I'd get it done but budgets pretty tight right now. We don't have 600 bucks to throw away anymore for lawn chemicals to be done & as a reult our lawn has gone to hell. We have a grub problem and its getting worse. I hate to dump this on you lol I know it none of your problems, but do you have any suggestions for grub problems?
600 bucks! A soil test through the state co-op was $12...then depending on the test, go to like a Lowes or Home Depot and pick up what you need...should run you about $20...and a $20 spreader which you can use again next year. As for the grubs, we had issues with Japanese Beetles last year (the grubs)... leave your lawn longer...they don't like to lay eggs in long grass...and water if you can...we don't have that option.
A lot of the mowers are made in China and then shipped here for distribution in the USA under various company names. Lots of copies. I use an old Agri-fab model type. Why? Because a roller cannot go into a hole as easily as a wheel can. When a wheel goes into a hole or depression, the entire reel goes down with that side that has dipped. That creates an uneven cut or could bottom out. It's unlikely to occur with a roller that stretches the length of the reel blade.
Very true...but I like the easy of rolling that wheels provide over a full width roller...and in terms of smooth cut, any bump will lift the whole roller, thus causing an uneven cut, while with wheels, you're more likely to miss the bump and keep a flat cut.
Nice job!! I am a reel mower enthusiast also. Just a few comments on the Scotts Classic 20". As many of you know, most of the reel mower models these days are made by or distributed by American Lawn Mower Co. out of Shelbyville, Indiana (ALMCo). They sell under the names of Task Force at Lowes, Scotts, Great States, and others. If it looks like an ALMCo. it probably is or someone has copied it to the point the design is more or less the very same and parts are interchangeable.
I wonder about the noise/luodness level.. Is it as loud in the video as in real life, or is it quieter/louder if you're actually mowing (or listening to it from afar)?
The gas mowers are terribly annoying even if you're in the house..I read these were supposed to be quiet, but it seems not completely 'silent' either!
Oh...they aren't loud at at all. With gasoline powered equipment, I always wear hearing protection and don't run it if it could wake up the neighbors. With the reel mower, you don't have to to wear a thing...in fact, I wear an MP3 player when I mow for something to listen to. There is no chance this could wake anyone up.
Great information in both of your videos! Thanks for posting these- I've been trying to get an idea of what I may be getting into when I get one of these.
Yeah...don't forget Part 3 which is "Maintenance for my Scotts Classic". I'll be making a part 4 at the end of season where I do some adjustments and storage.
I just bought a Scott's Classic today and can't wait to use it tomorrow. It will be nice to come back in the house and just smell like sweat and cut grass instead of sweat, cut grass and gasoline!
OK, I used it for the first time this morning. I mowed it once over, than again at right angles to the first cuts--it really looked fine after the first cut, but I didn't want to stop! It's surprisingly easy to push, not like the old iron and wood machine I had years ago. It's set at two inches, which I found is higher than I normally mowed it with my power mower, but I like the thick, lush look of it now--I probably wasn't doing my lawn a favor by cutting it so close.
It probably gets dull on the edges because maybe thats where most of the cutting occurs.
If I were you, I would take that back plate off and sharpen it using a file, but thats just me.
You said you cut your lawn twice a week, thats to much work for me (I'm lazy). I've been looking at the electric chargeable mowers, they look like a good alternative.
Yeah...I tested it wrong. It's sharp across the entire blade. The test is best done when the unit is upright and ready to mow.
Using a file would do more damage then good, these units can sharpen themselves when the time comes.
Yep...electrics are nice, I have two, a 24 volt Black and Decker and a 12 volt Neuton...but the point of this mower was to get away from rotary mowers and use the scissor action of a reel mower. I'd still mow twice a week with a rotary - gas, electric, or tractor.
Well done video. We just purchased one and will start to use it in about 2 weeks. Video request: Show how you lubricate the mower. The manual says how, but there are no pics to show you. Also, how do you get your lawn so perfect? (What state do you live, what kind of grass do you use, any fertilizers -- if so what and when? How do you kill unwanted dandelions and weeds? We're new homeowners in PA and would appreciate the advice!
Sure, I can show what I do to clean the blades in a few days. I live in Maine, the lawn is mostly conservation mix, which is a lot of rye, clover, some bluegrass....and lots of weeds. The lawn looks nice because my camera doesn't shoot very good video...lol. I do fertilize in the spring, this year I had the soil tested at a local state cooperative extension. The front lawn got a 10-10-10, the back lawn more nitrogen, like a 28-4-0. Weeds are hand dug...which means it will be many years.
the handle on the 16" uses the same thumbscrewed square bolt system in a different configuration and it has almost no play or flexion while cutting. not sure if what this video shows is a bit exaggerated but in case it's a dealbreaker for anyone, for folks with smaller yards i think the 16" is a much better product in that regard. no floppiness.
Yeah...it's not really a downfall and it does seem a bit excessive in the video, but straight line mowing, it absorbs the bumps and such, its the trim mowing when its a constant push/pull does it really become noticeable.
That's disappointing. I get overly perfectionistic on our lawn and I do a lot of that push/pull for uniform evenness especially around patio/sidewalk lawn borders. My left shoulder has a torn ligament so this year I've been holding the handle with one hand, and the 16" handle is very solid even under those unusual torque conditions. I hope Scotts considers a revision on the 20" handle in the future.
wow mows nice thanks for the video i am buying one
marvelfreakable 2 months ago
Love my Scott's push reel, but seems that the blades are too tight for my taste (not a maintenance issue, was like that from the start). Any suggestion on how/if the rotation of the blades can be looser??
rorographics 10 months ago
@rorographics Yes...check my other scott's videos, you can back the blade off a bit and that will help it spin for sure...should be somewhat easy yet still cut paper/grass. The problem I started running into was it was cutting well in some spots, but to cut all the way across the blade it would be too tight...a sharpening kit fixed that, it runs great now.
Turbo231 10 months ago
Love my Scott's push reel, but seems that the blades are too tight for my taste (not a maintenance issue, was like that from the start). Any suggestion on how/if the rotation of the blades can be looser??
rorographics 10 months ago
20K Sq. Ft. of grass with an effectual cutting width of 16"-18" ought to keep u quite busy there!
MrPaulVanRavenswaay 11 months ago
why does that sound so loud
grlettau 1 year ago
@grlettau Probably relates to my old camera and early video editing techniques. This video was early in my youtube work.
Turbo231 1 year ago
There are two set screws on the side that is not cutting. They operate on opposite sides of a pivot in the blade. These can be adjusted and set against each other to bring the blade closer to the real on that end for cutting all the way across the blade.
eclarkfontana 1 year ago
They should have design a roller instead of the two back wheels don't you think? I used to have a push reel mower with a fillin roller at the back (fill with water) a bit heavy to push but gave me a very clean cut and bend the grass nicely.
Tupeutlatesla 1 year ago
@Tupeutlatesla No...I actually don't like the roller design. I've always found that a drawback traditional reel mowers. The wheels make is easier to push and a good cut. I like them. They still make rollers if you want them.
Turbo231 1 year ago
@Turbo231 thanks for your reply I am currently using a Toro rotary model. Which model of reel would you recommend me for the finest cut (lowest cut)? I was considering the Brill Razorcut Premium 38.
Tupeutlatesla 1 year ago
what about Gardena 300?
Tupeutlatesla 1 year ago
@Tupeutlatesla They are all good choices. I picked the Scotts because of its mowing height...if you want to go lower, then a lot of reel mowers will do the job. I have no idea of reviews of other mowers, just this unit.
Turbo231 1 year ago
I saw a lady demonstrating this kind of reel mower on HSN or QVC and anytime she'd hit a wood chip or something it would jam the reel. Not permamently, after she removed the chip she could roll again. Does that happen with yours too?
dkim68 1 year ago
Yes. It depends on the object. Small twigs and such are no problem, but larger sticks and objects that can't be cut by the reel will make it stop. Because of this, you need to have a clean lawn. I always go over the lawn in the beginning of the mowing season with a bagging rotary motor, takes care of most issues.
Turbo231 1 year ago
I love those things, my neighbors grass was extremely high so my dad tied a rope to the mower from his truck and we mowed the whole lawn easily.
Flomounier1 2 years ago
Thanks for taking the time to make these videos about your reel lawnmower.
JustaMidwesternGuy 2 years ago
Hey man, how do you pick up the left over grass?
thetopturnbuckle 2 years ago
I don't have too...the clipping tend to disappear in a few days and usually stay green until they do. I guess you could rake or use a basket, but I just leave them.
Turbo231 2 years ago
Would the grass die?
thetopturnbuckle 2 years ago
The clippings...of course, but they tend to mulch very well into the lawn.
Turbo231 2 years ago
I have trouble with the strip of paper thing when checking the cutting bar distance. I found using a feeler gauge works too
slingblade65 2 years ago
I have been using a Scott's classic 20 inch reel for 2 years. From the factory my cutting blade was slightly bent. There is no adjustment that can fix the blade. I have even tried to bend it. Helped a little, but I think the large blade is not sturdy enough. Once its bent it will never cut perfectly.
tester131 2 years ago
I think the important thing is to loosen the cutting bar (ends) from the mower before using the adjustment screws since this bar could be bound up from being tightened in the factory. Thanks for the videos!
kermit1133 2 years ago
I just purchased a Scotts Classic 20" mower, and checked the adjustment, and it would not cut paper at the edges either. I tightened it enough to cut at the edges, and it wouldn't push because it was too tight. I'll be calling to see if this is common, and if there is a fix. I would assume your mower was like this from the beginning. Ours misses some grass though, it sort of cuts it, and it falls over, but doesn't cut it clean off.
kermit1133 2 years ago
Actually, I've tweeked it quite a bit since then and it does a great job. The blade is very fine to adjust, but I did get it to cut all the away across yet still be happy spinning. Eventually I'll sharpen the blades which will hone the blades to the bar.
Turbo231 2 years ago
This is the reply I got, which may help you adjust your mower if it needs it.
"It is an adjustment to the mower. Since it is new you can try to exchange it or if you would like to try more adjustments you can loosen the bolts on each end of the cutter bar that hold the cutter bar to the mower. So loosen those and try adjusting the adjusting screws and then snug those back when finished. Also please use a 1 inch strip of paper when testing the cutter bar this will give you a better test. "
kermit1133 2 years ago
Yep...sounds right...remember that a little bit of turn is a lot of bar movement. I should do a video on how to adjust the blade properly.
Turbo231 2 years ago
I have a weedy yard, but the yard is very small(less than 2000 sq feet). It takes me probably 6 hours to pull the weeds by hand. I am not concerned with it looking nice or being hard to push. I am hoping I can get a reel mower and do it in much less time. I know people say it is not good with weeds, but I'm curious if it is at less significantly better than pulling by hand. I am hoping I can just mow often enough that I keep them very short.
websnozz 2 years ago
Its not as much weeds as the problem as long, thin tall weeds. It has no issues with broad leaf plants and if you keep on top of them, (the tall things) Then it works great.
Turbo231 2 years ago
your grass is absolutley stunning. do you have scotts lawn service as well?
Italianbella90 2 years ago
It just looks nice because the video makes it blury. :p
We had a soil test done and it tells you what you need to do for grass. We were running a low PH, so just make the adjustments and the grass will grow. Climate up here is wet, so no watering is required, not that we would.
Turbo231 2 years ago
I'd get it done but budgets pretty tight right now. We don't have 600 bucks to throw away anymore for lawn chemicals to be done & as a reult our lawn has gone to hell. We have a grub problem and its getting worse. I hate to dump this on you lol I know it none of your problems, but do you have any suggestions for grub problems?
Italianbella90 2 years ago
600 bucks! A soil test through the state co-op was $12...then depending on the test, go to like a Lowes or Home Depot and pick up what you need...should run you about $20...and a $20 spreader which you can use again next year. As for the grubs, we had issues with Japanese Beetles last year (the grubs)... leave your lawn longer...they don't like to lay eggs in long grass...and water if you can...we don't have that option.
Turbo231 2 years ago
Lol, we had trugreen chemlawn :] thanks so much, I'll have to try letting my grass get a little longer. I usually cut it about every 2 weeks anyway.
Italianbella90 2 years ago
A lot of the mowers are made in China and then shipped here for distribution in the USA under various company names. Lots of copies. I use an old Agri-fab model type. Why? Because a roller cannot go into a hole as easily as a wheel can. When a wheel goes into a hole or depression, the entire reel goes down with that side that has dipped. That creates an uneven cut or could bottom out. It's unlikely to occur with a roller that stretches the length of the reel blade.
joquirk1 3 years ago
Very true...but I like the easy of rolling that wheels provide over a full width roller...and in terms of smooth cut, any bump will lift the whole roller, thus causing an uneven cut, while with wheels, you're more likely to miss the bump and keep a flat cut.
Turbo231 3 years ago
Nice job!! I am a reel mower enthusiast also. Just a few comments on the Scotts Classic 20". As many of you know, most of the reel mower models these days are made by or distributed by American Lawn Mower Co. out of Shelbyville, Indiana (ALMCo). They sell under the names of Task Force at Lowes, Scotts, Great States, and others. If it looks like an ALMCo. it probably is or someone has copied it to the point the design is more or less the very same and parts are interchangeable.
joquirk1 3 years ago 2
Great video! Thanks!! :)
I wonder about the noise/luodness level.. Is it as loud in the video as in real life, or is it quieter/louder if you're actually mowing (or listening to it from afar)?
The gas mowers are terribly annoying even if you're in the house..I read these were supposed to be quiet, but it seems not completely 'silent' either!
Andreya01 3 years ago
Oh...they aren't loud at at all. With gasoline powered equipment, I always wear hearing protection and don't run it if it could wake up the neighbors. With the reel mower, you don't have to to wear a thing...in fact, I wear an MP3 player when I mow for something to listen to. There is no chance this could wake anyone up.
Turbo231 3 years ago
Thanks!! Really looks interesting - if only I could convince my Dad, or get it locally!! :)
Andreya01 3 years ago
Great information in both of your videos! Thanks for posting these- I've been trying to get an idea of what I may be getting into when I get one of these.
zorblaz 3 years ago
Yeah...don't forget Part 3 which is "Maintenance for my Scotts Classic". I'll be making a part 4 at the end of season where I do some adjustments and storage.
Turbo231 3 years ago
Do you show how to sharpen the blades on a video? Or does somebody have a video for that?
TaterPatch 3 years ago
I haven't done one although their are some sites that show how to do it. I don't anticipate having to sharpen my blades for a few years.
Turbo231 3 years ago
I just bought a Scott's Classic today and can't wait to use it tomorrow. It will be nice to come back in the house and just smell like sweat and cut grass instead of sweat, cut grass and gasoline!
sittinginthebasement 3 years ago
OK, I used it for the first time this morning. I mowed it once over, than again at right angles to the first cuts--it really looked fine after the first cut, but I didn't want to stop! It's surprisingly easy to push, not like the old iron and wood machine I had years ago. It's set at two inches, which I found is higher than I normally mowed it with my power mower, but I like the thick, lush look of it now--I probably wasn't doing my lawn a favor by cutting it so close.
sittinginthebasement 3 years ago
Yeah, in the spring I tend to mow at 2", but now in the heat of summer I tend to go up to 2-1/4".
Turbo231 3 years ago
It probably gets dull on the edges because maybe thats where most of the cutting occurs.
If I were you, I would take that back plate off and sharpen it using a file, but thats just me.
You said you cut your lawn twice a week, thats to much work for me (I'm lazy). I've been looking at the electric chargeable mowers, they look like a good alternative.
CMLovejoy 3 years ago
Yeah...I tested it wrong. It's sharp across the entire blade. The test is best done when the unit is upright and ready to mow.
Using a file would do more damage then good, these units can sharpen themselves when the time comes.
Yep...electrics are nice, I have two, a 24 volt Black and Decker and a 12 volt Neuton...but the point of this mower was to get away from rotary mowers and use the scissor action of a reel mower. I'd still mow twice a week with a rotary - gas, electric, or tractor.
Turbo231 3 years ago
Well done video. We just purchased one and will start to use it in about 2 weeks. Video request: Show how you lubricate the mower. The manual says how, but there are no pics to show you. Also, how do you get your lawn so perfect? (What state do you live, what kind of grass do you use, any fertilizers -- if so what and when? How do you kill unwanted dandelions and weeds? We're new homeowners in PA and would appreciate the advice!
graham6207 3 years ago
Sure, I can show what I do to clean the blades in a few days. I live in Maine, the lawn is mostly conservation mix, which is a lot of rye, clover, some bluegrass....and lots of weeds. The lawn looks nice because my camera doesn't shoot very good video...lol. I do fertilize in the spring, this year I had the soil tested at a local state cooperative extension. The front lawn got a 10-10-10, the back lawn more nitrogen, like a 28-4-0. Weeds are hand dug...which means it will be many years.
Turbo231 3 years ago
that thing will come in handy with the way gas prices are going.
gasman7777 3 years ago
the handle on the 16" uses the same thumbscrewed square bolt system in a different configuration and it has almost no play or flexion while cutting. not sure if what this video shows is a bit exaggerated but in case it's a dealbreaker for anyone, for folks with smaller yards i think the 16" is a much better product in that regard. no floppiness.
ystar 3 years ago
Yeah...it's not really a downfall and it does seem a bit excessive in the video, but straight line mowing, it absorbs the bumps and such, its the trim mowing when its a constant push/pull does it really become noticeable.
Turbo231 3 years ago
That's disappointing. I get overly perfectionistic on our lawn and I do a lot of that push/pull for uniform evenness especially around patio/sidewalk lawn borders. My left shoulder has a torn ligament so this year I've been holding the handle with one hand, and the 16" handle is very solid even under those unusual torque conditions. I hope Scotts considers a revision on the 20" handle in the future.
ystar 3 years ago