The pursuit of a perfectly manicured lawn often leads us down a rabbit hole of maintenance techniques and equipment nuances. For those who embrace the satisfying simplicity and eco-friendliness of reel mowers, a recurring question arises: should the blades of a reel mower touch? This seemingly straightforward query unlocks a deeper understanding of how these classic machines achieve their signature clean cut, and the delicate balance required to maintain their optimal performance. The answer, in short, is not a simple yes or no, but a nuanced explanation of how they interact.
The Anatomy of a Reel Mower and the Concept of the Cut
To truly grasp the blade-touching debate, we must first understand the fundamental mechanics of a reel mower. Unlike their rotary counterparts that chop grass with a single, spinning blade, reel mowers utilize a cylindrical reel of sharpened blades that rotate against a stationary bedknife. This scissor-like action is the key to their precise and clean cut.
The reel is a series of helical blades, typically arranged in a spiral pattern. As you push the mower, the reel spins, and each blade on the reel sweeps across the fixed bedknife. The grass blades are caught between the rotating reel blade and the stationary bedknife, and are then sliced cleanly. This is akin to using a pair of sharp scissors rather than tearing the grass.
The quality of this cut is paramount for lawn health. A clean cut heals quickly, minimizing the risk of disease and wilting. Conversely, a torn or shredded blade of grass is an invitation for pests and fungal infections, leading to a yellowing and unhealthy appearance. This is why the precise interaction between the reel blades and the bedknife is so crucial.
The Ideal Gap: The “Kiss” of the Blades
So, to touch or not to touch? The prevailing wisdom among reel mower enthusiasts and manufacturers is that the reel blades should indeed make contact with the bedknife, but not in a way that causes excessive friction or damage. This ideal contact is often described as a “kiss” or a “slight whisper.”
When the reel blades and bedknife are properly adjusted, they should pass each other with minimal resistance. You should be able to hear a faint, rhythmic scraping sound as the reel spins, indicating that the edges are just kissing. This minimal contact is enough to create the shearing action necessary for a clean cut without putting undue strain on the mower’s components or requiring excessive force to push.
The Consequences of Improper Adjustment
Understanding what the ideal scenario looks and sounds like is only half the battle. It’s equally important to recognize the detrimental effects of improper blade adjustment, whether the gap is too wide or too narrow.
The Gap is Too Wide: The “Tearing” Effect
If the reel blades are set too far from the bedknife, the scissor action is compromised. Instead of being cleanly sliced, the grass blades will be bent, bruised, and torn. This is a common problem when reel mowers are new, have not been sharpened recently, or have been incorrectly adjusted after maintenance.
The result of this wide gap is a ragged cut, leaving the grass tips frayed and susceptible to disease. You might notice a yellowish or brown appearance on your lawn shortly after mowing, a telltale sign of stressed grass. Pushing the mower will also feel easier in this scenario, but it’s a false economy, as the health of your lawn is being compromised.
The Gap is Too Narrow: The “Scraping” and Binding Effect
On the other hand, if the reel blades are set too close to or are digging into the bedknife, you’ll experience a different set of problems. This is often referred to as the blades being “over-adjusted” or “tight.”
In this situation, there will be significant friction between the reel and the bedknife. Pushing the mower will become very difficult, requiring considerable effort. You’ll likely hear a loud, grinding or scraping sound, indicating excessive wear is occurring. This constant, harsh contact can quickly dull the blades, damage their cutting edges, and even warp them over time. It can also put a strain on the mower’s drive system and bearings.
The excessive friction can also lead to the reel binding or sticking intermittently, resulting in an uneven cut and potential damage to the grass. It’s like trying to push a car with the parking brake partially engaged – inefficient and damaging.
The Importance of Sharpening and Grinding
The ability of reel mower blades to achieve that perfect “kiss” is heavily dependent on their sharpness. Even with perfect adjustment, dull blades will struggle to cut cleanly. This is where the concepts of sharpening and grinding come into play.
Scissor Sharpening (or Reel Sharpening)
This is a process where the reel is adjusted so that each reel blade just touches the bedknife, and then the reel is slowly rotated, with a sharpening compound applied. The compound acts as a very fine abrasive, grinding away microscopic imperfections and burrs from the edges of both the reel blades and the bedknife.
This method aims to hone the existing cutting edge. It’s a delicate process that requires precision and patience. The goal is to create a razor-sharp edge on the reel blades that perfectly matches the edge of the bedknife, allowing for that clean slicing action.
Cylindrical Grinding
For more significant dullness or damage, a more involved process called cylindrical grinding may be necessary. This involves removing the reel from the mower and using specialized machinery to grind the entire reel cylinder and the bedknife.
Cylindrical grinding is a more aggressive process that re-establishes the true cutting geometry of the blades and bedknife. It removes more metal and is typically performed by professional mower sharpening services. A well-ground reel and bedknife will have perfectly parallel and sharp edges, enabling that precise “kiss” when reassembled and adjusted.
Adjusting Your Reel Mower for Optimal Performance
The ability to adjust your reel mower’s blades is a key aspect of its maintenance. Most reel mowers have adjustment screws that allow you to control the distance between the reel and the bedknife. The process usually involves loosening a locking nut and then turning an adjustment screw to either move the bedknife closer to or further from the reel.
The general procedure is as follows:
First, ensure your mower is on a stable surface and that the reel is clean.
Next, you’ll typically loosen any locking mechanisms that hold the bedknife in place.
Then, you will slowly turn the adjustment screws. The goal is to bring the reel blades into contact with the bedknife. You should hear that faint scraping sound as you make adjustments.
Once you achieve that subtle contact, you’ll want to slightly back off the adjustment to prevent excessive friction. The idea is to have just enough contact to shear the grass, not to grind the metal.
After making adjustments, spin the reel to check for even contact along the entire length of the bedknife. You may need to make fine-tuning adjustments to ensure there are no high or low spots.
Finally, secure the bedknife by tightening the locking nuts. It’s often recommended to make a test cut on some grass to confirm the adjustment and ensure a clean cut.
Signs You Need to Adjust Your Reel Mower Blades
There are several telltale signs that your reel mower’s blades need adjustment, or perhaps even sharpening:
- A ragged or torn appearance on the grass after mowing.
- Excessive effort required to push the mower.
- A loud grinding or scraping sound during operation.
- Uneven cutting, with some areas appearing taller than others.
- The mower struggling to cut through even thin grass.
The Bottom Line: A Delicate Dance
In conclusion, the question of whether reel mower blades should touch is not about aggressive contact, but rather a precise and minimal interaction. The ideal scenario involves a slight “kiss” between the sharpened reel blades and the bedknife, creating a scissor-like action that cleanly slices the grass.
Proper adjustment, coupled with sharp blades, is essential for achieving a healthy, beautiful lawn. Overly wide gaps lead to tearing and damage, while excessively narrow gaps cause friction, wear, and difficulty in operation. Regular maintenance, including sharpening and proper adjustment, will ensure your reel mower continues to deliver that signature clean cut for years to come. Understanding this delicate balance is the key to unlocking the full potential of your reel mower and achieving the lawn of your dreams.
Should Reel Mower Blades Touch When Sharpening?
During the sharpening process, the reel mower blades should not be in constant, abrasive contact. The goal is to achieve a precise bevel on each blade’s cutting edge, which is best accomplished by a controlled scraping or grinding action against the stationary blade. Excessive pressure or grinding will lead to overheating and can damage the delicate cutting edge, making it duller rather than sharper.
The ideal scenario involves a very light touch, allowing the sharpening stone or grinding wheel to remove just enough metal to restore the keen edge. Think of it as a gentle kiss rather than a firm handshake between the moving reel and the sharpening tool. This approach ensures minimal material removal while maximizing the sharpness and longevity of the blades.
What Happens if Reel Mower Blades Touch Too Much?
If reel mower blades touch too much, especially during sharpening, it can cause significant damage. Over-grinding or excessive friction can generate heat, leading to ‘burning’ the blade’s temper. This alters the molecular structure of the steel, making it brittle and prone to chipping or dulling quickly. The blade’s ability to hold a sharp edge is severely compromised.
Furthermore, aggressive contact can deform the cutting edge, creating an uneven surface that will tear grass rather than cut it cleanly. This results in a poor cut quality, characterized by ragged tips, browning, and increased susceptibility to disease. It also necessitates more frequent resharpening and can shorten the overall lifespan of the reel blades.
What is the Ideal Clearance Between Reel and Bedknife?
The ideal clearance between the reel mower blades and the bedknife is exceptionally small, often measured in thousandths of an inch or fractions of a millimeter. This precise gap allows the blades to shear grass cleanly against the bedknife without binding or creating excessive friction. Too much space means the grass isn’t cut, while too little will cause drag and damage.
This clearance is typically adjusted through the mower’s adjustment screws. It’s a fine-tuning process that often requires trial and error, listening for the characteristic “whispering” sound as the blades pass the bedknife. The goal is to achieve a uniform and consistent gap across the entire length of the reel.
How Does Blade Touch Affect the Quality of the Cut?
The degree to which reel mower blades touch, or rather the controlled interaction between the reel and bedknife, is paramount to a high-quality cut. When the clearance is set correctly, the blades sweep across the bedknife in a scissor-like action, precisely severing the grass blades. This clean cut promotes faster healing and healthier turf.
If the blades are set too far apart, they will “tear” the grass, leaving ragged edges. Conversely, if they are too close and bind, they can damage the grass by bruising or even pulling it out of the ground, leading to unsightly brown patches and weakening the turf. The “touch” is a metaphor for this precise shearing action.
Can Reel Mower Blades Touch Each Other Directly?
Reel mower blades are designed to pass very close to the bedknife, but they are not intended to touch each other directly in the sense of one blade rubbing against another blade on the same reel. Each blade has its own cutting edge that interacts with the stationary bedknife. The term “touch” in the context of reel mowers almost exclusively refers to the critical relationship between the reel’s cutting edges and the bedknife.
The helical design of the reel ensures that each blade engages the bedknife at a specific point as it rotates. The proximity is key to achieving a clean cut. However, any grinding or rubbing between adjacent reel blades themselves would indicate a serious problem with the reel’s assembly or alignment, not a desirable operational state.
What is the “Whispering” Sound in Reel Mowers?
The “whispering” sound is the auditory cue that indicates a reel mower’s blades are properly adjusted to the bedknife. It’s a very faint, high-pitched sound, almost like paper being gently scraped. This sound signifies that the reel blades are passing the bedknife with the absolute minimum of clearance without actually binding or creating excessive friction.
Achieving this sound is the mark of a well-tuned reel mower. It means the cutting units are set up for optimal performance, ready to deliver a precise and clean cut on the turf. If the sound is absent, it usually means the reel is too far from the bedknife, and if it’s a scraping or grinding sound, it means the reel is too close and risks damage.
How Often Should Reel Mower Blades Be Checked for Proper Touch/Clearance?
The frequency of checking reel mower blade touch or clearance depends on several factors, including the type of grass being cut, the mowing conditions, and the mower’s usage. However, it is generally recommended to perform this check regularly, ideally after every few mowing sessions or at least once a month. More frequent checks are advisable for professional landscapers or when cutting challenging turf.
Consistent monitoring ensures that the cutting units maintain their optimal adjustment, preventing premature dulling, grass tearing, and potential damage to the mower’s components. It’s a proactive maintenance step that significantly contributes to the longevity and performance of the reel mower.