I love the in depth video...nice work! I just purchased my CT 20" yesterday from reel lawn guy. Buddy was awesome to deal with and explained everything over the phone very well. Thank you, for recommending him and love the videos.
@@ryandelk04 Well I have a really old one that I just bought for 40 bucks. B&G motor from 1971 that I just got running. I just ordered the sharpening kit and just briefly tried it out on my front lawn. Love it so far, just don't have a lot of experience with it yet. I'm just getting familiar with the machine and updating myself with all of your videos. Love them, teaching me a lot.
Yes the grooved roller will keep the mower planted and front end from squirming on you. My yard is not nearly a smooth as yours but my Trimmer tracks straight as an arrow, good video.
Looks good. I use a rotary Honda for winter rye that I seed each year and use a CaliTrimmer Brigs engine for summer Bermuda. This winter I’m using my Cali with a roller up front and am loving the stripes. My Honda rotary with its double blade really clumps my clippings keeping them from getting into the bag. Drives me nuts because the green clippings stain my concrete and plaster the inside of the Honda deck. Great video.
15:30 it is what it is. Sometimes it’s like that. Nice job. 👍I jumped from this to a Greensmaster 1000 and it was too big of a jump. I have a lot of curves with my garden beds and it’s a pain cutting with it. Also my lawn is small. I’m sticking with this (I have the grooved roller from RR) and my Allett 20”.
I have the CT 20" and did a back to back test with the smooth vs grooved roller, the grooved roller is 1000% better in keeping straight lines. I keep my yard @ 3/4". Great 3 year review. It's my only reel, but I love how simple it is.
Fantastic video. Im looking at buying my first reel mower and your video has been perfect. Your lawn looks amazing and If you have managed to get it that nice I know that mower will get me there. What height are you cutting and why fertilizer do you use ?
Hey! Thanks for the positive feedback! I use a variety of different fertilizer, I share many of them on this channel too! I try to keep my lawn as short as possible, I start the season out on the lowest setting to scalp and then raise one notch. Then throughout the season I normally have to slowly raise the height to keep it as green as possible. Typically I end the season just over an inch tall.
I went with an Allett for the cartridge system. The 25" California Trimmer would be great for just mowing. I do wish it had rear roller for better stripes.
Quick question, what's the high height califonia reel mower can cut. I know I can set my rotary mower at 4 inch, can califonia reel mower go up to 4 inch cut.
I have a cal trimmer also, but it does not cut level. Do you know if there is an adjustment. Also, this was a quality video! I have to know, what microphone and camera are you using? What program are you using to edit the video? Excellent work!!
On the level of the CT, just check the bolt hole 1st and make sure both sides are in the same holes maybe (although that would be pretty dramatic). Camera: GoPro 9 & 10 Mic: wireless RODE & saramonic mics Editor: Final Cut Pro or RUSH That’s for your positive feedback!!
Super helpful info on the California Trimmer. Thank you, Ryan! What are your thoughts on a 25" versus the 20"? If you were buying again, would you go with the larger version?
Thanks Leo! Yes, I almost always leave my clippings. Most of the time I cut so often that the clippings are like 1/8” but when they get longer I’ll blow the piles so they scatter and don’t clump.
I’m the same height as you. Install the extension you’ll be wishing you did it the day you bought it lol saves that back a ton. You might be cutting your yard 4 days in a row that day 😂
I just ordered a Ca Dreamer and learned a lot about your mower. I have one question do you or anybody else use the catcher when mowing? I have always mulched but quit the middle of last summer and my lawn looks much better now. Let me know your ideas on the catcher
90% of the time I don’t use the catcher, the clippings from reel mowing are so small that they disappear anyway. Let me know how you enjoy the California trimmer!!
Excellent video; very informative and helpful. I am strongly considering a California Trimmer. You mentioned that you are in Georgia (I’m in Alabama) and the dealer you mentioned, Reel Lawn Guy, in in Texas. Where did you get your mower? Does RLG ship (I’ve noticed several online suppliers have free shipping)? Again, very helpful video-thank you!
@@ryandelk04 I have a chance to get one of these as I just saw an ad for one a guy one town over is selling. Going to look at it tomorrow. It’s like yours-a seven blade, 20” with the Briggs engine. Hoping it’s close to as nice as it appears in the ad photo. Any thoughts? Advice?
@@ryandelk04 Bought it. Excellent shape. Looked like a new mower. I tried it out on a 1,000’ sq. rectangle of Bermuda I’ve been working on. Put it on its highest setting and it clipped off the very ends of the grass. Looks great! I’ll probably drop it down a notch or two and mow the rectangle again tomorrow. This is gonna be fun!!
I installed mine after mowing without it the first year. As a 6ft tall grass addict it changed everything. Love it more than ever now. Install was pretty time consuming so be prepared. Also, have you all seen the drive roller chain adjustment bracket? It looks cleaner than a bolt or zip tie and is easy to adjust.
If you’re thinking about buying a residential reel mower, do yourself a favor and buy a used greensmower. You can find deals for only a few hundred bucks more and get a machine that’s infinitely better. Almost everyone that buys a residential reel mower ends up wishing they’d bought a greensmower.
I think starting out with a greens mower would be overwhelming for a lot of regular home owners and for people who just aren’t ready to go that low. The CT is a great starter level to welcome people into reel mowing. Many will never want to cut as low as greens mowers. That being said, one day I shall LOL. Thanks for watching my friend!
So technically they want you to lift that lever every time you go to make a turn? I like this mower but the thought of damaging the grass when turning isn't ideal.
I see many people who do but I typically do not lift it every time. Once you get used to turning it, it is rare to cause any damage when you don’t lift. Even if it does scrape due to not lifting, I just step on the area and you can’t see it.
Of course, I happened to see your notification at the right time and didn’t want to keep you waiting! Honestly, I’ve only changed the oil on it. That’s only been 1 time this preseason.
I don’t typically use a catcher, the clippings help add nitrogen back into the lawn. I only use the catcher if I miss a mow or two and the clippings are too long or if I’m scalping.
rollers do not work on fescue type grasses as the roller will flatten the grass and won't cut it you will need the standard casters to cut fescue period
