Ryan I sent you an email about reel mowers, you responded quickly, and then you do this video! You truly care about giving people good real advice! I appreciate it!
When i was young and my mom told me to call grandma and borrow her mower, she dropped one of those reel mowers off and i hated it. Now i wish i had it.
Seeming like this is becoming one of the most popular manual reel mowers out there. I’m seeing it all over the place. Nice overview, thanks! We are in the market for on for left tool.
I went with the fiskars staysharp max, just on my front side strip I experienced a slightly amount of waving. But in the rest of the 5500 I cut with, the lawn looks incredible! The fiskars is very nice, sadly they have yet to come out a version with 7+ blades.
The American Lawn Mower style manual reel mowers are listed under numerous brands such as Craftsman, Earthwise, Greenworks, Lee Valley, Pro Mow (Residential Series), McCulloch, Scotts Classic, Task Force, and TruCut. The issue with that style of mower isn't so much the number of blades as it is the fact the reel and bed knife are not precision ground. Looking at the blades, you will most likely see heavy hash marks on the reel. You CAN take it to a shop and have them sharpen it better-than-new, but for what you're gonna spend, you would be much better off with a higher quality mower to start with. The Mascot style, AKA Silent Cut or Pro Mow (Gold Series) produces a much finer cut because the reel and bed knife are precision ground with a high sheen, as in, no hash marks and is far easier to adjust the mowing height. You can possibly make the Pro Mow Gold series work as a push mower and opt for the 8 blade option but it is rather pricey. Not to mention the fact, the Mascot style mower has a touchless style cutting blade making it far easier in tall grass than the American Lawn Mower contact style blade.
@@ellenorbjornsdottir1166 "...I have a scythe and... grind stones..." A scythe and grind stones, sure which is also how rotary mowers are done. With stones or a file. But on a REEL mower, no way, it HAS to be done on a jig or the reel and knife gets ruined.
I have the Greenworks and I love it. We have some tight problem hillsides on our property, and the little reel mower is perfect for it. PROVIDING you don't wait until the grass is up to your knee...
I have used a b&q £20 on sale reel mower for 6 years and it’s fantastic. I find it’s less stress to push mow for 20 mins than it is wrestling the petrol mower out of the shed then find you have no fule. Thanks Ryan
Thank you for the video. Would love a video for women. Who want to cut there own grass. However may not know all the mechanics of a lawn mower especially a ride own. AND would used or brand new be a good opinion for a beginners. ALSO If a home owner wanted to hire a company or independent contractor to cut the grass what are some great tips to look for and or what kind of questions to ask. More beginner friendly videos plz. For people who know absolutely nothing and have no prior knowledge about lawn care bottom tier mid tier top tier knowledge. 🤷🏾♀️ I know this was a mouth full. But we are here to learn and get some good tips. Thanks again
Hey ryan washer boarding "riffeling" happens if you are travelling to fast . I work as a green keeper here in Ireland and when cutting fairways if we travel to fast the riffellling happens.so we usually adjust the accelerator to travel slower.and that usually resolves the issue.love this channel and your videos.
But the manual reel blades are driven by the wheels so the speed of the blades are attached to the speed of the wheels. Slowing down your walking pace will slow down the blades so how does that help? I'm curious.
I feel like I am Always mowing my lawn. I have an electric mower and just bought a reel mower. I like the feel of the reel mower and it’s so satisfying watching and feeling it slice through the grass with such ease. I already enjoy mowing as it is but it’s even more satisfying with the reel mower. I need to raise the blade height though.
I got this reel mower today! First time reel mowing…i like the result much better than a gas mower. Today was the first mow of 2024, after a de-thatch. I’m going to switch out the roller to a 16” inch PATIKIL stainless steel conveyer roller, and see if I can get some stripes as well. Thanks Ryan!
Sweet man! I just bought this one and did a video on it a few weeks back. Bought it solely for the 7 blades as well, especially since I have bermuda. I'm not all the way out of dormancy yet, so I haven't even gotten to use it. This video will come in handy when I do since you played with the height. I won't have to figure that out myself now haha. Thanks and congrats on 100k!
I bought the same mower 2 years ago for my yard. It’s a pain in the butt to adjust but it does give an awesome cut. Especially when the grass is nice and level
I just purchased a great states 18 inch and I’m excited to try it out. I’m hoping it makes mowing a lot easier than what it has been for me. I like the exercise but having a bad shoulder and back using my push mower would kick my butt, so I’m hoping after much research on reel mowers this is a solution to my problem. Thank you 😊
I wish I could reel mow but my yard is just too uneven. I don't see a practical way I can level it off without a tractor or 4 wheeler or something to drag it and I don't have the garage space for that stuff. I think manually leveling it with a rake would kill me lol. Sometimes you just have to accept your yard for what it is and make it the best it can be given what you have to work with.
Hey Ryan I’ve noticed if you slow down it works a whole lot better. I have a 22” recycler, best push mower ever, I was mowing a few days ago and just slowed down, I was thinking “ well what if I slow down a little, will it mulch better” and man it looked fantastic. There a guy that watches you and he did the 3 reel comparison, they were walking slow and so that why it came to mind. Update got the sprinklers put in ground, just waiting on the valve and controller, they come tomorrow but I have to work of course, so It will be installed Tuesday for sure.
I will never forget, two years ago a neighbor was doing an evening walk. He heard me watching your youtube video, and he stated, “Is that Ryan Knorr?” I said, “yes.” He then watched the remaining video with me. Mr knorr, I think I told you that already but man you are moving up in this community!😎👊☕️
I never thought I would go back to a push reel mower but after your video I think I am going to try a 7-blade push reel mower. It looks like you can get the job done quickly. There's no fuss with this setup once you setup the mower the way you like it. I'm all about quick and easy. Thanks for your content.
Thanks Ryan. after researching the best 7-blade push reel mower I bought the same model you demonstrated in this video. I should have it in a week and I'm excited to see how well it cuts my lawn. I need the exercise. Love your channel.
I have had a 5 blade version of this identical mower that they sell under different brand names. I actually bought it at Sears around 16 years ago that bears the Craftsman name. You're right that adjusting it is a royal pain and it was because of that that I lost one of the gear parts and now only one wheel spins. It's only because of that that I'm replacing it after 16 years and I was wanting the same thing only 7 blades for the same reason as you did. Helpful video, thanks! I have tried the engine powered reel mowers by the way, you can not beat the convenience of the manual reel mowers if you have a small amount of grass to mow.
I have the same mower and went through a similar journey with it. I didn’t have to take the roller off at any point but adjusting the wheels is a pain to get the half inch. With my Bermuda the cut quality is only good at 1 inch. The half inch is just too much washboard for me. I do love the mower though. I used it daily for an entire season and it still cuts paper with no back lapping. The reel to bed knife adjusting is a little crazy to figure out but I’ve only had to do it once.
got this mower early april myself took forever to find this 7 blade since amazon wouldnt ship it to california mowing bentgrass at 1/2 inch and it cuts good but still a little waviness unfortunately, double / triple cut helps
When I was a young kid and my grandfather was alive he use to have 7 reel mowers in his garage because he use to be a landscaper but didn't drive so he left one at every place or neighborhood he worked at. Those were some great mowers and I wish I kept a few of them.
@@ryanknorrlawncare What I do recall is those mowers all had some real weight to them and sat on the lawn very well unlike your new addition. One was all steel even the wheels with a wooden handle. They don't make them like they use to.
Ryan, I recommended this same one to John Perry when he first posted his reel mowing video last year. I have the same one for use in tight areas where my John Deere 220E can't reach. It works extremely well in my bermuda but still shows washboarding when the turf gets dense. I keep my HOC at 0.75" which is only manageable with PGR in Houston. Backlapping the reel and adjusting the bedknife definitely gets old real quick just as you said with height of cut adjustments. I'd love to see a follow up video if you could get your hands on the universal grass catcher for this unit
That silver play button will look real good in that shed... Congrats on all your success and thank you for all the work you pour into your content! Here's to the next 100,000 👏
I have a Fiskar since I thought the heavier blades would help vs. the Scott's that i had...which was partially true. With the Zeon zyosia it can be a good workout. In the places that were sodded, very tough go. In the places that I planted via plugs, easier as not as thick. Now since I can't go to the gym, I basically run with the mower until I hit the thick sodded portions where I would have to raise the cut height to keep running. Makes for a good high intensity interval training. Luckily this is in my back yard so the neighbors can't see and don't laugh at me!
I think you’d really like the HudsonStar. You should contact them and see if they’ll send a representative out for an installment video on their product. It’s a manual reel mower that’s all luxury.
I have a manual mower and when I see you doing your lawn you make it seem so easy. I get so tired just doing a small portion of my lawn and it doesn't roll with ease like yours tell me what am I'm doing wrong. I got a lot of energy so tell me.
I feel you on the visual learning. I’m exactly the same way. I just put together a pull behind dethatcher and of course it came in a million pieces. Luckily there were pictures, ones you had to use a magnifying glass with but they were there nonetheless. I got it put together without too many pieces being thrown across the garage.
Reel mowers don't get enough love, they are the third method of cutting grass, the first being livestock and the second being the scythe, then you got the rotor mower and then the riding mower, so the reel mower is the middle child here
A good workout on the reel mower. I did thought about buying one. After you excellent workout, I decided against buying one. I like to take my time in mowing my own lawn, and enjoy the leisure in doing so. Oh! The mower I use is a rotary Ryobi 175cc 4 stroke Subaru engine. Not quite the WRX models. Anyway, I enjoy your vids.
RU-vid gurus say the 7 blade reel is for warm season lawns, not cool season lawn like rye, fescue, KBG. A 4 blade reel is best for cool season lawns, but a 5 blade works. I love my push reel mower and will never go back to a rotary power mower. Lawn care is fun. Don't forget to brush the clippings off that mower and rub the blades with WD-40 to prevent rust, dulling the blade. I do this after every mow (3 mows per week) and it's about ten minutes top. Worth it.
@enp83 From the company website: The American Lawn Mower Company 16-inch bent grass reel mower is a simple, efficient, and effective blade-and-reel mower, fueled by manpower and specifically designed to cut low-growing, creeping grasses. A Well Constructed Lawn Mower Made of durable tempered alloy steel with an unbreakable steel side plate, this 4-spider, 7-blade, ball bearing reel design gives you cutting heights ranging from 1/2 inch to 2-1/4 inches using the adjustable 7-section roller and 3-position adjustable wheel height. If you look up the same mower in 4 blades, they (American Mower Company) say the 4 blade is the recommended mower for KBG and fescues. Have a nice mow.
Ryan, first of all you can never own too many mowers (I have 4). But, that is a classic rebranded mower made by the American Lawn Mower Company. I have the very same mower in the 16" version that is labeled as "Great States". You adjust the HOC the exact same way, and yeah that fine adjustment can be tricky. I scalp my Bermuda lawn at 0.5" and maintain through the Spring at 3/4" as long as I can. By the way, the washboarding isnt so bad even with a 5 blade reel if you go over it from another direction afterward.
I've been using it for 4 summers now. Very easy to adjust the mowing height, just move the lever. Adjusting the cutting blade is easy too. I've only had to adjust once a season. This year I bought the bag for it. I do have some experience with reel mowers. I worked at a golf course for 4 summers while in college. If you don't want to catch the clippings, they are thrown out in front of the mower to be cut again.
Ryan, can you do a detailed how to video on how to backlap/ sharpen the blades on this Earthwise model mower??? I am thinking of getting one, and wanted to see how to correctly do it.
I really like the stripes my Jacobsen greens mowers leave but sometimes I really enjoy the look of my cheap greatstates, nice flat solid look. Also did you notice any real difference between the 5 vs 7 blade that’d make it worth upgrading from my 5 blade to the 7?
Any way ya look at it, it has got to be easier than pushing the old one I used as a kid with its cast iron wheels and wood roller, and wood handle, lol.
There is a 7 blade 18" reel mower that American Lawn Mower Company makes for Scott's part number 716-18S. American Lawn Mower Company makes reel mowers for many companies.
Another top notch video Ryan! I have tried the fisker push and am currently using the Scotts push. I would love to see a video with a high end greens push mower. Something below an inch...
Congrats on your 100K! Enjoyed the review of the GS Reel. I’m thinking about getting one next year for my tall fescue, I understand they can go up to 2.75”. But first I need to level the lawn or it will be a hot mess out there. 😮
Congrats on 100k Subs! So happy and excited for you. Hope you're celebrating! Also I'm pretty sure that reel mower is exactly like the one I have, as far as design goes. It's the one you used on the bermuda at my old house. I really miss using it.
I bought a reel mower for 10 bucks practically brand new at a thrift store.....I use it on a section that my lawn tractor can't go...it getsfilled with grass really easily..,.so what I'm getting from this video is I've been using it the wrong way? These are for already cut real low lawns?
I bought a second hand 20” Task Force reel mower and just learned that 1 5/8” is the lowest setting. Disappointed but as I have a lumpy clay yard it’s probably for the best.
The biggest problem with all these mowers is they don't weigh enough to get great traction. I have plated with adding weight and get instant good results. But still only use them after I have machine cut the grass.
Helps to prevent scalping since it's riding on a flatter plane and not dipping to the holes with wheels. Also helps to add stripes when it rolls over the grass
I bought a manual Fiskars reel mower. I have mixed feelings about it. At heights around 3" it leaves a lot of stragglers. I am not sure it is best for our rye grass lawn. Maybe it is my crappy turf but the grass tends to bend and not cut. Lower cuts it works better but we don't have a very flat lawn. As well, we have never cut so short so getting down to 2" or less would put me in the ER.
Hi Ryan, you mention a few times about a powered reel mower. Who make these today? My uncle had one that I used back in the 60's by Toro. Do they still make them?
I have a Earthwise 18in and I like it. I’m thinking about upgrading to the Fiskars though because I have St. Aug and that’s supposed to be better for it. I’m going to do a little more research.
