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Where to buy a reel mower

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#5 ·
It really depends on your budget. The non gas ones suck. I wouldn't even waste my money unless you own a postage stamp.

McLane- this is what I use and gives a decent cut. I really do not care for it, but you can find them for 200-400 all day long on Craigslist. If that is all you had money for, than I would grab one. Not bad, but not great. Make sure you get at least a 7 blade. You can get a really beautiful yard with one of these. Most of neighbors use McLane and they have a great looking yard

Tru Cut- These are a step up from Mclane. Probably looking at 400-600+ On Craigslist and they are always up for sale as well. Again go for at least 7 blades.
These are not as 'cheap' feeling as the Mclane

I used to cut greens at a golf course and we used the Toro Greensmaster. I think the course paid 8500 used for all of theirs. For a h/o, this is overkill. However, if you have the money, then go for it

Jacobsen, Peatchtree, John Deere all make top quality commercial reels but they come at a big time price.
 
#8 ·
I have TruCut and I like it for the "slipping clutch". You don't have to fully engage the clutch so it's like having a gas pedal. This has a big advatange if your in a tight area or mow lawns that are sloped. Also the TruCut's are chain driven, where the McLane's are belt driven. But if you have deep pockets you can get a better brand... one that hasn't been mentioned yet is a Locke.
 
#9 ·
95Z71 said:
Would I get the same results by using the cheap gasless reel mowers? Thanks
Click to expand...
No. You will wear yourself out trying to cut bermuda with a push reel.

Check craigslist for used reel mowers, look for a Locke or a Tru-Cut....most golf courses will have mowers that are not geared to typical homeowners who cut at a height of .5" to 1.25" with a standard reel. Make sure you have a place local who can sharpen your mower.
 
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#10 ·
Merkava_4 said:
Peachtree says they make their own version based on the design of the infamous California Trimmer.

http://www.reelmowers.net/
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This is what I own...a Legacy 30". The cut is great, but if you have a smaller lawn its difficult to operate, I would rather use a Tru-Cut.
 
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#12 ·
Make sure the place that sharpens has the capability to grind the reel.

If you sell a TruCut to a friend on LawnSite and buy a Trimmer style reel mower you will miss it.
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#14 ·
Merkava_4 said:
This is the very best reel mower in the world right here:

California Trimmer
Image
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Not from a maintenance stand point they sure aren't. A royal pain to spin grind and relief. Search all of my posts about reel mowers, used sourcing, there is a lot of data I will not repeat here.

For limited homeowner use, especially with no experience in reel mowers, I'd recommend at heights between .75" to 1.5" to use a Hyiater Harriet rotary mower. Search Seagrove's web site as they are the importers now - excellent mowers that bag well at low heights and if you have trees or foreign matter all over your yard these work very well.
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
Anyone interested in selling their reel mower? Found a few in Atlanta but nothing local here in Cabot, AR. Thanks

I think i'm leaning towards McLane since I can have it serviced here locally.
 
#18 ·
I own the new Eastman 25" Reel that is roller drive. I also own a tru-cut 25" that is wheel drive. I personally find that the Trimmer/Eastman is not very hard to use, in fact I find that a tru-cut will drag you around. I can see the Tru-cut being useful for a small yard. My back lawn is only 300 sqf and I use my Eastman on it, it's easy enough to lift up the roller at the end of each pass. I know for certain that Eastman's reel and clutch assemblies are made way better than tru-cut's. My tru cut will jam up on thick zoysia where my trimmer won't. My Tru-cut's reel was once bent, never had that problem with Eastman or Trimmer. But the Tru-cut is way more maneuverable, but is heavier than the Eastman/Trimmer. I really hate Eastman's way of securing the grass catcher to the mower, it will be pushed into the reel if you hit a wall or bush. That means an embarrassing PITA for the operator.

I can guarantee you a reel will outperform any rotary, no matter how nice it is.

Once again, comparing Coke and Pepsi.
 
#20 ·
No, comparing Coke to water. A reel is by no doubt the only way to make bermuda look its best.
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