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#284 ·
dave k said:
just for the quality of cut, just look at the ball parks, like yankee stadium, all the ball parks are cut with reels
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Not only is the actual "cut" of the grass blade substantially better, but the reels/rollers virtually eliminate any scalping.
 
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#285 ·
Yeah i agree, but you guys must be cutting small properties with them, because it would take all day to cut a big property with a 27" tru cut. We only have a handful of small properties that we cut with a reel. They are almost golf course quality. They are sanded each year, cut twice a week, with a good irrigation and chemical program. Mainly Bermuda around here...sometimes zoysia
 
#286 ·
My lawn is about 2/3 acre. My mower is a Jacobsen 3-wheel riding mower like they use on sports fields, golf courses, etc. It has three reels and cuts a 6' wide path. I also have a 27" TruCut, but I only use it for a few small places that the riding mower can't get to. The mowing takes about 45 minutes, and I go pretty slow to make sure it does a good cut.

Until last year, I mowed the whole thing with the TruCut. That took a little under two hours to do.

My lawn has an underground irrigation system. Professional treatments every two months. Mowed every three or four days. Haven't had it sanded yet because it is fairly flat and the reels don't scalp. Maybe next spring after aerating, which I've never done either. Trying Hydretain on the "hot spots" to keep them from drying out faster than the rest of the lawn. It's border-line obsession. :dizzy:
 
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#288 ·
Ira said:
My lawn is about 2/3 acre. My mower is a Jacobsen 3-wheel riding mower like they use on sports fields, golf courses, etc. It has three reels and cuts a 6' wide path. I also have a 27" TruCut, but I only use it for a few small places that the riding mower can't get to. The mowing takes about 45 minutes, and I go pretty slow to make sure it does a good cut.

Until last year, I mowed the whole thing with the TruCut. That took a little under two hours to do.

My lawn has an underground irrigation system. Professional treatments every two months. Mowed every three or four days. Haven't had it sanded yet because it is fairly flat and the reels don't scalp. Maybe next spring after aerating, which I've never done either. Trying Hydretain on the "hot spots" to keep them from drying out faster than the rest of the lawn. It's border-line obsession. :dizzy:
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What's it cost in TX to have your reels sharpened?
I used to have a Tru Cut as well but sold it, I still have my Locke reel
Top dressing, will make a big difference.
 
#289 ·
dave k said:
What's it cost in TX to have your reels sharpened?
I used to have a Tru Cut as well but sold it, I still have my Locke reel
Top dressing, will make a big difference.
Click to expand...
I take the Jacobsen reels to a golf course guy for sharpening. A relief grind/sharpening is $150/reel. I've had the mower a little over a year, so I've only had them sharpened once (last February). I put about 70 hours on the mower in a year. I backlap about every 20 hours, which seems to keep the cut good.

I take the TruCut mower to the dealer in Austin for sharpening. I think he charged about the same. As little as it's used now, it can probably go two years without sharpening if I keep up with the backlapping. Not as easy as backlapping the Jacobsen.

Top dressing around here is as rare as reel mowers. 99% of the lawns are St. Aug cut at 3+". Can't find anyone who knows how to do it. May have to find someone that does it for sports fields.

Ira
 
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#290 ·
Ira said:
I take the Jacobsen reels to a golf course guy for sharpening. A relief grind/sharpening is $150/reel. I've had the mower a little over a year, so I've only had them sharpened once (last February). I put about 70 hours on the mower in a year. I backlap about every 20 hours, which seems to keep the cut good.

I take the TruCut mower to the dealer in Austin for sharpening. I think he charged about the same. As little as it's used now, it can probably go two years without sharpening if I keep up with the backlapping. Not as easy as backlapping the Jacobsen.

Top dressing around here is as rare as reel mowers. 99% of the lawns are St. Aug cut at 3+". Can't find anyone who knows how to do it. May have to find someone that does it for sports fields.

Ira
Click to expand...
I know it looks good, but 3" is bad for SA in the long run.
 
#291 ·
Ira said:
I take the Jacobsen reels to a golf course guy for sharpening. A relief grind/sharpening is $150/reel. I've had the mower a little over a year, so I've only had them sharpened once (last February). I put about 70 hours on the mower in a year. I backlap about every 20 hours, which seems to keep the cut good.

I take the TruCut mower to the dealer in Austin for sharpening. I think he charged about the same. As little as it's used now, it can probably go two years without sharpening if I keep up with the backlapping. Not as easy as backlapping the Jacobsen.

Top dressing around here is as rare as reel mowers. 99% of the lawns are St. Aug cut at 3+". Can't find anyone who knows how to do it. May have to find someone that does it for sports fields.

I don't bother back lapping, never worked for me, I have a golf course mech do my reels for 75 ea.

Here is a pix of my mowers:
http://imageshack.us/a/img593/9423/wf7p.jpg
Click to expand...
 
#292 ·
Nice Deere. What model is that? What's the max HOC?

Backlapping works pretty good for me. I can tell the difference in the cut.

My Jacobsen 1800G is the "economy model". Gas instead of diesel is the main difference. Most of the stuff that really counts (hydraulics, cutting units, etc.) are the same as they use on more expensive models. I bought mine used from a homeowner and got a great price (I think). $5K (lists for about $20K) and it only had 200 hours on it (2006) model. The owner is in the sports field construction business, so he buys a lot of mowers. He got a sweetheart deal on a new Toro 3100 Sidewinder for his home, so he wanted to unload the Jacobsen. Since no-one around here uses reels for their homes, he had a hard time selling it. Even though it's the cheap model, I figure it will last me for many years with proper maintenance, especially at 70hrs/year.

UPS just delivered a set of grass catchers for the mower. Anxious to see how well they work. I've been using a pull behind sweeper on the lawn (after I mow it), but that doubles the total time.

My other mower (besides the TruCut) is a Deere 4110 compact utility tractor with a 62" mid-mount mower and front-end loader. Bought it new in 2006 (local JD dealer was my neighbor at the time). I think it has about 150 hours on it.
 
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#293 ·
It is a JD 2500A, greens mower with 11 blade reels, which I wish I had 7 blade instead, it would work better on my Emerald Green Zoysia.
I have the bags for mine but don't use them, I just let the clippings fly.
Post a pix of your reel if you can.
I had a JD utility reel which I liked and also had a Toro sidewinder which I liked as well.
 
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