How to Sharpen & Hone a Reel Mower

A reel mower depends on sharp reel blades and a properly maintained bed knife. Periodic honing or backlapping can restore the cutting relationship when the edges are still serviceable, while severely worn components may require professional grinding or replacement.

Never attempt to file by hand. It is critical that the reel assembly maintain a perfect cylindrical shape so that each blade hits the bed knife at the same precise location. Precision machine sharpening does this, plus it grinds a compound angle on the blade edges that can’t be determined with the naked eye.

The same precision sharpening is required of the bed knife, providing an even angle across the entire cutting surface.

Sharpening Is Different From a Rotary Mower

A reel mower shouldn't be treated like a conventional rotary mower blade.

The reel is a precision cylindrical cutting assembly that works together with the bed knife.

Maintaining that geometry matters.

What Is Backlapping?

Backlapping or honing rotates the reel backward while a suitable lapping compound is applied to the cutting surfaces.

The process helps restore the mating relationship between the reel and bed knife.

When completing the backlapping process, you will have excess grinding compound left in the reel, bed knife, and the mower housing. Some instructional videos will show washing the mower with a garden hose to remove the compound. Just keep in mind that the cutting edges are bare steel and will rust, especially where the reel rests on the bed knife. It is preferable to wipe off the excess compound and use as little water as possible to wash it out. Then use a leaf blower or hair dryer to completely dry the cutting surface while spinning the reel, and then immediately spray a thin coat of lubricant to protect the bare metal from rusting.

Cottage Craft Works' current sharpening kit includes a reel-turning device, lapping compound, brush, snap-ring pliers, and instructions. It is available with either a hand crank or a drill attachment option. Another option allows you to choose either the Clipper or Mascot, which slides over the reel shaft and locks on the pawl, or an option for all other mowers that slides onto the shaft and uses an Allen-head set screw to lock it in place. Be careful to keep the shaft with the pawl in a horizontal position; otherwise, the pawl will slide out and need to be replaced in the same orientation, or the mower will not ratchet and release the reel properly when pulling it in reverse.

When Honing Can Help

Honing is useful for maintaining cutting edges that remain structurally sound but have become less effective through normal use.

Cottage Craft Works describes its kit as a touch-up sharpening system rather than a method for restoring severely worn, rounded cutting surfaces.

When Professional Grinding Is Needed

If the bed knife has lost its proper cutting geometry or the reel has substantial wear or damage, professional grinding may be necessary.

Locating a shop that has this equipment may be difficult. Search for mower shops that sell professional-level gas-powered reel mowers used for golf courses or specialty turf sports fields. Some larger golf courses will have this equipment on site and sometimes will sharpen the blades for a small fee, or know where you can have it done locally, or at least within a driving range where you can drop off and pick up.

Cottage Craft Works can arrange for the head, with the handle removed, to be shipped to one of the shops for sharpening and a tune-up. The process can be expensive, with ship-to-and-back costs and the need to find a suitable heavy cardboard box to support and protect the mower head during shipment and return. Shipping costs can vary widely based on the box size, so not only is finding a box heavy-duty enough to ship the mower is important, but also ensuring the size is just right to place packing around it without making it so large that it gets heavily surcharged by UPS or FedEx.

The other option, if parts are available for your mower, is to replace the reel-and-bedknife assemblies. Cottage Craft Works has all the parts available for the Mascot and Clipper mowers, including new reel and bedknife assemblies, which will cost around $200 to replace both. The trade-off is between the shipping costs of sending the complete head and the time required to disassemble the mower, remove and replace the parts, and then adjust and tune it.

Annual Maintenance

The appropriate interval depends on lawn size, mowing frequency, grass conditions, debris, and mower adjustment.

Regular inspection is more useful than relying on a fixed calendar alone. But a good rule of thumb is to plan to remove the wheels and clean out dry grass debris while inspecting the wheel and pinion gears for uneven wear.

Remove the hubcaps with a flathead screwdriver.  Be sure that you are on a solid surface such as concrete or pavement, not on grass or gravel, when removing the snap ring, as it will ultimately spring off onto the ground and can be easily lost. Some snap rings lack the traditional holes at the ends for snap ring pliers, so a flathead screwdriver can be used to pry and slide the ring off the shaft. To replace, use a short wooden block and place the snap ring at the edge of the shaft while holding the block close to the wheel, and push down on it until you hear it click into place.

The pawl that creates the ratchet action to disengage the reel when the mower is pulled backward slides through the end of the reel shaft.  Pay close attention when removing the pinion gear for lubrication, as if the shaft is turned vertically, the pawl will fall out. The pawl must be placed in the same direction, or it will not catch and release properly to engage the reel.

This is a good time to use the paper cut to check for proper adjustment and cutting. If storing for the season, spray a thin lubricant on all the cutting blades and bed knife to protect them. Always store the reel mower in a dry location to prevent rusting.

Safety

Reel blades and bed knives are extremely sharp.

Wear appropriate hand protection and keep hands and fingers clear of the reel whenever it can rotate. Extra caution is required when using a powered drill with a compatible honing system.

Disclaimer

This information is provided for general educational purposes. Always follow the mower manufacturer's instructions and observe appropriate equipment, blade, towing, and operating safety practices.