Toro 09168SL User Manual
Reel Mower
Basics
PART NO. 09168SL
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Reel Mowers 1
Table of Contents
Historical Background......................................................................................................2
Application.......................................................................................................................6
Theory.............................................................................................................................8
Importance of the Operator ...........................................................................................18
Preventive Maintenance................................................................................................19
Set-up and Adjustments................................................................................................21
Quality of Cut and Aftercut Appearance........................................................................30
Sharpening....................................................................................................................34
Bedknives, Rollers and Accessories..............................................................................47
Groomers and Thatchers...............................................................................................52
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2 Reel Mowers
Historical Background
The concept of the reel mower goes back to the
1800's. It evolved out of a need for groomed turf
areas being maintained on a regular basis.
The first reel type fairway gang mowers were horse
drawn.
Here is an example of a horse drawn three gang
fairway mower.
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Reel Mowers 3
The first tractor drawn gang mower. (Toro “Bull”
Tractor in 1926).
Golf course development during the 1920’s and 30’s
brought about design improvements in engines and
mower drive systems.
These improvements continued, allowing for lighter
weight and easier to use equipment.
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4 Reel Mowers
Productivity and quality of cut improved.
The development of hydraulics during the 50's and
60's improved the reliability, safety, operator comfort
and lowered maintenance costs.
With the introduction of the riding greens mower, the
industry reached new heights in the areas of
productivity and efficiency.
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Reel Mowers 5
The introduction of hydraulically driven cutting units
greatly reduced wheel slippage and the resulting
turf stress.
Although dramatic improvements have been made
in reel type mowers, some of the same frustrations
that developed working with reel cutting units years
ago are still present today.
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6 Reel Mowers
Application
When properly maintained and operated, reel mowers provide superior quality of cut and aftercut
appearance. These mowers are typically dedicated to mowing formal turf areas at low heights of cut. A triplex
riding greens mower is shown here; a Toro Greensmaster 3150 with DPA (Dual Precision Adjust) cutting
units.
Golf course greens are intensely managed, and
Applications
mowed every day, at heights of cut from 1/16 in. –
1/4 in. (2.5 mm – 5 mm).
Greens
Average Height of Cut:
1/16 in. – 1/4 in.
(2.5 mm – 5 mm)
Mowing Frequency:
Daily
Greensmaster
Tees are typically mowed three times per week, at
heights of cut from 3/8 in. – 1/2 in. (9 mm – 12 mm).
Tees
Average Height of Cut:
3/8 in. – 1/2 in.
(9 mm – 12 mm)
Mowing Frequency:
Three times per week
Reelmaster
Greensmaster
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Reel Mowers 7
Fairways are typically mowed three times per week,
at heights of cut, from 3/8 in. – 3/4 in. (9 mm – 19
mm). Other areas, such as intermediate / semiroughs and surrounds may also be maintained with
reel mowers.
Reel mowers are also utilized, for mowing elite
sports fields and other finely manicured turf areas.
Fairway
Other Applications
• Sports fields
• Other finely manicured
turf areas
Average Height of Cut:
3/8 in. – 3/4 in.
(9 mm – 19 mm)
Mowing Frequency:
Three times per week
to daily
Reelmaster
Reelmaster
Greensmaster
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8 Reel Mowers
Theory
This section will describe the construction, and cutting action of a reel mower cutting unit.
If reel mowers' unique characteristics are not understood and responded to, the end result will be a poor
quality of cut, and expensive down time and repairs.
reel
frame
bedknife
rear roller
front roller
There are three main structural members in a reel cutting unit:
The REEL, consists of several helix shaped blades, mounted to a rotating shaft.
The BEDKNIFE, is attached to the bedbar and the assembly is mounted to the main frame in a manner that
allows for paralleling and adjustment to the reel.
The FRAME, supports the rollers, the bedbar assembly and reel with its drive mechanism, which can be
hydraulic, belt driven, or ground driven.
A reel mower cuts grass with a scissors-like shearing action, as the moving helix shaped blades pass over
the stationary bedknife. The cutting action requires that the bedknife and reel blades, be sharp, matched, and
in close relationship with each other.
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Reel Mowers 9
The reel consists of a number of helix shaped
Construction Details
Support
(Spider)
Bedknife Bedbar
Reel
Construction Details
Side Plate
Reel Blade
Shaft
Frame
blades, welded to supports and mounted to a shaft.
This weldment is then ground to be a perfect
cylinder.
The reel is rotated by a drive system, usually a
hydraulic motor.
Below the reel is the bedbar assembly. The
bedknife is held rigidly in position on the bedbar by
screws.
The bedknife is sharpened to be flat and square so
the sharp edge contacts the reel blades across their
entire length.
If the bedknife is not flat, or the reel is not a perfect
cylinder, it is impossible to get the bedknife to
contact along the entire length of the reel.
The reel is supported by precision bearings held
within the side plates.
The side plates are held in place by a frame.
This becomes the reel assembly, and is a precision
cutting tool.
The reel assembly is supported by rollers, and
pulled along the ground by a carrier frame.
Bedbar Assembly
Bedbar Pivot Bolt
Everything comes together, to make a precision
cutting tool.
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Terminology
This drawing depicts the common terms used when referring to a reel mower.
We have already discussed the reel, and the bedknife.
The attitude, refers to the angle of the bedknife. This reference is in degree differential from the surface of
the turf, (or the line intersecting the bottom of the rollers).
The shear point, is the point that a reel blade contacts any given point on the bedknife at a specific point in
time.
The reel centerline, is the imaginary line drawn perpendicular to the turf dissecting the reel at its center.
This line is used to find the Behind Center Distance (BCD), this is the distance the shear point lies behind the
centerline.
There are two rollers. The rear roller trails the cutting unit, and is usually a solid roller. The front roller leads
the cutting unit, and due to the forces working on it may be any one of many types. The different types of
rollers will be discussed later in the program.
The Height of Cut (HOC) defines the distance between the roller plane and the shear point. Some cutting
units have a fixed front roller, and the rear roller is used to set the height of cut. Others, such as the newer
DPA design cutting units, have a fixed rear roller, and the front roller is used to set the height of cut.
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Think of the reel mower cutting action like a
scissors; two blades coming together, with light
contact, to cut the grass. Without sharp reel and
bedknife edges and properly maintained, light
contact, the reel mower will not cut the grass and
give a good quality of cut.
This illustrates the scissors-like cutting action, as
viewed, from turf level, below the cutting unit. Note
how the helix shaped reel blades, move across the
bedknife, to cut the grass.
To understand reel cutting theory, you must
Clip
understand the concept of clip and the shear point.
A shear point is any single point of contact made
between the reel blade and bedknife.
Here we can see the distance between two
successive shear points, one factor that affects the
clip rate.
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Clip is the forward distance traveled between successive blade contacts at one shear point.
This is viewed as a single contact point on the bedknife.
As the reel travels forward it pushes the grass in front of it, at the same time the reel blade is gathering the
grass it as it moves toward the bedknife.
The opposing forces working on the grass, bunch the grass together at the shear point creating a triangle.
By following the blade path through two “clips” as
the machine moves forward we can illustrate the
actual process of cutting grass. The bedknife
pushes grass toward the shear point, while the reel
blade gathers it in front.
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Factors that affect the clip rate:
• Diameter of reel
• Number of blades
• Speed of reel
• Ground speed
The ideal situation is when H.O.C. = Clip Rate
If we observe multiple clips we get a series of triangles set side by side.
The top of the triangle represents the individual shear point.
The clip rate is therefore, the distance between the tips of the triangles.
The clip rate is critical to the appearance of the cut. Ideally, the clip rate should equal the height of cut.
Factors that affect the Clip Rate are listed in the illustration.
Generally, the lower the height of cut, the more blades are required, or the reel must rotate at a faster speed
to keep the clip range in sync. A greens mower cutting unit, for example, may be available with 8, 11, or even
14 blade cutting units.
Most cutting units have a preferred operating range and all cutting units can be adjusted beyond that
preferred range. Choose a cutting unit where the intended height of cut is in the middle of the height of cut
range
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Here is what the mowing action looks like when the
clip rate is ideal. The bedknife pushes grass
forward, while the reel blade gathers it toward the
bedknife. Optimum clip rate is achieved when the
bedknife and reel blades create small, even
gatherings that are then cut. The result is a small,
unnoticeable clip and an even aftercut appearance.
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If the reel speed is too slow in relation to the ground
speed, there is too much space between cuts,
resulting in visible clip marks and uncut grass.
Visible clip marks in the turf are the result of an
Clip Marks
incorrect clip rate.
NOTE: If you make a large change in height of cut,
you may notice some visible clip marks after the first
mowing. This will go away after the grass is
maintained at this height over a period of time.
If the reel speed is too fast, in relation to ground
speed, the leaves of the grass plants impacted
multiple times before being cut. This can cause leaf
tissue damage, and is detrimental to the long term
health of the turf.
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Reel Speed Chart
The speed of the reel can be adjusted on some machines. As we have discussed, it is important that the reel
speed be matched with the number of reel blades and the forward speed of the tractor.
Factors Affecting Performance
Grass density, and grain, can affect reel mower
Cross section of turf cut at various heights
1/4” 1/2”
(6 mm) (13 mm) (19 mm) (25 mm)
3/4”
1”
cutting results. Grass grows denser at lower heights
of cut. The denser the grass, the easier it is for the
reel mower to cut it with good results.
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