GENERAL OPERATION
Operation - 18
for the reel speed control lever.
2. Rotate reel speed control lever to the desired
position and tighten the retaining nut.
NOTE: Selecting a reel speed that is too slow for the
application may result in visible clip marks. Adjust
the reel speed as required.
Blade Adjustment of Reel to Bed Knife
Never make an adjustment with the engine running.
Contact with the reel, bed knife, or other sharp
objects may result in personal injury.
Always set the parking brake, shut off the power
unit engine, remove the ignition key, and ensure
all moving parts have stopped before checking
mower deck or blade condition, or attempting
any repair or adjustment.
The reel is adjusted properly when, upon inserting 2
pieces of newspaper between the blade and the bed
knife, both pieces of newspaper are cut. If both
pieces are not cut, or if contact is present, the reel
must be adjusted by following these procedures.
1. Set the reel’s hydraulic drive motor bypass lever to
the stop position so the reel can be turned manually.
2. To adjust the reel blades to the bed knife, move the
cutter adjustment nut so that the blade edges of
the reel are adjusted evenly to the bed knife. Adjust
both sides evenly.
Then adjust the nut, raising the reel away from
the bed knife, until the blades will cut 2 newspa-
per pages. NOTE: The blade contact pressure
increases when the cutter adjustment nut is loos-
ened and decreases when the cutter adjustment
nut is tightened.
3. If the blades do not cut after adjustment, perform
lapping on the blades. Refer to back lapping in
the service section of this manual.
4. As the reel becomes smaller through wear, the
spring tension becomes weaker. Loosen the
threaded pipe from cutter adjustment and adjust
the spring tension. Adjust both sides evenly.
Discharge Deflector Shield Adjustment
Always set the parking brake, shut off the power
unit engine, remove the ignition key, and ensure
all moving parts have stopped before checking
mower deck or blade condition, or attempting
any repair or adjustment.
The reel discharge deflector shields on the reel
mower can be opened or closed to discharge clip-
pings to the rear or the front of the cutting units.
To discharge to the front: Fully close the deflector
shields. This will achieve a better appearance when
cutting short amounts of grass.
To discharge to the rear: Open the deflector shields
to best enable clippings to exit the cutting unit.
Opening the shields too far (particularly in dry condi-
tions) may result in excessive build up of clippings in
the radiator screen or power unit frame. Only open
the deflectors to the extent that the conditions require.
Cutting Unit Offset
The reel mower is equipped with an offset capability
of 6 inches. The standard position is with the cutting
units centered on the power unit. To offset the cut-
ting units to the left, remove the 8 bolts that fasten
the hitch frame to the reel mower main frame. Move
the frame the desired amount and reinstall the bolts.
NOTE: Offsetting may require the hydraulic fittings
on the main frame and hydraulic pump be loosened,
rotated, and retightened to ensure the hydraulic hoses
have adequate clearance to moving components.
