How To Sharpen A Manual Reel Mower - Backlapping

How to backlap your manual reel mower. It's easy to do and anyone can backlap their manual reel mower. You can purchase the kit to backlap your manual reel mower below. I have also included a link to the reel mower I would purchase if I were just starting out.

American Lawn Mower Company SK-1 Reel Lawn Mower Sharpening Kit

---PRODUCTS I USE---

LIQUID FERTILIZERS

WEED CONTROL

DISEASE CONTROL

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[garbagejones]

Small correction, it is my daddy's mower. My daddy was born in 1912. It's not great-grampa's, he used a scythe. Me, I used this reel mower all my life. The things I love about the reel are no noise, and I can mow at night without disturbing anyone, and I love the simplicity and that I put the fuel into my mouth, not into a tank, and I also love how it is so much easier than my very heavy aluminum Toro that I had for a while. Never gums up, always easy to start. And get this - I have a much larger area to mow than any of my neighbors. Hill sides too. It's enjoyable how well it cuts and what a nice job it does as long as it is kept sharp and adjusted, and as long as you mow regularly so the growth doesn't get too long.

[pablovagnor]

Awesome vid .. I LOVE my reel mower. Live ( well right on the outskirts ) in a huge well known college campus . Every house around mine is students renting. I don't have a garage or shed. So I had to deal with a reel mower. & I ❤️❤️❤️❤️ it ... I also thoroughly enjoy the odd looks & puzzling stares from today's youths .

[MikeJones-jrhb]

Well… it’s one of my mowers 😂 but I am a grandpa, Dad had one back in the 50’s but it had the 5hp on it, nice one. I think he sold it in the 70’s. I was raised on reel mowers

[lkratz]

Super helpful -- exactly what I needed to know and the perfect length video!

[johnearley]

I've been using my Craftsman reel mower since 1973 and I've never spent more that 5 minutes to sharpen the blades with a file. Works great and cuts grass like a champ. Also I regularly lubricate the gears.

[humitasdulces]

Thank you so much for posting this. You explained the process really well, now I will be able to do it myself :)

[CalitranoN]

my mower is way older and it is my grandpa's for us older guys we had those...at our grandparents.

[griffturfcare]

Good stuff! may have to do that soon to my new push reel mower!

[Jacobres]

Great video, thank you! However I’m struggling to get the c clip back onto the mower to hold the wheel on. Anyone have any tips?

[joeburrier]

I have 2 gas mowers and a reel mower. Ill use the gas if im doing my rental or neighbors house, but i feel like the reel mower gives a great cut on my relatively small yard.

[PlantVisionz]

Simple and informative video... Tks for sharing

[keithcorrigan]

If you can't get you hands on some back lapping paste Mix some toothpaste ., clean sand., Washing powder and some cut and polish car polish ! It works really well ! 👍

[vertigospumante]

I wish i could see more qbout how to adjust the screws so the plate is on at the proper angle.
My mower is older and ive done all the steps but i realized the metal plate doesnt seem right and isnt sharpening all at once.whoch also tells me the blades may have never been adjusted with the plate right.
As i use the compound, i keep seeing pits with the silver. So i guess i just keep going until there are no more little black dots? Or is that just discoloration?

[rebeccaoliver]

Why take the wheels off? Seems like I could just put the stuff on my mower and pull it on the driveway back wards. Any reason that wouldn't work?

[petrol.]

Thanks for the useful video. Wouldn't you want to do the paper test with all blades before you move to different section of the knife?

[wollins]

NIce vid. Question. I have about 1000sq' of front lawn that I'm considering buying a reel mower for. If you were to take a guess ... how long do you think that blades would stay sharp if I were to mow three times per week? Guesstimate? ;)

[nuance]

The kit is unavailable. Anywhere else I can get one of those crank handles?

[anthonydeleeuw]

You are missing other important steps such as adjusting your cutting blade with the four screws to make come into contact with the spinning blades.

[randomness]

I did all that and reassembled but now the blades aren't turning. What do I do please??

[cassiehowder]

Since King Gavin Newsom has banned all gas powered mowers, blowers and edgers by 2030, Mike might have to get one!