I was really impressed! Went to Plano Power Tool. They had several models. Here's the one I'm interested in:

Click here for more information

Any opinions/experience with Tru-Cut reel mowers?

PM Mightyquinn if he doesn't see this thread.

I'd really like to have one of those. Nice!

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I'd have to give up beer for 2 years to get a mower like that, and mowing the grass without a beer is too much like work.

Tru-Cut is a good one. If you can afford it opt for 11 blade. Just be aware reel mowers are high maintenance and unfortunately beyond most DIY capabilities. Leave it to the pros to sharpen the blade a couple times per year and align knife bed.

texasweed wrote:Tru-Cut is a good one. If you can afford it opt for 11 blade. Just be aware reel mowers are high maintenance and unfortunately beyond most DIY capabilities. Leave it to the pros to sharpen the blade a couple times per year and align knife bed.

Hah, yeah I saw that one...but the store required you to wear a tuxedo to go down that aisle.

I think the 7-blade is about all the wife may let me swing (once I get the lawn leveled, that is).

bigben wrote:Hah, yeah I saw that one...but the store required you to wear a tuxedo to go down that aisle.

I think the 7-blade is about all the wife may let me swing (once I get the lawn leveled, that is).

Well I only mentioned it because you said Plano Mower right? As in Plano TX? That tells me you have Bermuda grass? 7 blades are great for Saint Augustine, but Bermuda and Zoysia are tough grasses to cut. 7 blade will work, just be aware it can bog down and leave un uneven cut if blades are not sharp and knife bed properly aligned.

Have you looked into McClane or Craftsman?

texasweed wrote:Well I only mentioned it because you said Plano Mower right? As in Plano TX? That tells me you have Bermuda grass? 7 blades are great for Saint Augustine, but Bermuda and Zoysia are tough grasses to cut. 7 blade will work, just be aware it can bog down and leave un uneven cut if blades are not sharp and knife bed properly aligned.

Have you looked into McClane or Craftsman?

Yep, Plano, TX, and my yard is TIF419. I briefly called around this morning for MClane's but nobody had one in stock (Ace Hardware, etc). After speaking with the guy at Plano Power, he said one of the primary advantages of the Tru-Cut (other than him making money, of course) is that they are chain-driven, rather than belt-driven.

Thanks for the heads up on the # of blades with Bermuda. I'll do some thinking about a 10-blade model. Would doing a double pass at 90 degrees not make it clean looking with 7 blades?

EDIT: It doesn't look like the number of blades really increases the price much on a particular model. The big price increase seems to be on blade length and engine size.

10-blade model: Click here for more information

bigben wrote:

texasweed wrote:EDIT: It doesn't look like the number of blades really increases the price much on a particular model. The big price increase seems to be on blade length and engine size.

No not a lot of difference, but if you can afford it, go for the 10 blade. Also check with Lawn Land in Denton, or Lawn and Power Equipment in Frisco

Just saw this thread! I have no idea how I missed it? I bought the Tru Cut C25 10 blade a little over a year ago and love it alot!! I also bought the front roller because my lawn isn't level enough yet, it helps prevent scalping but I don't think you get as good of a cut as you would without it, I haven't used it with the caster wheels yet. It takes a couple of mowings to get use to it. You may also want to invest in a good grease gun and some quality grease if you decide to purchase it since you have to lube it alot during the year or at least I do just for a little bit of added insurance. As for the maintenance on it I haven't had it sharpened or adjusted yet since I am waiting until later when I level my lawn to send it to the shop for maintenance while the grass grows through the sand. Well good luck and I hope you get what you want!!!!

Thank you very much for the info! I'm waiting to get the lawn leveled before I purchase, but I'll definitely be reporting in once I do.

So my rotary mower just won't cut my thick Tiff 419 lawn anymore--in fact, my last mowing with it (freshly sharpened blades) ripped/scalped half of the yard, which is now dead from the intense heat we've been having.

So on the plus side....I bit the bullet and picked up a Tru-Cut 20" SH7 reel mower (Honda motor). WHAT A BEAST!!! I wish I would've done this long ago. I've never seen such a high-quality cut, and no bogging down. I must say, however, that I wasn't prepared to be sprinting while mowing--yeesh.

I'll be staying with the highest cutting height (1.5") for the remainder of the year, because I don't want to do any further scalping. This height is actually right at where I was with the lowest setting on my old rotary. I plan to drop the cutting height with my first mowing next Spring.

Thanks again for the advice on the mower.

Bigben, you can adjust the speed of the mower by NOT pushing the left lever down all the way. It is a slip clutch so you just gradually push it down to a comfortable speed. Did you get the front roller? It helps a lot if you have a bumpy lawn to prevent scalping.

Thanks, MQ. I actually have been slipping it quite a bit. Does it seem to cause any clutch issues long term?

I got the wheel drive (my local shop doesn't stock models with rollers) but scalping doesn't seem to be too much of a problem yet; mainly just the strips down by the street. I leveled the back yard this summer, so no issues there, but the front lawn is going to have to wait until next summer.

I adjusted my clutch about a month or so ago since it seemed like there was some slack in it. It is fairly easy to adjust as long as you have a 1" wrench. As far as issues I don't think so especially since you can adjust it if need be. I have the wheel drive also BTW.

I misunderstood your original question regarding the front roller. I just Googled it, and I'm definitely going to install one of those! Thanks.

Are there any pros/cons to either the wheel or roller drive?

Any suggestions on greasing this mower? Some of these zerk fittings seem impossible to get to (and dangerous when removing the grease hose).

I have a grease gun with a flex hose which makes getting to most of them fairly easy. The one zerk fitting on the right side of the reel as you are looking at it can be a pain in the a$$ to get to but you kind of have to finagle it in there between the blades. It seems that I always miss one when I am greasing mine!!! There are soooo many on there!!!