Causes Of Poor Quality Of Cut - Toro Reelmaster 5 Blade Operator's Manual

mower is equipped with pneumatic tires, pressure must
be maintained at 35 psi (241.3 kpa) (Fig. 8). Low tire
pressure can cause bedknife to dip into the grass and
scalp the turf. An uneven cut will likely result.
Figure 8
3. Operating Sound – A mower that is adjusted correctly
gives off a whispering sound when operated. If there are
buzzing, clicking, or metallic sounds, the mower has
probably been operated with heavy contact between
bedknife and reel. The reel or bedknife could also have
hit a foreign object. A noisy mower must be stopped,
repaired, and adjusted or severe damage will result.
4. Mowing Pattern – To prevent grass from lying down
and improve appearance of turf, alternate mowing
directions if possible, each time an area is cut.

Causes of Poor Quality of Cut

1. Bedknife/Reel Contact (Fig. 9) – There must be light
contact between bedknife and reel to keep cutting edges
sharp and to produce an excellent quality of cut. By
contrast, mowers operated with– out light contact allow
abrasive materials and grass to pass between the
bedknife and reel. This eroding action rounds off the
bedknife and reel cutting edges, which results in a poor
quality of cut. If cutting edges become round, bedknife
and reel must be lapped. Excessive rounding off of
cutting edges may require that bedknife and reel be
ground and lapped. Never compensate for round cutting
edges by tightening bedknife adjusting knob until there
is heavy contact because the bedknife and reel will wear
unevenly and cause "rifling".
Figure 9
Note: Rifling is the uneven or wavy condition that
develops on bedknife and reel when there is heavy contact
between these two parts (Fig. 10). Streaks of uncut grass
and an overall poor quality of cut are signs of rifling.
Grinding the bedknife and reel is the only way to repair a
rifled mower.
Figure 10
2. Noise – A mower that has sharp cutting edges and is
adjusted with light contact will emit a desirable
whispering sound when reel is spinning. By contrast,
buzzing, clicking, or metallic sounds during operation
indicate that mower is probably being operated with
heavy contact between bedknife and reel. Heavy contact
causes uneven or wavy wear on the bedknife and reel
cutting edges. Grinding is required to repair a damaged
bedknife and reel. Although the bedknife and reel are
adjusted correctly for light contact, notches will
eventually develop at both ends of the bedknife. These
notches must be rounded off or filed flush with cutting
edge of bedknife to assure smooth operation.
3. Loose Reel Bearings – If reel bearings are suspected to
be loose, check them immediately or extensive damage
may result; refer to Reel Bearing Adjustment, page 7.
4. Hitting a Foreign Object – The bedknife and reel
cutting edges can be damaged if a foreign object is hit.
The damage, if it is not too severe, can be repaired in
the field. Start by filing down high spots on the
9