Operating Tips; Causes Of Poor Quality Of Cut - Toro ReelMaster 01005 Operator's Manual

6. At the beginning of the cutting day, when the reels
are cold, engage the reel throwout knobs (Figure 8).
Operate the mowers for 15 to 20 minutes so the
bedknife and reel reach normal operating temperature;
then stop the operation. Next, disengage the reel
throwout knobs and spin the reel backward. A
whispering sound, not clicking, should be emitted, and
this assures the correct adjustment. If a whispering
sound is not heard, the bedknife and reel must be
readjusted; refer to steps 3–5. By contrast, when the
reels are warm from being used, use only steps 1–5
to maintain light contact between the bedknife and
the reel.
Important: Never adjust the bedknife to the reel
for light contact if the mowers are cold because the
increase in temperature during operation could
cause the metal to expand and result in heavy
contact. Heavy contact causes uneven bedknife
wear and poor quality of cut. However, light
contact between the bedknife and the reel, which
is desirable, minimizes the wear and keeps the
cutting edges sharp. Adjust for light contact every
four hours or sooner, even though quality of cut is
acceptable. When mowers are operated in sparse
grass or the temperature of the air is high, the
adjustment for light contact must be checked even
more frequently to avoid heavy contact between
the bedknife and reel. If mowers are not operated
for a short time, one hour after any use, check for
light contact after resuming operation for 15 to 20
minutes; refer to steps 1–6.

Operating Tips

1. Mowing Speed – The mower is designed to cut grass
well at any ground speed between 1.6 and 9.66 km/hr
(1 and 6 mph) but for most turf conditions, ground
speeds of 6.4–9.66 km/hr (4–6 mph) produce the
best quality of cut. Ground speed, however, must be
reduced when turning because excessive speed will
cause the outside mowers to bounce and skip on the
turf. Excessive heat, caused by the reel spinning too
fast, can also damage the bedknife and reel. Since the
grass lubricates the bedknife and reel during operation,
slow down when cutting sparse grass, extremely dry
grass, or when trimming. Any lack or significant
reduction of lubrication produces excessive heat
build–up and subsequently, heavy contact between the
bedknife and the reel, which results in uneven bedknife
wear and poor quality of cut. Therefore, reels must be
disengaged and stopped before mowers are transported
across parking lots, roads, or whenever the lubrication
is minimal.
2. Height–of–Cut – To determine the effective
height–of–cut, the length of the grass to be cut must be
checked. The height–of–cut should be set and the turf
mowed frequently so no more than 1/3 of the leaf is
cut off. If the mower is equipped with pneumatic tires,
pressure must be maintained at 241.3 kpa (35 psi). Low
tire pressure can cause bedknife to dip into the grass
and scalp the turf. An uneven cut will likely result.
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
the bedknife and the 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 improved appearance of the turf, alternate mowing
directions if possible, each time an area is cut.

Causes of Poor Quality of Cut

1. Bedknife/Reel Contact (Figure 9) – There must be
light contact between the bedknife and the reel to keep
the cutting edges sharp and to produce an excellent
quality of cut. By contrast, mowers operated without
light contact allow abrasive materials and grass to pass
between the bedknife and the reel. This eroding action
rounds off the bedknife and the reel cutting edges,
which results in a poor quality of cut. If the cutting
edges become round, the bedknife and the reel must
be lapped. Excessive rounding off of the cutting edges
may require that the bedknife and the reel be ground
and lapped. Never compensate for round cutting edges
by tightening the bedknife adjusting knob until there
is heavy contact because the bedknife and the reel will
wear unevenly and cause "rifling".
1
1. Sharp edges, light contact
2. No contact, edges get
dulled
Note: Rifling is the uneven or wavy condition that
develops on the bedknife and the reel when there is
heavy contact between these two parts (Figure 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.
9
2 3
Figure 9
3. Contact adjustment, dull
edges
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