Keep your lawn a cut above with the best reel mowers. Lawn mower racer build

Keep your lawn a cut above with the best reel mowers

Keeping your lawn mowed eliminates pests and promotes healthy growth. Still, choosing the right lawn mower can be tricky. Gas mowers are loud and produce emissions, and battery-powered mowers can be inconvenient.

Reel mowers, on the other hand, don’t require a power source and are easy to maintain. When choosing a reel mower, you’ll want to consider the blades, cutting width and weight.

What to consider when buying a reel mower

Reel mower cutting width

Mowers with wide cutting widths help you cut your lawn faster. Many reel mowers have a 14- to 20-inch cutting width. Still, wider mowers can be more challenging to maneuver and may weigh more. Because the wheelbase is wider than the width of the reel, you’ll want to overlap slightly with each pass.

Reel mower weight

Using a reel mower can feel like an upper-body workout if you’re used to self-propelled mowers. It’s good to consider the weight when buying one, so it’s less strenuous to use.

Reel mower blades

These mowers generally have four to seven blades and a bed knife. Mowers with more blades are usually best for tall, coarse grass.

How to back lap your reel mower blades

To ensure you’re always getting a clean cut, you can sharpen up the blades with this simple method.

• Get your materials: You’ll need a back-lapping compound, a paintbrush, a way to turn your blades and an abrasive.
• Remove the drive wheel: Most reel mowers have a nut or pin that covers the drive wheel. The drive wheel is usually on the left side of the mower. Once you remove the wheel, you’ll see the gears that control the blades. Remove the gear, and you’ll be left with the shaft.
• Adjust the blades: There are different ways to adjust your blades depending on your mower. It’s best to read your instruction manual to understand how to adjust them. You’ll want to make them come in contact with your bed knife.
• Use your lapping compound: Spread the lapping mixture on your blades using a small paintbrush.
• Crank your blades: Begin cranking your blades backward. Crank them for around eight to 10 minutes and apply more lapping compound. Continue cranking the blades backward until you see a thin, shiny surface.
• Reassemble your mower: Put everything back together in reverse order, cleaning and greasing the parts as you go.

Reel lawnmower FAQ

Are reel mowers good for your lawn?

A. Rotary mowers leave a jagged edge on your grass. Alternatively, reel mowers function like a pair of scissors, leaving a smooth edge on the cut grass. The clean cut leads to healthier, better-looking grass.

Are reel mowers hard to push?

A. Reel mowers require upper-body strength to push. Still, they’re usually lighter than traditional mowers and shouldn’t be particularly difficult to move. If you feel your reel mower is hard to use, it may be due to bent or dull blades. You may need to sharpen the edges or bend them back in shape with a hammer.

Can you use a reel mower on wet grass?

A. They can be used on damp grass, but you shouldn’t run them through standing water. Rust may form if you let your mower sit while wet.

Are reel mowers effective on tall grass?

A. Reel mowers are best for short grass. If you own a reel mower, it’s a good idea to trim the grass at least once a week, or it may become difficult to use.

Best reel mowers

Reel mowers under 200

What you need to know: It’s easy to use and features a built-in grass catcher.

What you’ll love: It’s affordable and simple to assemble. The blades are sharp, and the grass catcher is ideal for those who want mulching capabilities. The reel is also adjustable.

What you should consider: The handle is relatively flimsy, and the blades may squeak.

What you need to know: It’s affordable and assembly is straightforward.

What you’ll love: This model is lightweight and features a simple design. Most people love how easy it is to maneuver, and the alloy steel blades stay sharp for a while.

What you should consider: The handle isn’t as durable as other reel mowers.

What you need to know: This is one of the most-affordable Fiskars reel mowers.

What you’ll love: It’s easy to assemble and use. It’s durable and efficient, and you can adjust the cutting height from 1.5-3.5 inches.

What you should consider: It isn’t as powerful as other Fiskars reel mowers.

What you need to know: It’s easy to use and features a straightforward design.

What you’ll love: Ideal for small yards, you can assemble this with no tools. The blades provide a clean cut.

What you should consider: It isn’t as durable as other reel mowers.

Reel mower above 200

What you need to know: This features a durable design and effectively cuts lawns.

What you’ll love: It’s easy to use and leaves you with a precise cut. It has an 18-inch cutting path and an adjustable handle. It’s also easy to assemble and adjust the blades.

What you should consider: It’s relatively expensive and heavy.

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Lawnmower racing, this is what you need to know

In this blog post, I will discuss the necessary preparations that you have to make before using your lawnmower for racing or other similar competitions.

“Lawnmower racers are pretty damn innovative,” said Aaron Crowl, who is now the president and founder of the American Racing Mower Association (ARMA). “When you can choose something that was just a simple machine meant to go outside and cut your grass quickly and effortlessly for you and now you can simply put it out on the race track, and it can handle and endure speeds as high as seventy miles an hour, eighty miles an hour, or ninety miles an hour, that looks like a pretty great accomplishment. It is probably one of the friendliest, most cost-effective forms of motorsport that is out there,” Crowl says.

Lawnmower racing, this is what you need to know:

Lawnmowers that are used for racing are heavily modified. The blades need to be removed for safety reasons, and the frame need to be reinforced to cope with the increased stress. The engine needs to be modified so it will deliver more power, the gearbox needs to be replaced, and the brakes need to be modified so it can cope with the higher speed.

Now, I will share a step-by-step simple guide for you to follow to be able to use your lawnmower for racing. So let’s get right into it.

• 0.1 Step 1. Membership:
• 0.2 Step 2. Choose a race group:
• 0.3 Step 3. Choose a lawnmower:
• 0.4 Step 4. Modify the engine of your lawnmower:
• 0.5 Step 5. Install a puke tank on your lawnmower:
• 0.6 Step 6. Install suitable brakes on your lawnmower:
• 0.7 Step 7. Reinforce the frame of your lawnmower:
• 0.8 Step 8. Install a deck on your lawnmower:
• 0.9 Step 9. Install a good transmission on your lawnmower:
• 0.10 Step 10. Replace the stock steering components of your lawnmower:
• 0.11 Step 11. Inspection of your lawnmower:
• 0.12 Step 12. Final preparations for the race:
• 0.13 Step 13. Put on proper Personal Protection Equipment and follow the rules:

Step 1. Membership:

You must become an official member of the British Lawn Mower Racing Association (BLMRA) or Scottish Lawn Mower Racing Association (SLMRA) or United States Lawn Mower Racing Association (USLMRA) depending on where ever you are located, by either signing up online or filling in the relevant forms.

Once you have completed signing up online or filling in the relevant forms, you will receive either a handbook, a newsletter or a membership card from British Lawn Mower Racing Association (BLMRA) or Scottish Lawn Mower Racing Association (SLMRA) or United States Lawn Mower Racing Association (USLMRA) depending on where ever you are located. You must carefully read the handbook that you have received.

Step 2. Choose a race group:

There are numerous groups for the lawnmower races and their schedules. You can search the most relevant one that you are interested in and join it.

Step 3. Choose a lawnmower:

Whether you are interested in the amateur or professional version of lawn mower racing, you will need to have a modified lawnmower to take part in the sport. It is very important to remove the blades of your lawnmower for safety reasons. After the removal of the blades, your lawnmower will still be able to run as smoothly as before.

This can be a costly process, on top of the price of buying a brand new lawnmower for the seasonal races, when you get the task completed professionally. If you are tech-savvy and into DIY projects, you could cut down on the price of preparing your lawnmower for racing by doing the upgrades on your own.

These preparations are all really necessary to help you get racing on your lawnmower. You must look into all the replacement parts you want to upgrade your lawnmower with before racing it on the public racetrack. Some lawnmowers may offer unique designs and external or internal structures.

Most latest models of lawnmowers should have sufficient replacement parts available in hardware stores and online.

The list of parts needed before racing your lawnmower will generally boil down to an engine, centrifugal clutch, sprockets, the transmission, steering wheels, axles and hangers, the electrical components, the wheel systems, a gas lever, and some other high endurance engine upgrades. If you are looking to upgrade your lawnmower into a racing machine, go-kart and golf cart parts will come in handy.

Step 4. Modify the engine of your lawnmower:

Most lawnmowers have low-performance flathead engines that are just not suitable to race. By pushing your lawnmower’s stock engine beyond its limits, you will increase the likelihood that it will face more wear and tear. If you look for the right replacement engine for your lawnmower that is made out of the right material to avoid race stress, such as billet aluminum, it will increase the durability of your lawnmower.

Step 5. Install a puke tank on your lawnmower:

Your puke tank is a maintenance unit that helps you handle oil spills in your lawnmower. Since you will be racing your lawnmower at higher speeds and exerting your lawnmower engine to its limits, it may spit oil through the crankcase breather of your lawnmower. The puke tank of your lawnmower works to keep the system of your lawnmower untainted, ensuring you do not spill oil on yourself or the race track.

Step 6. Install suitable brakes on your lawnmower:

You can use mechanic or hydraulic brakes on your lawnmower, but hydraulic options are better suited for lawnmowers due to their ease of installation in an otherwise complex frame of the lawnmower. Go-kart and motorbike hydraulic brake systems will be compatible with most of the lawnmowers.

Step 7. Reinforce the frame of your lawnmower:

When planning to go racing, you will need to beef up the frame of your lawnmower to suit the components and the design of your lawnmower. Racing lawn mowers will engage on a dirt track and generally feature no suspensions. This means that the frame of your lawnmower could take a beating when you race on your lawnmower.

By reinforcing the frame of your lawnmower, you will be able to protect your lawnmower against fatigue-related cracks and damage.

Step 8. Install a deck on your lawnmower:

You must choose a new lawnmower deck that should be easy to replace as long as it offers similar dimensions and installs in the same location as the original deck of your lawnmower. You may consider going for a more lightweight and comfortable deck for your lawnmower to ensure you can rest your feet while racing on your lawnmower without affecting the aerodynamics of your lawnmower.

Step 9. Install a good transmission on your lawnmower:

Some transmission boxes are generally not designed for racing lawnmower frames. You must install such a transmission shaft on your lawnmower that should be far enough from the ground but still fit comfortably within the frame of your lawnmower.

Step 10. Replace the stock steering components of your lawnmower:

By replacing the stock steering components of your lawnmower you will offer the juice that most models of racing lawnmowers just do not have. If you race your lawnmower with a limited stock steering system, you may be unable to sustain high speeds of your lawnmower and could have trouble handling the corners. You must remember to place the steering system of your lawnmower well in the frame of your lawnmower and affix them in place with the right stops.

Step 11. Inspection of your lawnmower:

You must make sure that your lawnmower is homologated (inspected and approved to race). The reason lawnmowers need to be homologated is so they adhere to the rules and regulations and to also ensure that a level playing field is set for all competitors. For this, you must contact British Lawn Mower Racing Association (BLMRA) or Scottish Lawn Mower Racing Association (SLMRA) or United States Lawn Mower Racing Association (USLMRA) depending on where ever you are located, and ask for an appointment.

Step 12. Final preparations for the race:

You will need to buy or hire a transponder and a clip so that times can be measured and recorded during races. Just before racing you will have to do the registration, all of the gear checked and other relevant checks.

Step 13. Put on proper Personal Protection Equipment and follow the rules:

You must put on the proper safety glasses, helmet, gloves, boots, face shield, chaps, or shin guards. You must obey the flag rules of your racing series because penalties apply for those who do not. Black flags may be in effect, should you view a black flag on your screen, you must immediately stop your lawnmower to prevent disqualification.

Blue flags may be in effect, when you view a blue flag, you must allow the following lawnmowers to pass as they have been lapped. If the blue flag remains, it means you must let all lawnmowers behind you pass. Holding up the lawnmowers on a lap further in the race than yours may be met with penalties for impeding that driver.

When do the lawnmower races take place in the USA?

Lawnmower racing seasons run from about February to September each year, with hundreds of races each year between ARMA, USLMRA (United States Lawn Mower Racing Association), and other famous local clubs. Lawnmowers typically race on dirt or clay tracks. Bruce “Mr Mow-It-All” Kaufman, president and founder of the USLMRA (United States Lawn Mower Racing Association), said: “there are at least fifty dedicated lawnmower tracks across the country, typically measuring about a tenth of a mile around, that host races during fairs, festivals, and car shows each year.”

Final remarks

To sum up this blog post, I would say that by following the above given 13 simple steps, you will be able to easily participate in your favorite sport. You must make sure that you use reliable personal protection equipment for the safety of your life and that of others.

Make quick work of mowing with a zero-turn mower

A zero-turn mower has a turning radius of zero — they’re maneuverable and fast. Zero-turn mowers, also called ZTRs, have no steering wheel. In its place is a pair of handles. Push them forward and you go forward. Pull back on the handles and your mower goes backward. Push one handle forward while pulling the other back and it turns in tight circles.

Zero-turn mowers have no gas or brake pedals, either. Instead, the same two handles that control the direction also control the acceleration and braking. Push the handles farther forward and the mower goes faster. Pull back on the handles and it stops.

Is a zero-turn mower right for you?

Zero-turn mower pros

• You’ll spend less time mowing:Ride-on zero-turn mowers are made to cut large open spaces quickly. They mow about twice as fast as suburban lawn tractors.
• Greater efficiency: With shorter mow times, you use less fuel and your equipment lasts longer.
• Greater maneuverability: Because they can turn in such tight circles, zero-turn mowers are ideal for lawns with trees. Regular riding mowers can’t make tight turns, so they waste lots of time and fuel. Zero-turn mowers can cut around even the smallest trees in one tight circle.
• Wider cuts: Zero-turn mowers’ decks are bigger. Combined with their higher speeds, you spend half the time mowing the lawn that you would with a riding lawn tractor.
• The view is great: The operator can see more from the higher vantage point, so the mowing is more precise. It’s more efficient, too, because you don’t get the overlaps and gaps you see left by suburban lawn tractors going up and down rows.

Zero-turn mower cons

• The learning curve: Humans are accustomed to controlling motorized vehicles with a steering wheel that turns both the front wheels in the same direction at the same time. Learning to use lap bars to steer, accelerate and brake takes a bit of practice.
• Less traction: Zero-turn mowers have only two powered wheels. Some lawn tractors have four-wheel drive.
• They’re more expensive: Expect their to be somewhere around half again higher than comparable lawn tractors.

What to look for in a zero-turn mower

Deck width

Wider decks let you cut a wider swath so you make fewer passes. Smaller decks are more maneuverable, especially in tight spots.

Deck strength

Forged and fabricated decks are stronger than decks that are stamped. The thicker the deck, the more durable it is.

Horsepower

power means higher speeds. Higher speeds mean you spend less time mowing.

Cutting heights

The more adjustment choices you have, the better you can set the exact mower height you want for your conditions.

Comfort

Armrests and seats with back supports reduce operator fatigue while soaking up some of the bumps and bounces.

Best gas zero-turn riding mowers

Top large zero-turn mower

What you need to know: The 60-inch cutting deck makes short work of lawns up to 10 acres.

What you’ll love: The 24-horsepower Kawasaki engine drives the high-torque transmission to power your mower at speeds up to 9 mph. You can easily dial any one of 17 mowing heights with the intuitive deck controls. The fully adjustable high-back seat with armrests is designed for operator comfort.

What you should consider: Some buyers say a better seat would be nice.

Top medium-size zero-turn mower

What you need to know: You get a smooth, comfortable ride, even over bumpy ground with the MyRide suspension system on this Toro mower.

What you’ll love: The 22.5-horsepower engine and 50-inch forged deck are the ideal combination for mowing yards up to 4 acres. Mow at a steady pace with any of three preset speeds: 4, 5.5 or 7 mph.

What you should consider: Some wish the large drive wheels had treads for better grip.

Top budget zero-turn mower

What you need to know: The Aeroforce cutting system delivers finer clippings, fewer clumps and a more even cut.

What you’ll love: The 23 horsepower twin cylinder engine, rear-wheel transmission and 50-inch mower deck deliver mowing speeds of 7.5 mph forward and 3.5 in reverse. The rugged tubular steel frame is coated to guard against corrosion and the 50-inch deck adjusts for cutting heights from 1 to 4.5 inches.

What you should consider: The battery takes four hours to fully charge.

Top Briggs and Stratton zero-turn mower

What you need to know: Mow in tight spots with this space-saving mower with a 42-inch mowing deck.

What you’ll love: It has a storage cubby for your phone, keys and wallet, along with cup holders and a front step-through for the operator’s convenience. Mow at 4, 5.5 and 7 mph, all with the same blade tip speed. Get peace of mind from the three-year residential warranty that includes unlimited hours,

What you should consider: An hour meter would make it easier to keep on a maintenance schedule.

Best electric zero-turn riding mowers

Top large electric zero-turn mower

What you need to know: You can cut up to 3.5 acres on a single charge with this Ryobi mower.

What you’ll love: Five brushless motors provide superior power for this quiet, smooth electric mower. The 54-inch heavy-duty steel deck adjusts for cut heights from 1.5 to 4.5 inches. You get ergonomic control handles, armrests and two cup holders. A 40-volt Ryobi string trimmer is included at no extra charge.

What you should consider: Some buyers wished the mower battery charged more quickly.

Top medium-size electric zero-turn mower

What you need to know: You get six 56-volt lithium batteries and a 2-hour recharge from the industry’s fastest charger.

What you’ll love: Cut up to two acres on a single charge at up to 7 miles an hour using control, standard and sport driving modes. You can choose from side discharge, mulching or bagging with this mower that has the equivalent of 22 horsepower.

What you should consider: Some buyers struggled with uncrating their mower.

Top robotic electric zero-turn mower

What you need to know: This fully automated robotic mower is controlled by an app on your smartphone and has a turning radius of zero just like the ride-on zero-turn mowers.

What you’ll love: The highly efficient brushless motor runs on 20-volt batteries and is compatible with all Worx-brand power tools. It comes with 820 feet of boundary wire, has good ground clearance on uneven terrain. When it needs a charge, it comes back to the docking station.

What you should consider: To do its best, this little Worx mower needs a flat lawn.

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Monster Mowers: Turn Your Ride-On into a Racer

It’s not every day that you invent a new sport. It all started over a few too many beers, at a country pub in Victoria some 30 years ago. A booze-driven argument between five mates led to a ride-on lawn mower race around the local streets (naturally, right?) The event has since gone on to inspire a whole community of adrenaline junkies and sports nuts; members of what is now known as the Australian Ride On Lawn Mower Racing Association, or AROLMRA.

“Half the town’s 100 people, 300 sheep and 150 dogs were there,” according to Brian Ross, six-time president of AROLMRA

Holding 8 – 10 events a year, across junior, C, B and A class categories, the organisation has developed a strong following across Victoria and wider Australia since those humble beginnings. With similar clubs popping up around the country, ride-on lawn mower racing is becoming steadily more popular. Much of this can be attributed to the ease of entry into the sport—with ride-on lawn mowers being somewhat more prolific and a darn sight more affordable than traditional racing vehicles.

It appears that the sport is also inspiring the mechanically-minded, with the likes of Cain, an 18-year old enthusiast enjoying the DIY aspect of the sport.

“You’ve got to make it yourself,” says Cain. “You’ve got to raise the handlebars and make it longer and do everything you can to make yourself fit, and then you have to get a good enough engine to haul you around.”

So, exactly how easy is it to build, or beef-up your ride-on mower to racing standards fit for the AROLMRA events? According to Instructables member ‘Mowerracer’, with a little bit of mechanical nous and a can-do attitude, almost anyone can reach the dizzying heights of lawn mower racing Champion.

Can I race my stock-standard ride-on mower?

Mowerracer has a few things to say about that.

“Many of these mowers go 50MPH or more. Making a race mower isn’t as simple as taking a stock tractor and making it go fast without any alterations. So, it’s important that the frame, brakes, steering, engine, and wheels are modified or altered to handle this additional speed.”

Great advice. So, how do I go about these modifications?

Well, you’re going to need a whole heap of parts. As these parts aren’t of the off-the-shelf standard variety, you’ll have to hunt around to find parts to fit your mower and fulfil the your requirements (rocket engine, anyone?)

Here’s a list of what you are most likely going to need:

• An engine (duh)
• Transmission (right-angle gearbox, according to Mowerracer)
• Centrifugal clutch (If you’re confused already, this may not be the sport for you)
• Sprockets (of the Jetson’s variety?)
• Front and rear axles and spindles
• Steering wheel (oh yep, that’ll help!)
• Brake system
• Electrical components (mmm…vague!)
• Wheels and tyres
• Accelerator lever
• High-endurance engine components (again…vague!)

Great! Now how do I put it all together?

If you’re more than slightly at a loss as to how to assemble this myriad of parts [raises hand], then YouTube is probably something you should become intimately familiar with. A golf buggy or motorcycle can be handy places to find some of these components, and save you having to make them yourself (never mind that you may have to wreck a perfectly good golf buggy…)

Luckily for you, we’ve tracked down some expert rednecks mower racers, who’ve kindly put together a series of videos to show you exactly how to turn your boring old ride on mower into a speed-demon-machine-of-death-and-fun. Happy racing!

“That thing did 27 miles an hour, with no brakes.” John Ike from CarsandCameras.

With clubs popping up around the country, ride-on lawn mower racing is becoming steadily more popular. And the good news is, you can make your own!