Due to increasing gas prices, as well as the push for higher amounts of ethanol in the mix which isn't good for smaller engines, I'm thinking about getting an old reel-type mower.

Does anyone have any recommendations on a good one that isn't junk?

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

I remember pushing one of these when I was a kid. You can really work yourself to death pushing one.

I once had a nice lawn that I cut with a power mower and then went over with a reel. I don't remember the brand, but I know a good one cost almost as much as a cheap power mower. I would think a made in the US brand would be best because if you think about it you are buying a set of knives to cut grass with. This is not a place for cheap steel.

It did make the yard look very nice and golf coursey.

I bought a Great States 18" reel mower a couple years ago when I moved into a place with a small yard. There are a couple different models, I picked the one on Amazon with the best reviews. I think it's the one with the cast iron wheels. Works great - I should probably oil it every once in awhile, but haven't and it still works okay. Cuts nicely too, auto-mulches the lawn. Downsides include it doesn't always cut evenly, it doesn't cut out to the wheels, and it has a real tough time with tall grass (probably taller than 5-6").

I fix lawn mowers as a side hobby.

I can tell you that these 4 cycle lawn mower engines are pretty robust and can handle the new ethanol fuel without issues.

It is the diaphrams inside the 2 cycle carbs that have trouble with the new fuel.

If you were closeby, I would just give you a lawn mower for free.

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Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

There is a thread on here from a few years ago... search the term "reel mower" and you may find it.

IIRC, the Brill Luxus (sp?) was the mower of choice....if you had $300 to spend on an unpowered mower.

-John

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2009 Kia Sedona
2009 Honda Odyssey EX-L
12006 Jetta Pumpe Duse
(insert Mercedes here)

Husband, Father, sometimes friend =)

http://lawnmowerdepot.stores.yahoo.net/fl21homo.html

Makes cutting the grass a breeze.

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

The problem with a reel mower is that it gets stuck if it hits a bump. I have one and my garden is lumpy as heck. It's really a POS if your lawn isn't already pristine.

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You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

the Reel mower I have is quite nice. Jacobsen LF-3810, and will mow anything quickly

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hum.....
1987 300TD 311,000M Stolen. Presumed destroyed

There are electric lawnmowers out there, I have no experience with them but I know they're there. Maybe this is a good alternative? JP it didn't look like the lawn was that big on that house (congrats on the purchase, I am actually jealous on such a great buy, sorry if thats creepy), so the electric might work.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

My girlfriend needed a cheap mower for her house after her old mower broke. I saw someone selling one of these on Craigslist. So, I read reviews on this American reel mower http://www.amazon.com/American-Lawn-Mower-1815-18-18-Inch/dp/B00004R9UK . Reviews looked good, so she bought it from the Craiglist person for around $30, it'd been barely used. It worked well as long as you don't let the grass get too long. But, even if you do let the grass get too high it's really easy to push and going over the lawn again a second time gets any tall blades that were missed on the first pass. Her yard was fairly small and very flat. Overall, I'd recommend.

When I grew up my dad had a California Trimmer like this one that I'd mow our yard with. Great mower for a very flat manicured lawn.

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1984 300D, 228k, Light Ivory, Java MB-Tex

Is this a joke? You can't afford the gas to mow your lawn? Do you have that much of a lawn? If so, I don't think the reel mower is practical. If not, you should be able to afford the gas.

I had 1/3 of an acre and it didn't cost me even 1 gallon of gas to do. I would have to give up a large iced coffee from McDonnalds and I think I still would have change.

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

I currently have an old electric mower but not interested in dealing with a cord. Not interested in purchasing a gas mower, since I find it a waste of money to burn the gas when my yard can be cut with a reel mower in about 20 minutes or less.

See, the difference from me and most people is this...I'm stingy with my money. I grew up in a house that went from a 6 figure income in the '70s to nothing and welfare in a short time. Dad worked his butt off and dug us out of that life and back into good money again. I've had it all, lost it all, and don't ever want to have nothing again...Therefore, I refuse to put the money out for a new gas mower and the gas to run it when I can still physically use a reel mower and bank the rest.

A $3 cup of ice java at McDonalds is a waste of money when you can make the same darned thing at home for less. I drive used cars and shop for things at pawn shops and second hand stores. Sure, I could have a fine house built and furnish it with new furniture (I have in the past), but in the end, it's all a waste of hard earned cash.

I'd rather bank it for my retirement or when I really, really, really need something new.

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

reel type mowers can give a better cut. The R/C club I belong to, purchases a gang reel mover a few years back. It was a major purchase for us. Members pitched in money to purchase it. I wasn't sure of its need at first. Others had simular doubts. I think after the first couple of mowings, minds changed quickly. It was like out door carpeting.
It doesn't like wet grass nor long grass. We still have two ridding mowers. We need at least one and the reel mower must be towed. We only use the reel mower for the runway. Probably an acre of ground. Probably 3 acres overall to mow. When we have special event, it more like 5 acres to mow.
Tom

JP-I'd just snag whatever I could find on CL. There really isn't a whole lot that wears out on them. Most are self-sharpening and as long as you keep them cleaned and oiled they should last a good long time, even "cheap" ones. While I don't currently own one, I have thought of picking one up for my front yard (the 2K sq.ft. of lawn I actually maintain, the other 13K is left to its own devices) since the reels give a much better cut and are better for the grass.

I have a number of backyard putting green customers that have the gamut from cheap, garbage picked Murrays to Brill Razorcuts that they modify to cut at putting green heights. I'd pick up the first $20 one you found locally, sharpen the blades, oil it up and use it until you need to replace it with the next $20 one. Lots of folks buy them with the intention of going healthy/green only to stick them back in the garage and reverting back to their gas mower so there should be plenty to choose from.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

EASY TO PUSH????
Surely you jest.
"Not too hard to push" OK
or "Easy to push" as compared with dragging a ton of rocks uphill for a half hour" OK, too
Yes, they do a great job of clipping the grass. And yes, they are cheaper to run than a gas mower, and maybe even a little bit more environmentally friendly ( debatable- based on how badly you stink after exertion).
But "Easy to Push"---that over the line.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags