Rob, you should think of this as your first step toward understanding Alvin at a personal, psychological level. One day you will have come to feel that you know him, but you will probably love him less because of it.
First, with regard to bolt sizes, they are probably Whitworth. Whitworth bolts and nuts are, indeed, a bit of a trial since neither A/F nor metric spanners will fit most of them (unless by luck). I junked most of my Whitworth stuff a generation ago, but had to fish around and find what remnants I could when I got my Alroh Imp edger. All of its bolts are Whitworth except those on the B&S engine, which of course are A/F.
Adjusting the bedknife is, as I've told you before, something of a black art. I can tell you how to do it, but it will take you a while to get the feel of it. Meanwhile, I think you are saying that the thread is stripped in at least one of your adjustment points. If so that will have to be repaired; the job is hard enough when the machine is working properly.
You said that even when your reel was actually touching the bedknife, it would not cut paper. It sounds as if one of three things has happened: your reel was very badly sharpened; your bedknife's cutting edge needs attention; or there is a misalignment between cylinder and bedknife so the cutting edge of the bedknife is not the part that contacts the cylinder. You can find out which by examining the edges with a magnifying glass, and looking closely at the alignment.
I think your situation is not at all unusual, and is the reason we were suggesting you form a reasonable personal rapport with your mower technician. It is likely to be a lot easier for him to show you, than for me to teach you from long distance by the use of words only. Either can be done, but the former is better if it is an available option.
