OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Question On Scott Bonnar Cylinder Mowers Sb45 blade sharpening

Is there any easy DIY way of sharpening the blades on reel mowers or is it a job left to a mower shop

It depends on what condition they are in to start with, Michael. If the reel is in great shape but the bedknife is just slightly blunt, it is possible to use a special hand-tool to touch up the front edge of the bedknife without removing it. However this is only for cases where the blades are very good indeed. For example, if the reel has been recently sharpened, after a few months of careful use you might touch up the front of the bedknife. You also might or might not backlap the reel, but this is a controversial subject. In any case though, if the blades and bedknife are blunt, they need to be professionally sharpened on a special purpose grinding machine.

Ok thanks I'll leave it to the mower shop they quoted $130 so that's fair enough

That is an extremely high price, Michael. From the information reported here by members, the usual price is about $70. By taking it to a mower shop, you are giving $60 to the shop proprietor, who then sends it to the usual sharpening machine-shop and gives them their usual $70 (unless the mower shop is getting a trade price discount, and keeping even more of your money).

I suggest you contact your local bowls club's greenskeeper, and ask him or her where the club's mowers are sharpened. Members have found that the greenskeepers are usually very helpful to people who ask for their help in this way. Then go to the recommended machine shop, pay the usual fee, and be fully confident you have gone to the best place for a fair price.

Hi Grumpy and XR8,

That price is good if it's a drop the mower off and they do the removal and re installation but if it's just supply and return of parts only I would consider it a rip off and agree with what Grumpy has said.

Cheers,
BB