This is the time of year when we tear down the equipment and try to get it back into shape for the next season. One of biggest tasks is reel grinding.
Over the season the edges of the reels and bedknives wear and become dull or damaged. We can do some stop-gap measures on the larger reels throughout the regular season but ultimately the reels need to be sharpened. Reels have to be removed from the machines and are given a once over looking for worn bearing, seals, or general wear and tear. Before sharpening any deficiency must fixed. Each reel is ground on a specialized piece of equipment that sharpens all the blades at once by spinning the reel while a sharpening stone travels back and forth across the reel.
Grinding Room
Over the season the edges of the reels and bedknives wear and become dull or damaged. We can do some stop-gap measures on the larger reels throughout the regular season but ultimately the reels need to be sharpened. Reels have to be removed from the machines and are given a once over looking for worn bearing, seals, or general wear and tear. Before sharpening any deficiency must fixed. Each reel is ground on a specialized piece of equipment that sharpens all the blades at once by spinning the reel while a sharpening stone travels back and forth across the reel.
Sparks from Fairway Reel Being Ground
(You can't tell from the pictures but both the
stone and reel are spinning at the same time)
(You can't tell from the pictures but both the
stone and reel are spinning at the same time)
Aside from the reels, the bedknives also have to be ground. The way a reel works is similar to scissors. Grass blades pass between the rotating reel and the stationary bedknife and are sliced in a motion similar to a pair of scissors cutting paper. With both cutting edges freshly sharpened the reel is put back together and re-installed on the mower ready for next season.
Bedknife and Bedknife Grinder
If possible, major mechanical repairs are usually delayed until the off-season. During the summer the mechanics time is often occupied by routine equipment maintenance as well as other tasks thrust upon him "out of left field". In the past the mechanic had to crawl around on the concrete floor and attempt to dismantle and fix equipment while lying on his back. A couple years ago we had a season where only half of the dollar amount budgeted for equipment repair was spend ; a seldom occurring and never repeated event. We used that surplus to purchase an hoist for the shop.
Rough mower getting the
once over on the shop hoist
With exception of our tractor all equipment pieces can fit on the hoist. Aside from saving the mechanics back, this "tool" has allowed for less down time since repairs are faster as well as allowing for more extensive inspections which can catch problems before they get too damaging and costly.
once over on the shop hoist
With exception of our tractor all equipment pieces can fit on the hoist. Aside from saving the mechanics back, this "tool" has allowed for less down time since repairs are faster as well as allowing for more extensive inspections which can catch problems before they get too damaging and costly.
