I watched this a few weeks ago and thought, I can do this! went and bought a second hand mower and brought it home and it's this exact mower. Picked up lapping compound and grabbed a screw driver and I just had the most fun mowing a lawn ever. Thank you for the tutorial!

This was the clearest, best organized and presented repair/instructional video I've ever seen on KZfaq. Thank you.

This technique worked so well, I feel like an idiot that I was cutting my grass with such dull and poorly positioned blades. Another KZfaqr had an elaborate method using a power drill. This one is so simple it's genius. I set it up as directed, pushed my mower up and down the street for less than 10 minutes, and reduced my mowing effort by at least half. THANK YOU!!

Works great! kzfaq.infoUgkxprGGPRQoChQaA8u58dt7miEpxQBKiWeJ More difficult with longer grass, though, but I was expecting that. I have a small back yard, it seemed like overkill to buy a lawnmower with an engine. This is easy to carry in and out of the basement through the bulkhead. Very sharp (be careful). At the back of the mower are little wheels, which I use when pulling the mower backwards, so it's easy to readjust direction. I'm including a photo which shows the before and after for my lawn when it was at its longest. For long grass like that you really have to put some muscle into it, and I needed to go into a new section of grass with some momentum, but when the grass is only an inch or two higher than regular cut height it's quite easy. The lawn is still patchy and full of weeds, but at least it's a good height! A step in the right direction.

I looked at many videos on this topic and this is by far the best. Thank you! My vintage reel mower is now like scissors on wheels :)

ive been looking for this video FOR DAYS. I remembered watching it years ago when I was college student and I finally have a lawn now after all these years and I got myself a used reel mower and spent days looking for this video.

Extremely effective method. I tried few techniques shown in other videos but had given up and was going to throw my mower away. Not anymore. Thank you!

I saved this gem of a video to my playlist. I just bought myself a reel mower, same as in the video, to cut the grass between my fence and garden area. I will say this, it was the best cut I've ever seen. Super easy to use and it looks like a professional manicured garden. Now just for the sake of this video, I want to take the wheels off my mower just so I can lap my blades. Thank you for the video and your time. Much love from Southeast Texas ❤

I bought a sharpening kit with a crank. The crank doesn't fit my mower. I never thought about switching the pinions. What a good simple way to accomplish this. Thank you very much.

Thank you for the clearest expansion Works great mower has never been so good

Please make more "how-to"s! This is one of the best instructional videos I've seen on You Tube. You will be my (and many others judging by the comments) "go to" for any more that you choose to bestow upon us. :)

Finally a well versed mechanical guru explaining a reel mower. Listen to this guy and look at the lathes, etc. in his shop. Too many others out there just blabbing with no experience. Thanks Sir for sharing your expertise! Restoring a Craftsman reel push mower myself/useful!

Very clear and simple instructions for disassembly, cleaning, sharpening, and reassembly. Thank you for this tutorial.

Wish all youtubes I've viewed over the years were as abley articulated and demonstrated clearly, sequentially, and efficiently with confidence I might add as this one.

Best sharpening video I have seen, I'm gonna try this tomorrow. Thankyou

30 yrs my push mower has been in the shed....dull blades. DANG !.. I can sharpen the blades. ! Thank you.

I tried this and it worked just as suggested! Thanks!

I just picked up a like-new slightly used reel mower for $10, adjusted the bed knife, and it already cuts well. But now I know how to sharpen it at the end of the season. Thank you so much for this excellent tutorial.

Thank you. This is so nice and clear with minimal talking. Only what is necessary. Much appreciated!

the BEST video on this online. Thank you so very very much Sir

These are the kinds of people we need in the world and have lost. People that are good with tools and have a common live off the land type sense about them. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with the world in a concise yet detailed manner and getting straight to the point. Blessings

Thank you so much for posting this video. This method is very easy to do and yields a great result. I've used a drill to backlap previously, but this will be my preferred method from now on. Thanks again!

Loved this video . You made it look so easy . Your english was perfect. A very concise and easy to follow video. Thank you very much.

Wow that's the best tutorial I've seen yet. Thanks for sharing your knowledge, blessing...

You’re welcome Crystal for the yard being clean

Excellent video. Brutal German efficiency. Loved it!

Thank you for posting this. Gotta love that vaunted German efficiency. No fuss. No muss. Here is how you do it. The end.

Thank you!!! This video makes the most sense compared to the rest on KZfaq :)

Greatly done video, and no stupid pointless music on in the background! 👍

Excellent demonstration with very clear explanation. 👍👍👍

wow! what an easy, clear, straightforward, detailed explanations! Very much appreciated. Thank you!

O. M. G. ! I followed the instructions exactly, & also did the test with the sheet of paper after. I got exactly the same results! Amazing video! Thank you so much!

10/10 👏👏 Greetings from Argentina 🇦🇷

Perfect! So helpful. Not sure why the poles need to come out, but otherwise everything I needed to know. Thanks!

Looking forward to trying this -- thank you! Also: Cleaning with gasoline -- very badass. Nicely done.

Thank you. Very clear and helpful. I wanted to reduce my use of gasoline. I have an electric car, so why not an electric mower? I had an old reel mower in the shed that I had never used. Cleaned and sharpened as you instructed my grass now looks better than ever using no fuel at all. It is actually easier than hauling my old gas mower around the yard. Thanks again.

Thank you so much, I now have a fully functional reel mower which actually cuts the grass rather than just chewing at it. I used valve grinding paste from a car parts shop. The instructions were very clear and the only problem I had was replacing the ‘C’ clips, but I got them on after a bit of fiddling

An excellent method. Thank you.

This is the best video I've seen on this subject. Thank you, very much for the time and energy you gave in showing how to sharpen the blades. The camera man did a great job with the camera, too, which can make or break a video. I just wish to see one thing... to see how tight the blade was after you adjusted the screws, before the sharpening... that's just a little thing. I bought a push mower for $10 at a yard sale, and it looks pretty new, but it's not cutting that well. Maybe, I just need to adjust the blades. If the blades need sharpening, now I know how to do it. Thank you!

Great video, clear & concise

If you had a professional camera person you could start your own TV series. Very well done! Still better camera work than I could do lol!

The best description I have found. Thankyou.

Videos like this are what is great about KZfaq. Thank you for sharing you knowledge with us.

Helped me with my bosch ahm 38 g , it had a yellow gear and a green pinon gear so looks like it was made to be sharpend this way. Saved me the hassle of finding spockets and a drill for the backlapping.. shes cutting grass like she was ment to now!

Excellent video. Thank you very much for going through every detail.

Very clear and on point. Thank you for your knowledge, and teachings.

Thank you. Your video is really helpful. Most of the video on KZfaq show a way by using power tool to rotate the reel which is not suitable for my mower. While your method is easy and practical!

Gracias maestro, saludos cordiales desde Tehuacán, Puebla, México 🇲🇽!

Very useful video thanks for sharing 👍🏽

Danke!! I just got a reel mower for free that definitely needs adjusting, and probably needs sharpening along with lube. My son has wanted one for a long time.

Wonderful directions--good pace--easy to watch. Can't wait to roll!

Excellent, the best I saw on this issue. I was looking for a utube demonstration and maintenance of the Wolf Garten TT 350 s manual land mower and where to find spare parts but did not find. But this was a grate explenation, short and concise!

best explanation i've seen simple instructions

Nice to see a pro work

Thanks. Your clear explanation of the job is appreciated!

Thank you! Search for a long time a video with this information, you are great, greetings from Mexico

This is the fast, fun and easy way vs. buying and using the crank that they sell even though the manual says just run it backwards!

Nice job! I especially like that you mention when adjusting the screws that a 1/4 turn is a big adjustment [other KZfaq videos floss over this explanation], it is in line with American Lawn Mower Mfg. product manual [pdf file], they mention this is a very sensitive adjustment [they consider a 1/16 turn is a major adjustment]. When you think about it - when you've done the lapping process once [creating equal pressure/drag across the bed knife] the adjustment of a 1/16 turn is plenty to do the job when you lap the next time. I certainly will be subscribing to your channel, I like your approach and insight.

Great presentation. My hat is off to you sir!

Thank you - well presented, complete, simple.

Very nice demonstration. Thank you for sharing.

Absolutely perfect!!!! Thank you- Thank you- Thank you!!!!

This is the best video on sharpening blades of a push lawnmower. I am a single lady and will be able to do this on my own! But what is lapping compound? The hardware store does not know what it is either.

Muy buena la esplicacion yo tengo una makina Masisa una verdadera relikia pero funciona pero no corta muy bien voy a seguir sus consejos mil gracias

Excellent video! Thank you!

Hello from indonesia, thanks for your time to share your knowledge and shares. Clean teaching video. I got a used mower from local market, rusty and dull. Had follow your instruction and got good result but not yet perfect. I found troubleshoot that 2 blades at the edge caused jump effect (bumps) when it touch the bed knife. Those 2 blades wide seems not flat. Hope you kindly give me advise what to do to fix those bumps, so those 2 blades side can perfectly contact the bed knife surface and can perform better to do this sharpening methode. Sorry for my worst english, sir.

Excellent job on the reel mower and the best here on KZfaq!

Excellent video. Thank you.

Very well done.. thank you

You make this very easy ....I’m going to try it and I’ll let you know how I do thank you!!

You are awesome! Thank You!

Brilliant! Thank you!

Cool vid! We made one as well. Keep up the good work.

Makes me want to get another push mower

Thank you very much for your very clear explanation

No te endendi nada pero lo k se vio es muy combincente eres un maestro gracias

Thanks buddy very nice video

This Mech knows what he is doing! And don't take all day to do it......

This is awesome. Gute Arbeit! The only thing I might add is that lapping compound can be tough to find depending where you live. It is likely that you will have to find it a speciality automotive store where they sell valve repair equipment.

Thank you, that was very clear and useful.

Ich habe es viel gern. Danke sehr!

Very well done! Thank you.

Thank you very much this was super helpful

I wished I had this before I bought my second mower. Now I’m at Home Depot for the lapping compound. Hoping I can find it.

thanks for the interesting approach.... are you saying the blades sharpen themselves by simply reversing and pushing around for awhile with lap compound... no need for file or sharpening tools???... what if it is rusty and quite dull???

Hi This is really simple. I'm thinking of buying a used mower. So how long do you need to run in backwards to sharpen the blades? Thank you

I'm doing this to an old great lakes mower, I'd like to thank you for this great video..

Very helpful thank you very much

Great Stuff thanks

Mil gracias maestro

Thank you kindly!

I found it pawl! I had to order it.

Thank you sir.

Excellent. Thanks!

Do I need to ensure the paul is put through the same way as it was put in before ? Or it doesn't matter, the pinier gear switch is the key ?

Thank you, a very clear video. Is it necessary to remove the pawls, since you seem to put them right back in?

Great thanks. Just bought one second hand for 5 euros..

Hi! It is a clear video but I do have some questions still. What setting do you have to set the plates and bedknife, what do you have to look out for? And how does the lapping actually work, how does it sharpen, against the floor? Thanks in advance!

Can I ask what the compound that you used on the blade is? Brand and name?

Gerwich, This is a great instructional video. I'm wondering if you have to reverse the blade turning direction to counterclockwise? I have lapping compound, but I don't have access to a workshop and tools and am wondering if the blades can be sharpened if you don't reverse the gears and they run clockwise? Or will they be damaged. Thank you.