If you're a proud owner of a cylinder mower, you understand the importance of a clean, precise cut on your lawn. To achieve that immaculate finish, regular maintenance is key, and one essential process you should master is backlapping. In this blog, we'll delve into the process of backlapping your cylinder mower and why it's so crucial.
Understanding Backlapping:
Backlapping is the process of maintaining the cutting edges of the reel blades and bedknife on your cylinder mower. It involves running a specially designed abrasive compound (also known as backlapping paste) between the reel and the stationary blade, known as the bedknife. The abrasive compound hones the edges of the blades, ensuring they maintain their sharpness.
Why is Backlapping Important?
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Maintains Precision: The primary goal of backlapping is to ensure your cylinder mower maintains its cutting precision. Dull blades can tear grass rather than cut it cleanly, leading to a less manicured appearance and potentially harming your lawn's health.
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Enhances Lawn Health: Clean cuts promote healthier grass. Torn or ragged edges can leave the grass more susceptible to disease and pests. Backlapping helps your lawn resist these threats by maintaining a pristine cut.
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Reduces wear/Increases Efficiency: A well-maintained cylinder mower that has undergone backlapping operates more efficiently. Reduced contact while achieving a quality cut results in less stress and wear on reel/bedknife, drive line and engine.
The Backlapping Process:
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Preparation: Before you start, ensure your mower is clean and free from debris. Remove the grass catcher and any obstructions. Have a drill or hand crank ready with socket or adaptor to suit your machine. Get your long handle backlapping brush and backlapping paste ready (both can be purchased via our website). Most square edge reels will benefit from a course paste (80-100 grit), if backlapping is not preformed regularly.
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Adjustment: Carry out the reel to bedknife adjustment according to your particular mower, ensuring even adjustments on both sides to reduce coning of the reel. Set contact slightly greater than your preferred setting.
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Apply the backlapping paste: Attach your method of turning the reel to either the reel drive sprocket bolt or engine drive sprocket bolt. Clutch to be disengaged. Set reel spinning in a reverse direction at a slow speed. Apply the backlapping paste to the blades using a long handle backlapping brush. This compound acts as the abrasive that sharpens the blades. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for the right amount.
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Monitor Progress: While backlapping, visually inspect the blades and bedknife to ensure they are evenly sharpened. The process may take a few minutes, so be patient.
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Wash Down: Wash the reel and bedknife thoroughly and check cutting edges.
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Check Blade Sharpness: If initial adjustment was correct for the amount of backlapping performed then the unit should pass a paper cut test and be ready to go. If adjustment is required, carry them out and retest. Further backlapping may be required if not cutting satisfactorily.
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The Sad Part: Backlapping is loved, hated and everything in between in the turf industry. There is no doubt that it is a necessary process that can maintain cutting edges well beyond usable grind life. It can clean up a slight reel ping and add some life after renovations. But it cant preform magic! If the unit is still not cutting correctly after a couple of attempts it may be time to chat to us at Turf Equipment Solutions to see if its time to grind.
Frequency of Backlapping:
The frequency of backlapping depends on usage and the quality of the cut you desire.
Mastering the process of backlapping is vital for maintaining a healthy and well-manicured lawn. It ensures that your cylinder mower consistently delivers a clean, precise cut. So, if you want to take your lawn maintenance to the next level, make backlapping a part of your regular mower maintenance routine. Your lawn will thank you with a beautiful, pristine appearance.