I'd sure like to have someone check me on this, but I think that using the number of blades is the wrong way to think about this. I think that is better to look at the number of cuts per unit traveled. For example: Take an 8 blade reel and spin it twice as fast. Didn't you just end up with the equivalent of a 16 blade reel?

 

Agreed with the above but unless you have a variable setting for clip rate an 8 blade will allow for a better cut at higher lengths. I have a 5 blade (manual)and a 14 blade (Toro flex)and cutting at 0.6 both cut well but the 5 blade catches Bermuda seed heads that the 14 just can't... even with multiple.passes.

I think the reel can be replaced in the JD mowers just like Toro etc..

 

I changed my Toro from an 11 to an 8 last year.. Night and day difference at the 5/8 - 1" HOC... I can now get amazing cut quality with a single pass... I still do two, but that is for different reasons

 

I changed my Toro from an 11 to an 8 last year.. Night and day difference at the 5/8 - 1" HOC... I can now get amazing cut quality with a single pass... I still do two, but that is for different reasons

I essentially have to do 3-4 to get a really crisp looking final product. Thinking about switching to a GM 1000 series with the high HOC clip kit for this very reason. Love mowing, but sometimes 4 passes just isn't in the cards.

 

Try the GM1000 with the 8 blade reel big difference in the 5/8- 1" HOC

 

8 blade should be what most people use. If you are mowing very, very low this is when the higher number of blades shine.

 

According to Toro...

"An 8-blade reel is typically recommended for a height of cut equal to or greater than .500 inches (12.7 mm), and an 11-blade reel is typically recommended for a height of cut between .250 and .750 inches (6.3 mm to 19 mm). For heights of cut that fall where these two recommendations overlap, use the mow speed as a guide. For optimal clip at slower-than-average mow speeds, an 8-blade reel is recommended, whereas an 11-blade reel is recommended for faster-than-average mow speeds."

For me, an 11 blade reel works just fine on my zoysia at 0.5". However, my Baroness allows me to change from a high/low clip rate with the repositioning of a lever.

If it takes four cuts to have your lawn look good, I would suggest that you smooth your lawn with sand. A lower blade reel isn't going to fix extreme undulations.

 

According to Toro...

"An 8-blade reel is typically recommended for a height of cut equal to or greater than .500 inches (12.7 mm), and an 11-blade reel is typically recommended for a height of cut between .250 and .750 inches (6.3 mm to 19 mm). For heights of cut that fall where these two recommendations overlap, use the mow speed as a guide. For optimal clip at slower-than-average mow speeds, an 8-blade reel is recommended, whereas an 11-blade reel is recommended for faster-than-average mow speeds."

For me, an 11 blade reel works just fine on my zoysia at 0.5". However, my Baroness allows me to change from a high/low clip rate with the repositioning of a lever.

If it takes four cuts to have your lawn look good, I would suggest that you smooth your lawn with sand. A lower blade reel isn't going to fix extreme undulations.

Thanks for the good reference. My lawn is very smooth - leveled extensively last fall. The 4 cuts was in reference to 2 passes at 2 different approaches. This is what I've found is needed to get all the stragglers that the mower just doesn't seem to grab each time.

I think the note about mowing speed is the most valuable portion of that reference, and I'm very likely cutting at the lower end of the speed spectrum.

 

According to Toro...

"An 8-blade reel is typically recommended for a height of cut equal to or greater than .500 inches (12.7 mm), and an 11-blade reel is typically recommended for a height of cut between .250 and .750 inches (6.3 mm to 19 mm). For heights of cut that fall where these two recommendations overlap, use the mow speed as a guide. For optimal clip at slower-than-average mow speeds, an 8-blade reel is recommended, whereas an 11-blade reel is recommended for faster-than-average mow speeds."

For me, an 11 blade reel works just fine on my zoysia at 0.5". However, my Baroness allows me to change from a high/low clip rate with the repositioning of a lever.

If it takes four cuts to have your lawn look good, I would suggest that you smooth your lawn with sand. A lower blade reel isn't going to fix extreme undulations.

Where did you read that 11 blade is .25-.75 for a greensmaster? I think you might have read that about a triplex where the clip rate is variable by adjusting the speed of the reels via hydraulics.

For a Greensmaster where the clip rate is only changed by number of blades or a clip kit. Rpm will only increase the frequency of cuts(faster walking pace.)

An 11 bade is always going to have an ideal clip rate for shorter grass than an 8 blade on a Greensmaster.

 

The less blades on the reel, the more grass that can fit and get cut in one pass. Ideally foc=hoc but thats not always achievable depending on your mower. I'd always choose a lower blade count reel regardless of clip rate for residential turf.

 

As an update, I mowed again yesterday but made sure to keep the speed up on the mower. It was quite a bit more rushed than my normal pace, but it did make a noticeable difference. The lawn looked a lot more crisp after 2 passes, so thinking this will be my approach until I move into a different mower. Now I just need to buy some running shoes to chase the mower. :lol: