[Charlie179366]

Hello all!

New to the forum here so this is my first post.

I am the president of a girls booster org for soccer and we have a Bermuda field and practice field. Over the past several years the grass has been mowed with a rotary mower and I am looking at investing in a reel mower. We are limited on the budget side and that has take me to look at inexpensive pull behind types of mowers. We are currently considering one built by promow (7 gang with 8 blades) this is the light commercial rated one. Has anyone used this mower and what are the pros and cons? Here is the one we are considering.

 

[MasterMech]

Not necessarily trying to steer you away from a tow behind but have you considered an 84" cut triplex like the Toro 3100D or Deere 2653? Perhaps even a fairway mower? The used market is always well-populated with these type machines and they are quite a bit more efficient than towed gang mowers.

 

[Alan]

Never used one. Welcome to TLF.

 

[Alan]

Some ideas within 150 miles of Winchester.

https://richmondin.craigslist.org/grd/d/beautiful-toro-sidewinder/6564450532.html

https://knoxville.craigslist.org/grd/d/john-deereft-cut-reel-mower/6546750242.html

https://knoxville.craigslist.org/grd/d/john-deeregang-reel-mower/6542014373.html

 

[Llano Estacado]

Some ideas within 150 miles of Winchester.

https://richmondin.craigslist.org/grd/d/beautiful-toro-sidewinder/6564450532.html

https://knoxville.craigslist.org/grd/d/john-deereft-cut-reel-mower/6546750242.html

https://knoxville.craigslist.org/grd/d/john-deeregang-reel-mower/6542014373.html

I'm pretty sure the one in Richmond was exposed here as a scam. Can't remember the thread, maybe someone else can verify.

 

[Mightyquinn]

Have you also considered who is going to be doing the maintenance on these reels? What HOC are you trying to maintain?

 

[Charlie179366]

The one in Richmond looks like a really good deal. So it is probably a scam. I emailed them I will see where it goes.

 

[Ware]

The one in Richmond looks like a really good deal. So it is probably a scam. I emailed them I will see where it goes.

Yeah, the same listing appeared on the Fort Smith, AR Craigslist.

 

[Charlie179366]

Have not really considered the maintenance side of these reel mowers. The pull behind option was easy enough that we would maintain them our selves. But we do have several local repair and maintenance facilities in the area that help maintain our current Grasshopper.

Have you also considered who is going to be doing the maintenance on these reels? What HOC are you trying to maintain?

 

[Colonel K0rn]

Have not really considered the maintenance side of these reel mowers. The pull behind option was easy enough that we would maintain them our selves. But we do have several local repair and maintenance facilities in the area that help maintain our current Grasshopper.

Have you also considered who is going to be doing the maintenance on these reels? What HOC are you trying to maintain?

Welcome to TLF, glad you found your way here. Most of the maintenance shops that service commercial and residential mowers are used to working with rotary mowers, like your Grasshopper. A reel mower requires someone with equipment and training to maintain the cutting cylinder and the bed knives. Most golf courses use a combination of rotary and reel mowers, and have the equipment and mechanics there to service their units.

If I can suggest you checking with some of the local courses that you have in the area to see what brand of equipment that they have, which might guide your purchasing decision. For example, our county just build a 3MM baseball complex, and they maintain the fields with John Deere equipment, whereas the Public golf course uses Toro. The city maintenance facility and mechanics can work on either brands of equipment. I was fortunate enough to befriend a mechanic at the golf course where I have access to a machine to keep my reel sharp for maintenance.

For the cost of the gang mower, you can get a nice used triplex reel mower that will produce a superior cut, and have parts that are more readily available, and if you're lucky, you might find a golf super that might be looking to get rid of some used equipment. Remember, they use their mowers daily, so down-time is a critical failure point for them. They have to keep their machines running.