Mclane 7 blade...yes or no??
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A lot of people dog on the McLane's because they aren't anywhere near as good as other reel mowers. But some times its your only option, and it's a better reel mower than any rotary. lol. Inspect everything really well, make sure the reel and bedknife aren't ate all up, and that it runs good, and go for it!
How well does it start and run? I see a Briggs and Stratton 3 HP engine with what is known as a Pulsa-Jet carburetor. Those are known to be troublesome. They are famous for surging and running very rough. Also know that a new 7 blade reel and bedknife for the mower is about $600. It used to be $400, but the McLane company was bought and the new owners wanted more profit from their new acquisition. Fine with me, but they really need to make their reels and bedknifes out of something harder than a soup can if they are asking that kind of money. For $600, I can replace reel and bedknife on my Toro, a much more costly and heavily built mower.
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It's a step forward from a rotary, but reels are a sickness. If you can find the time to mow often, you'll want a greens mower sooner than you expect.
Also keep in mind you will want a front roller for the unit. A front roller will be another $150ish from reelrollers.com, or if you have some mechanical ability you can do a DIY setup for about $30-40.
Also keep in mind you will want a front roller for the unit. A front roller will be another $150ish from reelrollers.com, or if you have some mechanical ability you can do a DIY setup for about $30-40.
True words. I got hooked on reels rather young. In High School and College, I mowed the Tifgreen at home with a 7 blade American Mower push. That lawn was mowed every other day. Getting into the business, it is normal for anything other than a weed patch to get mowed with a McLane or Tru-Cut in my state. Almost anyone that does lawns for hire has one of those mowers. The end of my evolution is the Toro GM1000. Only thing after that is a Triplex. But I do not deal with lawns that large, and properties large enough for that kind of mower have absolutely no interest in maintaining their grass correctly.
So many good points made here. If I can get the guy to send me a pic of the reel and bedknife I think that should make my decision easier.
The boss(wife) is ok with $200, don't know if I could get her to allow me to make the move on a higher end greens mower at the moment. So guess I will take it where I can get it.
The boss(wife) is ok with $200, don't know if I could get her to allow me to make the move on a higher end greens mower at the moment. So guess I will take it where I can get it.
What you look for is how much more downward adjustment there is on the reel to bedknife adjustment.. That is the crescent shaped slot with a bolt on each side of the side plates closest to the very front of the side plates. One of those bolts is hidden by the height adjustment lever. Be careful about one bolt being pushed down more on one side than the other. If you can see it, that means the bedknife and reel have become tapered and worn more on one end vs the other.
For $200 you should be able to buy and it mess with it. If it's junk you can sell it for $200 to some other sucker. For $200 I'm guessing it has issues. though.
Personally I would look elsewhere.
I'm now a fan of the used greens mower. I think they are the best value. Built like tanks and great value. I just got a JD180C for $650 + ship. These things cost $10,000 brand new. A junky Toro rotary from Home Depot is going to cost you $400.
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Personally I would look elsewhere.
I'm now a fan of the used greens mower. I think they are the best value. Built like tanks and great value. I just got a JD180C for $650 + ship. These things cost $10,000 brand new. A junky Toro rotary from Home Depot is going to cost you $400.
Does anyone know what a showroom new McLane costs? Issues with quality of materials and all. The new owners want $1500+ for what used to sell for only $450. The model shown by the OP costed that much back in the day. The current models come with Briggs attempt to emulate a Honda GX 120, but the same soft reel and bedknife are part of the deal. I can take off metal from a McLane reel with a common file, can't do that with my Toro, file slides.
In Hawaii, with the catcher and B&S engine, that is about $1,500 brand new. I have told my customers that I relief and backlap for their next mower is a GM 1000. The increase in prices without an increase in quality of materials is hard for me to justify. A reel and replacement bedknife is $650 here. That is what the entire mower sold for up until 2 years ago.
Where were you able to find that deal? I can't find one less than 1200 in my area.Rockinar said:For $200 you should be able to buy and it mess with it. If it's junk you can sell it for $200 to some other sucker. For $200 I'm guessing it has issues. though.
Personally I would look elsewhere.
I'm now a fan of the used greens mower. I think they are the best value. Built like tanks and great value. I just got a JD180C for $650 + ship. These things cost $10,000 brand new. A junky Toro rotary from Home Depot is going to cost you $400.
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I kind of assume something is wrong with it in some way or another due to the fact he's letting it go for $200. He also won't get back to me about the reel and bedknife :roll: . But like you said seems like I could get my money back selling it even as parts.
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