Just saw this pop up in a Facebook group, anyone heard anything about the new rolux mower?
Rolux reel mower
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Richkm20
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Thanks so much for the great and detailed review @Neverblu! Please don't hesitate to reach out to me on FB or email (or here) with any questions, recommendations etc. Always happy to hear and to learn!! And I hope that HoC sticker gets to you ASAP...
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Hey @Caetano91
Please feel free to contact myself or our Rolux NA CEO, John Plocic, if you want any info. Happy to help you out with any info! My direct mail is stuart@rolux.co.za and John's is johnp@roluxglobal.com.
Regards
Stu
The real (reel?) solution here is to make grinding service accessible to homeowners. And not via back-channel deals with maintenance shops that don't typically interact with the public. When Joe Homeowner can walk into a mower shop and make an appointment to have his machine spin-ground (with 7 day turn time or better) with the option to add relief, the argument will become as trivial as the color paint on the machines. On the other side, I don't see why the OEMs resist adding relief when it is so obviously something the end-consumer considers. Regardless of whether it's absolutely necessary or not, the customer wants it, the cost/labor add is minimal if the reel is already being ground on semi-automated equipment, and it takes nothing away from the quality of the original part.I respectfully disagree with @Reelrollers on this. Our users/owners have been successfully backlapping their non-relief grind reels for many, many years with no hassle and because of the strength of steel being used, only require spin grinding every few years. We had the Bernhard reps with us two weeks ago, who also don't see the relief grind logic for homeowners. Just because relief grinding has been the standard in a market for so long (largely thanks to golf course use), doesn't make it the ONLY right approach. There is room for both. The thickness of the Rolux blades allows homeowners some degree of forgiveness when hitting objects like sticks and stones - these things happen at people's homes. Homeowner lawns need a reel which is built to last... I am biased but the Rolux reel is just that, and it has been proven over many years, all over the world. And we definitely are not trying to make it suit the US market... We can very quickly supply a relief grind reel, but right now are not yet convinced of the benefit for homeowners.
See below... a picture sent by a customer who accidentally mowed over a washer in their lawn. No damage whatsoever to the reel, but the washer not so much
View attachment 36476
So how do we make grind service more accessible? Increase demand via selling more mowers. Sell more mowers by making spin vs relief a non-issue for the layman/novice owner.
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I think you have absolutely hit the nail on the head… the key is to increase the size of the market to make it viable for servicing agents to do grinding, regardless of the type of grind the customer wants. Then you are right, it is a trivial debate. I think there is room for both styles, and the market deserves options!! That’s where I love seeing new options coming to market by RR, Cal Trim, us etc. It’s good for everyone.
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I respect the different opinion and feedback.I respectfully disagree with @Reelrollers on this. Our users/owners have been successfully backlapping their non-relief grind reels for many, many years with no hassle and because of the strength of steel being used, only require spin grinding every few years. We had the Bernhard reps with us two weeks ago, who also don't see the relief grind logic for homeowners. Just because relief grinding has been the standard in a market for so long (largely thanks to golf course use), doesn't make it the ONLY right approach. There is room for both. The thickness of the Rolux blades allows homeowners some degree of forgiveness when hitting objects like sticks and stones - these things happen at people's homes. Homeowner lawns need a reel which is built to last... I am biased but the Rolux reel is just that, and it has been proven over many years, all over the world. And we definitely are not trying to make it suit the US market... We can very quickly supply a relief grind reel, but right now are not yet convinced of the benefit for homeowners.
See below... a picture sent by a customer who accidentally mowed over a washer in their lawn. No damage whatsoever to the reel, but the washer not so much
View attachment 36476
Hey Stu. I believe you or your brother forwarded an email I sent to you guys over to John a few days ago. I’ve exchanged a few emails with John and am stopping by the warehouse on Monday to check the 20” out. He offered to let me test one out while there as well. John also mentioned they are installing a reel sharpening grinder and bed knife grinder in the near future (once they are delivered). I happen to live 20-30 minutes away so super excited.
I need to make it over to @Reelrollers sometime soon as well. I’m torn.
Those of us in the north metro Atl are blessed to have both options just a quick car ride away.
I made it over to the warehouse today and spent an hour with John. It was a great trip.
It’s clear they are in this market for the long haul.
I saw all 3 sizes mentioned here as well as a 30” they call the beast. I’ll be going with the 25” 9 blade.
John also showed me the rotary they’re planning to bring to market in the US as well. Some unique features I haven’t seen in a rotary before. Also had a couple other toys in there.
We ran the 25” behind the warehouse. They have a severe slope and it climbed it without any issue. Probably 2-3x as steep as the incline in my front yard. The grass was semi dormant but it had no issues taking the grass from 1.5-2” to below .5”
The 25” comes in around 220 lbs and is a piece of cake to maneuver. It was my first time behind a gas reel mower. Love the split drum.
Talked quite a bit about the Briggs vs Honda motors. The Briggs motor does not have the throttle cable issue @Neverblu mentioned. I saw this first hand. The Hondas have a weak spring but I adjusted the throttle both ways on the Briggs with 0 issues.
Hopefully this helped some others who wanted more info on these.
It’s clear they are in this market for the long haul.
I saw all 3 sizes mentioned here as well as a 30” they call the beast. I’ll be going with the 25” 9 blade.
John also showed me the rotary they’re planning to bring to market in the US as well. Some unique features I haven’t seen in a rotary before. Also had a couple other toys in there.
We ran the 25” behind the warehouse. They have a severe slope and it climbed it without any issue. Probably 2-3x as steep as the incline in my front yard. The grass was semi dormant but it had no issues taking the grass from 1.5-2” to below .5”
The 25” comes in around 220 lbs and is a piece of cake to maneuver. It was my first time behind a gas reel mower. Love the split drum.
Talked quite a bit about the Briggs vs Honda motors. The Briggs motor does not have the throttle cable issue @Neverblu mentioned. I saw this first hand. The Hondas have a weak spring but I adjusted the throttle both ways on the Briggs with 0 issues.
Hopefully this helped some others who wanted more info on these.
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It does look a decent slope they have there to test it out. Was there any slip with the drum?
No slip at all. John walked it up the slope with one hand. I didn’t try that but the Rolux had no issues climbing or descending the slope.
One other thing worth mentioning. The 25” we tested in that photo has the Briggs 550. When I build an 25” online the only options are the Honda or the Briggs 950. You can choose the 550 in the 17 and 20 online. That is their demo 25” and it had plenty of power with the 550. I believe the 550 is about $80 less. I’ll probably spring for the 950 tho.
Also, the ribbed roller has substantial weight. I picked up a 20” and it felt comparable to a 15lb dumbbell. The regular roller is probably 3-5 lbs.
Placed my order a couple days ago. 25” 9 blade w/ ribbed roller and the Briggs 950. This will be my first season with a powered reel. Moved from a 2k geo zoysia front lawn to about 8k of 419.
I’m slated to receive it in mid-late February. I can’t say enough good things about working with John. I’m not sure he’s on this forum but the rolux FB group is pretty active.
I’m slated to receive it in mid-late February. I can’t say enough good things about working with John. I’m not sure he’s on this forum but the rolux FB group is pretty active.
Well you will definitely enjoy this thing, I did a light backlap on mine last weekend, took all of about 10 minutes.
I think my favorite thing so far is I can step 'in' to the handles, so they are slightly behind my hips/centerline, which means keeping the front roller down on the ground is easy as I've ever felt on a reel. It's a completely different feeling than traditional reel handle bars that are in front of you where you sometimes feel you have to trex your arms pulling up on the handlebars to keep the front roller down on not completely perfect surfaces.
I know that might not be for everyone, but after a couple thousand sqft t-rexing and pulling up to keep the front roller down like on a trucut, or cali makes your forearms burn. Where stepping into the handle frame on the rolux is basically your arms are dropped and its all shoulder, instead of forearm. makes for a really enjoyable cut.
For those of us that are "classically trained" on the operation of walk-mowers (specifically greensmowers), that sounds like slow turns. 😅 But for the intended application here, I totally get how it's easier for you. I wonder what the front roller weighs? I would think with all that grip from the traction drum, the machine would be fine with a real chunky front roller to help keep the front end down.
PS. What's more fun to corner? The Rolux or that sweet S2K in the background?
Ah just step out lf the handles Right before a turn, and back in after the turn. Inside when roller down, outside when roller up 🤷♀️. The front grooved roller maybe weighs 10lbs? it doesn't feel like it has any issue with floating
, but it is weighted such that the mower will tilt on steep inclines, but so do other mowers I've used here at this house
The S2k is definitely.the most fun to corner...it communicates with you very very very well. One of the few cars I've driven that can speak to you, as long as you are open to listening
Prices are increasing on March 1st. Also, the February container had to be rerouted due to the issues in the Suez. I was told it should land in Savannah early March. I want my Rolux!! lol they are great communicators tho. I’ve been impressed with the customer service.
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Certain things are out of your control. I totally understand. I really appreciate the upfront communication.
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Did not realize they are in metro Atlanta as well. May have to make it a two stop Friday at Reel Rollers and Rolux!
Still leaning towards a Deere reel though. Consumer grade products can be good but I still tend to follow the "buy once, cry once" mantra.I brought this up with Rolux and they acted like I didn't know how a throttle cable works. This is not the throttle cable I see on the SA models or the Cox Professional. I heard it works on the Briggs but not the Honda.
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