Scotts Classic Push Reel Mower Information
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Scotts Classic Reel Mower Summary
The Scotts Classic reel lawn mower is an American made reel mower manufactured by the American Lawnmower Company for Scotts. It is the biggest manual reel mower on the market, and also the highest cutting reel mower. It has a full 20 inch wide cutting path, which is as wide as a traditional gas mower. It has a cutting height range from 1 inch up to 3 inches, which is about an inch or so higher than most other reel mower models. Most types of grass do not need to be mowed this high, but it is still a nice feature. You can research grass cutting height here. The Scotts Classic reel mower weighs about 30 pounds, which is very light for a mower of this size. It’s quite easy to push.
Assembling a Scotts Classic Reel Mower
Assembling the Scotts Classic isn’t hard, but it does take a few tools and about 5 to 25 minutes, depending on how handy you are. It doesn’t take any serious skill. The reel mower body is already completely assembled. You just have to attach the handle. As you can see from the photo at the top of the page, the handle comes in several pieces that attach together with bolts. The bottom parts pops onto two metal attachments on the mower body, and are held in place by C rings. The upper parts of the handle attach to each other, using nuts and bolts. There is a foam pad that slides onto the top part of the handle where you will be pushing.
Changing the Cutting Height for the Scotts Classic Reel Lawnmower
Changing the cutting height is easy and quick, and requires no tools. You just push in the lever on each side and then let it spring back into place at a different height level. Make sure the height is the same on both sides.
Adjusting the Blades on the Scotts Classic Mower
So wait a second! What’s the difference between adjusting the blades and changing the cutting height? The cutting height adjustment changes how high the grass is cut. The blade adjustment adjusts how the reel turns inside the mower, keeping the blades cutting properly when the reel turns. The Scotts reel mower comes with the blades pre-adjusted, so you won’t need to mess with it initially.
The Scotts owner’s manual also includes detailed instructions on how to adjust the blades. I recommend holding onto the owner’s manual, because it’s very helpful. There are two different screws on each side of the mower (a total of four screws). It is not at all intuitive about which screw you are supposed to tighten and which one you are supposed to loosen on each side to adjust the blades.
The front screws move the cutter bar away from the blades, and the rear screws move the cutter bar toward the blades. Don’t start turning like crazy. A small 1/16 of a turn is a major adjustment. Before you tighten one screw, loosen the other one an equal amount first.
To loosen the blades, or move them further away from the cutter bar, here’s what you do. First you loosen the back screws on each side equally by turning them counterclockwise. Don’t turn the screws too much! Next, tighten both front screws equally by turning them clockwise.
To tighten the blades, or move them closer against the cutter bar, here’s what you do. First you loosen both front screws equally by turning them counterclockwise. Don’t turn them too much. Then tighten both back screws equally by turning them clockwise.
If the mower is only cutting on one side, then you probably have the reel out of alignment. So you’ll tighten or loosen one side of the mower to bring it back into alignment.
If the mower is really hard to push and the blades barely turn, then you might have overtightened the cutter bar against the reel. If the reel spins freely and doesn’t make contact against the cutter bar, or the mower isn’t cutting grass well, you might have over-loosened the cutter bar.
Cool features of the Scotts Classic Push Mower
What really sets the Scotts Classic apart from other manual reel mowers is the extra wide cutting path and the extra tall maximum cutting height. As I mentioned before, it has a 20 inch wide cut, and a 1 inch minimum cut and extra tall 3 inch maximum cut. You’ll also notice that the Scotts Classic has an extra set of wheels in the back. Why is this? Those rear wheels make the Scotts reel mower easier to maneuver for such a large mower, and they also allow the mower to have the higher cutting range.
Accessories for the Scotts Classic Push Reel Mower
You can buy a grass catcher for the Scotts Classic, and you can also buy a do-it-yourself sharpening kit. The grasscatcher is a generic catcher manufactured by the American Lawnmower Company to fit all of their mowers, so it is far from a perfect fit. The Scotts classic is their biggest model. The catcher attaches to the mower by just clipping down over the rear axle between the two rear wheels. The front lip of the catcher has a thing that pops over that axle. The catcher can fall off if you hit a lot of bumps.
But someone sent me this terrific solution that really helps the catcher work better with the mower.
“I used a couple of closed “S” hooks (size 810) (less than $1), opened one end and closed around the rod at the bottom of the catcher, and opened the other end of the “S” hook so that it barely will slide over the axle of the rear wheels, leaving the hook open so that I can remove the catcher. It is actually easier to install and remove the catcher with this than with the mfg. design. Photos attached for you to see. I’ve so far mowed the small yard one time and never had a problem with it coming loose. Maybe someone else with this problem can use the idea.”
How Long Does it Take to Mow with a Scotts Classic Reel Mower?
This video shows me mow an area of 43 feet by 60 feet, or 2431 square feet. The camera runs the entire time, so you can see clearly how much effort it seems to take and how fast it goes. It takes approximately 10 minutes.
There is also audio, and you will notice that you can’t hear the mower at all, but you can hear cars driving by in the background. This means your neighbors wouldn’t hear the mower if you mowed early in the morning.
Where to buy the Scotts Classic reel lawn mower
Buy reel mowers here.
Sharpening the blades on a Scotts Classic reel lawnmower:
Rather than reinvent the wheel, here is a site with complete instructions on sharpening a Scotts Classic or other reel mower from Great States / American Lawnmower.
Other Information About Using Push Reel Lawnmowers
Don’t forget to read the general guide to using a manual reel mower on the front page of the site.
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{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
This was a most informative site for information on my Scotts Classic 20″.
I appreciate this greatly, but having misplaced te service manual wonder where I might get one. Of particular interest is if I need to grease the wheel bearings as they seem to be quite stiff and the reel seems to not spin too freely.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated….thanks…Bill
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This mower does mow grass quite well. But it does not cut weeds, especially dandelions. With these, and dandelions, the mower just rolls over them and they pop right back up, no matter how many times you go over them.
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Yes, this is mostly accurate. You can cut some weeds with a reel mower, but not tall willowy weeds like dandelions. I discuss the disadvantages of reel mowers on the front page of the site.
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I purchased (and later returned) a “Task Force” reel mower from Lowe’s. The little gears that are attached to the blades are made of cheap plastic and wore out within a year. Are the gears on this one metal or plastic?
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The gear inside the wheel on the Scotts Classic is also made of plastic. But I haven’t heard any complaints of it wearing out any earlier than after many years. I have been using a Scotts Classic on my own yards for several years, and mine is still going strong.
That Task Force mower is a lame, cheap knock off of the real thing, in my opinion. I saw someone in my neighborhood using one, and they appeared to be having trouble with it.
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The handle seems flimsy, like it’s not tightened up enough, even though the thumbscrews are tight. Is that just the way it’s built?
Also, I have trouble pushing it in the upper-chest-high position that it’s set up at. I have more pushing power when I can push closer to my belly. Is this just designed for taller people? Is there an adjustment I can make? ?
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I bought my Scotts classic reel mower in 1992 and now must replace the two large wheels plus the gear for each. Somewhere along the way I lost my owner’s manual. Anyone able to give me the part numbers and an address for ordering the parts?
Many thanks in advance.
Deanna
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Here you go! https://www.reelin.com/ReplacementParts.aspx
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I’ve been looking at the Scott’s for some time due to the larger cutting width. Is there any ‘rule of thumb’ as to how large of a reel mower to purchase? I have a suburban lawn that (including the house/garage) is ~ 1/4 acre. What size width reel mower should I be looking at? Would a 14″ be too small? By the way, great article on this site regarding reel mowers- very informative!
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dan Reply:
June 5th, 2010 at 9:08 am
@John Taylor, I would go for the 20″ mower. Even with a smaller yard (and 1/4 acres isn’t that small!), you will appreciate not having to mow as much. Also, you end up overlapping the rows a bit, so you are probably only cutting with 16″-18″, with a 14″ mower, you might only be cutting 10″-12″ inch wide rows.
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I hope someone can help with this problem. I acquired a 20″ Scotts Classic at a yard sale recently. The problem is that it will only cut in the middle 8-9 inches of the mower. To adjust it to cut the entire width of the reel, makes it so tight it’s difficult to push and sounds like a bulldozer coming across the yard. I can’t see that the cutting bar is bent and I’ve tried adjusting it several ways. anyone have any ideas? I have a smaller push mower and love it. I wold sure like to get this one working properly. Thanks
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I would suggest calling the manufacturer to see how much it would cost to replace the cutter bar, or if they would suggest something else.
http://www.reelin.com They have a phone number listed on their site.
If they suggest something other than replacing the cutter bar, would you come back and let us know, please?
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I love my mower. The only problem I have is the bolt that holds one of the small wheels on comes loose about once every two times I mow. I have to stop and tighten it with a wrench. Not a bad problem, but an inconvenience. Any suggestions?
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Milo Reply:
June 5th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Use a small application of Blue Lock-tite or similar product. You can get it at any hardware store, or even auto parts store. If you’re against using such a thing you cuold also consider a lock washer, but due to the vibration you should be more please with a lock-tite or similar substitute.
Warning – I wouldn’t suggest the Red – it is meant for a more permanent or heavy-duty application.
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I bought the classic May of 2008. My husband was mowing today and the handle snapped in two… Clearly, my husband is upset since it has only been a few months over two years with long minnesota winters and a small city lot. Any idea of where we can buy a new handle? Or what the warrenty is on this model? Thanks!
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I don’t remember if there is a one year or two year manufacturer’s warranty for this mower.
American Lawnmower is typically very good about customer service. They can replace parts under warranty, or sell you individual parts if you need them. You can contact them from this web site: https://www.reelin.com/ and https://www.reelin.com/ReplacementParts.aspx
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where can i get info on SCOTTS 18 INCH SUPREME REEL MOWER
thanks
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I think that mower is exclusive to Home Depot. I believe that it’s almost exactly the same as the Scotts Classic 20 inch, except that it has a narrower reel. So all of the information about the Scotts Classic should apply, except for the cutting width.
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stan burkley Reply:
April 10th, 2010 at 11:06 am
@rod rotan, Unfortunately you are wrong. The 18″ Scotts model differs from the 20″ in more than cutting width. The former has a mowing height which is adjustable from 1/2″ to 2 3/4″, whereas the latter is adjustable from 1″ to 3″. Better luck next time.
If you had not rejected my prior comment during your inane moderation, I would not have had to repeat myself and correct your mistake.
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Joel Reply:
May 5th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
@stan burkley, I’m curious as to why you seem so hostile. If your original comments (that were moderated out) were in the same vile tone, I think the moderator was correct. Besides, an error in height adjustment of 1/2″ on the low end and 1/4″ on the high end gives you no reason to be so smug.
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I was wondering about the drive train of the Scotts. Is it a flywheel system? I just purchased an old Scotts silent, but I don’t want to tear it apart to figure out how it works. If you have any websites that may help me in this search, it would be much appreciated as well.
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The Silent Scotts is different than the Scotts Classic. I believe that the old Silent Scotts is the same as the Agri Fab mower. But you might check with the Reel Lawn Mower History site to see if they know more about that mower, and how it is constructed. http://users.crocker.com/~jricci/
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I have a 20″ mower labeled Task Force Model 26153 and sold by Lowe’s. Maybe this is a rebranding of a Scott’s model as the information and photos look similar.
I’m glad I found the info on how to sharpen this. The only difference being I needed to use a 19mm socket to rotate the blades as the handle that comes in the kit won’t fit on my mower as the piece that locks into the back of the gear wheel is larger.
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I really want to get the Scotts 20″ Classic reel mower, but I find it really disappointing that the lowest mowing height setting is 1″. I have Bermudagrass, and optimal mowing height for it is 1/2 – 1″. I would prefer to stick to the bottom/middle of that range (i.e. 1/2 – 3/4″), not at the top of it (i.e. 1″). I guess I have to get the 18″ model or another brand. Bummer.
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I just bought a new Scotts mower and it seems to cut just fine but it squeals the entire time I’m mowing – really, really loud.
It’s a horrible sound and I don’t remember reel mowers ever sounding like that.
Is there something I can do to stop the squealing?
Thanks!
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steve Reply:
April 12th, 2010 at 6:52 am
@Lynn, The Scotts mower should not be squealing as you have described. It sounds like it might just need to be lubricated. Do your best to listen to where the noise is coming from. Apply some grease or silicone lubricant and roll the mower to get the lubricant into the area. If that does not do the trick and/or you can’t find where it is squeaking try spraying the axel area with WD40, and where the reel attaches.
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Hi. I just purchased a Scott’s Classic 20inch mower and just had a general question. What is the best way to clean the grass clippings off of the mower??? Should I use a hose or will this do damage to the reel and moving parts within the mower??? Please help. Thanks in advance.
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steve Reply:
April 16th, 2010 at 7:28 am
Rez@
Using a hose will work fine. However you will need to lubricate occasionally, maybe once or twice a year. Using a rag or small broom or brush is another way to clean your mower. Try focusing the water on the reel itself, limiting the water in the wheel area.
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After getting tired of the clipping bag always slipping off (spilling clippings everywhere) — it didn’t seem to matter how i positioned the hooks — I just took a couple of twist-ties (the metal core kind) and used em to secure the bag to the mower.
Nowadays though after some new advice about lawn care I’ve stopped using the bag and leave the clippings on the lawn. Most of the year here with the steady rains the clippings sink to the ground before they get a chance to get brown. The clippings go back into the humus making for healthier grass and the clippings also help fill in dead lawn spots.
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Hello All,
I really am considering one of these great mowers for the home I am currently shopping for.
My main questions is – is it reasonable to cut a half acre plus with one of these mowers? About how long would you expect it to take?
I live in south-west FL. The grass on most the places I am checking out is bahiagrass (one or the other) and Very few St augustine. I’ve never been the biggest fan of the augustine look. Nonetheless, how do these reel mowers perform on these different types of grasses?
Thank you so much for your time/input
(\/)ilo
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I ordered one of these from Ace. It does not work half so well as another reel mower I bought off the shelf at about 2/3 the price.
It is very hard to push and only cuts on the left side no matter how I adjust the screws. I have yet to cut a lawn with it although I’ve had it around a year
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steve Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 8:38 am
@susann, It sounds like one of two things. Either the reel is warped or you still have not gotten it correctly adjusted. Double check the adjustment to be sure the reel is equally spaced with the cutting bar. In other words, flip the mower over and compare the distance between the reel and the cutting bar, making sure it just barely touching the same amount all the way across.
Good luck!
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I just bought a Scott’s 20″ Classic on eBay for our townhouse and for the most part it has been great (especially the storage aspect). One question though, about 1″ to 1.5″ of each edge of the blades still has the factory green paint on them, which seems to indicate the mower has NEVER cut the full 20″ width even from new out of the box. Is this normal? I am wondering if I should keep trying to adjust the cutting bar to try and capture the full width or if I’m must wasting my time and settle on the roughly 16-17″ cutting width? Thanks for the descriptions & tips…very helpful!
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lars Reply:
June 14th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
@Derek
If you’re getting a pretty good cut now, I probably wouldn’t mess with it. The Scotts Classic isn’t exactly known for its extremely precise manufacturing tolerances.
You could try tightening down the reel a little bit more to see if that gives you a little bit wider contact between the reel and the cutter bar. But be careful, because if you bring it in too close, then it’s going to be really hard to push the mower because there will be too much friction.
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I’d be curious how this compares to the Brill Mowers and NaturCut Mowers (formerly Sunlawn.) I have the Great States 16″ mower which works the same as the Scotts Classic, but it’s really hard to push. It did get a lot easier though once I followed the instructions on this page on how to adjust the blade, thanks!
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steve Reply:
June 22nd, 2010 at 4:42 am
@RandyR,
The Brill is superior in that its German engineered and not made in China. Also the blades do NOT make contact with the cutting bar and therefore the resistance is much less nothing when compared to most other mowers. The Great states mower is a good mower however it does make contact and is much heavier.
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I think the right manual for this mower is the “2000-20 Owner’s Manual” available from this page: https://www.reelin.com/Manuals.aspx , at least it looks like it from the diagrams. I haven’t actually checked any of the instructions yet though.
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