Reel Grinding Schedule Cancel The title field is required!

1. Todd Allen

   

   0 posts
   
   5/10/2017 7:05 PM

   Hello everyone,
   
   Does anyone have a reel grinding schedule that you could share with us? Something other than... when they need it I grind. I would like to create a schedule to increase quality and reduce down time on the mowers.

   
   
   
   
2. Michael Kriz

   

   0 posts
   
   5/11/2017 7:05 AM

   I'm of the opinion that the only way you could achieve a "schedule" is to have a spare set of cutting units for each type mower ground and on the shelf. That way there is no pressure to hurry up and get them done.

   
   
   
   
3. Bob Pruneau

   

   5 posts
   
   5/11/2017 1:05 PM

   Greens as needed depending on topdressing program . Weekly at the very least 2 x2500e . Tees and approached by weekly walk mowed toro 1600 . Fairways 2 to 3 times a season 3x 7500 A. These are after winter grinding. April through to Sept . Oct I may front face and backlap more due to aeration and sand .

   
   
   
   
4. Roland McPhearson

   

   9 posts
   
   5/12/2017 5:05 AM

   Hi Allen,
   
   It will depend on whether you backlap, front-face etc., as Bob P. mentioned. If those techniques are employed then the following would be one scenario to consider as a base line:
   
   Greens: Spin whenever bedknives are replaced (typically every 6 weeks)
   
   Tees and Fwys: Twice a year
   
   Those would be a minimum, but that's basically what I do and one can get excellent results with that schedule.

   
   
   
   
5. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   5/12/2017 9:05 AM

   Man are we slackers. We grind once in the winter everything. Of course we have only one grinder for 3 courses, only a few sets of extra reels, and we share an equipment manager. Have no real issues. Our PM guy could maybe back lap more and maybe try front facing, but really no issues I don't think at any of our courses, and that's with HOC's all over the place. I do know we topdress every other week, but will not mow after for about 3 days, we will roll at that time. I do think back lapping programs our different at each course depending on the PM guys there.
   
   I've never been at a place, either in the south or north where we ground our reels more than once a season. We did back lap a little more consistently, greens we used to do once a week, all others every other week.
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
6. Bob Pruneau

   

   5 posts
   
   5/13/2017 5:05 AM

   Seems to be the norm for topdressing now a days for greens . All the "grinding" mentioned above is just touching them up 4 to 10 minutes a reel . Bedknives I'll pull off machine when hanging from the lift if the reels look ok . I have Bernhard grinders and find it easier to just pull them and touch them up . Greens mowers are the only ones I reely grind because of HZoC and sand .

   
   
   
   
7. Wade Borthwick

   

   0 posts
   
   5/15/2017 4:05 PM

   Greens
   Walkers - as used will check when they come in and again on first cut. (they get left for a bit want to make sure nothing happened)
   Triplexs - Every other week, face bedknife and bench check on week in between.
   Tees - once a month, check bedknife and a quick spin on grinders
   Fairways - once a month, bench check and spin as necessary probably grind every six weeks to two months
   Surrounds - once a season and adjust as needed
   Rough - swap blades once a week
   All reel mowers, I will grind bedknives if I can not get good quality with a face and grind on the first reel I pull or any subsequent one.
   All time frames are subject to sand and other cultural practices, we will roll only, the day after a topdress.
   I will go out on the course every morning and have a look at all mowers that have gone out.

   
   
   
   
8. Stephen Tucker

   

   0 posts
   
   5/16/2017 4:05 AM

   Greens - Generally once a month but we do as needed based on how well they are cutting. No sense grinding something that doesn't need it (cost of new reels and labor). We also face with a hand fily daily after use.
   Tees, Approaches, Fairways - Grind generally every other month based on need. We also hand file these bedknives after each use.
   Rough - Change blades out weekly on rotary and grind as needed on rough hand filing after use.
   
   As Bob mentioned these are all touch up grinds to regain the cutting edges on the reel and bedknife minimizing the amount of material we take off of the reel and bedknife. Located in FL so this is a fairly standard practice for us year round. These times will also vary based on course conditions, tournaments, sand, cultural practices, etc. For us there are just to many variables to put a defined grinding schedule in place.