American Lawn Mower Company SK-1 Reel Mower Sharpening Kit

Other products by American Lawn Mower

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description
The American Lawn Mower Company reel mower sharpening kit is an easy way to keep reel blades in top cutting form. This do-it-yourself kit allows users to sharpen their own mowers at home. The kit contains everything you need for safe and effective sharpening, including a detailed instruction manual, grinding compound, application brush, and a special back-lapping crank. The kits is designed for use with 1705-16 and 1815-18 push mowers. Cutting down on mowing time, this sharpening kits gives you an environmentally-friendly, perfectly cut lawn.

Product Details

• Item Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004R9UM
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: SK-1
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #52 in Home Improvement (See Bestsellers in Home Improvement)

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  #2 in	Home Improvement > Outdoor Power & Lawn Equipment > Mowers & Tractors > Push Mowers
  #2 in	Home Improvement > Outdoor Power & Lawn Equipment > Mowers & Tractors > Push Reel Mowers

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

112 of 112 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Do it yourself and do a superior job, December 15, 2004

By	skst (Arlington Hts., IL USA) - See all my reviews

If you have a reel mower, you need to sharpen the blades every couple of years, depending on how much you use it (just like with a power mower). If you used to have a power mower, you might be tempted to try to find someone to do it for you. Although I heard of someone in my area who *might* be able to do it, I decided to try this kit first.

The directions are straight-forward and clearly described in the manual. In short: turn the mower upside-down, use the brush to "paint" the compound (a thick goop) along the end of each blade, pop off a wheel, slip on the crank, and have your son turn it for a couple of minutes. (If you don't have children, you'll have to do it yourself.) Finally clean off the compound and re-assemble the mower. You should be able to complete this chore in 30-45 minutes. (The alternative is to pack it up, drive it to someone else, and come home; then later drive over, pick it up, and drive it home again. Oh yeah, and you'd have to pay for it too.)

The manual also describes how to adjust the blades for the optimal cut, which is something you need to do occasionally. I use strips of newspaper to ensure an even cut along the entire width of the reel.

I estimate there's enough compound in this kit for about six or eight sharpenings, which means it could last up to ten years--quite a deal compared to paying someone else to do this simple chore--and you'll have the satisifaction of knowing you did a great job.

102 of 103 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This LOOKS like something "not sold in stores!", June 21, 2004

By	Opinion_Sharer (Kinderhook, NY United States) - See all my reviews

The description of this product really should include a paragraph about how it actually works because the picture gives you absolutely no indication of what it does. The crank lets you turn the blades backwards and the "sharpening compound" which you "paint" on to the cutting edges of the blades turns the mower frame into a grinding stone. It really works well. But wait, there's more... The instructions are excellent and they also tell you how to adjust the blades. Sending the mower out to a professional (if you can find one who works on reel mowers) will cost you about 75% of what you'll pay for a new machine. This kit is worth it.

A lot of the negative reviews about the reel mowers here on Amazon.com probably come from people who haven't adjusted their machines correctly. My mower is working better than ever after making just a few simple adjustments.

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Push It Backward!!!, April 7, 2007

By	M. Fitz (Naperville, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There isn't much to say about this product. It sharpens, and works well on my American lawn mower. However, the directions are flawed. If you READ THE MOWER MANUAL (not the manual in the sharpening kit), it will tell you to do the following:
1. Remove BOTH wheels
2. Remove and switch ratchet gears from L to R and vice versa
3. Flip over pawls
4. Apply Compound
5. PUSH MOWER BACKWARDS!!!!! (for about 5 minutes, or until sharpening goo changes color. Mine turns grey)

The instructions in the sharpening kit tell you to use the stupid crank, which takes forever. If you just push the mower backwards, the blades get sharpened in about 5 minutes. Then you just switch the ratchet gears back and re-flip-over the pawls (and put the wheels back on). My only complaint is that they didn't SAY that. However, I give it 5 stars anyway, because if you use it how you SHOULD, it is very easy, and makes the cutting quality much better.