Customer Reviews

Brill 78370 Luxus 38 15-Inch Push Reel Mower

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

If you are thinking about going from a gas-powered mower to a reel mower there a few things you should understand. I own a new Luxus 38 and have used it to mow my lawn (approx. 800 - 1000 square ft.) 3 times and it is harder than a power mower. This seems obvious enough maybe but I was surprised at how much. I have a deep regard for the enviroment and this is just a step in a larger trend to simplify my life so I intend to continue using it but I have had to change a few things on how I work in my yard that are outlined here along with some personal opinion mixed in for fun.

1. all small twigs and sticks have to raked up prior to mowing. even then you will have problems. a stick 1 inch long and a quarter inch in diameter will stop the mower dead if it is caught just right. It happens at least once every time I mow and so far it has been more like five or six times. I failed to understand that the wheels make the reel spin. But when the reel stops suddenly so do the wheels and so do I. I have the blisters to prove it.

2. If your yard is bumpy or has lots of roots all over rethink a reel mower. Luckily only part of my yard is like this. The mower gets caught in ruts easily and if the ground is rough the blades don't spin well and don't cut well. A mostly level ground is best.

3. when you first get the Luxus 38 you'll see there is a depth setting (45mm to 15mm - I think its 15mm, anyway) The first day I set it for 45mm and away I went. While later I wondering where I put the box this thing came in so I could send it back. After I thought about it though I realized why it was so hard to push through my yard. My power mower cut the yard 'high' but the highest setting on the Luxus 38 is much lower than my power mower (which broke by the way). I was cutting through the 'bed' of the grass and not just the new growth since the last mowing. The next mowing (about 4 days later) I set the gauge for 45mm (and it was pretty easy) and then mowed it again at 35mm immediately after the 45mm and then a 3rd time at 30mm (which was hard) immediately after the 35mm. So I mowed the yard 3 times that day but I have moved the 'bed' of the lawn further down and given me more time inbetween mowings. So if you can set your power mower to its lowest cut before using the Luxus 38 and then just continue to use the reel mower to maintain the lawn you'll save yourself a lot of needless work.

4. The Brill Luxus 38 marketing material claim the blades never need to be sharpend. I'm leary of that statement but have nothing to counter it. What I did learn is that the blades cannot be sharpened. The whole reel has to be replaced at an unknown cost.
something to think about anyway.

5. I'm concerned about the new growth in spring. Now that I have my lawn 'bed' moved I think I can get away with once a week but in the spring I can see myself mowing 2 or 3 times a week to keep up with the growth. Because the wheels have shallow treads if the lawn is wet the wheel will slide over the grass, the reel stops spinning and no grass gets cut. I might have to get my gas mower fixed just for those situations.

6. Some postive stuff: Once I moved the 'bed' of the lawn down it was very easy to mow the yard and took about the same amount of time of a power mower (except for the raking). I enjoyed it more and so did my dogs. I've had several neighbors inquire about it and one guy I've never seen before. I'm using my upper body and legs more when I mow. The plastic middle of the mower is more then just design. It help soften the impact of a sudden stop. It would be much mmore jarring without it. I feel better not using fuel in such an inefficient manner as a power mower.

I gave the Luxus 38 a 4 star because I feel it is a good mower that is well designed. It took about 20 min to set up and use. The depth guages, if not tightened properly, move when mowing and you can find suddenly that mowing is much harder because your mowing too low. The handle is firm and durable but not uncomfortable. There is a 3" thin piece of metal that comes with the Luxus 38. SAVE IT! it is used to realign the blades to the .5mm spacing at some future date. The wheels can slide over grass when damp or there are a lot of cuttings on the ground. Mostly what is missing in the manual is a good explaination about how to switch from a power mower to a reel and be successful at it. Maybe they should talk to Apple!

This is one of those few purchases that I've actually been thrilled with. Everyone I know who used a reel mower in the past advised me against buying one, and after seeing the options at the local home center, I understood why. The Brill Luxus 38 is nothing like the common offerings. It is remarkably lightweight, solid, and silent. I have used it for an entire season now, and find that I actually look forward to mowing my lawn... really.

True, I do have a small property... maybe a bit less than 1/4 acre, but I'm able to mow it in under 15 mins. And that's strolling at a leisurely pace. You won't have to strain to get over the initial friction of pushing this mower from a stop, as the non-contacting blade arrangement limits both noise and resistance.

I've also found that during a busy week, I can even mow the lawn in my work clothes (slacks, shirt, and tie) right before I leave for work in the morning or right after returning in the evening (you might want to change your shoes though). The lack of gas fumes and flying debris means I don't have to worry about ruining my clothes or smelling like exhaust.

Since the mower is extremely quiet, I don't worry about disturbing the neighbors in the morning hours. Actually, I've seen the local landscapers waiting for 7 AM (the time the local ordinance permits use of noisy equipment) to start on the neighbors lawn, as I pull out of my driveway for work having just mowed my lawn and hung the brill on the garage wall.

Since I want this mower to last me for years to come, I do make sure to wipe the blades down after each mowing... just 5 mins with a clean rag to wipe off any dew or moisture. I also keep mine set at the max cutting height of just about 2". This may be too short for some, but I don't find it to be an issue at all. I considered buying the optional grass catcher, but I'm glad that I didn't. I'd never use it anyway, as the Brill tosses out a shower of individual blades rather than the clumps you can get from a rotary mower.

Just a few words about any tradeoffs vs a traditional rotary mower... first, check into the types of grass that this mower can handle. It doesn't have the power to handle really tough grasses, twigs, or other solid debris. While a rotary mower would send debris flying, the Brill will stop in its tracks if so much as a twig gets between the blades. Mind you, this is not a problem, a simple tap with your heel to reverse the blade is all it takes to dislodge most debris most of the time. Also, be sure not to let your lawn grow TOOO long, as I've heard this can bog any reel mower down. I never had a problem (here in NJ) mowing at 1-2 week intervals.

So... do yourself and the environment a favor. Buy a Brill.

I have a lawn that is less than a quarter of an acre and decided 18 months ago to purchase the Black and Decker CMM 1000 cordless electric mower. It was costly at the time but I decided to become environmently friendly.

It worked well last year but got bogged down when the lawn was wet. But overall it seemed to be a good choice.

Now my Black and Decker is in the shop for a product recall. The printed circuit board is prone to catching on fire. Furthermore the battery seems to have failed. It would operate for about 2 minutes, then quit. I spent more time standing in my yard waiting for the fuse to reset before attempting a restart.

Enough of Black and Decker.

Last month I borrowed my neighbor's 4 stroke gas powered mulcher. That did the job but as I was cutting, I needed to lift up the mower and "shake" the clumped clippings from underneath. My lawn looked out of place. My neighbor's mower also missed the dandelions I have flourishing in my yard, just as my Black & Decker did.

Then I purchased the Luxus 38 and am pleased. The dandelions and other tall weeds are still a challenge but the finished result is worth noticing. The Luxus 38 is a far cry from the heavy old Sears one my parents had in the '50's. It doesn't cut as much in one pass as the Black & Decker but the results are visuallly appealing. Additionally, the Luxus 38 has an adjustmemt from approximately 1/2 inch to 2 inches. Some homeowners prefer to have a higher cut lawn. The Scotts' 2000-20 20" push mower should fit the bill for your needs. As for the concerns most people have about its inability to cut around borders, I think this is a trade off for the ease and convenience of what I consider to be a light weight but well engineered push mower.

As for my lawn, it is predominately Zoysia grass. The Luxus 38 easily plows through this coarse lawn with very little effort.

I have one concern. Before using this or any push mower, take the time to thoroughly rake your lawn before using it. Once the blades are damaged, you will have to deal with your indiscretion.

The Luxus 38 is sometimes called the Brill 38. The manufacturer claims that with normal use, you should not have a need to sharpen the blades for around 6 to 8 years. Try finding a push mower with that claim to fame.

In short, the Luxus 38/Brill 38 is worth considering. It's light weight, has sealed ball bearings and rarely needs sharpening.

I would like to give it 5 stars but I haven't had it too long to give it the 5 star treatment. Time will tell.

While this mower might not be for everyone, I couldn't be happier with it. This is not your grandpappy's reel mower... the blades do not come in contact with the cutting deck, which means it is super quiet and easy to push. It is also light as a feather (ok... 17lbs of feathers) which means that you can hang it up in the garage, or easily lift it from one area of the yard to another.

Besides not having to mess with gas, spark plugs, and exhaust fumes, it promises not to require a sharpening for 7-10 years. That's a nice little feature. Sure it's a bit pricey, but it's the best reel mower that you can buy, and it's cheaper than a decent gas mower (not to mention the money you'll save on gas, sharpenings, and ear plugs).

I leave the mower set to the highest cutting height of just under 2". I find that the mower glides over the lawn at this setting and is high enough that I almost never have to water the lawn (this was a relatively wet summer, but I never watered the lawn - not even on the hottest days - and it looks fantastic).

Admittedly, I have a rather small yard (50x100 total property), and I do not know if this would be a practical option for someone with, say, an acre. I can honestly say, that I look forward to cutting the lawn now, as it has become a rather peaceful walk in the grass rather than a noisy, smelly, chore. When I'm done, I'm always surprised at how great the lawn looks - this mower does not leave the 'row' marks in the lawn that traditional mowers do. Instead, it leaves a rather natural looking lawn.

It is true that the occaisional twig will stop the mower cold, but this has not proven to be even a minor problem. I simply roll the blades backward with the bottom of my shoe which usually frees the twig and I'm back to mowing. For a while I had the mower set to lower settings, and the twig issue was a bigger (albeit still minor) problem. Now, at the highest setting, I simply breeze over most of them. I pick up the bigger twigs before I mow, which is an added step I suppose.

Finally, I do not have the bag and do not rake the lawn after I'm done. Unlike a traditional mower, the cut grass does not fall in big clumps that kill the lawn beneath. Rather, it kind of flies out in whispy individual blades that work their way to the soil and are eventually composted. I imagine that I'll eventually have to dethatch, but I'm not sure as it really hasn't formed a thick mat at the base of the lawn.

I've owned a Scotts push reel mower for 2 years now and have seen the potential problems with push mowers. The difficulty with the Scotts is that it doesn't cut all of the grass consistantly and you end up going back over the same areas again. I've even tried the sharpening kit and various positioning the blade against the back edge and haven't seemed to get it exactly right. I have even picked up a yard sale push reel mower that is really old and rusty and it worked better but was heavy.
I saw the Brill Lexus 38 go on sale at Amazon for $149 and just had to try it. It cuts like no other. All of the grass gets cut and it is so light. Don't worry about the lack of 4 1/2" of cutting width because it is more than made up in the precision of the cut it makes.

I've used this mower for about 3 months now. My lawn is about 4000 square feet and I can usually cut it in about an hour. You can order an optional grass catcher which I use once a month or so although it only catches 3/4 or so of the clippings. Setup was pretty easy although the instructions were not all that clear. There was a helpful video somewhere online I saw which showed how setup should be done. I let a neighbor borrow it and he ended up buying one too!

I remember cutting a lawn with a push mower at neighbor's house when I was a kid and dreaded it becuase it was so heavy. My dad always had a loud gas mower. This mower, in contrast, weighs about 15 lbs. or so and is very quiet. An average man should be able to pick it up with one arm. Pushing this on a reasonably flat lawn is really not that more difficult than just walking without it. Most reasonably fit people should have no problems using this that I can imagine.

All of the pros to this mower have been adequately articulated: it cuts grass very well, no gas needed, very quiet, etc. For most people with a medium sized lawn, I would say that the cutting time versus a gas powered push mower is about the same.

A few drawbacks are that it does not cut tall weeds well--or even at all--it just runs over them. That's no big deal for most people, just bend over and yank it out. The mower is also not great for edging. I have a weed wacker and do edging once a month or so which works fine.

Also small twigs or wood chips will get stuck between the rotating cutter and the base of the frame causing the wheels not to turn and the cutter to come to an abrupt stop. This will happen when you mow. You can minmize it by raking or picking those things up. Once or twice on a typical mow is no big deal, you just slide the mower backwards, pick up the twig/chip and throw it away.

All in all, this could be a very good alternative to a gas-powered mower for a lot of people with an average sized lawn. Factoring in gas and maintenance costs, it should save a lot of money over the long run too.

RECONSIDERATION AFTER 3 YEARS USE: I've had my Brill and used it for 3 years, from 2006 through 2008 and just used it again a few times in 2009. In retrospect, I would give it 3 stars, instead of the 4 I originally gave. I know about adjustment and the best way to use this mower but for whatever reason it has become harder to use this mower. Perhaps my grass has become more healthy?

4 factors may work against this mower for some. First, if you live in a moist climate and do not have a lot of time to cut your grass (i.e., only the weekends), this mower does not do well on wet grass and it rains the most in the spring when my grass is its thickest. Second, it has been pointed out before that this mower does not do real well on Bermuda and Zoyzia grasses. Third, if your grass is not flat, the two wheel design will not work very well. Fourth, the handle is probably better designed for taller people, it is a little too high for me so I push from my shoulders rather than my hips where I could generate more power. Unfortunately, all of these factors work against me and in spring I dread mowing. I am a strong guy and in very good shape but still this is a challenge--I even use it for interval training. If all these factors were a little different, I could see that this would still be a good mower.

I am absolutely thrilled with the Brill Luxus mower I just purchased. We're talking 1/4 acre here in the Northeast; I thought I'd give it its 1st trial run the other evening, and I couldn't stop! Wish I had more to mow! It's actually easier than a power mower! No smelly fumes, no noise- it's just loverly! And I'm a 60 year old female who has lost some strength! Go for it! It's worth every penny!

Leave it to the Europeans to show us Americans how to mow a lawn without gas. I love showing off my Brill Luxus 38---it's the closest to a owning German performance car that I will ever come!

This lightweight, stylish reel mower, which I purchased refurbished from the factory, has actually made mowing fun. I can mow at 6:30 AM without waking the neighbors or I can listen to the radio as I mow, two things that would have been unthinkable with a gasoline mower. While it definitely takes more effort to push this mower than to use a self-propelled gas mower, the exercise feels great and the clean sweat is a good way to start the weekend. Our yard is a medium-small yard, with a few rooty trees, and it takes roughly an hour per week to mow. (The mower even managed to cut the grass after a rainy two-week vacation, although then it took me almost three hours to mow the lawn.) According to the manufacturers, the blade never needs resharpening either; you simply adjust the blade reel within the cutting deck every year or so to keep the parts aligned.

If only this level of thought, engineering, and design went into all aspects of lawncare.

I put this together in a few minutes with a 1 year old strapped to my back. I was very impressed with the mechanism-it seems that it would be impossible to hurt someone with it, with the back roller and front guard. My 13 year old was able to carry it up and down our steep hill to our flat yard. Easy to manuever, easily adjusted blades (golf course lengths easily done), no more trips to the gas station.

I have been using a reel or push mower for almost 5 years after purchasing an antique 1940 Sears model at a garage sale. Though it is quite sturdy with a wooden shaft and metal wheels it weighs too much and it is more than a bit hard to push. I still managed to cut my grass, though I needed to frequently go over the same path. The other main problem is that it needed a once a year blade sharpening. Buying a conventional gas engine mower was not an option as I just hate using gas, pulling a start cord that frequently tangles, doing yearly tune-ups and sharpening the blade. Moreover, I hate the safety risks with that kind of mower. Finally, I just have an "eco" mindset and like the green philosophy behind the reel mower. So, I've been shopping around for the last couple of months and investigating the new push mowers on the market. My local hardware store had some Scott models but I just wasn't that thrilled with any of them. I ran across the Brill on various websites (bought it on Amazon). This push mower is incredibly lightweight and takes on the lawn at warp speed. I've cut my mowing time from 2 hours to about 30 minutes (cuts even quicker than the gas powered mower types). The grass is cut on the first pass so there is no need for going over the same mowing paths. The mower also seems to do well in all types of grass as some of my yard is a traditional blend while I also have started an area of zoysia. Assembly was a snap as well. The mower has almost no noise so that heightens the outdoor experience. I am not sure how my neighbors endure the sound of their traditional gas mowers?!? The biggest requirement is of course that you never let the grass get out of control height-wise though a 1-1 1/2 week growth seems to be easy for this machine. So far I am extremely pleased. The manufacturer claims that the blade does not need sharpening for some 5-8 years. I am not convinced that it will last that long but if I can get 3+ years I will be happy. So far, so good.