Push Reel Mower Restoration

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  • čas přidán 6. 02. 2020
  • My father sent me a picture of an old push reel mower and asked if I wanted to restore it. It seemed like a great idea to me so I decided to take the challenge on.
    This was probably the most annoying restoration project I've worked on so far. The main reason it was such a pain is because I completely disassembled the rotating blade assembly. It took me much longer than expected to figure out which blade went where and then I spent a very long time sharpening them.
    Enough complaining. I am really happy with how this project ended up. Let me know what you think.
    Instagram: restoration.station
    Facebook: Restoration.Station.FB
    TikTok: tiktok.com/@restostaysh
    ____________________________________________________________________________________________
    Products used in video:
    PB B'laster Penetrating Oil/Catalyst: amzn.to/2Y3xijI
    Mothers VLR: amzn.to/39jzHwV
    Evapo Rust Rust Remover: amzn.to/3bkg8q7
    Minwax Polyurethane Aerosol: amzn.to/2H4eTNU
    American Lawn Mower Sharpening Kit: amzn.to/2Oz80rL
  • Jak na to + styl

Komentáře • 2,5K

  • @dickJohnsonpeter
    @dickJohnsonpeter Před 4 lety +814

    "I'm mowing the air Randy!"

  • @TOOFUTURETV
    @TOOFUTURETV Před 9 měsíci +13

    If you told me last week I’d be watching restoration videos before bed to relax I wouldn’t have believed it.
    Great work, a pleasure to watch this wonderful chilled viewing.

    • @gergemall
      @gergemall Před 8 měsíci +1

      Agree . Fine craftsmanship in this wonderful restoration.❤ thank you

  • @thomasburk4885
    @thomasburk4885 Před 3 lety +255

    I love that he doesn't have a bunch of crappy royalty free music playing.

    • @thayne559
      @thayne559 Před 2 lety +10

      Ditto. I hate that crap. I either mute or move on to another video.

    • @tatiannazutania7751
      @tatiannazutania7751 Před 2 lety +1

      AMEN to that!!!!

    • @macinfloydvolk
      @macinfloydvolk Před 2 lety +2

      He tryna to hit that ASMR crowd …

    • @charlessawallich1870
      @charlessawallich1870 Před 2 lety

      Wrangler star known for crappy sad music

    • @macinfloydvolk
      @macinfloydvolk Před 2 lety +3

      @@charlessawallich1870 I stopped watching wrangle star a long time ago - something about that guy just bothers the shit out of me

  • @Nancy-mi3xe
    @Nancy-mi3xe Před rokem +17

    This is exactly like the one we had when I was a kid. I used to mow the front lawn with it....I must've been around 7 or 8, and it took all my strength to push it fast enough to actually cut the grass. What a classic! Thanks for saving it.

    • @allensworth79
      @allensworth79 Před 9 měsíci +1

      They make ones now thats a lot easier to puch.

  • @jackbrown4911
    @jackbrown4911 Před 3 lety +37

    Even after a year, this is still my favorite restoration that I’ve seen on CZcams. It just satisfies me a ton

    • @gergemall
      @gergemall Před 8 měsíci

      I love this channel . I love these reel mowers and doubt I will go back to the motorized ones. Bravo ❤ on the restoration. God bless.

  • @strangecactus6711
    @strangecactus6711 Před 4 lety +732

    this is how I feel in class when taking apart my pen and put it back together

  • @barrylitchfield250
    @barrylitchfield250 Před 4 lety +251

    The same thing happened to me when I was a kid. I mowed neighbors lawns to earn money. One of those customers offered me an old gas powered rotary lawnmower just to get it out of their garage. It had an old Clinton engine and a rope pull starter (not a recoil starter). It sat in our garage until we had winter weather. I stripped every part off, cleaned them, hand cut new gaskets for the carb, painted it, & sharpened the blade. I waited until spring for gassing it up and trying to start it. Much to my surprise, it started on the first pull!

    • @nielsrooiman772
      @nielsrooiman772 Před 4 lety +8

      Good job

    • @theherrdark4834
      @theherrdark4834 Před 4 lety +48

      Well, if everything is clean in tune and adjusted they should.
      My father got this old push mower for free from the side of the road put fuel in it and tried to start it, could not get it to run and threw it because he said he got screwed. Let me explain something for later, my father was a complete moron.
      When my father went in for his afternoon 3-hour nap, my uncle went over pulled the mower to the steps and started to look it over and pulled the plug out, put his thumb over the hole and rotated the blade and it pushed his thumb off. he then checked the spark and took the cover off and started to clean things up with wd-40, a small wire brush and an emery cloth, put it back together checked the spark made a gap adjustment of the plug with his pocket knife, put it back in, and one pull it started right up.
      My father came out slamming the door open, saw it running and then stomped back in the house like the baby he was.
      Now here is the good part, my Uncle went home and my father came out pulled the mower and proceeded to smash it with a sledgehammer. He said he was scrapping it to prove how smart he was at making money.
      I learned so much from my uncle by just watching him.

    • @JamLeGull
      @JamLeGull Před 4 lety +15

      TheHerrDark holy shit what a dickhead. Glad my dad isn’t that much of a tool.

    • @djdime2002
      @djdime2002 Před 4 lety +6

      @@theherrdark4834 No one cares about your messed up father. Shut up and move along.

    • @theherrdark4834
      @theherrdark4834 Před 4 lety +13

      ​@@djdime2002 No

  • @Barbarra63297
    @Barbarra63297 Před 2 měsíci

    I'll be 70 in May, boy do I remember brother and I cutting the lawn with these. We had one about the cutting width of the one in your vid and one with a narrower cutting swath, the wider one was a bear to push, the narrower one was easy but didn't cut as much width wise, either way we were screwed. lol. Really enjoy watching this, took me back to the 60's mowing the grass!

  • @expatmousse5196
    @expatmousse5196 Před 2 lety +1

    God i remember using one of these in the 70s as a kid to mow our lawn, I found it when we moved into the house in a coal bunker with no handle, I found a stick in the woods screwed it on and he presto, mom didn’t have a lawn mower till then, we used it quite a few years till she could buy new, oh the memories….. thanx for showing this super Reno, very well done 👍🏻

  • @masessum1
    @masessum1 Před 4 lety +1583

    I was pretty disappointed he didn't cut some grass with it afterwards...

    • @richl2723
      @richl2723 Před 4 lety +104

      @bodd boward Not even the paper you saw it cut?

    • @jacoblaszakovits3035
      @jacoblaszakovits3035 Před 4 lety +30

      bodd boward was the paper fake

    • @Blastof-ob2zb
      @Blastof-ob2zb Před 4 lety +151

      Rich L the paper was a paid actor

    • @richl2723
      @richl2723 Před 4 lety +19

      @@Blastof-ob2zb That explains it, lol.

    • @thIDthIRreenactor
      @thIDthIRreenactor Před 4 lety +20

      @bodd boward I have one of those from 1906 blades not sharpened it was in the state it was before the restoration it cut my yard nice

  • @vraven-tc6cg
    @vraven-tc6cg Před 4 lety +159

    I remember when I was like 6, my grandfather would let me push this thing around his yard. I would get my fun and he would get a tired, less hyper kid, along with a partially cut lawn lol.

    • @dreddj.9451
      @dreddj.9451 Před 3 lety +1

      See my comment,, I was 11, and started my own business,, ; D

    • @snowstrobe
      @snowstrobe Před 3 lety

      I used to chop toads with it.

    • @sheiladawg1664
      @sheiladawg1664 Před 3 lety +1

      @@dreddj.9451 Oh OK!!! We're gonna go look you up! We're SO intrigued!!!

    • @RandysDirtyBurger
      @RandysDirtyBurger Před 3 lety

      @@dreddj.9451 no you didn’t

    • @jessicamiro7305
      @jessicamiro7305 Před 2 lety

      Your grandfather was brilliant !!!!

  • @jimfrostpreaches
    @jimfrostpreaches Před 4 lety +17

    The first time I was paid to mow a lawn, when I was a kid, was with a push mower just like this. At the time this was the definition of push mower, what we call push mowers today were called power mowers! I enjoyed this a lot, as it brought back memories.

  • @robertwheeler4068
    @robertwheeler4068 Před rokem +1

    OH YEAH! I remember these mowers...my older brother got the chore of pushing one these around the yard! When I became old enough to mow the lawn, my Dad had switched to a gas powered mower....but that old real mower was still around, and it still cut quite nicely! Came in handy when the gas can ran out!

  • @jsking306
    @jsking306 Před 4 lety +154

    As a kid, I spent many hours pushing one of these around the yard. Our mower looked more like your "before" model. Great job! Thanks.

    • @karhukivi
      @karhukivi Před 4 lety +3

      Me too, ours looked like the "before" and the friction in the works was incredible, really hard work to cut the grass then.

    • @MisterRorschach90
      @MisterRorschach90 Před 4 lety +1

      Forcing children to use these mowers is the worst punishment one can give a child.

    • @jsking306
      @jsking306 Před 4 lety +1

      @@MisterRorschach90 Yeah, but I got $0.50 (US) a week allowance! :-)

    • @karhukivi
      @karhukivi Před 4 lety +1

      @Sandman Huffmaster I didn't get pocket money and we didn't have an edger, I had to run the mower with one wheel on the path and the other on the grass to do the edges. Now, 60 years later, I often do the grass strips along our street with a lightweight hover mower just for fun!

    • @stevelopez372
      @stevelopez372 Před 4 lety +8

      Sky King Yup if the millennials are serious about saving Mother Earth they should take us back to this, something the Boomers are familiar with.Instead they are proud to push an electric lawn mower, Lol.

  • @cbro777
    @cbro777 Před 4 lety +80

    The nice thing about recording the process is that you always have a reference to go back and see what goes where in reassembly.

    • @xjcrossx
      @xjcrossx Před 4 lety +2

      Lol I just asked him what his method is for remembering. Can't tell you how many times I took something apart and had to look up where or how it went back.

    • @Cacowninja
      @Cacowninja Před 4 lety

      Exactly!

    • @dreddj.9451
      @dreddj.9451 Před 3 lety

      Hahaha thought of that many times,,, yet,, I being an electrician,, it does not always work that way,, thus a good memory and knowledge of my work beforehand has kept me out of trouble and my customers asking, ''do you know what youre doing?" ,,, I sometimes kid with them, and say,, Nahhh I just guess really good,,, hahahah,, take care E

  • @rayannehorne3468
    @rayannehorne3468 Před 2 lety

    I love you and Jeff,.
    I love these "Push me pull me
    Mowers" used them often smell so very green leaves and fresh.
    Love my friends. Here for you
    Both.

    Lucia

  • @justpictureitnow
    @justpictureitnow Před rokem

    My Grandfather had one of these that I loved to "play with" as a kid. Two years ago we took out a massive Maple tree in our front yard that left nothing but wood chips and dirt. I bought a cheap reel mower to help renovate the front yard and fell in love with the quality of cut and how much my Bermuda loved it. the entire front yard grew back in naturally by the end of the summer. How I wish I had my grandfather's old reel mower today.

  • @andrewturnbull5897
    @andrewturnbull5897 Před 3 lety +102

    Beautiful work! I would like to offer an idea though; washers. Whenever you crank down a nut on the beautiful new paint, the nut will grind off the paint and this is a point for corrosion to begin. Washers reduce and eliminate this effect. I could see the square nuts in particular scraping the paint. Washers! It might enhance your wonderful work!

    • @peterzenner2020
      @peterzenner2020 Před 3 lety +8

      I agreed when I saw that. Get some very thin washers to save the beautiful paint.

    • @michaeldextermonroe8548
      @michaeldextermonroe8548 Před 3 lety +5

      He also put together pieces that were not painted after sandblasting. A rust disaster waiting to happen.

    • @jethrobodine9867
      @jethrobodine9867 Před 3 lety +3

      @@michaeldextermonroe8548
      That bothered me too.
      Also the wood handle from that period would not have knots to make it strong.

    • @sheiladawg1664
      @sheiladawg1664 Před 3 lety

      @@michaeldextermonroe8548 He could have greased the raw bolts as well.

    • @NZ255
      @NZ255 Před 3 lety +1

      @@sheiladawg1664 using anti-seize ? What would you do to the bolt heads? I’m going down this process at the moment.

  • @iamrichrocker
    @iamrichrocker Před 4 lety +16

    there is something memorizing when the mower is sharp and the grass cuttings flow thru the air in a uniform fashion and the blades clicking....brings back memories ...still would love to find one myself...

  • @coffeebitt1
    @coffeebitt1 Před 2 měsíci

    Dang son! What a fantastic job you did!!!!! BRAVO MAN

  • @Less1leg2
    @Less1leg2 Před 2 lety

    My grandparents had this same one. It worked great. Keep it oiled, keep it out of the rain. Boy oh boy does it mow the lawn.

  • @happy04346
    @happy04346 Před 4 lety +6

    I worked at a lawn and garden center, repairing small engines etc. They had a table mounted grinder just for these blades. Pretty impressive back in the 60's.

    • @gergemall
      @gergemall Před 8 měsíci

      Very . I also have a few decades of experience in small engine repairs . I love the reel mowers and I live in St. Louis Missouri where the humidity is like Houston Texas or Acapulco Mexico. I can cut my lawn in silence with a solar LED light is cooler silence and not disturb my neighbors. Thank you

  • @petersgarage6125
    @petersgarage6125 Před rokem +3

    Nice work. Its great that people bring these old machines back to life. Awesome

  • @jeanenehea
    @jeanenehea Před 2 lety

    No talking. No music. I AM A FAN!

  • @robertbowling8393
    @robertbowling8393 Před 9 měsíci

    Lol! I'm seeing many posts here to ditto mine! I remember well the days when these were THE lawnmower. Look at where technology has brought us to! From these 'armstrong' models, to ones with gas powered ones .... then to push rotary .... yen to self-propelled models, then came the larger self-propelled .... hen to the early riders .... then the big companies jumped in with lawn tractors .... and then up to lawn and garden tractors ..... and now, everything's zero turn! (I even purchased one myself last fall) ..... A friend I the lawn care business even has a fleet of gas AND diesel commercial zero turns. I was with him during one of his more recent purchases ....
    A 'show model', specially priced at $14k (discounted price) .... .Have we gone crazy or what? Blessings to all as we forge ahead to further madness! Lol

  • @Robert8455
    @Robert8455 Před 3 lety +8

    This is a pretty amazing save and it gives me an appreciation of how well it was made. Attention to detail on the restoration will make it last another lifetime. I don't think anyone will be saving newer electric mowers from the scrap heap.

  • @alexdreher
    @alexdreher Před 2 lety +7

    I had an trick for the tires: if you want them soften and nicer looking put them in a mixture of water and fabric softener / conditioner over night. It makes the rubber soften, clean it and easier to put back. And they look newer. Works also for window seals at old cars… nice work to bring that handmower back to its former glory!

  • @bebosing5755
    @bebosing5755 Před 3 lety

    That thing is robust !! Only mostly surface rust with all the age on it....
    And it's back to being "cutting edge"!!
    Brings back fond memories of when I was a boy...
    The only fuel it needed was a good breakfast....LOL
    Great vid!! Thanks!!!

  • @randycrew
    @randycrew Před rokem +1

    When I look at each and every part you restored, I think of how many times I mowed our lawn as a kid with this mower. I remember the square nuts I tightened, the sound of the blades running against the plate on the bottom, even the feel of the handle as I pushed the mower. Rye grass, Dichondra and Bermuda grass… by the way, where’s the grass catcher? Thanks for the memories I’m now 66 and getting ready to pull out my “powered lawn mower” and get it back and running. Released my landscaper to save the money to help my youngest daughter through college for expenses. Great job with the restore!

  • @jackdehaan2267
    @jackdehaan2267 Před 4 lety +12

    Not only a nice project, but excellent workmanship and good video quality. Very well done sir!

    • @gergemall
      @gergemall Před 8 měsíci

      Craftsmanship is superb ❤. You sir are an absolute treasure and and artist .

  • @Ethan-mv2un
    @Ethan-mv2un Před 3 lety +72

    When he drilled the handle off centre my soul dried up a little...

    • @denisew6774
      @denisew6774 Před 3 lety

      Thanks for giving me a good laugh. :) czcams.com/video/DJaGovpAykE/video.html

    • @pgreen293
      @pgreen293 Před 3 lety +5

      I got past that but the Lowe's two by four broke my heart.

    • @rondean5456
      @rondean5456 Před 3 lety +3

      My OCD went Nooooooo.

    • @killert9098
      @killert9098 Před 2 lety +2

      Right, all eat work and it’s off center. Ugh. Lol it only bugs me because I have to make things perfectly center for work. Lol

    • @Eric1SanDiego1
      @Eric1SanDiego1 Před 2 lety +1

      He didn't sharpen the blades and the hole in the handle was off-center. What does this mean? That I've watched waaaaay too many perfect restoration videos.

  • @jerryorrell4856
    @jerryorrell4856 Před 2 lety +1

    You could cut grass all day with this mower and use very little or no gas at all. Job well done. Excellent video.

  • @gm837228
    @gm837228 Před 3 lety

    Best part was missing and it is why I stopped by to watch the video. The blade sharpening process. I can remember as a teenage, helping my uncle repair lawnmowers. He had the sharpening machine, which was huge.... I loved watching everything rotate and the sparks flying. Must google to see if anyone has a post showing that process. Beautiful restore! Love watching your work. A true craftsman.

  • @ddfarmer123
    @ddfarmer123 Před 4 lety +5

    That's AWESOME. Not only did you clear the rust, repaint and sharpen the tool, you used the proper techniques to prevent rust in the future and truly did a great restoration. Will watch another for sure!

    • @jj022
      @jj022 Před rokem

      Would’ve been nice to blue or nicks plate all of the screws.

  • @praetor678
    @praetor678 Před 4 lety +9

    I used one of these in the 60's when I lived with my grandparents. In the fall, we took the wheels off and cleaned the gears with a wire brush and put axle grease on when we put it back together. It made for a beautiful cut on the lawn. Now you can see why golf courses use rotary mowers. Great job, just a little patience until the snow melts. LOL

    • @Datdudetd46
      @Datdudetd46 Před 4 lety

      Praetor6 golf courses utilize hydraulic powered reel mowers, not rotary

    • @johnfaulkner6776
      @johnfaulkner6776 Před 4 lety

      Yes has to be a cylinder mower for the greens!

  • @elowideman9638
    @elowideman9638 Před 3 lety

    As 6 year old I used to help my grandfather sharpen those lawnmowers, then as a 12 or 13 year old I was sharpening mowers. Use to sharpen 125 or so a year until I got a real job at 16. My grandfather used to adjust the blade so it did not touch the reel but would have to make a clean cut on newspaper. Thanks for the memories.of the late 50s.

  • @131dyana
    @131dyana Před 2 lety

    I miss my reel mower. I had it for 15 years. My Husband insisted I buy a gas mower. It is faster but......thanks for showing this to us.

  • @getyourkicksagain
    @getyourkicksagain Před 4 lety +713

    I loved it. Except that off-center hole in the handle. That right there is gonna give me nightmares. #OCD

    • @RestorationStation
      @RestorationStation  Před 4 lety +280

      You know what they say: Drill once, measure nonce

    • @mantaz603
      @mantaz603 Před 4 lety +51

      For me it was the bolt that didn't get straightened.

    • @RAMB0DJOHN
      @RAMB0DJOHN Před 4 lety +9

      its destroying of old tool, not restoration

    • @hamarbiljungskile8953
      @hamarbiljungskile8953 Před 4 lety +64

      @@RAMB0DJOHN Let's see your projects, then. Must be state of the art, one and all.

    • @RAMB0DJOHN
      @RAMB0DJOHN Před 4 lety +16

      @@hamarbiljungskile8953 i dont do this stuff, sorry. but this man dont understand even basics about mechanic and only want everything shine and pretty. it must not be pretty, it must WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • @johni4213
    @johni4213 Před 3 lety +19

    That rivet removal and replacement was impressive!

    • @gergemall
      @gergemall Před 8 měsíci

      Agree . The knowledge is valuable and you can learn to do it. The back lapping technique works well . Patience . Super impressive work. I purchased some of the products in the description. Bravo sir. Thank you so much.

  • @patriciabockenstette6550

    I'm over 80 and I remember my dad refurbishing our push mower. Mom's favorite color was green and the color you used sure looks like the one dad used. I also remember that I had to push that green monster thru Bermuda grass. Glad we had a small yard. Looks good. Thanks for sharing

  • @customcoffins
    @customcoffins Před 3 lety

    Nice work. This brings back bad childhood memories of hot sweaty summers. The sound of the blades turning against the cutting bed, it turns my stomach turns. Best day in my life is when we bought a power mower.

  • @kh23797
    @kh23797 Před 4 lety +5

    Good job! Back in the early 1960s in England, I used to use a mower like that. It was older and more solidly built though, and had no rubber on the wheels. Surprisingly, they were not hard to push along and they worked very efficiently as long as the lawn was level and the grass hadn't been allowed to get too long. I'd rather have a good solid 'push' mower than some of the plasticky rotary mowers I see in the DIY stores today. They left a nice striped effect, with no power cable to cut through and no fuel to buy.

    • @gregjones3660
      @gregjones3660 Před rokem

      Yeah and as long as their wasn’t an angry Scotsman standing there with his arms crossed refusing to move or trying to smash you with a boulder…

  • @PatriotCoinRings
    @PatriotCoinRings Před 4 lety +5

    Nice restoration! How many came here just to see one of those again? I use to go door to door at around 12 years old and mow my neighbors lawns with one for whatever they were willing to pay which was typically $2-$5 per lawn (54 now).... *Yikes, I'm an old fart now*

    • @thomaspigg306
      @thomaspigg306 Před 4 lety

      That's quite OK Sir, you're in good company!!! (Here with the rest of us "old farts")

    • @dreddj.9451
      @dreddj.9451 Před 3 lety

      hahah same here,, see my note here,, I was 11,, and got $2 per lawn,,, that was in 68,,, ; D ,,,,, take care E

  • @c.rincon7145
    @c.rincon7145 Před 3 lety

    Brings back some fond memories of cutting my grandmothers back yard. Loved that mower. I was expecting him to cut some grass !!! I am disappointed............

  • @SuperballsSupervidsOnYT

    Writing this comment after watching the first 14 seconds of the video (you panned up to the handle).
    When I bought my house, there was this old reel mower in the back. Very nearly just tossed it to the curb (not as rusty as yours but rough looking and the handle and shaft look like old dry driftwood). I flipped the handle and started pulling it and the blade turned fairly easily after some initial corroded protest. I gave it a push through the lawn and it cuts's beautifully (did my lawn and three of my neighbors about 15 minutes ago). I had plans to pull it apart and restore it since I work in a tool shop.
    I think I have the exact mower you have here, I don't plan to restore it to "original" but will replace the shaft with 1x2" aluminum stock, and I'll turn down some aluminum round stock and file the profile in. After that, all the 'frame' components will be sandblasted and I'll play the gearing by ear, depending on how bad it is...might just get the old lapping compound and brown scotch brite treatement.
    Ok, now to finish watching and see what you do.

  • @mr.b7229
    @mr.b7229 Před 4 lety +89

    If it snowed like that all the time I would be indoors restoring everything too

  • @bhopale1
    @bhopale1 Před 4 lety +7

    Craftsmanship at it's best, cracking job, hats off.

    • @bradymacdonald1203
      @bradymacdonald1203 Před 4 lety

      agreed! i started watching czcams.com/channels/JtO0nF8bQWRX4ZsXIEaRUw.html . he's really new but i like him

  • @garyeastman598
    @garyeastman598 Před 2 lety +1

    I grew up nex to a man that sharpened the blades on reel mowers for a living. A disabled Marine veteran from WWI. Never saw another machine like it, the size of a work bench.

  • @ezrav.5163
    @ezrav.5163 Před 4 lety +2

    I love Push-reel mowers. They are super quiet, yet do an incredible job. Nice Restoration :)

    • @memyname1771
      @memyname1771 Před 9 měsíci

      If you had pushed one as much as I did as a kid, you might not love them so much.

  • @paulsmallriver6066
    @paulsmallriver6066 Před 4 lety +5

    What a beautiful machine that is. I can hear the clatter and smell the grass. Wonderful.

  • @fremountstsongsrich2453

    First real vid using the Right Tools punch in stead of screwdriver Right On! Sand blasting Yes!!!! Real tools Snapon yessss!!!!

  • @truckertom3323
    @truckertom3323 Před rokem

    It's good to see old tools being brought back to life again instead of sold for scrap, it will still be cutting grass long after the modern chineseium is long gone.

  • @jacksobe
    @jacksobe Před 4 lety +4

    Wow, impressive! I never would have guessed you could restore that thing in 25 minutes!

  • @bigmikeh5827
    @bigmikeh5827 Před 4 lety +7

    That’s the best tool to “cut” grass. Rotary mowers beat it into submission. Smashing the blades. I used to service these mowers as a young guy. Trueing the bed knife and reel knives are key. They wear in the center concave. When it’s trued and set you can spin the blades and it will cut onion skin paper like confetti. Great job on resto

    • @hootinouts
      @hootinouts Před 4 lety +2

      Nothing beats the nice job these do

    • @OmegaGamingNetwork
      @OmegaGamingNetwork Před 3 lety +3

      I have three acres to cut, I'll stick to "Beating it into submission".

  • @jacobfluke468
    @jacobfluke468 Před 2 lety

    Using the lapping compound to sharpen it, genius. I never would have thought of that

  • @racialconsciousness6996
    @racialconsciousness6996 Před 2 lety +2

    It's been two years. Still waiting for you to give that bad boy a test run.

  • @Facts.About.Everything.YouTube

    This is great. You gotta love the guy's sense of humor. He goes to test it and there's several inches of snow on the ground LMAO. This is what I used to mow our grass when I was a kid. Thanks for the memories. :)

  • @larryblack2981
    @larryblack2981 Před 4 lety +5

    Why in the hell do I find this so damn satisfying to watch...lol
    Excellent job!

    • @theinvisiblequeen
      @theinvisiblequeen Před 4 lety

      People love to watch other people working. I cannot start up my forge without drawing a crowd out of nowhere, even in the country. Human nature I guess. These days most folks don't know how to make things anymore. Could be that.

  • @eightknots425
    @eightknots425 Před rokem

    I must say he has accomplished a task that would have taken me years to get it resembled. He has done a great job. Thanks

  • @staylor5687
    @staylor5687 Před rokem

    As with other commenters, I used one just like this as a kid. I loved it when the grass was really tall and I felt so accomplished when I was done. Takes a lot of effort though to get the yard cut, but when I was kid that junk was fun. 😂

  • @PierceyeG
    @PierceyeG Před 4 lety +5

    That is a very cool resto. I've got a mostly plastic modern version of a push reel. It does the job, but I'd love to have the mass of a cast steel frame.

  • @RichieCat4223
    @RichieCat4223 Před 4 lety +6

    Does this bring back memories. As a kid it was my job to cut the lawn with one of these. Thanks for this restore video.

    • @JM-yx1lm
      @JM-yx1lm Před 4 lety

      And now a days, people like me who care and want a perfect lawn prefer this same type of mower.

  • @davidventura-paz9740
    @davidventura-paz9740 Před 4 lety +1

    YAAAAS! Every restoring video needs a sandblasting part. Thank you!!!!

  • @beep1955beep
    @beep1955beep Před 3 lety

    I just couldn’t believe how he kept taking more & more & more pieces apart...like a F***ing Swiss Watch!!! And don’t EVEN get me started about putting it all back together...I would never sleep again!!!

  • @kaliefurr9419
    @kaliefurr9419 Před 4 lety +3

    I'm not gonna lie, I have always wanted this mower because how cool it looks. I like older things better than these new ones.

  • @MoggiesTen
    @MoggiesTen Před 4 lety +9

    Nice! I restored 3 of the iron-wheeled type in the early 1990's and repainted in the original colors. I had a beautiful blue "Neptune" with silver striping on the reel, a "Roosevelt" from the President series, and I don't remember the name of the other, but it was red with gold accents. There was a place in town with an original sharpening machine so they did the sharpening for me. They worked great!

    • @hektor6766
      @hektor6766 Před 3 lety

      I've been looking for a hubcap for a Belknap C6 (1904 patent) without any luck. One of the originals fell and broke into fur pieces on the concrete garage floor. And I can't find anybody who will cast a replacement.

  • @walkerbrosfilms7077
    @walkerbrosfilms7077 Před 4 lety

    Represents the most beautiful time in the world... we took pride in our things and each other when this was originally built.

  • @peggycuomo1877
    @peggycuomo1877 Před 2 lety

    Wow!! With that amount of work this should be worth thousands 💲💲

  • @timsebastian5758
    @timsebastian5758 Před 4 lety +7

    My dad had one of these when i was a kid. Kept the blades sharp as a razor. I always enjoyed using it as a kid. Dont know about one now. Lol. Great restoration on this one!

  • @zeus982
    @zeus982 Před 4 lety +8

    I had one of these as a kid in the 90s. The best thing about them was when my dad made me cut the lawn, it only took me as long as how fast I could sprint with the damn thing lol

  • @social3ngin33rin
    @social3ngin33rin Před 3 lety

    Been interested in push mowers since I was a kid :)

  • @AFmedic
    @AFmedic Před 3 lety

    Ahhhh! Childhood "Nightmares"....err....I mean "memories"! This what I used to cut grass until Dad bought a gas mower in 1962 (I'm 71). As the only boy (5 sisters) cutting grass was one of my chores.

  • @Blaze_1961
    @Blaze_1961 Před 4 lety +49

    These are still a must for a pristine lawn, when kept sharpened they cut a blade of grass better than anything modern. You just don't want to use them on an overgrown lawn.

    • @frostbite1991
      @frostbite1991 Před 4 lety +5

      i restored one last summer and my grass never looked better. grew in much thicker as well. It's work but well worth it. I'm keeping my eye out for a gas powered reel mower. Missed out on one for $50 because I was at work. It was worth about $500, dude didnt know what he had.

    • @mekuriamt
      @mekuriamt Před 4 lety

      Zac Price: what brand and model type is that. I am looking for one

    • @edgewatersbestguitarist1524
      @edgewatersbestguitarist1524 Před 4 lety +9

      You don't want over-sharpen your mower blades. A clean cut on a stem makes it grow back faster. Those hard cut bruised leaves and stems take longer to recover. With the right blades you can mow monthly w the moon instead of weekly

    • @johngalt97
      @johngalt97 Před 4 lety +5

      @@edgewatersbestguitarist1524
      Good to know.
      That fits right in with my method of rotary maintainance: Once all the knives are machined to the bed, back off the bed until you don't hear anything hitting. Then let the knife edges corrode enough to fill the gap again. It will leave a hard and perfectly toleranced surface on the knife edges. It doesn't leave a perfectly clean cut, but its super efficient about not letting any get through untrimmed.

    • @pizzaguy3753
      @pizzaguy3753 Před 4 lety

      They just don't make 'em like they used to anymore...

  • @ThePurpleSquirrel
    @ThePurpleSquirrel Před 4 lety +7

    The blasting part is still my favorite. Loved the Made in USA too.

  • @antont.wesley5232
    @antont.wesley5232 Před rokem

    I built up a lot of arm, leg and core strength, back in the day, as I powered through the meadow grass and weeds that passed for a "lawn" at the place where I grew up. I did not know, as a teenager, that the reel blades were supposed to be regularly sharpened and adjusted. So, I routinely mowed with a dull mower. My oldest sister cut off the last half inch from the tip of one of her fingers, while trying to clear grass that had wrapped around the reel. Her fingertip had to be reattached. For some unknown reason, the doctor insisted that it had to be done without anesthesia, so that he could reattach it right. I can still remember her screams while he sewed her up! At any rate, we nicknamed our reel mower "The Old Gut Buster." Memories of days gone by...

  • @georgeshelton6281
    @georgeshelton6281 Před 2 lety

    Haven't I seen this before? It has brought back the memory of when I used to; ride down through Morrisey Ave., thus seeing one neighbor who has this old fashion lawn mower. It had a gravestone tablet; right behind it, on top of a front yard garden pedestal. The Santa Cruz Sentinel newsreporter said; "never to be pushed around again," knowing that we nowadays use gas powered lawn mowers.

  • @nickbeam5432
    @nickbeam5432 Před 4 lety +8

    I remember having to go mow the lawn with this type of mower, you will get your exercises !

    • @nknighton70
      @nknighton70 Před 3 lety

      The last time I used one of these I started to pass out from hear exhaustion and I saw my two dead cats walking around my feet.

  • @kylie1522
    @kylie1522 Před 4 lety +8

    The feeling of rust gives me the shivers, but the whole video is so satisfying my brain doesn’t know what to think lol

  • @franceslambert8070
    @franceslambert8070 Před 4 lety

    I don't know why, but I find your vids very peaceful. Makes me wish someone could restore me back to what I was in my 20s. Alas, 50+ years means that will never happen till I get to heaven and get a new body.

  • @stuartb9323
    @stuartb9323 Před 2 lety +1

    If only he had restored an old snow blower.
    Great job on the mower though 👏 👍

  • @LM-sc8lu
    @LM-sc8lu Před 3 lety +4

    Great job!! I love buying almost any old machines, restoring them, then selling them. I've never really made a profit on anything, but that's not the point for me, if I break even I'm happy.

  • @randomtube8226
    @randomtube8226 Před 4 lety +679

    Who else wanted to see it cut the snow 😂

    • @lordrudolph1037
      @lordrudolph1037 Před 4 lety +11

      I don't even know what that would mean or look like but still wanted to see it too!

    • @chrismayer3919
      @chrismayer3919 Před 4 lety +1

      HA! That don't cut no ice... ;-)

    • @Slenderman182
      @Slenderman182 Před 4 lety +1

      seeing it cut is the best part. I used to mow Grandpa's yard with one when we got there on vacations.

    • @kenlafevers7991
      @kenlafevers7991 Před 4 lety +3

      With the technology we have today is there some way we can improve on this design to make it lighter and spin faster. Make the handlebars wider for more control and change the tire contact to ground ratio with thinner tires. Aerodynamics should be considered so testing in a Wind Tunnel might help with the installation of a small fairing to control air flow over the bearing surfaces. Maybe a no - spill drink holder using a dampening and recoil technology so no beer is wasted and what about Solar Power for the air conditioning system, hell I should have been an engineer, I always thought driving a train would be cool

    • @Tantejay
      @Tantejay Před 4 lety +2

      With a bit of luck it cuts snow. The blades are absolutely wrecked. They squish the grass but won't cut it. It looks really nice but its useless. ^^

  • @TheJcs555
    @TheJcs555 Před 2 lety +2

    Beautiful restoration of a push lawn mower! You do great work!!

  • @frankdavidson9675
    @frankdavidson9675 Před 3 lety

    to show how these have stood the test of time im 86 yrs and i remember them as a kid they did a fine job back then i was 8 yrs when pearl harbor got bombed they were avail back then

  • @Edsarsfield
    @Edsarsfield Před 4 lety +14

    When you opened the door and it was snowy, I burst out laughing😂
    It was great!

  • @iispjhanna
    @iispjhanna Před 3 lety +122

    one considerable advantage: never heard of anyone getting a foot or hand cut off with one of these.

    • @SomeGuy-sj1ly
      @SomeGuy-sj1ly Před 3 lety +7

      Saw some cut off their finger messing with one of these when i was like 4. Not completely cut off tho, a flap of skin was still attached i think

    • @papatriots3529
      @papatriots3529 Před 3 lety +3

      My uncle lost 3 toes when he was young using one of these ! Lol no lie don't use in bare feet !

    • @ethanatcheson4484
      @ethanatcheson4484 Před 3 lety +9

      @@papatriots3529 you’d think that’s obvious but unfortunately some people aren’t that smart or don’t pay attention

    • @obedientmarshmallow
      @obedientmarshmallow Před 3 lety +7

      I can change this

    • @jfow422
      @jfow422 Před 3 lety +2

      But you gotta move the sticks out of the way :(

  • @robkole1881
    @robkole1881 Před 5 měsíci

    THAT was a lot of work. Beautiful job.

  • @davidmckean955
    @davidmckean955 Před rokem

    I love when the restorations have lots of pieces and are complex.

  • @hermanhamilton6698
    @hermanhamilton6698 Před 4 lety +9

    I had one in the early 60's. I earned money for school, learned the importance of having a job and I got lots of exercise.
    H. H.
    Franklin, Louisiana

  • @kimberlyreynolds8550
    @kimberlyreynolds8550 Před 4 lety +9

    I remember pushing one of those when I was real little. It looked more like the before (without the roller) than the after.

  • @NBZW
    @NBZW Před 2 lety

    As a young fella we had a rather large hillside lot, it was my responsibility to mow the lawn on Friday. Our mower had cast iron wheels and was 16 inches wide. Some things one never forgets.

  • @haroldogt
    @haroldogt Před 3 lety +1

    "Maybe in a few months"... Very good. Nice job, congratulatinos!! Big hug from Brazil.

  • @jjoyslin2702
    @jjoyslin2702 Před 4 lety +64

    It always surprises me when after spraying down the nuts and bolts how they always seem to come apart with ease for him. If it were me they would snap off and or never come out lol

    • @salle6307
      @salle6307 Před 4 lety +2

      I can relate. I had a job with 2 guys in factory to disassemble 75kW electrical motor. One guy unscrewed bolts from rear side almost with fingers and my bolts were like welded even after half can of WD. That guys were like: chill out man, you gonna wear out the bolts.

    • @janetyeoman1544
      @janetyeoman1544 Před 4 lety

      ATF and Acetone at 50/50 works the best. Lots on line about it.

    • @sandbags2411
      @sandbags2411 Před 4 lety

      @@janetyeoman1544 ATF?

    • @janetyeoman1544
      @janetyeoman1544 Před 4 lety

      LEMONY BOOMS , Automatic transmission fluid. With cheap acetone. I was surprised how well it worked and how economical to use.

    • @indnajns
      @indnajns Před 4 lety +2

      Yeah, I'd barely call that rust compared to the stuff I get stuck with. The "it's-all-one" type of stuff.

  • @abstractcreations246
    @abstractcreations246 Před 4 lety +10

    You made me laugh so hard when you opened the door and there was snow all over. lol
    Great video and well done.

  • @petergaiser8497
    @petergaiser8497 Před 2 lety +1

    Great workmanship. Bravo

  • @JerryDLTN
    @JerryDLTN Před 4 lety +1

    When I was a kid, my neighbor had one. We had a corded electric push mower. That was 40 years ago....I can see the exercise (and noise) benefit now.

  • @jayyoutube8790
    @jayyoutube8790 Před 4 lety +6

    Of all the “restoration” channels, you got one of the best. You and “My Mechanics” are the two I watch. Glad I found your channel, great job, looks good... I’ll sub to that

    • @overlandtoshore
      @overlandtoshore Před 4 lety +2

      Hand tool rescue is my favorite! He adds a little comedy to it. Check him out

  • @jesuschrist2886
    @jesuschrist2886 Před 4 lety +8

    pb blaster, where would we be without it

    • @DrakeKillah
      @DrakeKillah Před 4 lety +2

      Using 50/50 acetone/ATF... It smells like death, but it's saved many a bolt on my 15 yr old car that has been subjected to snowy and salty Norwegian roads 6 months every year since it rolled off the showroom floor :P

    • @jesuschrist2886
      @jesuschrist2886 Před 4 lety

      @@DrakeKillah nice.

  • @davidross2835
    @davidross2835 Před 3 lety

    Oh how this brings back happy childhood memories. My Grandfather fixed all types of mowers. He would get one like this, fix it where it would sing and the blades sharp enough to shave your hair on your arm, then have mow the back yard with it just to see it work.

  • @ghibliinu6616
    @ghibliinu6616 Před 2 lety +2

    ALM doesn't make them like this anymore! Well done!!! This vintage one will outlive any of their new models.