Reel Mowers & Sickel Bars

[WHX?? 53,079]

@Streetrodchev and I  were wondering what model(s) this reel mower was made for. Latter RJs Suburbans? Or are we way off base? 

@Lane Ranger any idea? LMR-307  for '61 - '64 ?

 

@gwest_ca note the serial #

Edited November 4 by WHX??

[kpinnc 15,931]

Definitely got the RJ belt guard so it's gotta be from that era. I see no reason why it wouldn't work on most any Wheel Horse. 

 

Might be tough to sharpen the blades and set it up, but what a cool implement to have! 

[WHX?? 53,079]

18 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

what a cool implement to have!

No doubt ... that's why we're hoping to save it. 

 

Also I have this sickle bar. Lane told me what it was for but CRS and was wondering if it would be appropriate to be put on a 550. 

[c-series don 10,683]

Whatever it fits, for some reason I want to disassemble,sandblast and paint it ! 

[WHX?? 53,079]

Nos Don... never saw a blade of grass near as we can tell ... 

[kpinnc 15,931]

14 minutes ago, c-series don said:

Whatever it fits, for some reason I want to disassemble,sandblast and paint it ! 

 

No kidding. Very cool old implements! 

[702854boy 323]

2 hours ago, WHX?? said:

@Streetrodchev and I  were wondering what model(s) this reel mower was made for. Latter RJs Suburbans? Or are we way off base? 

@Lane Ranger any idea? LMR-307  for '61 - '64

I think that might be for the 61 to 64 because we have a reel mower thats for our 702 and it looks just like that and I remember someone I think at the big show last year telling us that the reason for the rj belt guard covering the chain is because wheelhorse had a lot left over so they just used them on the mower. To lift it, it uses a about 2 1/2 foot long bar that has a slight kink in it and it goes in the part of the lift rod that the lift cable goes on

[JoeM 9,037]

Uncle Jim you'll have to hook that up to one of those old undoners (survivor) and display it at a show. 

Nice! Patina ready too. 

Edited November 4 by JoeM

[squonk 44,740]

Looks like the LMR 304 to me. The Suburban reels had a way different mounting that went towards the rear.

 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,776]

Serial A-21684 appears to be a late 1962 model year serial number.

[Pullstart 68,399]

10 hours ago, kpinnc said:

Might be tough to sharpen the blades and set it up, but what a cool implement to have! 

I’ve got a reel mower sharpener bed I’ve never used.  @WHX?? @Achto I got it at the Portage auction a few years back.  Didn’t know what I was actually bidding on but it was a good deal!  
 

I swear I don’t WANT to be a hoarder…  

 

[squonk 44,740]

Also could be a 63 LMR 3072

 

 

or a 61-64 LMR 307

 

 

 

 

 

[953 nut 62,565]

12 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

Didn’t know what I was actually bidding on but it was a good deal!

Are you related to my wife?  Must be a genetic abnormality of some sort, but I think we all have some of that tendency.

[Achto 30,025]

11 hours ago, kpinnc said:

Might be tough to sharpen the blades and set it up, but what a cool implement to have!

 

42 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

I’ve got a reel mower sharpener bed I’ve never used

 

I worked at a golf course for a bit. We used to put valve grinding compound on the blades, tightened them up a bit against the cutting bar, and then run them backwards to sharpen them. Used the same method on a couple of no motor push type reel mowers that I had.

[dclarke 4,110]

Jim, That’s the same reel as the one on my 702 so I know it’ll fit that. It’s missing the lift rod and the bar that connects the pedal to the gearbox, which is what engages the mower. Both should be easy to make. 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,776]

The LMR-3072 has a lift assembly made up of a triangular plate with welded on crossbar. A 1962 model that fits the 701, 502, 552 and 702.

The LMR-307  has a lift assembly made up of a flat bar with welded on crossbar. Possibly a 1967 model that fit the 1961-1964 tractors with horizontal crankshafts replacing the LMR-303 (1963) and LMR-304 (1964)

What makes this confusing is I think the models came out later but would fit older models as changes were made but the older models would not work on the newer model tractors.

 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,776]

Now I even more unsure. Found a belt sleeve that lists applications up to and including 1962.

Both the LMR-307 and LMR-3072 are on it listed as 1961-62. Is one 1961 and the other 1962?

So the 1967 above is not correct.

 

[Lane Ranger 11,644]

On 11/3/2025 at 8:40 PM, WHX?? said:

@Streetrodchev and I  were wondering what model(s) this reel mower was made for. Latter RJs Suburbans? Or are we way off base? 

@Lane Ranger any idea? LMR-307  for '61 - '64 ?

 

@gwest_ca note the serial #

Later Model Roundheads!

 

 

Much like my old one used on my brother's 633 I used for one year.   Paid $350 for a very nice one over ten years ago.

Sold it to Denny Clarke for same amount.  I told Denny he would sell it  after using it because you had to lift this thing at each turn!

 

 

I think Denny sold it to one of the Minnesota Prodzinski's!

 

They cut very very well it blades are sharp.

 

Better cutting than a gear driven underbelly mower deck.

 

 

I never had a set of the rear pulled reel mowers but I believe they also would cut the same.   The beauty of the front reel mower is that you cut before the tractor front and rear wheels tamped down the grass as you roll over it.    

 

[Lane Ranger 11,644]

On 11/3/2025 at 8:45 PM, kpinnc said:

Definitely got the RJ belt guard so it's gotta be from that era. I see no reason why it wouldn't work on most any Wheel Horse. 

 

Might be tough to sharpen the blades and set it up, but what a cool implement to have! 

 

 

I pointed out on am old Red Square Post about this RJ Belt Guard being used by this Front Reel Mower attachment.

 

 

Craig Hearn confirmed what I saw that this RJ guard was used on this attachment from the factory.   But this attachment was made after the RJ's were produced.   Might have been in 1960 or 1961.

 

 

 

[Lane Ranger 11,644]

On 11/4/2025 at 8:13 AM, Achto said:

 

 

I worked at a golf course for a bit. We used to put valve grinding compound on the blades, tightened them up a bit against the cutting bar, and then run them backwards to sharpen them. Used the same method on a couple of no motor push type reel mowers that I had.

 

 

Yes Dan !  The British invented the reel mower.  Old timers at various mower shops and golf course  maintenance barns used grinding compound to sharpen us the blades.   Various ways were used to grind the blade with attachments and tools that cleaned and sharpened the blades on the reel.   When I bought mine it was in much better original shape than the NOS one Jim has but I never sharpened the blades while I owned it.

 

I did use it thought one entire summer and it was amazing as a grade cutting machine. 

 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,776]

18 hours ago, gwest_ca said:

Now I even more unsure. Found a belt sleeve that lists applications up to and including 1962.

Both the LMR-307 and LMR-3072 are on it listed as 1961-62. Is one 1961 and the other 1962?

So the 1967 above is not correct.

 

Finally figured them out.. Notice I changed the model years.

If you do a search of our files for LMR-30 they should all come up in random order.

[702854boy 323]

Would anyone with the reel mower be able to post the dimensions for the belt engagement bar and a photo of what it looks like?

Edited November 5 by 702854boy