18in, 21in, and 26in; 8-Blade, 11-Blade, and 14-Blade Cutting Units

Prior to mowing each day, or as required, verify proper bedknife-to-reel contact. Perform this procedure even though quality of cut is acceptable.

Note: This procedure can be performed with the cutting unit installed to the traction unit.

1. Shut off the traction-unit engine.

2. Access the cutting unit by lowering the traction-unit handle to the ground (Figure 7).

   

   Figure 7

3. Slowly rotate the reel in a reverse direction, listening for reel-to-bedknife contact.

   • If no contact is evident, adjust the bedknife as follows

     1. Turn the bedbar adjusting screws clockwise (Figure 8), 1 click at a time, until you feel and hear light contact.

        Note: The bedbar adjusting screws have detents corresponding to 0.018 mm (0.0007 inch) bedknife movement for each indexed position.

        

        Figure 8

        1. Bedbar adjusting screw

     2. Insert a long strip of cutting performance paper (Toro Part No. 125-5610) between the reel and bedknife, perpendicular to the bedknife (Figure 10), then slowly rotate the reel forward; it should cut the paper; if not, repeat steps 1 and 2 until it does.

   • If excessive contact/reel drag is evident, backlap, reface the front of the bedknife, or grind the cutting unit to achieve the sharp edges needed for precision cutting (Refer to the Toro Manual for Sharpening Reel and Rotary Mowers, Form No. 09168SL).

   Important: Light contact is preferred at all times. If you do not maintain light contact, the bedknife/reel edges will not sufficiently self-sharpen, and dull cutting edges will result after a period of operation. If you maintain excessive contact, bedknife/reel wear will be accelerated, uneven wear can result, and the quality of cut may decline.

   Note: As the reel blades continue to run against the bedknife, a slight burr will appear on the front cutting edge surface along the full length of the bedknife. Occasionally run a file across the front edge to remove this burr to improve cutting.After extended running, a ridge will eventually develop at both ends of the bedknife. Round off these notches or file them flush with the cutting edge of the bedknife to ensure smooth operation.

Use this procedure during initial cutting-unit setup and after grinding, backlapping, or disassembling the reel. This is not a daily adjustment.

Note: This procedure can be performed with the cutting unit installed to the traction unit.

1. Shut off the traction-unit engine.

2. Access the cutting unit by lowering the traction-unit handle to the ground (Figure 9).

   

   Figure 9

3. Rotate the reel so that 1 of the blades crosses the bedknife edge between the first and second bedknife screw heads located on the right side of the cutting unit.

4. Make an identifying mark on the blade where it crosses the bedknife edge.

   Note: This will make later adjustments easier.

5. Insert a 0.05 mm (0.002 inch) shim between the blade and the bedknife edge at the point marked in step 4.

6. Turn the right bedbar adjusting screw (Figure 8) until you feel light pressure on the shim when sliding it side-to-side. Remove the shim.

7. For the left side of the cutting unit, slowly rotate the reel so that the closest blade crosses the bedknife edge between the first and second screw heads.

8. Repeat steps 4 through 6 for the left side of the cutting unit and left bedbar adjusting screw.

9. Repeat steps 5 and 6 until there is light pressure at the contact points on both the left and right sides of the cutting unit.

10. To obtain light contact between the reel and bedknife, turn each bedbar adjusting screw clockwise 3 clicks.

    Note: Each click on the bedbar adjusting screw moves the bedknife 0.018 mm (0.0007 inches). Do not over tighten the adjusting screws.Turning the adjusting screw clockwise moves the bedknife edge closer to the reel. Turning the adjusting screw counterclockwise moves the bedknife edge away from the reel.

11. Insert a long strip of cutting performance paper (Toro Part No. 125-5610) between the reel and bedknife, perpendicular to the bedknife (Figure 10), then slowly rotate the reel forward; it should cut the paper; if not, turn each bedbar adjusting screw clockwise 1 clicks and repeat this step until it cuts the paper.

    

    Figure 10

Note: If excessive contact/reel drag is evident, backlap, reface the front of the bedknife, or grind the cutting unit to achieve the sharp edges needed for precision cutting (Refer to the Toro Manual for Sharpening Reel and Rotary Mowers, Form No. 09168SL).

Before adjusting the height of cut, set the height-of-cut gauge as follows:

1. Loosen the nut on the gauge bar and set the adjusting screw to the desired height of cut (Figure 11).

   Note: The distance between the bottom of the screw head and the face of bar is the height of cut.

   

   Figure 11

   1. Gauge bar
   2. Height-adjusting screw
   3. Nut

2. Tighten the nut.

1. Loosen the locknuts that secure the height-of-cut arms to the cutting-unit side plates (Figure 12).

   

   Figure 12

   1. Adjusting screw
   2. Locknut
   3. Height-of-cut arm

2. Hook the screw head of the height-of-cut gauge onto the right side of the cutting edge of the bedknife and rest the rear end of the bar onto the traction drum (Figure 13).

   

   Figure 13

   1. Gauge bar
   2. Roller
   3. Bedknife
   4. Traction drum

3. Rotate the adjusting screw until the roller contacts the front of the gauge bar.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the left side.

5. Adjust both ends of the roller until the entire roller is parallel to the bedknife.

   Important: When set properly, the roller and traction drum will contact the gauge bar and the screw will be snug against the bedknife. This ensures that the height of cut is identical at both ends of the bedknife.

6. Tighten the nuts to secure the adjustment enough to remove play from the washer.

7. Verify that the height-of-cut setting is correct; repeat this procedure if necessary.

• For a height of cut greater than 8 mm (0.312 inch), position the traction-unit drum in the HIGH position; refer to your machine Operator’s Manual.

• For a height of cut greater than 16 mm (0.625 inch), install the High Height-of-Cut Kit. Contact your authorized Toro distributor to acquire this kit.

1. Turn the bedbar adjusting-screw counterclockwise to back the bedknife away from the reel (Figure 18).

   

   Figure 18

   1. Bedbar-adjusting screw
   2. Spring-tension nut
   3. Bedbar
   4. Washer

2. Back out the spring-tension nut until the washer is no longer tensioned against the bedbar (Figure 18).

3. On each side of the machine, loosen the locknut shown in Figure 19.

   

   Figure 19

   1. Bedbar bolt
   2. Nut
   3. Steel washer
   4. Plastic washer
   5. Bedbar

4. Remove each bedbar bolt, allowing the bedbar to be pulled downward and removed from the cutting unit (Figure 19).

   Account for the 2 steel washers and 1 plastic washer on each end of the bedbar (Figure 19).

1. Install the bedbar, positioning the mounting ears between the washers and the bedbar-adjusting screw (Figure 18).

2. Secure the bedbar to each side plate with the bedbar bolts (nuts on bolts) and 3 washers (6 total).

3. Position a nylon washer on each side of the side-plate boss. Place a steel washer outside each of the nylon washers (Figure 19).

4. Torque the bedbar bolts to 27 to 36 N∙m (240 to 320 inch-lb).

5. Tighten the locknuts until you remove the end play from steel washers, but you are able to rotate them by hand. The washers on the inside may have a gap.

   Important: Do not overtighten the locknuts or they will deflect the side plates.

6. Tighten the spring tension nut until the spring is collapsed, then back it off 1/2 turn (Figure 20).

   

   Figure 20

   1. Spring-tension nut
   2. Spring

7. Adjust the bedknife to the reel; refer to Adjusting the Bedknife to the Reel.

1. Remove the rust, scale, and corrosion from the bedbar surface and apply a thin layer of oil to the bedbar surface.

2. Clean the screw threads.

3. Apply anti-seize compound to the screws and install the bedknife to the bedbar.

   

   Figure 21

   1. Bedbar
   2. Bedknife
   3. Screw

4. Torque the 2 outer screws to 1 N∙m (10 in-lb).

5. Working from the center of the bedknife, torque the screws to 23 to 28 N∙m (200 to 250 in-lb).

   

   Figure 22

   1. Bednife screw tool
   2. Install and torque these first to 1 N∙m (10 in-lb).
   3. Torque to 23 to 28 N∙m (200 to 250 in-lb).

6. Grind the bedknife.

1. Ensure that all cutting unit components are in good condition and correct any issues before grinding.

2. Follow the reel grinder manufacturer’s instructions to grind the cutting reel to the following specifications.

   Reel Grinding Specifications
   New Reel Diameter	128.5 mm (5.06 inches)
   Reel Diameter Service Limit	114.3 mm (4.5 inches)
   Blade Relief Angle	30° ± 5°
   Blade Land Width	1.0 mm (0.04 inches)
   Blade Land Width Range	.8 to 1.2 mm (0.03 to 0.05 inches)
   Reel Diameter Taper Service Limit	0.25 mm (0.01 inch)

The new reel has a land width of 1.3 to 1.5 mm (0.030 to 0.050 inch) and a 30° relief grind.

When the land width gets larger than 3 mm (0.120 inch) wide, do the following:

1. Apply a 30° relief grind on all reel blades until the land width is 1.3 mm (0.050 inch) wide (Figure 23.

   

   Figure 23

   1. 30°
   2. 1.3 mm (0.050 inch)

2. Spin grind the reel to achieve <0.025 mm (0.001 inch) reel run-out.

   Note: This causes the land width to grow slightly.

3. Adjust the cutting unit; refer to your cutting unit Operator’s Manual.

Note: To extend the longevity of the sharpness of the edge of the reel and the bedknife—after grinding the reel and/or the bedknife—check the reel to bedknife contact again after cutting 2 greens, as any burrs will be removed. Burrs may create improper reel to bedknife clearance, which can accelerate wear.

The angle that you use to grind your bedknives is very important.

Use the angle indicator (Toro Part No. 131-6828) and the angle-indicator mount (Toro Part No. 131-6829) to check the angle that your grinder produces and then correct for any grinder inaccuracy.

1. Place the angle indicator on the bottom side of the bedknife as shown in Figure 25.

   

   Figure 25

   1. Bedknife (vertical)
   2. Angle indicator

2. Press the Alt Zero button on the angle indicator.

3. Place the angle-indicator mount on the edge of the bedknife so that the edge of the magnet mates with the edge of the bedknife (Figure 26).

   Note: The digital display should be visible from the same side during this step as it was in step 1.

   

   Figure 26

   1. Angle-indicator mount
   2. Edge of the magnet mated with the edge of the bedknife
   3. Bedknife
   4. Angle indicator

4. Place the angle indicator on the mount as shown in Figure 26.

   Note: This is the angle that your grinder produces, and should be within 2 degrees of the recommended top grind angle.