Bedknife-To-Reel; Bedknife Adjustment - Jacobsen Super LF 1880 Dealer's Manual

5.11 BEDKNIFE-TO-REEL _______________________________________________________

(Pre-adjustment Check)
1. Check the reel bearings for end play or radial play.
There should be no end play or radial play. See Section
5.14.
!
CAUTION
To prevent personal injury and damage to the cutting
edges, wear gloves and handle the reel and bedknife
with extreme care.
2. Inspect the reel blades and bedknife to insure good
sharp edges without bends or nicks.
a. The leading edge of the reel blades (A) must be
sharp, free of burrs and show no signs of rounding
off.
b. The bedknife and bedknife backing must be
securely tightened. The bedknife must be straight
and sharp.
c. A flat surface of at least 1/16 in. (1.5 mm) minimum
must be maintained on the front face of the bed-
knife. Use a standard flat file to dress the bedknife.
3. If wear or damage is beyond the point where the reel
or bedknife can be corrected by the lapping process,
they must be reground.
4. Proper reel-to-bedknife adjustment is critical. A gap of
0.001 to 0.003" (0.025 to 0.076 mm) must be
maintained across the entire length of the reel and
bedknife.

5.12 BEDKNIFE ADJUSTMENT ___________________________________________________

1. Read Section 5.11 before making the adjustment.
2. Start adjustment at the leading end of the reel,
followed by the trailing end. The leading end of the
reel blades is that end which passes over the
bedknife first during normal reel rotation.
3. Use adjusters (B and C), to adjust gap. Loosen
bottom adjuster (C) and turn top adjuster (B) down
(Clockwise) to close gap.
a. Slide a feeler gauge or shim stock 0.001" -
0.003" (0.025 - 0.075 mm) between the reel
blade and the bedknife. Do not turn the reel.
b. Adjust the trailing end of the reel to the same
gap in a similar manner then recheck the
adjustment at the leading end.
c. When the reel is properly adjusted to the
bedknife, the reel will spin freely and you should
be able to cut a piece of newspaper, along the
5. The reel must be parallel to the bedknife. An
improperly adjusted reel will lose its sharp edges
prematurely and may result in serious damage to the
reel and bedknife.
6. Grass conditions will also affect the adjustment.
a. Dry, sparse conditions will require a wider gap to
prevent heat buildup and damage to the reel and
bedknife.
b. High quality grass with a good moisture content
requires a closer gap (near zero).
A
full length of the reel, when the paper is held at
90° to the bedknife.
C
Note: Avoid excessive tightening or serious damage may
result to bedknife and reel blades. Reels must turn freely.
ADJUSTMENTS
1/16 in.
(1.5 mm)
Figure 5J
Figure 5K
B
Figure 5L
5
LF025
GKV-1
GB-17