Checks And Adjustments; Reel And Bedknife Inspection - Textron JACOBSEN Eclipse 2 Technical/Repair Manual

Checks and Adjustments

Reel and Bedknife Inspection

See Figure 8-2.
1. Park the mower safely. (See "Park Mower Safely" on
page 1-5.)
!
CAUTION
To prevent personal injury and damage to the
cutting edges, handle the reel with extreme care.
NOTICE
Gen-Set Models: Before tipping mower back for
service, the fuel lever must be moved to the OFF
position to prevent fuel from leaking into the
crankcase. Do not leave the mower tipped back
for an extended length of time or oil may migrate
into the combustion chamber.
2. Check the reel bearings for end play or radial play. If
there is any abnormal movement of the reel, up and
down or side to side, adjust or replace components
as needed. (See "Reel Bearing Pre-Load
Adjustment" on page 8-18.)
Figure 8-2
3. Inspect the reel blades and bedknife to ensure good
sharp edges without bends or nicks.
a. The cutting edges of the reel blades and
bedknife 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 0.035 in. (0.9 mm) minimum
must be maintained on the front face of the
bedknife. Use a standard flat file to dress the
bedknife.
4. If wear or damage is beyond the point where the reel
or bedknife can be corrected by the lapping process,
it must be reground.
4262930-Rev A
5. Proper reel-to-bedknife adjustment is critical. A gap
of 0.001–0.003 in. (0.025–0.075 mm) must be
maintained across the entire length of the reel and
bedknife.
6. 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.
7. 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).
0.035 in.
(0.9 mm)
CUTTING UNIT
8
8-13