would you use 5 blade or 8 blade reels? Cancel The title field is required!

1. Spotts David A

   
   11/19/2012 4:11 PM

   I'm putting new reels on our Toro 3100d reelmaster/sidewinder. Currently has 8 blade reels. We use it to cut green and tee surrounds, lots of slope. We cut them at 1 1/2" or higher.

   
   
   
   
2. Spotts David A

   
   11/19/2012 4:11 PM

   I'm putting new reels on our Toro 3100d reelmaster/sidewinder. Currently has 8 blade reels. We use it to cut green and tee surrounds, lots of slope. We cut them at 1 1/2" or higher.

   
   
   
   
3. Kim Brock

   

   3 posts
   
   11/19/2012 9:11 PM

   5 blade at those heights.

   
   
   
   
4. Henry Heinz

   

   0 posts
   
   11/20/2012 5:11 AM

   Personally I would go with the 8 blade. if you ever decide to go lower you will keep your quality of cut. I run 8 blades and have units set @1.75 and do just fine. Keep a nice relief on them, keep them sharp and you'll be just fine. I recommended one time 7 or 8 blade, whatever number they have for a Jac Tri-King, they decided to go 5 blade and then were not happy with QOC. We also have no issues when we want to drop the HOC a scalp down the rough.
   
   Regards,

   
   
   
   
5. Virgil Range

   

   0 posts
   
   11/20/2012 5:11 AM

   I have a same machine. Not the best one to cut high turf huh. Anyway. I also have 8 blades but would like to put the 5 on. Im cutting at 2.625.
   
   My toro salemsman tell me that the 5 blade will cut alot better than the 8 blade but the cost is to high for me to switch when the 8 blade reels have lots of meat left on it.
   
   I would really like to get rid of it and get the Groundsmaster 3100d. The rotary is so much better than the reels.
   
   Hope this helps ya make your decision.
   
   VIrgil

   
   
   
   
6. Paul Double

   

   37 posts
   
   11/20/2012 9:11 PM

   If you are cutting over 1-1/4" you should probably be using the 5 blade. I have a John Deere 2653A that we cut out close rough with at 1". This mower has the 8 blade reels and we actually slowed the reel speed down with the control valve to about 75% and cuts so much better. If the Toro has a reel speed control valve, you may try slowing the reel speed down and see how that works before spending the money switching reels. Also, years ago I had a John Deere 3325 mower that we mowed rough with at 2" with the 5 blade reels. It did ok, but it laid the grass over before the reel had a chance to cut it. So, we locked the cutting unit head from pivoting from front to back and removed the front roller, this worked great. Good luck.

   
   
   
   
7. Spotts David A

   
   11/21/2012 5:11 AM

   My reels are shot so I'm getting new any way. The only problem I forsee is possibly when grinding in later seasons. I have a National ht-7 with 5 reels and it just always seems to suck when trying to grind them, I haven't realy figured out why.