How to Adjust Height of Cut and Quality of Cut on a Toro Reel Mower

When it comes to maintaining a golf course green, detail and accuracy matters. A difference of as little as .010 of an inch between one cutting unit and another on a Toro reel mower is visible as a mismatch on many golf courses.  In order to make sure that your turf is maintained to the highest standards, it’s important to properly adjust height of cut and quality of cut on your Toro reel mower.

Bench Set Height of Cut vs Effective Height of Cut

Before you begin the adjustment procedure, you must understand the difference between bench set height of cut vs effective height of cut.  Bench set height of cut refers to a measurement taken in the shop from a hard, level surface to the cutting unit. On the other hand, effective height of cut refers to the actual height of the grass that has been cut.

Effective height of cut is influenced by many factors, including turf conditions, seasonal changes, and the weight of the cutting unit. Two units from different manufacturers that have the same bench set height of cut might have a different effective height of cut.  It’s through adjustments to the bench set height of cut that consistent standards can be maintained.

Adjusting Height of Cut

After installing the kickstand on the cutting unit so that it won’t rest on any adjusting pieces, lift up the unit and set it back on the kickstand.  Place the unit on the edge of a workbench, and take your height of cut adjustment tool and rest it on the edge of the bedknife.  After zeroing out the gauge on the tool, begin making adjustments to either the front or rear roller one side at a time.  Adjust in small increments so that one side does not get too far ahead of the other side.  When the gauge on your height of cut adjustment tool reaches the desired reading, tighten up the roller again so that it stays in position.

Adjusting Quality of Cut

Adjusting the height of cut is only part of the process—you also must adjust the quality of cut to make sure that the cutting unit is working properly.  The process of adjusting quality of cut involves adjusting the bedknife against the reel to evenly pinch one paper thickness across the entire width of the bedknife.  Then, test the sharpness of the blades on the reel by cutting paper strips.

The exact method of adjusting your reel-to-bedknife contact will vary depending on your exact model of Toro reel cutting unit.  On newer Toro cutting units, it is possible to make a very precise adjustment—each click of the adjustment screw results in a .007 inch movement of the bedknife.  Contact your Indiana Toro distributor if you are unsure of the procedure to use on your turf equipment.

The process of getting the perfect settings for height of cut and quality of cut on your Toro reel mower takes time and practice, but it is absolutely necessary in order to get good results.  For more detailed instructions, download Toro’s guide to reel mower basics.