American Lawn Mower 1415-16 16-Inch Hand Push Reel Mower

I've used one of these for about fifteen years, a slightly earlier model 1414-16.

It's been a very good mower. It is very easy to push, and cuts very nicely. Solid metal, yet deceptively light. Its pretty easy to maintain. Oil the bearings annually, and sharpen the blade every year or two. Once you've done it once, sharpening the blade takes about 30 minutes, a screwdriver and a wrench and some valve-lapping compound, and is pretty easy (about the same complexity as assembling a new kids bicycle), but is greasy. That's all you ever have to do. Fifteen years later mine cuts as well as the day I bought it.

I like to think I'm getting more exercise, but the truth is that because of its light weight and good cutting mechanism, its no more effort to push around than a gas mower (if you don't let your grass get too long......).

The only problem I've had is that you have to frequently tighten the nuts holding on the wheels.

If...Read more

While this mower trimmed small patches of clover and leafy plants, it simply squashed down my grass without cutting it. It wouldn't cut anything taller than just a few inches, which I suppose is fine if you want to mow your lawn every other day. Any little piece of debris will stop this mower in its tracks - even a patch of grass a bit thicker than usual. My yard looks terrible and I am returning this mower immediately. I do not recommend this mower.

After buying a reel mower on almost a whim at Lowes, and being amazed at how easy and simple it was, I was sold on the concept of the reel mower. Unfortunately, after going through 4 of those, each one working great for a while, only to have the gears strip after little use, I realized I needed to upgrade. I tried the Great States (same as American Lawn Mower Company) 7 blade reel mower (7 blades because of Bermuda grass). The place that sold it to me, failed to provide a manual, but I found one on the internet. I realized later, after injuring my shoulders from pushing the mower, and working ridiculously hard, that the reel was not adjusted properly when it was sold to me. The reel is designed to cut paper, and it would not cut paper (unlike the Lowe's mower, which did cut paper). The reel was spinning freely, which means it was too loose. I returned it to the shop also, and they said it was bent, and could not be fixed so that it would cut paper. Instead of exchanging it for another...Read more