I listened to the entire video and really appreciate the time and effort you spent to put this together. I am looking at reel mowers for my Bermuda lawn in North Carolina and this has been very helpful as I know nothing about them. Thanks again. Gary R.
Thank you for the kinds words. Please take a look at some of my other videos on my channel as i have a different comparison video with just the CT and the Mclane in addition to s detail overview of each of them.
I am a Mclane fan. I have 3 of 'em. You make all good points and this is a very well thought out video. One thing you may not have thought of is how long you use the mower at one time. Like if it takes 2 hours to mow your yard, have you experienced any fatigue in your thumbs when using the TruCut? This is really the only reason I use Mclanes. My feet get tired long before my thumbs do. :)
People have complained about the trucut from that standpoint. My lawn maybe is 30-40 minutes and i didn’t have an issue with that. 2 hour mow is not for the faint of heart. You have my respect 🫡
Dude… this video is awesome. I just sodded 7500sq ft and was comparing all of these mowers. Perfect timing and very informative! Thanks I think I’m going to go with the cal trimmer but man.. that tru cut is a nice mower.
Yes the trucut is an awesome machine. I can see why anyone would want pending there budget allows. The only thing i dislike about the trucut is the reel to bedknife adjustment which is important. Outside of that it’s a tank and beast of a mower. 👍🏻
I own a McLane 10 blade 20 inch and a Cal Trimmer 7 blade 20 inch. Pros and cons - Cal trimmer is a beast! real heavy so it cuts my Lawn dead flat BUT hard to move around, McLane makes a fine cut BUT lighter and bounces around on a rough non flat lawn. I like my Cal Trimmer and I use it more often.
Thank you for the great information, I'm new to this reel mowing and the quick run through how to adjust and maintain make the written instructions easier to understand. I previously purchased the ct 20 and a true cut 27 with champ but the true cut is 2 months out from delivery.
Nice video! I used to own a Tru-Cut C27 that I purchased second hand and I loved it. I regretfully sold it, frankly, because I didn’t realize what a special unit I had. I replaced it with a new zero turn a few years back and my zoysia has been looking worse every year. Two weeks ago I received my new California Trimmer and I’m never going back to a rotary. I do mow a few yards on the side so I’ll keep my zero turn strictly for that purpose.
Thanks for the comment. I would say that a slope a Trucut works because of the drive system. The cal trimmer is truly and awesome mower and great value. I know you are going to be happy with it for years to come !!! 👍🏻
Best video detailing all home owner reels hands down! I started out with the CT 20" classic and loved everything about it other than the tire marks left in the grass. From all my research, the CT was by far the best bang for the buck, plus it's the only one that the reel to bedknife adjust isn't archaic like the others in this video. I've since moved on to a Toro greensmaster, but the CT will always have a special place in my heart.
Wow what a cool video ! Definitely put some time into this . Appreciate it and great job. I have an Hrx right now but pulling trigger on cal trimmer this summer
Dwayne - thanks for the comparison video. Never had a reel mower until I had TifTuf bermuda sod put in the front yard. Too much time inside during the pandemic and I bought the 25" Maclane (since it was noted to be the easiest to maintain and I am not too mechanical). As such, anytime you want to do videos on Maclane maintenance, I am "all in"! Thanks again.
Thank you for the comment and suggestion. The 25 Mclane featured in the comparison could use a tune up and belt change so i may put something out showing the maintenance. 👍🏻
@Dwayne’s World Thanks Dwayne ... I heard you mention the McLane sometimes sounds clanky. That sort of describes my mower as I cut my slope on the bermuda. Might it be a loose belt or something about the chain after I start my belt and drive wheel?
@@jimgreyard6623 my feeling is that the Mclane reel to bedknife adjustment is not a precise and definitely has more metal to Metal contact then the Calfornia trimmer. For example when i release the drive lever on the Mclane the reel will almost come to a stop immediately as where i on my california trimmer it will spin quite a few revolutions after releasing the clutch.
Good review, but I wanted to see one other category: clipping collection. I have a Tru-cut and the clippings go everywhere. I ented up adding some sheet metal to constrain the clippings and a screen cover over the top-front of the collection bin.
If you have the plastic grass catcher you may want to look at the grass topper from reel rollers. I can tell you out of the 3 i would say the Mclane does the better job of catching clippings. From there the trucut and then the cal trimmer. The cal trimmer has recently added a grass shield extended which would put in more in line with the performance of the Mclane. Hope this helps
No but it’s good practice to test to make sure your reel is cutting. Some people don’t do this everything but it really should be checked often. I’m cutting hybrid Bermuda turf. Thanks for the question and the support 👍🏻
Did i say that?? Lol. I will have to go back and see. Obviously meant 27inch reel. A 27 blade reel would pretty much be a front roller. Lol. Thanks for the support !!! 👍🏻
Really great video's Dwanyne.. Here's the problem i see with reel mowers. If you don't use a grass catcher then the grass clippings are dropped into the lawn which creates thatch... and here in Oahu some of these home have a huge thatch problem. The other problem is the height of cut. Unless you can afford the water to keep your lawn green, cutting at these low levels requires more water. Coming from the Northern Nevada and California areas and now living in Oahu, you need to mow at a minimum height of 2" but more preferably, 2-1/2". Still, these are really great informative videos. Tahnk you🤙
If you mowing anything over 1.5 inches, a reel mower doesn’t make sense and better off with a rotary. I appreciate the kind words and glad you enjoyed the video. 👍🏻
Have you done any comparison and testing on fine blade zoysia. We have plenty of yards we do that have zoysia and it’s tougher turf to mow than Bermuda. We have tru cuts now.
I have not. All reel mowers should be able to handle it. It’s somewhat of a trade off. You made need sharpen more often but zoysia grows much slower then Bermuda which needs to mowed more often. The trucut is a beast and would be a great choice for your grass type. 👍🏻
I bought my 20" CT used. It had about 4 months worth of use. I had an option to buy a Tru-cut used for similar cost but went with the CT because the clutch systems is a belt that cost 7 to 10 dollars to replace. If the clutch system on the Tru-cut were to go out, I would expect it to cost a lot more. I am extremely happy with my CT. Now I just need to learn to do some of the maintenance on it like oil changes, lubes and belt changes.
That’s for the comment and glad to hear you like your cal trimmer. The Trucut is an awesome more but there is a lot love about the cal trimmer. All of the things you mentioned about maintenance are fairly easy to Tackle which is another plus for the cal trimmer 👍🏻
Very informative and detailed video . How would you compare the CT 25 inch to the Mclane 25? Does the 25 CT have the same reel to bed knife adjustment as the 20”
It does not. To be honest had the 25inch had the same set up as the 20 i would have prob purchased one at this point. The 25inch is known as a commercial series where you can not throttle the speed and from i have heard it’s very fast. Also 25 reel to bedknife adjustment is probably its worst selling point. It is just like the trucut adjustment which i really don’t like. The 25 Mclane is a good mower however many have complained about the build quality. If price doesn’t matter the 25 inch Mclane is probably the better choice but if value is important you can’t beat the price of the 25inch CT as it probably the lowest priced 25 inch reel mower on the market and a lot of people really like them regardless of the draw backs i brought up. Hope this helps and appreciate the support. 👍🏻
My southern lawn is centipede. Been looking to switch to reel. Yours is the Best eval/demo I’ve seen thus far. Local dealer only has two 25” Cal Trimmers in shop, so the 20” HC w Honda is on order! Thanks!
The 25inch cal trimmer is not the same as the 20inch. They are considered commercial series where the drive system doesn’t not have a clutch system and is just a lever and you go. A lot of people complain that it’s too fast for the walking speed. Hope this helps and congrats on the 20 inch hc 👍🏻
I have a John Deer 180C greens mower but one day when I add to my fleet I’ll probably grab a 25” CT. I like that it has a precision method for adjusting reel to bedknife.
You need to be careful as the 25 does not use the same method as the 20. The 25 are more like the adjustments on the trucut. Sorry for the bad news. 👍🏻
@@dwaynesworldlawn wow really? That makes no sense why they would do that for the commercial mower. I guess maybe the reason is it’s just quicker, where as I think of commercial equipment as being precise. Thanks for letting me know!
As one who owns 2 Cal Trimmers and 2 Mclanes, I can offer this: Cal Trimmers are smooth operators that don't feel like they're going to break....the Mclanes are a little janky feeling. BUT, the Mclane offer much more mobility around edges and corners because of their weight maybe?? I just know the Mclane is EASY to push (in the grass) and the Cal Trimmers are not. One last thing that I hear nobody talk about, the Mclane's walking speed is slow compared to the Cal Trimmer. Especially my commercial Cal Trimmer...it's very quick!!
Agree with all of your points. I did have some of what you spoke about in my original video but needed to edit about 3 hours of content down. I appreciate your feedback and support 👍🏻
Dwayne, your review was very impressive! When I saw this topic pop up I couldn’t wait to see your video. The transparency across all categories was spot on and the accuracy of each mower as well. Could you imagine if you could take all the great aspects of each and have it compressed into 1 mower? Stay tuned bud.
I wanna see an oil burner option… like a KD15-225 4.5 hp Kohler or A 15LD 3.7 hp. A bit heavier but I like the ability to store diesel in large quantity as a single fuel without the fuel going stale.
NIce video - thanks you for the comparison as I am in the market for a good reel mower. THe Maint would be a big deal for me as I doubt anyone in New England can work on them outside the golf course maint staff - and they are likely already too busy to asist (if they even wanted to) Have you ever used a Hudson Star ? like to see a comparison of that although I don't think anyone wants to mow their entire yard with one. ALso There is the Allett Stilring from the UK which is using now the E-Go batteries as an electric reel trimmer - Is insanly expensive though.
Thank you for the comment!!! I have owned my cal trimmer from new and it’s never went into shop and it’s about 4 years old. Only backlapped once or twice a season and still super sharp. Never used Hudson star as my lawn is too big for a push mower. The sterling appears to be an awesome mower but does carry a big price tag and goes up even more when looking at additional battery and cartridges. I think it’s out of most people budgets and confident there will be more options coming soon. Just saying 🤫
The grooved roller does a better gripping the turf but does not scarifice stripeaction. When Bermuda get really thick, the smooth roller almost has a feeling of floating. When using a grooved roller this can still be felt but definitely no where near the same as a smooth roller. With that said there had also been a lot of research showing that the quality of cut is better on a grooved vs smoother roller. Hope this helps 👍🏻
I have 2 mclane mowers the 20” has a 7 blade the other is a 10 blade mower. I like both but the 10 blade 20” gives me a fine cut on my grass. Which is best I don’t know
I use to own a 10 blade 20inch and absolutely loved it. Even if they both performed the same, i would give the nod to the 10 blade as it definitely looks cooler 👍🏻
I wish I had seen this video before I ordered my Mclane 25 inch as recommended by the Doc channel. The California trimmer would have been enough, saved a bit of money, and a little easier to store.
Even though the California trimmer is a great mower, the 25 inch Mclane is also a great mower in my opinion. All 4 mowers in this comparison are good. The 25 inch Mclane is good value if you look at it from the that there are few 25 inch mowers on the market for that price. I understand why doc recommend them, but at the same time i think he over hyped the importance of a 25inch reel which you don’t have to have and can get away with 20 inch when mowing anything less then 7500 sq ft. 👍🏻
I also bought the 25” Mclane based on Doc’s advice. I’ve had it for about a year now and really enjoy it, especially now that I’ve watched Dwayne’s videos on how to work on it.
@@blauseymalinois4339 the 25 inch Mclane is really a great mower. Although it didn’t win my comparison video, i think all the mower in the comparison are great and anyone of them would be a joy to own. I appreciate the comment 👍🏻
Would love to watch a review and comparison with the New CT Catalyst included. I have been watching promotions of the Cobra Fortis which is essentially the same mower. I think they are actually manufactured in China by somebody called Greenman Manufacturing. Not much on TH-cam yet for the California Trimmer version.
I agree with you. I own two California trimmer mowers 20” three McLane mowers 20” and one Tru-Cut 20” I use them commercially. The California TrimmerIs by far a superior. Biggest reason is parts cost in making repairs and ease of maintenance. I have had to replace the clutch system on the Tru-Cut and it is a difficult job. I keep all the reels sharp and adjusted and the adjustment is easy on the California Trimmer. I do have a McLane mower and it is still running and cuts great. That older McLane is superior to the newer McLanes. Every lever has a bearing and I have not had to replace any of them. It also has wider rear tires mounted on steel wheels. It has the old flat head Briggs & Stratton. It runs great. My other McLane is a 20” greens mower with the Honda engine. The other one has a Briggs & Stratton. The cost to replace the reel and bed knife now cost more the what I paid for the mower.
I have nothing to add… lol. You said it all. I agree with everything you commented about. Thank you for the support and feedback. The cal trimmer is truly a great mower and your absolutely on point about replacement parts. Every mower will eventually need something and nice to see that part cost are reasonable on the cal trimmer 👍🏻
I think one other area I would have wanted to see rated, would be how easy it is to change cartridges. (Sweeper, to aerator, to blades etc). Or maybe just which ones stand out as easy to change? I'm looking at just starting reel mowing my 9k front yard.
Non of these models have interchangeable cartridges. The only model are the allett and swardman that offer those options. California trimmer will be releasing a cartridge system later this year. Hope this helps 👍🏻
Thank you so much for the info - I guess thats why it wasn't in the ranking system haha. Enjoyed the video - thank you for putting in the work to make it!@@dwaynesworldlawn
Great video, thank you! The Tru Cut looks great except the bed knife adjustment, is that enough to steer clear? A neighbor of mine says it is but I am a newbie to this.
I’m not going to say the reel the bedknife is a deal breaker but i know a lot of people complain about it. It’s also depends on whether the mower you are looking at is new or used. Some people also prefer to take it to a shop to have sharpened and or adjusted which is always an option. I would say that had the trucut had a different set up it would have been my #1 pick. Hope this helps.
i saw other people mention it as well, but wonderfull editing, the amount of footage and effort required is huge. I would love to see you make some videos on vintage reel mowers, Im sure pleanty of people would be willing to bring their mower out for a video/test
People already say i have to many mowers but i it just appears that way because i borrow some here or there from friends. I appreciate the suggestion and who knows, maybe a future episode. 👍🏻
Had ct in the 70's, I would miss the drive handle being centered at the top of the handle bar. Gave awesome maneuverability. You could spin it around with one hand.
Great video! I've had a TruCut 20" for about 25 yrs, and I'm going to get a new mower. The TC is great- I have it serviced at Ace every year, and other than chain replacement, I've only had to replace the clutch once, and the reel (sprinkler head bent it). I love being able to feather the clutch for speed, because I have areas where I do need to go slower. I despise the bedknife adjustment, especially because I like to backlap it myself several times per year. I fact, if TruCut had the system CT does, I'd never buy anything but a TC. I will say, though- for anyone that likes to use the grass catcher (not me, except when scalping), TC won't be for you. It catches only about 20 of the clippings thrown, unless you're mowing wet. I'll probably get a Cal Trimmer, but a couple of things concern me. I have a couple of areas where I have to navigate around utility poles & such. I'd probably get used to the CT just fine. But I have an area in my backyard with an 18 degree slope. I'm not sure the small rear drive wheel will allow me to do it well at different angles (I alternate patterns). Mowing on hills is the one area you didn't address, but I guess because it doesn't look like you have any slopes to try it on.
Thank you for the comment. I would say out of all mowers the Trucut climbs hills the best. I know a California trimmer dealer named triangle reel mower and the owner uses the Ct and he has slopes. One of the reasons why manufactures don’t convert to rear drums like some wish they would, it’s because of lawns like yours where you want something that can handle slopes. The Ct is truthfully a great mower and the price is a great value. When you look at the price of trucut today they have gotten up there in price and no longer offered with a Honda motor. In areas when you need to mow slow i just lift the rear drive wheel and push manually. It’s rolls well so i don’t think it will be an issue. Not quite as nice as the feathering on the trucut but definitely workable. I would definitely consider the Ct for your next mower. 👍🏻
@@dwaynesworldlawn As luck would have it, the day after my post, I went to buy the CT. They didn't have the one I wanted, so I decided to look around Tuesday when everything opened. Got home, cut 2 rows of grass, and the clutch on the Trucut failed. Of course, no one anywhere has parts, so then I HAD to get the CT. Hell, even if they had the parts, a clutch ass'y has gone from around $200 a couple of years ago to $460 now- just the part! Not only were there no parts, but no one seemed to have the TC mowers in stock, either - and I wasn't going to pay what they're going for now, esp. without a Honda motor. It's taking some getting used to, and it's nowhere near as easy to use. But I do believe it's a better cut, after having used it twice. It seems more balanced, and easy to keep level with no bounce in areas that aren't perfect. It really doesn't have a problem with the slopes in my yard. In fact, it does a better job of not pushing down and scalping the edge on the low side when mowing across the slopes. And it climbs mine vertically just fine. But I wish it were a smaller diameter drive roller, to make it easier to turn around without accidentally engaging it in the up position - there's just not much room for that. Overall, I'm very pleased, and will probably be even more with experience in navigating it. And there'll be a lot of navigating - I don't have a flat, square yard...lots of unusual areas.
It’s sounds like you are happy with your purchase which I’m glad to hear. The trucut with its seperate drive system is something that’s hard to compete with, but the clutch is the weak link when it fails or wears out. With the cal trimmer you won’t have to worry about that. One option you may want to look at is called drive roller lift chain bracket. It’s an accessory that is part number lbk-100. This adapter allows you to adjust the chain up if you want to get a little more elevation out of it to not come into contact with the turf when it’s in the up position. I will maybe do a video because I’m more then likely going to adjust my chain. This kit however doesn’t work as good as it should if you have the handle bar extension kit as the chain will no longer be long enough as the handle kit include a newer longer chain. I still used the bracket as i have the handle kit on my Ct but used the chain from the ext kit. I do like the trucut and really thought it would be the winner when doing the comparison but the price on the Ct along with the options it gives is really hard to beat. Thanks you for the comment 👍🏻
@@dwaynesworldlawn Actually, that chain lift is now apparently standard- mine came with it. For some reason, they didn't have it set right. I had to remove links and move it up closer to the body of the mower. Still doesn't leave much room for tilting and turning the mower, but it's nice not to have to use a hack to get it higher. And yep- that TC clutch system is hard to beat. Midwest should do something to it so you have a warning somehow to replace it before complete failure, so you can just replace the pad instead of the assembly. Knowing what I know now, if I kept a TC, I'd just replace the pad every 5-10 years as part of general maintenance, since it failed 2x in 20 years. And yes, pretty happy overall. I'll be glad to replace cheap belts, easily access the (fewer) grease ports and service it myself, and most of all- backlap with simple turn of 2 screws. One other note- while looking at new mowers, I found that Reel Rollers just released the Revolution, that checks all my boxes. But it's only available in 26" so far, which wouldn't work for my yard. I'd have bought a 20" if they had it, instead of the CT. You should review it.
I own 2 TruCuts and own 2 Cal Trimmers. I have grown to really like my 25" tru cut just because the clutch system is push button. When the clutch goes bad it will be more expensive to replace. I also own a GM 1000 and that's the boss. Take into account backlapping ease, some are a pain to backlap.
All great points. Definitely agree that the trucut has the best drive system and love the ability to control reel and propulsion separately. The new revolution 26 is also suppose to have the a similar dual drive system as trucut was really on of the only tru cuts that have that type of system. I appreciate the comment and the support !!! 👍🏻
I would say so especially if the option is for the gx120 motor. Although less powerful than the 160 motor it’s a quite and just runs so smooth. If you opt for the cheaper option and go with the Briggs it’s a good Motor but the gx motors had standard the test of time. The gx160 is louder Than the 120 and would say that it would probably scalp better since it has more power. Hope this help. 👍🏻
It’s not a true high of cut so it’s not labels. Also if you use it you may need to step it down with a zip tile from coming out of that position. Thanks for the comment!! 👍🏻
Great Video! have you seen the new Rolux X20 coming out in August? I am highly considering this over the others due to the drum rear roller, HOC and 9 blade reel option.
It’s looks very promising. I think the only negative i heard at this point is the handle bar design. The split also is an interesting design. I hear it works great when catching clipping but maybe a con when not catch because all clipping are being directed to the center of the mower. Either way i want to try one and see how well it performs 👍🏻
No grease fittings is not good! I’ve had cars that had no grease fittings and the front end parts didn’t last 15,000 miles! The replacement parts fortunately had grease fittings and they have lasted over 150,000 miles! Now obviously if you don’t grease them they won’t last but if you simply grease them once or twice a week they will outlast non greaseable parts exponentially.
I bought a McLane last year, nothing but trouble….that machine is trash , three months after I bought it the rear axel broke. Nothing but trouble since I got it . And had too pay 3 times more than my last one…NEVER AGAIN WILL I BUY ANOTHER MCLANE !!
None of the mower are greens keepers and was comparing more residential type mowers. These mower should normally be ran at closer to a 3/4 HOC for best performance. I do appreciate the comment and the support. 👍🏻
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Just ordered my Cali Trimmer before watching this. You’ve got me pumped now. 😊
Great choice!!! 👍🏻
I listened to the entire video and really appreciate the time and effort you spent to put this together. I am looking at reel mowers for my Bermuda lawn in North Carolina and this has been very helpful as I know nothing about them. Thanks again. Gary R.
Thank you for the kinds words. Please take a look at some of my other videos on my channel as i have a different comparison video with just the CT and the Mclane in addition to s detail overview of each of them.
I am a Mclane fan. I have 3 of 'em. You make all good points and this is a very well thought out video. One thing you may not have thought of is how long you use the mower at one time. Like if it takes 2 hours to mow your yard, have you experienced any fatigue in your thumbs when using the TruCut? This is really the only reason I use Mclanes. My feet get tired long before my thumbs do. :)
People have complained about the trucut from that standpoint. My lawn maybe is 30-40 minutes and i didn’t have an issue with that. 2 hour mow is not for the faint of heart. You have my respect 🫡
Great video. I hope you can do another with the Rolux, Revolution, and Cal Trimmer Catalyst.
That would be awesome. At least for the moment i have 1 of the 3 at the moment. lol. I appreciate the comment and the support 👍🏻
Dude… this video is awesome. I just sodded 7500sq ft and was comparing all of these mowers. Perfect timing and very informative! Thanks
I think I’m going to go with the cal trimmer but man.. that tru cut is a nice mower.
Yes the trucut is an awesome machine. I can see why anyone would want pending there budget allows. The only thing i dislike about the trucut is the reel to bedknife adjustment which is important. Outside of that it’s a tank and beast of a mower. 👍🏻
I own a McLane 10 blade 20 inch and a Cal Trimmer 7 blade 20 inch. Pros and cons - Cal trimmer is a beast! real heavy so it cuts my Lawn dead flat BUT hard to move around, McLane makes a fine cut BUT lighter and bounces around on a rough non flat lawn. I like my Cal Trimmer and I use it more often.
I like the comparisons points as i agree them all!!! Appreciate the support 👍🏻
This video was DAMN good. Well done Dwayne. Subbed
Thank you Robert!!! I appreciate the support and the kind words
I love the Mclane for easy of use and repair , the reel rollers mower is interesting also.
The Mclane is a great mower and is still one of my favorites.
Thank you for the great information, I'm new to this reel mowing and the quick run through how to adjust and maintain make the written instructions easier to understand. I previously purchased the ct 20 and a true cut 27 with champ but the true cut is 2 months out from delivery.
Both mowers are great options. I appreciate the comment and the support !!! 👍🏻
Nice video! I used to own a Tru-Cut C27 that I purchased second hand and I loved it. I regretfully sold it, frankly, because I didn’t realize what a special unit I had. I replaced it with a new zero turn a few years back and my zoysia has been looking worse every year. Two weeks ago I received my new California Trimmer and I’m never going back to a rotary. I do mow a few yards on the side so I’ll keep my zero turn strictly for that purpose.
Thanks for the comment. I would say that a slope a Trucut works because of the drive system. The cal trimmer is truly and awesome mower and great value. I know you are going to be happy with it for years to come !!! 👍🏻
Best video detailing all home owner reels hands down! I started out with the CT 20" classic and loved everything about it other than the tire marks left in the grass. From all my research, the CT was by far the best bang for the buck, plus it's the only one that the reel to bedknife adjust isn't archaic like the others in this video. I've since moved on to a Toro greensmaster, but the CT will always have a special place in my heart.
I know what you mean. The CT is a special mower and one that you will always remember 👍🏻
Yard is looking 🔥👀 Tru Cut is definitely my go to !
I could see why…. It’s an awesome mower
Another cool video man!! Awesome machines.😍😍Thanks!👍
Thank you Robert!!!! 👍🏻
Great Great video I hope you will be able to get your hands on a Revolution 26 and do a review or a comparison with other reel mowers.
Thanks for the feedback. Possibly 1 day 👍🏻
I agree with the above comment 100%. I found this video extremely helpful - well done!
Wow what a cool video ! Definitely put some time into this . Appreciate it and great job. I have an Hrx right now but pulling trigger on cal trimmer this summer
The cal trimmer is a great choice. You won’t be disappointed. I appreciate the compliment and thank you for the comment 👍🏻
Thanks thinking of getting a Cali and will be testing one from my lawn company before purchasing.
I think your going to love it. Let me know how it’s goes and if all goes well congratulations on the new mower. Thank you for your support !!!
Dwayne - thanks for the comparison video. Never had a reel mower until I had TifTuf bermuda sod put in the front yard. Too much time inside during the pandemic and I bought the 25" Maclane (since it was noted to be the easiest to maintain and I am not too mechanical). As such, anytime you want to do videos on Maclane maintenance, I am "all in"! Thanks again.
Thank you for the comment and suggestion. The 25 Mclane featured in the comparison could use a tune up and belt change so i may put something out showing the maintenance. 👍🏻
@Dwayne’s World Thanks Dwayne ... I heard you mention the McLane sometimes sounds clanky. That sort of describes my mower as I cut my slope on the bermuda. Might it be a loose belt or something about the chain after I start my belt and drive wheel?
@@jimgreyard6623 my feeling is that the Mclane reel to bedknife adjustment is not a precise and definitely has more metal to
Metal contact then the Calfornia trimmer. For example when i release the drive lever on the Mclane the reel will almost come to a stop immediately as where i on my california trimmer it will spin quite a few revolutions after releasing the clutch.
Good review, but I wanted to see one other category: clipping collection. I have a Tru-cut and the clippings go everywhere. I ented up adding some sheet metal to constrain the clippings and a screen cover over the top-front of the collection bin.
If you have the plastic grass catcher you may want to look at the grass topper from reel rollers. I can tell you out of the 3 i would say the Mclane does the better job of catching clippings. From there the trucut and then the cal trimmer. The cal trimmer has recently added a grass shield extended which would put in more in line with the performance of the Mclane. Hope this helps
Thank you for putting the time into making this video. Super helpful and very informative!
I’m glad you found it useful. I really appreciate the kind words 👍🏻
Do you have to make the reel to bedknife adjustment every time before you cut the lawn? Also what type of turf are you cutting?
No but it’s good practice to test to make sure your reel is cutting. Some people don’t do this everything but it really should be checked often. I’m cutting hybrid Bermuda turf. Thanks for the question and the support 👍🏻
27 blade reel 😲 Lol I can't imagine how that would even cut.. Great video my man!!
Did i say that?? Lol. I will have to go back and see. Obviously meant 27inch reel. A 27 blade reel would pretty much be a front roller. Lol. Thanks for the support !!! 👍🏻
Really great video's Dwanyne..
Here's the problem i see with reel mowers.
If you don't use a grass catcher then the grass clippings are dropped into the lawn which creates thatch... and here in Oahu some of these home have a huge thatch problem.
The other problem is the height of cut. Unless you can afford the water to keep your lawn green, cutting at these low levels requires more water. Coming from the Northern Nevada and California areas and now living in Oahu, you need to mow at a minimum height of 2" but more preferably, 2-1/2".
Still, these are really great informative videos.
Tahnk you🤙
If you mowing anything over 1.5 inches, a reel mower doesn’t make sense and better off with a rotary. I appreciate the kind words and glad you enjoyed the video. 👍🏻
Great video Dwayne keep up the great work
Thank you for the support !!! 👍🏻
With Reel Mowers coming out with their own mower within the next 30-45 days I would love to see it added to this comparison.
I hope to fulfill that request next spring. I hope to get my hands on the evolution mower 👍🏻
Have you done any comparison and testing on fine blade zoysia. We have plenty of yards we do that have zoysia and it’s tougher turf to mow than Bermuda. We have tru cuts now.
I have not. All reel mowers should be able to handle it. It’s somewhat of a trade off. You made need sharpen more often but zoysia grows much slower then Bermuda which needs to mowed more often. The trucut is a beast and would be a great choice for your grass type. 👍🏻
I bought my 20" CT used. It had about 4 months worth of use. I had an option to buy a Tru-cut used for similar cost but went with the CT because the clutch systems is a belt that cost 7 to 10 dollars to replace. If the clutch system on the Tru-cut were to go out, I would expect it to cost a lot more. I am extremely happy with my CT. Now I just need to learn to do some of the maintenance on it like oil changes, lubes and belt changes.
That’s for the comment and glad to hear you like your cal trimmer. The Trucut is an awesome more but there is a lot love about the cal trimmer. All of the things you mentioned about maintenance are fairly easy to Tackle which is another plus for the cal trimmer 👍🏻
Very informative and detailed video . How would you compare the CT 25 inch to the Mclane 25? Does the 25 CT have the same reel to bed knife adjustment as the 20”
It does not. To be honest had the 25inch had the same set up as the 20 i would have prob purchased one at this point. The 25inch is known as a commercial series where you can not throttle the speed and from i have heard it’s very fast. Also 25 reel to bedknife adjustment is probably its worst selling point. It is just like the trucut adjustment which i really don’t like. The 25 Mclane is a good mower however many have complained about the build quality. If price doesn’t matter the 25 inch Mclane is probably the better choice but if value is important you can’t beat the price of the 25inch CT as it probably the lowest priced 25 inch reel mower on the market and a lot of people really like them regardless of the draw backs i brought up. Hope this helps and appreciate the support. 👍🏻
My southern lawn is centipede. Been looking to switch to reel. Yours is the Best eval/demo I’ve seen thus far. Local dealer only has two 25” Cal Trimmers in shop, so the 20” HC w Honda is on order! Thanks!
The 25inch cal trimmer is not the same as the 20inch. They are considered commercial series where the drive system doesn’t not have a clutch system and is just a lever and you go. A lot of people complain that it’s too fast for the walking speed. Hope this helps and congrats on the 20 inch hc 👍🏻
@@dwaynesworldlawn Yes, that’s why I ordered the 20”. 👍
I have a John Deer 180C greens mower but one day when I add to my fleet I’ll probably grab a 25” CT. I like that it has a precision method for adjusting reel to bedknife.
You need to be careful as the 25 does not use the same method as the 20. The 25 are more like the adjustments on the trucut. Sorry for the bad news. 👍🏻
@@dwaynesworldlawn wow really? That makes no sense why they would do that for the commercial mower. I guess maybe the reason is it’s just quicker, where as I think of commercial equipment as being precise. Thanks for letting me know!
As one who owns 2 Cal Trimmers and 2 Mclanes, I can offer this: Cal Trimmers are smooth operators that don't feel like they're going to break....the Mclanes are a little janky feeling. BUT, the Mclane offer much more mobility around edges and corners because of their weight maybe?? I just know the Mclane is EASY to push (in the grass) and the Cal Trimmers are not. One last thing that I hear nobody talk about, the Mclane's walking speed is slow compared to the Cal Trimmer. Especially my commercial Cal Trimmer...it's very quick!!
Agree with all of your points. I did have some of what you spoke about in my original video but needed to edit about 3 hours of content down. I appreciate your feedback and support 👍🏻
@@dwaynesworldlawn I can’t imagine how long it took you to make that video!
@@jameyhaz it’s wasn’t too bad. Let just say i originally had 10 categories but it was getting out of hand. Lol
Dwayne, your review was very impressive! When I saw this topic pop up I couldn’t wait to see your video. The transparency across all categories was spot on and the accuracy of each mower as well.
Could you imagine if you could take all the great aspects of each and have it compressed into 1 mower? Stay tuned bud.
That’s sounds amazing!!!! Thanks for the compliments and appreciate the support!!! 👍🏻
Great video and very detailed 💪🏽💪🏽👍👍
Appreciate it! 👍🏻
I wanna see an oil burner option… like a KD15-225 4.5 hp Kohler or A 15LD 3.7 hp. A bit heavier but I like the ability to store diesel in large quantity as a single fuel without the fuel going stale.
Thank you for the suggestion 👍🏻
NIce video - thanks you for the comparison as I am in the market for a good reel mower. THe Maint would be a big deal for me as I doubt anyone in New England can work on them outside the golf course maint staff - and they are likely already too busy to asist (if they even wanted to)
Have you ever used a Hudson Star ? like to see a comparison of that although I don't think anyone wants to mow their entire yard with one.
ALso There is the Allett Stilring from the UK which is using now the E-Go batteries as an electric reel trimmer - Is insanly expensive though.
Thank you for the comment!!! I have owned my cal trimmer from new and it’s never went into shop and it’s about 4 years old. Only backlapped once or twice a season and still super sharp.
Never used Hudson star as my lawn is too big for a push mower.
The sterling appears to be an awesome mower but does carry a big price tag and goes up even more when looking at additional battery and cartridges. I think it’s out of most people budgets and confident there will be more options coming soon. Just saying 🤫
Nice video, can you tell me the advantage of groved front roller versus smooth?
Thank you
The grooved roller does a better gripping the turf but does not scarifice stripeaction. When Bermuda get really thick, the smooth roller almost has a feeling of floating. When using a grooved roller this can still be felt but definitely no where near the same as a smooth roller. With that said there had also been a lot of research showing that the quality of cut is better on a grooved vs smoother roller. Hope this helps 👍🏻
Great review! Any thoughts of adding a allett sterling to ur collection
I would love to, but it would get a 1 on price. It’s an expensive mower but I’m sure works really well.
I have 2 mclane mowers the 20” has a 7 blade the other is a 10 blade mower. I like both but the 10 blade 20” gives me a fine cut on my grass. Which is best I don’t know
I use to own a 10 blade 20inch and absolutely loved it. Even if they both performed the same, i would give the nod to the 10 blade as it definitely looks cooler 👍🏻
I wish I had seen this video before I ordered my Mclane 25 inch as recommended by the Doc channel. The California trimmer would have been enough, saved a bit of money, and a little easier to store.
Even though the California trimmer is a great mower, the 25 inch Mclane is also a great mower in my opinion. All 4 mowers in this comparison are good. The 25 inch Mclane is good value if you look at it from the that there are few 25 inch mowers on the market for that price. I understand why doc recommend them, but at the same time i think he over hyped the importance of a 25inch reel which you don’t have to have and can get away with 20 inch when mowing anything less then 7500 sq ft. 👍🏻
I also bought the 25” Mclane based on Doc’s advice. I’ve had it for about a year now and really enjoy it, especially now that I’ve watched Dwayne’s videos on how to work on it.
@@blauseymalinois4339 the 25 inch Mclane is really a great mower. Although it didn’t win my comparison video, i think all the mower in the comparison are great and anyone of them would be a joy to own. I appreciate the comment 👍🏻
I tried them all and I don't agree with his assessment.. I believe thec25 inch McLane is the best .
It's very maneuverable and extremely dependable..
Would love to watch a review and comparison with the New CT Catalyst included. I have been watching promotions of the Cobra Fortis which is essentially the same mower. I think they are actually manufactured in China by somebody called Greenman Manufacturing. Not much on TH-cam yet for the California Trimmer version.
Thank you for the comment!!! Stay tuned because you never know what’s next for Dwayne’s world 👍🏻
I agree with you. I own two California trimmer mowers 20” three McLane mowers 20” and one Tru-Cut 20” I use them commercially. The California TrimmerIs by far a superior. Biggest reason is parts cost in making repairs and ease of maintenance. I have had to replace the clutch system on the Tru-Cut and it is a difficult job. I keep all the reels sharp and adjusted and the adjustment is easy on the California Trimmer. I do have a McLane mower and it is still running and cuts great. That older McLane is superior to the newer McLanes. Every lever has a bearing and I have not had to replace any of them. It also has wider rear tires mounted on steel wheels. It has the old flat head Briggs & Stratton. It runs great. My other McLane is a 20” greens mower with the Honda engine. The other one has a Briggs & Stratton. The cost to replace the reel and bed knife now cost more the what I paid for the mower.
I have nothing to add… lol. You said it all. I agree with everything you commented about. Thank you for the support and feedback. The cal trimmer is truly a great mower and your absolutely on point about replacement parts. Every mower will eventually need something and nice to see that part cost are reasonable on the cal trimmer 👍🏻
I think one other area I would have wanted to see rated, would be how easy it is to change cartridges. (Sweeper, to aerator, to blades etc). Or maybe just which ones stand out as easy to change? I'm looking at just starting reel mowing my 9k front yard.
Non of these models have interchangeable cartridges. The only model are the allett and swardman that offer those options. California trimmer will be releasing a cartridge system later this year. Hope this helps 👍🏻
Thank you so much for the info - I guess thats why it wasn't in the ranking system haha. Enjoyed the video - thank you for putting in the work to make it!@@dwaynesworldlawn
Great video, thank you! The Tru Cut looks great except the bed knife adjustment, is that enough to steer clear? A neighbor of mine says it is but I am a newbie to this.
I’m not going to say the reel the bedknife is a deal breaker but i know a lot of people complain about it. It’s also depends on whether the mower you are looking at is new or used. Some people also prefer to take it to a shop to have sharpened and or adjusted which is always an option. I would say that had the trucut had a different set up it would have been my #1 pick. Hope this helps.
@@dwaynesworldlawn very helpful, thank you
i saw other people mention it as well, but wonderfull editing, the amount of footage and effort required is huge. I would love to see you make some videos on vintage reel mowers, Im sure pleanty of people would be willing to bring their mower out for a video/test
People already say i have to many mowers but i it just appears that way because i borrow some here or there from friends. I appreciate the suggestion and who knows, maybe a future episode. 👍🏻
Had ct in the 70's, I would miss the drive handle being centered at the top of the handle bar. Gave awesome maneuverability. You could spin it around with one hand.
Great video! I've had a TruCut 20" for about 25 yrs, and I'm going to get a new mower. The TC is great- I have it serviced at Ace every year, and other than chain replacement, I've only had to replace the clutch once, and the reel (sprinkler head bent it). I love being able to feather the clutch for speed, because I have areas where I do need to go slower. I despise the bedknife adjustment, especially because I like to backlap it myself several times per year. I fact, if TruCut had the system CT does, I'd never buy anything but a TC. I will say, though- for anyone that likes to use the grass catcher (not me, except when scalping), TC won't be for you. It catches only about 20 of the clippings thrown, unless you're mowing wet.
I'll probably get a Cal Trimmer, but a couple of things concern me. I have a couple of areas where I have to navigate around utility poles & such. I'd probably get used to the CT just fine. But I have an area in my backyard with an 18 degree slope. I'm not sure the small rear drive wheel will allow me to do it well at different angles (I alternate patterns). Mowing on hills is the one area you didn't address, but I guess because it doesn't look like you have any slopes to try it on.
Thank you for the comment. I would say out of all mowers the Trucut climbs hills the best. I know a California trimmer dealer named triangle reel mower and the owner uses the Ct and he has slopes. One of the reasons why manufactures don’t convert to rear drums like some wish they would, it’s because of lawns like yours where you want something that can handle slopes. The Ct is truthfully a great mower and the price is a great value. When you look at the price of trucut today they have gotten up there in price and no longer offered with a Honda motor. In areas when you need to mow slow i just lift the rear drive wheel and push manually. It’s rolls well so i don’t think it will be an issue. Not quite as nice as the feathering on the trucut but definitely workable. I would definitely consider the Ct for your next mower. 👍🏻
@@dwaynesworldlawn As luck would have it, the day after my post, I went to buy the CT. They didn't have the one I wanted, so I decided to look around Tuesday when everything opened. Got home, cut 2 rows of grass, and the clutch on the Trucut failed. Of course, no one anywhere has parts, so then I HAD to get the CT. Hell, even if they had the parts, a clutch ass'y has gone from around $200 a couple of years ago to $460 now- just the part! Not only were there no parts, but no one seemed to have the TC mowers in stock, either - and I wasn't going to pay what they're going for now, esp. without a Honda motor.
It's taking some getting used to, and it's nowhere near as easy to use. But I do believe it's a better cut, after having used it twice. It seems more balanced, and easy to keep level with no bounce in areas that aren't perfect. It really doesn't have a problem with the slopes in my yard. In fact, it does a better job of not pushing down and scalping the edge on the low side when mowing across the slopes. And it climbs mine vertically just fine. But I wish it were a smaller diameter drive roller, to make it easier to turn around without accidentally engaging it in the up position - there's just not much room for that.
Overall, I'm very pleased, and will probably be even more with experience in navigating it. And there'll be a lot of navigating - I don't have a flat, square yard...lots of unusual areas.
It’s sounds like you are happy with your purchase which I’m glad to hear. The trucut with its seperate drive system is something that’s hard to compete with, but the clutch is the weak link when it fails or wears out. With the cal trimmer you won’t have to worry about that. One option you may want to look at is called drive roller lift chain bracket. It’s an accessory that is part number lbk-100. This adapter allows you to adjust the chain up if you want to get a little more elevation out of it to not come into contact with the turf when it’s in the up position. I will maybe do a video because I’m more then likely going to adjust my chain. This kit however doesn’t work as good as it should if you have the handle bar extension kit as the chain will no longer be long enough as the handle kit include a newer longer chain. I still used the bracket as i have the handle kit on my Ct but used the chain from the ext kit. I do like the trucut and really thought it would be the winner when doing the comparison but the price on the Ct along with the options it gives is really hard to beat. Thanks you for the comment 👍🏻
@@dwaynesworldlawn Actually, that chain lift is now apparently standard- mine came with it. For some reason, they didn't have it set right. I had to remove links and move it up closer to the body of the mower. Still doesn't leave much room for tilting and turning the mower, but it's nice not to have to use a hack to get it higher.
And yep- that TC clutch system is hard to beat. Midwest should do something to it so you have a warning somehow to replace it before complete failure, so you can just replace the pad instead of the assembly. Knowing what I know now, if I kept a TC, I'd just replace the pad every 5-10 years as part of general maintenance, since it failed 2x in 20 years.
And yes, pretty happy overall. I'll be glad to replace cheap belts, easily access the (fewer) grease ports and service it myself, and most of all- backlap with simple turn of 2 screws.
One other note- while looking at new mowers, I found that Reel Rollers just released the Revolution, that checks all my boxes. But it's only available in 26" so far, which wouldn't work for my yard. I'd have bought a 20" if they had it, instead of the CT. You should review it.
@@richardb.4487 i hope to be able to get my
Hands on a Revolution to be able to review it. Thank you for comment and support 👍🏻
I own 2 TruCuts and own 2 Cal Trimmers. I have grown to really like my 25" tru cut just because the clutch system is push button. When the clutch goes bad it will be more expensive to replace. I also own a GM 1000 and that's the boss. Take into account backlapping ease, some are a pain to backlap.
All great points. Definitely agree that the trucut has the best drive system and love the ability to control reel and propulsion separately. The new revolution 26 is also suppose to have the a similar dual drive system as trucut was really on of the only tru cuts that have that type of system. I appreciate the comment and the support !!! 👍🏻
Dwayne , quick question. Is it worth it to spend the extra on the Honda mower ? And if so why . Also ? Grooved or smooth for better stripes . Thanks !
I would say so especially if the option is for the gx120 motor. Although less powerful than the 160 motor it’s a quite and just runs so smooth. If you opt for the cheaper option and go with the Briggs it’s a good Motor but the gx motors had standard the test of time. The gx160 is louder Than the 120 and would say that it would probably scalp better since it has more power. Hope this help. 👍🏻
What eye hole does the manufacture set the HOC at on the 20” mclane?
It’s not a true high of cut so it’s not labels. Also if you use it you may need to step it down with a zip tile from coming out of that position. Thanks for the comment!! 👍🏻
😊 were you a cameraman? The clarity other video is great thanks. Good review.
No i am not a camera man. I appreciate the compliment!!! 👍🏻
The only one that I am missing is the Tru cut with the Honda engine
It’s a awesome mower and engine. Thank you for the comment and the support ! 👍🏻
Great Video! have you seen the new Rolux X20 coming out in August? I am highly considering this over the others due to the drum rear roller, HOC and 9 blade reel option.
It’s looks very promising. I think the only negative i heard at this point is the handle bar design. The split also is an interesting design. I hear it works great when catching clipping but maybe a con when not catch because all clipping are being directed to the center of the mower. Either way i want to try one and see how well it performs 👍🏻
No grease zerks for bearings is a negative, not a positive.
I can see your point, but you have to consider some people view less maintenance items as a positive.
Rolux and Revolution 26 have entered the chat:
For sure. Although those mowers were not an option at the time of this video. Maybe 1 day. 👍🏻
@@dwaynesworldlawn Yes, I would love to see a new comparison that includes the Rolux and Revolution mowers!
No grease fittings is not good! I’ve had cars that had no grease fittings and the front end parts didn’t last 15,000 miles! The replacement parts fortunately had grease fittings and they have lasted over 150,000 miles! Now obviously if you don’t grease them they won’t last but if you simply grease them once or twice a week they will outlast non greaseable parts exponentially.
Great point as it always nice to know that the bearing are getting the grease needed vs assuming the sealed ones are good to go.
I bought a McLane last year, nothing but trouble….that machine is trash , three months after I bought it the rear axel broke. Nothing but trouble since I got it . And had too pay 3 times more than my last one…NEVER AGAIN WILL I BUY ANOTHER MCLANE !!
Sorry to hear about your bad experience. At least now there are a few more options to go with. Good luck and appreciate the support 👍🏻
Yes. I have had terrible troubles with McLane as well. It's great when it works and NIGHTMARE when it doesn't.
Get an allett
Allets are great mowers but pricey 💵
@@dwaynesworldlawn I told her it was used and discounted 50%. Let's keep that between us.
You got it 👍🏻
Garbage, get a ten blade cylinder if you’re going to play at green keepers.
None of the mower are greens keepers and was comparing more residential type mowers. These mower should normally be ran at closer to a 3/4 HOC for best performance. I do appreciate the comment and the support. 👍🏻
Nah. Your opinion is just that. Your opinion. My opinion is that you are incorrect