G'day wce
Fair enough and I understand your thinking there.
Many thanks.

I would like to add a simple test and background to
my thoughts here. It is an indulgence, I know ... blush

I have always favoured split rollers on reel mowers because
they permit less scuffing to grass on turns.

Sure, split rollers made no sense on some of the very small
reel-roller mowers of the late 19th and early 20th century.
[Here, I'm talking about tiny 6, 8, and 10 inch roller mowers].

But 12" and above roller mowers require split rollers for quality
grass cutting [in my view]. The Scott Bonnar Model 30, for
example, has four rear rollers!

Here is a simple test that shows that a mower that cannot travel
backwards must affect differential action and induce scuffing.

If you were to stand behind a reel-roller mower and turn it
with ZTR (zero turn radius] then the outside roller will turn in the
same direction as the turn; the inside roller will turn away from the
turn direction.

If only one roller fails to turn backwards then that roller is the
problem [either seized bearings or pawls]. If both rollers fail
to respond then the issue may be both rollers seized or the
problem may lie with the landroll clutch holding both rollers.

Interesting discussion!

-----------------------------
Jack