Tks Deejay - your advice is much appreciated.
On that knurling question - I am only a retired Mining Engineer - and at best, a very an amateur machinist - BUT for the life of me I could not see how knurling a reel shaft bearing seats would do anything but throw the the whole thing out of alingment - afterall, as I understand things, there is no precision in a knurled finish - so your adice to steer clear of the 2nd guy is well received.
So as suggested - will just have to wait till the New Year for my original guy who does a standard (not relief) grind (with the 500+mm wheeled centre grinder) to find a bit of free time to do my reel and get a new bedkife set up & surface and end ground. I guess if the guy is flat out till the New Year with golf green and bowling green gear - he must know what he's doing. In the meantime I will get a pair of sealed bearings to suit the reel, so all will be ready to go in the New Year
Deejay - I watched your videos a couple of times and learnt heaps - but I still need a little coaching on just how close is close enough for the gap between the reel and bedknife. I understand they shouldn't touch - but would say 1-2 thou gap (that I can set up with a feeler guage) be OK, or should it be more or less?? This last setup bit is still a bit of a "Black Art" to me.
P/S On the few occasions I have cut grass with my "other toy" - it has always stired up a swarm of grass hoppers - and I can tell you with absolute authority - Grass Hopper guts are made of SUPER GLUE!!!! and are insoluable even to truck wash!!!
