Hi DonnyW,
As far as the reel is concerned I'd just leave it as it is, especially if you intend to use it on a regular basis. Any clean up of the reel really needs to be done prior to spin grinding it. I always do it the hard way and sit they for hours using emery paper and rubbing it all back to bare steel and then paint it, after that send it off for it's grinding works to be done. Anyway as your mower isn't going to be a museum piece on display and being used for what it was meant to do I'd just use it and remember to clean it the reel off with a jet blasting of water from your hose while the reel is engaged in the spinning mode thus it will self clean all associated parts. Ensure that the mower is left out in the sun to completely dry out before putting it in the garage for storage. Don't put it away wet under any circumstances.
BTW it's looking really good for what we call a "survivor", just my original unit that I bought around 35 years ago as a secondhand mower which got me my passion for Scotty's.
Now the next thing is to set up the reel and bedknife contact arrangement. Do you know how to do this ?
Cheers,
BB.
