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BEAM CLAY® INFIELDS!
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CHECK THE REEL FIRST Before doing any grinding, Sides ad- vises that you thoroughly clean the reel and cylinder. Next, always check to make sure the reel and roller bearings are good and reel has proper end play. "It's virtually impossible to get a
good, consistent grind if there are worn bearings," he said. "Save yourself the headache and check these before wast- ing time at the grinder." You should also look for a "coned"
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reel by using a pi-tape or other measur- ing device to check circumference. An uneven reel can affect cut quality as well as lead to contact with the bed knife. If you find a coned reel, Sides rec- ommends following the directions for your specific grinding equipment to get the reel back to true.
cli- MAINTAIN PROPER
CLEARANCE "Easily the most overlooked, but key
component of reel maintenance is to make sure bedknife clearances are maintained," Sides said. A couple of minutes spent ensuring the reel blades are not coming into contact with the bedknife can save hours of grinding time down the road. "We definitely promote daily clear-
ance checks," Sides said. "As a rule, you want between one-thousandth to two- thousandths clearance between the bed knife and reel blades. Avoid metal- to-metal contact, as that quickly wears down a reel." Pulling a reel, mounting it in the grinder and replacing the unit can take up to an hour per reel. Daily clearance checks take just a few min- utes and can help extend reel life and save shop time by extending the dura- tion between spin grinds.
DON'T OVERLOOK
THE RELIEF ANGLE When you do have to grind, Sides
says, don't overlook the relief angle. "There are two distinct schools of thought on grinding," he said. "Those that spin grind only and those that relief grind in addition to spin grinding. I rec- ommend everyone maintain the relief angle throughout the life of the reel." The relief is key to keeping the reels and the tractor working the most effi-
44 SportsTurf | October 2011 www.sportsturfonline.com
