Walk reel mower with handle assembly

A walk reel mower arranged to perform a backlapping operation, the walk reel mower comprising:

• (a) a traction frame carrying a prime mover and a traction drive to self-propel the traction frame over a ground by driving first and second laterally spaced transport wheels rotatably carried on the traction frame;
• and
• (b) a reel cutting unit carried by the traction frame and having a rotatable cutting reel that is rotated by a reel drive in a first rotational direction for pushing grass against a bedknife for cutting the grass;
• (c) wherein the walk reel mower can be configured to perform a backlapping operation in which the rotatable cutting reel is rotated in a second rotational direction by mounting the second transport wheel to the reel drive and into driving contact with the first transport wheel such that power can be transferred to the reel drive from the prime mover via the first and second transport wheels.

A walk reel mower arranged for cutting grass and for performing a backlapping operation, the walk reel mower comprising:

• (a) a traction frame carrying a power plant, at least one ground engaging drive member, and a reel cutting unit having a rotatable cutting reel and a bedknife;
• (b) a traction drive coupling the power plant to the at least one ground engaging drive member;
• and
• (c) a reel drive selectively coupling the power plant to the rotatable cutting reel;
• (d) wherein the walk reel mower is operable in a mowing configuration in which the rotatable cutting reel is driven by the power plant via the reel drive in a first rotational direction such that blades of the cutting reel are moved rearwardly against a cutting edge of the bedknife for cutting the grass;
• (e) wherein the walk reel mower is operable in a backlapping configuration in which the reel drive is decoupled from the power plant and in which the reel drive is engaged with the traction drive such that the rotatable cutting reel is driven in a second rotational direction such that the blades of the cutting reel are moved forwardly away from the cutting edge of the bedknife to sharpen the blades.