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Rating: 4.9/5
Gas-powered reel mowers like those from Rolux are a splurge for lawn perfectionists and machine enthusiasts alike. As an old landscaper and tool reviews guy, I count myself in both groups. Rolux is a South African brand with nearly 70 years of history, but it only became available in the United States within the past couple of years. Are Rolux mowers any good? According to its website, a Rolux reel mower should exhibit four critical qualities:
- It must cut perfectly and produce a classic striped lawn.
- It must be simple to use and simple to maintain.
- It must be a joy to use.
- It must be engineered to last for 50 years.
Those are high standards, but claims are easy to make. I toured Rolux’s new North American headquarters in Georgia to learn more. After a backstage look at the mower assembly process, I got to test-drive one on the lawn outside the shop. I came home with a new Rolux X20 20-inch reel mower.
Best Mower For Lawn Lovers
Rolux X20 20-Inch Reel Mower
It arrived in a crate, partially assembled as usual (though some dealers may offer full assembly and delivery). The hardest part was unloading the 143-pound mower from my truck, but that’s what teenage sons are for. Setup took about 20 minutes, aided by a video tutorial. I added oil and gas, and it started on the first pull.
The professional build quality was instantly impressive. The X20 features a heavy-duty 6-blade cutting cylinder made of 4mm hardened steel, a 10-gauge powder-coated steel chassis, and a 163cc Honda GX160 engine. It’s chain-driven with a cast aluminum chain cover and includes a vulcanized rear roller for clean striping. A grooved front roller and height-of-cut micro-adjuster ensured a nice, tight cut between ⅛-inch and 1 ⅜-inches. A 40-liter steel grass catcher rounds it out. Too bad I had to wait a month for my grass to start growing before the first cut.
While waiting, I learned the mower’s adjustments and regular maintenance procedures. Once or twice per mowing season, I’ll need to sharpen (backlap) the cylinder, grease the chain and fittings (zerks), and change the oil. Those tasks require backlapping compound, mower grease in a grease gun, and 10W-30 motor oil. Occasionally (primarily after backlapping), I’ll need to readjust the cylinder to ensure it is parallel to, and the proper distance from, the bedknife. Although the mower was brand new, I went through the motions to gauge how long it would take to perform all of those tasks. My best estimate is between 45 minutes and 1 hour—not bad for once or twice a year.
When my yard finally greened up, the X20 was ready to go. The engine started on the first pull. The twist throttle clicks through seven settings to control blade and travel speed (when the clutch is engaged). My only gripe: I wish the blade and travel speeds were independently adjustable. My workaround was selecting a throttle position for my preferred blade speed and then feathering the clutch to control travel speed. The lowest throttle setting let me move the mower without running the blade. After I mowed, the lawn’s cut was beautiful and the stripes were perfect.
Another plus: I can customize it with different rollers, bedknives, or blade cylinders. That’s the upside of a niche product from a responsive small business. I’m happy with it as-is, and customer support is easily reachable if needed.
After a few months and several mowings, I’m impressed. As for those four key characteristics, my Rolux does cut perfectly while producing classic lawn stripes, it is indeed simple to use and maintain, and it is a joy to use (at least on my gorgeous 75-degree testing days). Will it last 50 years? I’ll let you know.
Get the Rolux X20 20-Inch Reel Mower at Rolux.
