Sun Joe MJ502M Reel Mower w/ 8.5-Gallon, 9-Position Height Adjustment, Foam Grip, Compact Design, Green, 20-Inch Manual w/Grass Catcher

This reel mower is freaking awesome!!! I needed a mower for our several acres we got. I hate gas mowers and didn't want to deal with cords or charging and not to mention how expensive mowers are these days. I've always wanted a push mower that was sweet and simple. I was sceptical about the reviews saying it's not good for hilly areas or tall grass. Hog wash! It cuts tall grass like a dream. Cuts different levels like a breeze. It's also a lot of fun! Definitely a workout but lord knows I need it. I'm getting a quality workout in my yard and it's a satisfying experience. It's not heavy, easy to push, cuts great, no battery needed, easy to put together and use right out of the box. I hope to have this mower for many years.

The negatives: a little heavy but sturdy. It's wide: did not realize how big it is. For a small yard I think would buy the 16 inch. You can not get close to the edges since we have 12 inch high stone curbs along the perimeter; leaves about a 6 inch border that you have to trim with a trimmer. Our yard is about 80' long x 30' wide; rectangular and almost flat. Only used twice so far, so I will try to post a later review.The positives: This mower is great, rolls smoothly, cuts great (follow directions; don't try to cut more than 1/3 of the height at once). Quiet, easy to use, NO FUEL!. Got rid of the noisy heavy gas powered one.The bag holds quite a bit and easy to empty and install. I would give it a 5 but have not had long enough, so we'll see.used it for about 2 months now. Still like. if you let the grass grow too much it doesn't work too well. You must mow a couple of times each time lowering the blade. In summer heat it's a great work out, helps to keep you moving

This is my second manual reel mower. My first one was fine but this is, I feel, a better design. The mower cuts really well. My other model has straight blades and I will say that the curved blades on this one do a significantly better job. No comparison. This mower can manage in deeper grass which is a killer for the straight blade style. Also it is nice at 20 inches. My other is 18 and it may not sound like much, but it is. This is a little bit heavier and with how much it eats at a pass it can be tough to push through the thicker stuff. But, I'm not a big person and don't have much weight to put behind it. The wheels are fairly well sealed up around the axles, and this helps keep the longer grasses from tangling up the drive, which is a huge pain if you are a little lazy and don't mow regularly.... like me.ALSO, I seriously doubted, even laughed at the grass catcher. Never thought that it would serve any purpose. I was dead wrong. I am simply amazed at how much grass it collects. Worth every penny and a great purchase. I did however just get it, so I can't say anything about how it will last.

(20150428) When I was growing up in the 1960s, we owned these types of lawn mowers. I remember my grandfather fixing one when he came to the USA for the first time in about 40 years. My mother was frantic that she was out of cooking oil. Anyway, they worked extremely well in the environment that I live in and am using this Sun Joe Mow Joe MJ501M in. That's why I purchased this type of lawn mower. I liked the idea of no gas, oil, or pull ropes breaking. Absolutely beautiful looking machine; very easy to assemble; very easy to use; extremely easy to follow instruction book... BUT this lawn mower, to my utter surprise, does not cut grass! I was able to use one of these just fine at the age of five, but not this one in my 50s! The blades roll like there's no tomorrow, and yet it only flattens down the grass. I did the paper cut test, and it passed with flying colors. I checked to see if the blades were too loose or too tight; no adjustment needed. I adjusted the height of the cut; no change. It won't cut high grass; it won't cut low grass; it won't cut anything but loose foxtails that fall off the stem just by blowing them with my mouth. Awaiting advice from customer service. I have videos, but no pictures. If anyone has any advice on how to get this thing to cut grass "PLEASE!!!" let me know.(20150430) Spoke to Sun Joe's customer service, and they are making an even exchange, even paying for return shipping. Very impressed with the company. Hopefully, this was just a single defective product. We'll see when I get the new one.(20150507) Received 20-Inch MRM (MJ502M instead of MJ501M). It works better in that it cuts grass... some, but still not what I remember when manual lawn mower handles were higher than the top of my five year old head. I still give this only one star because if the handles reached above my head five decades ago and cut this type of grass which was as high as my ankles back then, more modern versions should be able to cut just as well if not better.

This monster, I was so excited to get it, call me weird. When it arrived, it was not ready to go after assembly. The blades needed adjustment, they barely moved and made a grating sound. It needed oiled, or it squeaked like your neighbor's bed springs. The opposite of quiet. It pulled out more grass than it cut (Bermuda) and was an overall beast. I was stubborn and oiled it until it no longer made that god awful noise. I adjusted the blades endlessly until I could get it to cut something-ANYTHING. It still had issues. I ended up buying a Scott's blade sharpening kit for a 20" reel mower and cut it to size and sharpened the blades. Oiled it again and now it cuts like it is supposed to. Quiet, just the patter of the blades as they spin. It cuts like a dream and I use it so much the neighbor's think I'm strange for liking to cut my lawn so much. Easier to walk behind this thing than it is to push a baby carriage around the neighborhood. So if you really want one, expect to fiddle with it until you get it how you like it.