User Manual
10
2. Removing too much of the turf’s height, especially in the 
heat of summer, can cause root shock and weaken the 
lawn; bringing down the height by successive mowing 
over two or more days can avoid this damage and 
maintain the health of the turf.
3. If the lawn is overgrown (to higher than 4 inches) it may be 
necessary to use a brush cutter to remove the excess turf 
mass before resuming mowing at normal heights.
NOTE: Do not cover the grass surface with a heavy layer 
of clippings. Consider using a grass collection system and 
starting a compost pile.
Care and Maintenance
1. Minimum care is required to ensure smooth operation of 
your mower.
2. To avoid damage to the mower or cutting blades, keep the 
area to be mowed free from debris.
3. For best results, regularly apply lubricant to the mower’s 
cutting surfaces, cutting reel axle shaft, and wheels.
Sharpening the Cutting Blades
1. Spread a thin layer of lapping compound on the front edge 
of the reel blades.
2. Adjust the cutting bar so that the blade has light but rm 
contact across the full width of the cutting bar. 
mCAUTION! Do not overtighten the adjusting screws, as 
this could damage the cutting bar. Tighten both screws during 
nal adjustment.
3. Turn the reel blades until the front edge of the cutting bar 
blade is polished.
mWARNING! Clean any grinding compound or debris 
from the cutting bar blade, reel blade, pinions, and pawls.
NOTE: Use industrial or valve lapping compound between 100 
and 240 grit. Lubricate the axle and pinion with a light lm of 
wheel bearing grease.
Cleaning and Storage
1.  Clean the exterior of the machine thoroughly using a soft 
brush and cloth before storing. Do not use water, solvents, 
or polishes.
2.  Turn the mower on its side to clean the blade area.
mWARNING! Do not place your hands inside or near the 
cutting area. If grass cuttings are compacted in the blade area, 
remove them using a wood or plastic cleaning tool appropriate 
for blade cleaning.
3.  Store the mower in a dry place. Do not place other objects 
on top of the mower during storage.
Maintenance Tips
Reel mowers are relatively low maintenance. For consistent 
cutting, follow the below instructions:
• Always keep the cutting bar properly adjusted. Refer to the 
instruction manual for further directions.
• Regularly clean and lubricate cutting edges with light spray 
oil.
IMPORTANT! Reel mowers have diculty cutting tall weeds, 
such as dandelions, and will often bend, rather than cut, such 
weeds. Cut often to prevent this.
Service and Support
If your Sun Joe
®
 Mow Joe manual reel mower with grass 
catcher requires service or maintenance, please call the 
Snow Joe
®
 + Sun Joe
®
 customer service center at 
1-866-SNOWJOE (1-866-766-9563).
Model and Serial Numbers
When contacting the company or reordering parts, you will 
need to provide the model and serial numbers of your product. 
These are found on the decal axed to the housing or handle 
of your reel mower with grass catcher. Copy these numbers 
into the space provided below.
Record the following numbers from the housing or handle of your 
new product:
M J 5 0 0 M
Model #:
Serial #:










