MJ500M Manual Reel Mower With Grass Catcher Sun Joe® MJ500M Manual Reel Mower With Grass Catcher | Product Guide ☀️ Sun Joe® Product Guide16-Inch Cutting Width 6.6-Gallon Grass Catcher 2-Year WarrantySee Joe Mow — No Gas, No Cords, No Emissions.The Sun Joe® MJ500M Manual Reel Mower With Grass Catcher is a lightweight, human-powered mower designed for small to medium lawns. It uses 5 sharp steel blades, a 16-inch cutting width, and a 4-position manual height adjustment to deliver a clean, quiet cut without gas, electricity, oil changes, spark plugs, or pull cords.🌱 Human-Powered Reel Cut 🚫 No Gas, No Cords 🧺 Rear Grass CatcherMeet the MJ500M Key Components🤲Foam grip — padded handle area for comfortable pushing🧩Upper handle — top handle frame used to guide the mower🔩Handle knobs and bolts — secure the handle sections during assembly🧱Middle and lower handle bars — connect the upper handle to the mower body🧺Grass catcher — 6.6-gallon rear collection bag for catching clippings🛞Wheels — turn the reel blades as the mower is pushed forward🌀5 steel blades — manual reel cutting system for clean grass cutting📏4-position height control — adjusts cutting height for different lawn conditions🧰Hex wrench — included for cutting bar adjustment during the paper testTechnical SpecificationsSpecificationMJ500MProduct TypeManual push reel mower with grass catcherBest UseSmall to medium residential lawnsPower SourceManual / human-poweredRotor5 steel bladesCutting Width16 in. / 40.6 cmCutting Height0.59 in. – 1.57 in. on product page; manual range may vary by versionHeight Control4-position manual height adjustmentGrass Catcher Capacity6.6 gal / 25 LFront Wheel Size9 in.Rear Roller Bar15.6 in. roller barProduct Dimensions23.6 in. L x 21.3 in. W x 45.7 in. HProduct Page Net Weight16.09 lbs💡 Manual note: The uploaded manual is for an MJ500M-RM remanufactured version. Some listed values, such as cutting height, weight, and warranty language, may differ from the current MJ500M product page.What's in the BoxIncluded ItemMJ500MReel mower body✔Upper handle✔Middle handle bars✔ 2Lower handle bars✔ 2Handle knob and bolt sets✔ 8Grass catcher✔Hex wrench✔Paper test strips✔ 20Manual with registration card✔Assembly🚫 Handle the reel mower carefully during assembly. The steel blades are sharp even though the mower has no motor. Keep hands, fingers, and feet away from the reel and cutting area.1Step 1Attach the upper handle to the two middle handle bars.›2Step 2Connect the lower handle bars together.›3Step 3Attach the handle assembly to the mower body posts.›4Step 4Assemble and attach the grass catcher.Build the upper handle sectionSecure the two middle handle bars to the upper handle using the first set of knobs and bolts. Do not fully tighten all knobs until assembly is complete.Connect the lower handle barsConnect the two pieces of the lower handle bars using the second set of knobs and bolts. Tighten enough to hold the parts in place.Join the upper and lower handle assembliesAttach the upper and middle handle assembly to the lower handle using the remaining knobs and bolts. Tighten the knobs on each side for a secure fit.Attach the handle to the mower bodyLine up the holes at the lower end of each handle arm with the short posts on the side plates of the mower base. Pull both sides of the lower handle bars over the posts and press inward so they fit securely.Assemble the grass catcherFit the support rod into the tube of the grass catcher, then clip the protective leather profiles onto the support rod.Attach the grass catcherHook the grass catcher onto the mower by connecting the sockets to both ends of the roller bar end shaft. Secure the locking strap to the center bar on the lower handle and adjust the strap so the catcher does not rub the ground.Getting StartedInspect the lawnClear the mowing area of rocks, wire, toys, sticks, and other objects that could be thrown by the reel blades.Check mowing conditionsDo not mow wet grass. Wear proper footwear, avoid sandals or bare feet, and use eye protection while operating.Set the cutting heightPull out the height adjustment knobs on both sides of the mower frame and rotate them to the desired position. Use the same setting on both sides.Use the highest setting for tall grassFor very tall grass, start with the highest cutting position for the first pass, then reset to the desired height and mow again.Push at a steady walking paceWalk behind the mower and maintain proper footing and balance. Do not run.Follow the cut path indicatorAlign the cutting path indication arrow with the previously cut path. Do not use the wheels as the grass cut line reference.⚠️ 1/3 rule: For a healthy lawn, avoid removing more than one-third of the total grass height in one mowing session and never more than 1 inch at a time.🚫 Slope safety: Mow across the face of slopes, never up and down. Do not mow wet grass, excessively steep slopes, near drop-offs, ditches, or embankments.Ensuring a Clean Cut🚫 The steel blades are extremely sharp. Do not touch the blades while making adjustments. Wrap the blades or wear gloves when handling near the reel.Place mower on a flat surfaceRemove the handles and grass catcher, then turn the mower reel upside down to expose the cutting bar.Insert a paper test stripPlace one of the supplied paper strips between the cutting bar and reel blades, then slowly turn the wheel by hand.Check the cutAll blades should slice the paper evenly along the entire length of the cutting bar while the reel turns smoothly.Adjust if cutting is intermittentUse the included hex wrench to tighten the adjustment bolt closest to the intermittent cut. Turn clockwise about 1/8 turn until the reel blades make contact.Back off if too tightIf the wheel becomes difficult to turn by hand, loosen the adjustment bolt slightly by turning it counterclockwise. Test again with a new paper strip.⚠️ Do not overtighten. Both adjustment bolts should have tension after final adjustment, but overtightening can damage the cutting bar.Mowing Tips1Mow regularlyMow at least once a week during the growing season for best results.2Use incremental cutting for tall grassIf grass is extremely tall, mow first at the maximum height setting. Then reset to the desired height and mow a second or third time.3Do not overload the lawn with clippingsDo not cover the grass surface with a heavy layer of clippings. Use the grass catcher or consider composting clippings.4Cut tall weeds oftenManual reel mowers can have difficulty cutting tall weeds such as dandelions and may bend them instead of cutting them. Cut often to prevent this.Maintenance & Care🚫 Keep hands and feet away from the cutting area. The reel blades rotate when the wheels turn and are sharp enough to cause serious injury.1Keep the mowing area clearTo avoid damage to the mower or blades, keep the lawn free from debris before mowing.2Lubricate regularlyFor best results, regularly apply lubricant to the cutting surfaces, cutting reel axle shaft, and wheels.3Keep the cutting bar adjustedUse the paper test to check for clean cutting and adjust the cutting bar only as needed.4Sharpen when neededUse lapping compound on the front edge of the reel blades and adjust the cutting bar so the blades have light but firm contact across the full width.5Clean before storageClean the exterior thoroughly with a soft brush and cloth. Do not use water, solvents, or polishes.6Clean the blade area safelyTurn the mower on its side and use a wood or plastic cleaning tool to remove compacted grass from the blade area. Do not place hands inside or near the cutting area.7Store dryStore the mower in a dry place and do not place other objects on top of it during storage.Troubleshooting GuideOnly perform the checks below. Keep hands, fingers, and feet away from the reel and cutting area.🟡 Mower Is Hard to PushPossible CausesGrass is too tallCutting height is set too lowBlade adjustment is too tightDebris is caught in the blade areaSolutionsRaise the cutting height for the first passUse incremental cutting for tall grassBack off the adjustment bolt slightly if the wheel is difficult to turn by handRemove debris with a wood or plastic cleaning tool🟡 Uneven or Intermittent CutPossible CausesBlades and cutting bar are misalignedCutting bar is too loose or too tightGrass is too tall or unevenSolutionsPerform the paper testTighten the nearest adjustment bolt clockwise about 1/8 turn if paper cuts intermittentlyDo not overtighten the adjustment boltsMow tall grass in multiple passes🟡 Grass Catcher Rubs the GroundPossible CauseGrass catcher locking strap is not adjusted correctlySolutionAdjust the locking strap on the center bar of the lower handleSet the grass catcher height so it does not rub against the ground while mowing or transporting🟡 Grass Catcher Falls Off or Feels LoosePossible CausesGrass catcher sockets are not fully connected to the roller bar end shaftSupport rod or protective profiles are not installed correctlySolutionsReattach the grass catcher sockets to both ends of the roller bar end shaftConfirm the support rod is fitted into the bag tubeConfirm the protective leather profiles are clipped onto the support rod🟡 Height Adjustment Will Not Stay EvenPossible CausesLeft and right height knobs are not in the same positionKnobs are not fully seated in the frame holesSolutionsPull out both height adjustment knobsSet both sides to the same positionConfirm both knobs are fully seated before mowing🟡 Mower Does Not Cut Tall Weeds WellPossible CauseManual reel mowers may bend tall weeds instead of cutting themSolutionsMow more frequently to prevent tall weed growthFor overgrown grass higher than 4 inches, remove excess turf mass before resuming normal mowingVideo GuideFrequently Asked QuestionsWhat comes with the MJ500M?The MJ500M includes the reel mower body, upper handle, two middle handle bars, two lower handle bars, eight handle knob and bolt sets, grass catcher, hex wrench, paper test strips, and manual with registration card.Does the MJ500M need gas, oil, electricity, or batteries?No. The MJ500M is a manual, human-powered reel mower. There is no gas, no cord, no battery, no oil changes, and no spark plug.How wide is the cutting path?The MJ500M has a 16-inch cutting width. The manual notes that the actual cut line should be based on the cutting path indication arrow, not the mower wheels.How do I adjust the cutting height?Pull out the height adjustment knobs on both sides of the mower frame and rotate them to the desired setting. Make sure both sides are set to the same height before mowing.Can I mow wet grass?No. It's not advisable to mow wet grass because it can be slippery and may increase the risk of slipping or falling.How do I check if the mower is cutting properly?Use the included paper test strips. Insert a paper strip between the cutting bar and reel blades, then turn the wheel by hand. The blades should slice the paper evenly along the full length of the cutting bar.How should I store the mower?Clean the mower with a soft brush and cloth, remove compacted grass from the blade area using a wood or plastic tool, and store the mower in a dry place. Do not place other objects on top of it during storage.