A bit off-topic (and maybe a stupid question): does your mower have a cord or a battery? I thought electrics had cords, but then I was thinking you'd have to worry about running over the cord, so it must have a (rechargeable) battery- and that would maybe explain why it conked out on you.
I have three- count 'em, three- non-motorized reel mowers. One I bought new ( and I think it needs some sort of gear/part replaced), one I think I bought used or was given to me, and one I definitely bought at a garage sale. The second one is the oldest, and oddly enough, works the best (partly because it's heaviest and sturdiest). I formerly took it to a hardware store every few years to be sharpened, but they don't do that anymore so I'm learning (from Google) how to do it myself. Evidently there is a special tool you can still buy, along with an abrasive compound. (I was thinking I'd have to buy some sort of file thingy- but what will I do if they don't make the abrasive stuff anymore? Maybe I'll find a way to do it with a file anyway. Or I'll buy a lot of abrasive and set myself up with a part-time post-retirement career as a mower sharpener. Wait.... wasn't there a sci-fi story entitled "Lawnmower Man"? Not sure I wanna go there...).
Edited To Add: Yep. "The Lawnmower Man" was both a sci-fi/horror story and movie, and evidently there was some conflict over the movie regarding copyright and writer credits.
