A mower reel grinding apparatus including at least one bracket moveable in a horizontal plane along a positioning axis to any one of a number of predetermined positions and configured to releasably secure to a pivot mechanism of a plurality of types of mower units, the pivot mechanism having a pivot axis, each type of mower unit including a cutting reel positioned at a known location relative to the pivot axis, and each of the predetermined positions corresponding to at least one type of mower unit of the plurality of types of mower units, wherein the at least one bracket is moved to the predetermined position corresponding to the type of mower unit secured thereto such that the cutting reel is positioned at a desired grinding position along the positioning axis when the pivot axis is secured to the bracket.