Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

Well, I am planning on getting a Toro just wondering what you all think of them. I am planning on getting this one as I need it for my services but can't afford a 1000 dollar commercial unit. Don't want OHV either as I have had problems with a B&S Intek engine cause of it lol.

Toro Mower

My dealer had all Tecumseh's when I went to see him.  I do not like Tecumseh engines.  I will buy Briggs or Honda, but not Tecumseh.   Other than that it's a great mower, something I'd buy, but with electric start. 

Hi Ajace!

Toro has the same models of there mowers with electric start. But usually its like 100 more though

Hey Term, I'm not to familiar with all the Toro models. I do know my parents bought a personal pace I'm not sure which one, but they love it. The bad thing is my dad really abuses it, its like 2 yrs old he has never changed the oil in it, actually I dont think he has done a single thing since he has owned it!  That mower still runs and cuts like the day he bought it. Let's just say I don't follow my dads maintanece ways!!!  He asked to borrow the power pruner the other day. I told him dad I don't mind doing the cutting for you!! lol 

                                    later Mike

I have a Toro 20023 21" Personal Pace walk behind.  It's about four years old and hasn't given me a lick of trouble.  All I do is change the oil once in a while, grease the axels (this model has grease fittings), clean it off on occasion, and sharpen the blade when it starts to bend rather than cut the grass.

It sits in a cold garage all winter full of (stabilized) gas and has never needed more than three pulls to start in the spring (among a cloud of white smoke).  No need for electric start...geez, I've never used the electric start on my (Toro) snowblower.  BTW, the mower has a Briggs engine.

Cuts good, mulches good (it's a "Recycler," the "Super Recycler" probably mulches better) bags very well, and even has a clip on side discharge chute that works well.

Of course, the best feature of all is the Personal Pace self propelled system.  Intuitive, simple, works great.  I know other mowers offer similar systems but I can't imagine them working as well.  An amazing piece on engineering.  I sort of can't wait until it breaks so I can take it apart to see how it works.  I guess I can take it apart while it works, but I have a habit of leaving parts out when I reassemble things.

LL

Me too.  I think I've come to the idea of when it works leave it be, but that isn't always what happens. 

Hi Termy,

Can you estimate how many hours you figure you'll run a mower over the course of a cutting season? With that information some forum members might be able to give you a better idea of whether a high end residential mower or a commercial unit would be more suitable of an investment.

Termy,

The most important thing is just start! It would be nice to have a commercial unit but it's more important to just get going. Buy what you can afford and start your work, after you get some accounts and make some bucks you can get more refined on your equipment. Best of luck to you!

I got a Crapman, 6.6 or some chit people who lived in my house before me left behind.  Never changed the oil or plug for years, tortured the hell outa it.  Starts on a 1/2 pull everytime, w/ stale azz gas to boot. Last year I took pitty on it, and changed it's oil and plug, lol there was on like 4 tablespoons in there.  It's a B&S engine.   The think is just insane.  

I've got a 4 y/o toro pp mower as well, and like it alot.  Granted since i got the tractor it's been relegated to trimming, but its a good mower, cuts real nice, and i haven't had a problem with it.

Thanks guys for your replies. I knew Toro's were great mowers because my dad had a LT from the 80's but I was just a little kid then and did not really know the spacifics. For instance, I did not know that if you ran toro's without changing oil or doing any maintanance on it at all that it would still last a long time! Good stories you guys...

Marshall, I totaly agree with you on that one! You don't have to buy something that is out of your range just to have it. That is the secret to success!

Term , That is what I'm doing in my business just working my way up. I'm wanting to buy a new mower now. goodluck

Hi T-20...

As asked... expected hours of use per season ?
Cost of this Toro?
Yard sizes?
Will this be the only mower used... or just for trimming/tight spots?


For me... if your kinda' just starting out mowing for $$$...
I'd get  one or two used mowers for cheap... cheap... cheap...
Burn 'em out... throw away... until as recommended... got enough accounts to justify a new (newer) commercial machine(s)...

It takes a lotta'  mowin' $$$ / time to buy a few-hundred-dollar mower...

Think big... start small... and inexpensive...

Dave...

I am on my second 10+ year old Toro. I tend to take pretty good care of all my OPE but I think they both served me well.  That is no guarantee however that the Toro you buy today is of the same quality. If I had to buy a new mower today I would probably look for features as well as quality.

To answer your questions I would like to start off by saying that I am not just starting my buisness. I have done lawn care for many years but I have allways had a crappy mower. My last mower was the Scotts mower that I reviewed here at abbysguide.

For the amount of accounts that I have right now, I think I am looking at 400 hours per year. I may get more accounts maybe not, it all depends. I do know what features I want in a mower and I know what brand I want to buy from. I wanted to make sure though that none of you fine people have had problems with Toro's! For my service, I want a mower that is dependable, will start everytime, and only require basic maintanance. Toro's seem to have that and more. According to Toro's website, they have a 5 year GTS warentee!

I really like Snapper mowers too, but, today they are not built aswell as they used to be and Snapper does not have a 5 year guranteed to start warentee.

Watch that warranty Termy, look for a "professional use" clause.  I know all my ope has said clause in it, and the guarantees of the equipment(all of them) are dramatically reduced when the equipment is used for professional use.  I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if that 5 year gts turns into 30 days for pro use.  If it were me and i had the $$$ i'd prob go with the snapper over the toro for your use because they do seem to be built a bit heavier, and you can get a couple of them with kawasaki engines.  they also offer a model that is a walk behind with casters on the front- good for a guy that has to go around stuff all day.

Looking at the snapper site, you could even go with a pro trim mower, and get your choice of honda or kawa powerplants.

Terminator,

I have a Toro Personal Pace that is starting it's 5th year now. Other than oil changes, air filters, and plugs, I have never had a problem with the unit. Yesterday, I pulled it out of the shed, added gas, 1 pull and started right up. I've owned mowers for 31 years and this is my favorite for ease of use. Only using as a homeowner I can't comment how well it would hold up with commercial use.

I have read some people didn't like how it handled, and some said they had difficulty with hills. My property is quite flat so I don't know how true that statement is about hills. Why don't you go to a dealer and try one out and see if your comfortable with it and question the dealer about the bad performance on hills.

well if you do the math,Termy is doing more mowing in one season than most of us do in 25 or 30 years.which is only 25 or 30 accounts.

thats a lot of mowing.

termy...my advice to you is push one around a yard without  it running and get a feel for it.

next see how much trouble it is to put on the back of your pickup or trailer alone..the actual mowing ability is one thing but you also handle this thing a lot and that is where problems can arise.

next is how about the dealer,whats he gonna do for you.

you probably do most of your own maintenence and are quite good at it by now,but if you have a problem that is beyond your abilities then is he going to put you at the front of the line or make you wait untill everything else in the shop is done.

i beleive that the guy making his living with a piece of equipment should always be helped out as soon as possible

lots of times i will take apart a new machine to get a part so i can get a pro back to work...thats the way it should be,but you might want to check this.

oh yes one more thing,buy the best you can afford but dont starve to do it.

later chris  

Not quite 30 yet there. I have 16 accounts. But, some of those I do allot of mowing. Right now, I just need a mower that will last long enough for me to afford a commercial unit. In this case, from reading all your good informative replies, I am sticking with the Toro.

Hi T-20...

With 16 accounts and lotsa'  mowin'...  how about a wider cut machine ? ...36"... 48"... ?

= less time... = can do more accounts in same time... = more $$$...

A good condition commercial walk behing might be the ticket... ?

My youngest son... at 14-15... started mowing for $$$ with a 22"er...

At 16... he bought a new 48" Exmark hydro... (loan by Dad)... had it paid off in 1st year + $$$ to spend !

Time = $$$

Hope U do well !

Dave...

Thanks Dave! I will take that under consideration. I am glad your youngest son is doing well in his buisness. I will do the best that I can till I can get a rider.

I have decided that I am going to stick with my original decision. I am going to buy the Toro Super Recycler 20055! I went down to dealer in Bellingham and I checked out that mower first hand. I was very imprest with its design and durability. The quality did seem there to me. I like how these Toro's have Zerks so that I can greese them for longer life! I like the deck system. It really does look like it was designed for hi vac as the add states. I started the mower on the first pull without any effort after pushing the priming 3 times. I tried out the Personal Pace system and its just like the one on the recyclers. There was only one thing that I did not like about this mower is that the engine did not have a throttle. But, I really don't care about this as there really is no reason to idle it down if you don't have a blade break system that keeps the engine going after releasing the handle lol.

If anyone wants and or is thinking about buying a Toro Super Recycler this year, I have tested the mower out at the dealer, trust me, go ahead and by it. From what I am seing, I don't think your going to have problems with it!

I am so excited because I am going to be getting my new mower soon. I am emberasly drooling, the waiting is killing me lol.

Enjoy those new racetunes of your's Ajace!

How soon Termy?

I should be able to get it on the 3rd