Mower Questions to Toro or not?
- Thread starter cyclonewoes
- Start date
That's great - in fact, a small store like True Value is probably more willing to work with you in terms of price compared to the box stores - as in, flash some cash in front of one of their sales guys and they might be willing to drop the price a little bit to close the deal. However, customer service would be about the only reason why you would choose a smaller store over a box store - it's the same product otherwise.
I just prefer to shop local, and keep my money in my community as much as possible.
Correct, Toro is Toro no matter where purchased. I work in this industry...the main reason is customer service and service down the road. Dealers give preference to items sold in their shop, and box store units are at the back of the line. I have seen many dealers get back-logged beyond 2-3 weeks in season and turn business away that has been purchased in big box stores.
My preference on Toro...Super Recycler with aluminum deck. That wash-out port on a steel deck is askign for nothing but trouble...a rusted out deck!
It matters in some brands (like John Deere). If you buy a John Deere mower from Home Depot and go look at the same mower at a dealer it will look almost exactly the same yet the dealer will be quite a bit higher priced.
A while back, John Deere made deals with the big-box stores to produce models they could offer at a competitive price to other mowers they sell. But the mowers at the big-box stores are cheaper for a reason.. They were manufactured cheaper (more plastic parts, flimsy sheet metal) to hit a pricing point. Go ask your Deere dealer what they think about the mowers from Home Depot. Most likely you will hear that those mowers end up coming in much more often for service.
Not sure if it holds true at all for Toro, but I do know it is true for some brands.
I have an old school 2-cycle Lawn-Boy with a Magnesium (aluminum) deck. It's not self-propelled but weighs nothing. I bought it off craigslist for 30 bones, starts up every time, I love it.
I know this doesn't help you but I love to brag on my old little Lawn-Boy.
I know this doesn't help you but I love to brag on my old little Lawn-Boy.
As far as I know, Toro makes a steel deck and an aluminum deck, with varying versions of both. The Home Depot only sells the steel deck mowers...cheaper suggested retail. Toro's "cheap" version is actually colored Lawn Boy green and is not the quality line that it once was.
That is what I push too. They are so light it is literally easier and less of a workout to use than a normal self propelled unit. I do know mine is old enough to be actual magnesium. I'd be shocked if it weighed more than 1/3 of a normal push mower.
Don't have a Toro but have heard really good things about them, especially self propelled. Like it has been said, use Sea Foam. It's magic.
Anybody have a preference on rear-drive vs. front-drive? What's the benefits of each? I'll likely be purchasing a new mower this year, as the wife hates using my reel mower, but she likes mowing the lawn.
I am in the same boat. I went to Hmoe Depot today to look at the PP Toro. No one helped me...see local verses chain store argument. Anyway, I assume the handle that moves in and out is the personal pace sensor? Does the lower handle ever get used? Also is the electric start worth the extra cost?
Well I broke down last night and purchased a personal pace from Ankeny Hardware. They even gave me a trade on my old mower. They always treat me well when I am there plus they have a great guy in the repair shop.
I have no experience with Toro products, so this is not meant to knock them.
But I strongly recommend a Honda walk-behind. We bought one in '07 and it takes us 2.5hrs to mow each time. Never had any issues with it - runs like a dream and Honda is one of the best (if not the best) mulching mowers on the market. I recently bought a Deere lawn tractor (do not recommend Deere for their walk-behind mowers) and will be selling the Honda walk-behind when we get some landscaping done (the Honda is already spoken for).
Again, I know Toro makes a great product - just wanted to offer a personal opinion on Honda.
But I strongly recommend a Honda walk-behind. We bought one in '07 and it takes us 2.5hrs to mow each time. Never had any issues with it - runs like a dream and Honda is one of the best (if not the best) mulching mowers on the market. I recently bought a Deere lawn tractor (do not recommend Deere for their walk-behind mowers) and will be selling the Honda walk-behind when we get some landscaping done (the Honda is already spoken for).
Again, I know Toro makes a great product - just wanted to offer a personal opinion on Honda.
I have a 7 year old Troy Bilt with a Honda engine. I park it in the back every fall with whatever gas is left in it and that's all. I don't have a shed or garage so it sits outside all winter uncovered. It's starts within 5 pulls every spring and always runs like a champ for the rest of the summer. I don't know how, but I like it.
Opti-Mizer Fuel Stabilizer with Valve Guard...much better than Sta-bil. Got the recommendation for Opti-mizer about seven years ago from my local equipment rental guy. He has about 120 engines he uses it on...he swears by it. Sea-foam is his second choice.
The top thin handle is the safety device that will shut down the mower if you release it. The other handle pusheses in as you walk. It's very natural. You walk at your normal pace and it adjusts accordingly.
I didn't get an electric start and have never regretted it. It always start within 2 pulls. I got an electric start on my snowblower and rarely use that.
You can actually get the Toro with a Honda engine. Mine is a Briggs.
I've never used the bag. The mulch works perfect.
As a side note, HD sells a little tune up kit that includes spark plug, oil, filter etc and it's about 25% cheaper than just buying these things by themselves. I've also got a couple of extra blades and I take them in once a year to the Toro dealer in Windsor Heights who just replaces them with others used/sharpened blades.
