Upgrading my mower

[Ric]

If it's Ric you can bet dollars to doughnuts that he will say that it is very good and so on.

I have also read some iffy stuff about that mower. Too heavy, a pig to move, and transmission sucks (early version. The newer version is fine).

I say go 36"... But hey, it's just me.

Well you would be right and personally you can keep the dollars, I'll take the Doughnuts :wink:. I think after using the mower for 2 -2 1/2 years I can say or give an opinion on its Quality, Performance and Dependability or how well or how good the mower is or isn't. I don't have to rely on reading iffy stuff and someone writing reviews or talking about a mower I have no experience with. But hey, it's just me.

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

Mechanical? Once you work on it a bit you get use to the mower.

I meant like the problems people are having with the cables, transmission, etc. I can get used to a hard-to-manuever mower, but not one that will break down.

I learned a while ago that you can't really go by reviews. You know when I purchased mine (Turf-Master) and it was when they first hit the market. I purchased the first one the shop sold and yes I knew there was going to possibly be problems, just like anything new. Talk about reviews You said I was reading some of the reviews for the Toro Turfmaster....and I've got to say a lot of them are not good! A lot of "Buyer Beware" but that seems like a lot of thumbsdown. Some of the Exmark Commercial 30 reviews are better??????? That should make you think or question reviews a little bit and why, Think about it?

There the same frame, the same engine, the same deck the same belt set-up, for gosh sakes there made buy the same company so how is one going to be any better than the other. The big differences between the two mowers is the Toro has a different brush guard on it , the front end is enclosed and it has a two wheel height adjustment and the Exmark has a three wheel height adjustment an you buy either for $1699

People want to complain about there weight and yes it's 170lbs, but it's not a 21" mower but at the same time it's not a 500lb WB either.They like to complain about the drive, well guess what there adjustable speed and traction for the individual owner just like the WB.

I worked with the guys at the shop on the set up for the mower the first year I owned it and it was as new to them as it was me. Yes it had its problems and it popped a couple of drive cables, I went through a set of belts They even replaced the spindles with the Exmark and Toro with there recall cause they had a problem there but that was taken care of just like the re-call on the raptor when it hit the market. With the 3 year balls to the wall warranty I've never paid a dime for any part or labor.

The reviews you read are basically from close minded people not willing to except change. The Turf-Master and Exmark 30 are as good a mower as you want them to be. If you want a mower to get the job done and are willing to let it the mower do the job it's designed for it's a great mower but if you want to be one of those people who want to whine and complain and find fault about everything on a mower then you'll make the mower a problem, it wont be the mowers fault and I'd say don't buy it and don't think for one minute your going to take either of those mowers home and demo it and find out what you want and form an opinion because it ain't going to happen because your not giving it a chance. I've been very pleased with the mower and it's performance and its done me a great job and I sure wouldn't trade it for any other.

OK thanks for your input. My dealer has a leftover 2014 model for sale for around $1800, IF I BUY IT BEFORE MARCH 31. The grass won't be growing by then, so I won't be able to demo a mower and then buy that with the discount. The new 2015 models are close to $1900 IF BOUGHT BEFORE MARCH 31. That really stinks because I need until at least the third week in April to have time to demo it. Can't imagine what the price will be after March 31.

 

[Ric]

I meant like the problems people are having with the cables, transmission, etc. I can get used to a hard-to-manuever mower, but not one that will break down.



OK thanks for your input. My dealer has a leftover 2014 model for sale for around $1800, IF I BUY IT BEFORE MARCH 31. The grass won't be growing by then, so I won't be able to demo a mower and then buy that with the discount. The new 2015 models are close to $1900 IF BOUGHT BEFORE MARCH 31. That really stinks because I need until at least the third week in April to have time to demo it. Can't imagine what the price will be after March 31.

:laughing: I purchased mine site unseen. When I got mine they had only been available for three months and nobody had one and my dealer had to order the thing and it took a week to get it to the shop. The reason I went with Toro was the bail design, It's a single and easier to use and the Exmark is a double and really don't like those. I've never had any problems with the transmission itself but like I said I've popped a couple of drive cables but that's no big thing and the belts when they need to be replaced are simple to do. I wouldn't worry about the mechanical part to much just use the manual and you wont have any issues.

 

[mowerman05]

I have the ex mark 30 and have only had to adjust the drive speed once since I have owned it. I bought mine right after Ric got his toro, mine was the first that the dealer sold also. Love it.

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

I have the ex mark 30 and have only had to adjust the drive speed once since I have owned it. I bought mine right after Ric got his toro, mine was the first that the dealer sold also. Love it.

Do you mulch with it? I have heard lots of people say mulching isn't its strong point.

 

[mowerman05]

Mostly side discharge some bagging very little mulching however when I did I didn't seem to have a problem but I didn't go full speed either. Hope this help you decide. My past post are nothing but positive except that it is heavy but you do get used to it in a hurry.

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

Mostly side discharge some bagging very little mulching however when I did I didn't seem to have a problem but I didn't go full speed either. Hope this help you decide. My past post are nothing but positive except that it is heavy but you do get used to it in a hurry.

OK thanks for the info. :thumbsup:

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

In the process of trying to find the price of the Toro 32 or 36 inch with pistol grips or T-Bar. I feel the Exmark Commercial 30 isn't too much of an upgrade from my Honda, for the close to $2000 price tag. As you can see I change my mind so many times. So we'll see what I'm thinking tomorrow. Haha. If I bought the 32 or 36 inch and put a mulching kit and gator blades on it, do you think it would leave a clipping - free cut?

 

[Ric]

In the process of trying to find the price of the Toro 32 or 36 inch with pistol grips or T-Bar. I feel the Exmark Commercial 30 isn't too much of an upgrade from my Honda, for the close to $2000 price tag. As you can see I change my mind so many times. So we'll see what I'm thinking tomorrow. Haha. If I bought the 32 or 36 inch and put a mulching kit and gator blades on it, do you think it would leave a clipping - free cut?

:laughing: YA know your going to beat yourself to death trying to make a decision on what to buy. You may as well just buy one because what ever you decide to buy and end up with you'll regret it and wish you had purchased the other. If I were you and as much as you are into the push mower thing I'd go with the 30" first and save my money and start working on a new trailer and ztr if you decide to continue with the business. The 30" will increase your productivity by 43% more cut area per pass over the 21" and that's what you were looking for correct and it will be new with a warranty not a used machine that you could end up putting a ton of money into in the future.

 

[Ric]

Mostly side discharge some bagging very little mulching however when I did I didn't seem to have a problem but I didn't go full speed either. Hope this help you decide. My past post are nothing but positive except that it is heavy but you do get used to it in a hurry.

Do you mulch with it? I have heard lots of people say mulching isn't its strong point.

OK thanks for the info. :thumbsup:

Before cut/Mulching After cut/ Mulching The TM was set on 3.5 so you can see how much was cut and what was left and it was wet.