New member. Happy to be part of the family. Mod's did I post in an appropriate section? Fellow members; did my thread title catch your attention? Because I am open to opinions and perspective.
Worked on a friends dad's Toro SR4 with a GCV160 on it. Its my ideal mower except that one did not have the smart-stow feature. Love Honda mowers. Ideal mower would be Toro with Personal Pace, Smart Stow, Honda engine (preferably GCV190 cause why not?), and the twin blade system. One can dream can't they?
A quick google search shows the same model I worked on the SR4 with GCV160 on it for $569. Can't, wouldn't even if flush with cash, kind of mower for a small yard city dweller. Same boat with the higher end Honda's. HRX217 other ideal option - 190 or 200CC GCV engine with the NeXite mower deck is $600+. I love my toys but not that much.
So now I am stuck on the ideal of building my dream mower or as close to it as possible but on the cheap. That is where I need the family's help and perspective. Feel free to chime in. There is no bad suggestion or comment. Tell me I am wasting your time and I won't disagree but if you know something I don't please share.
- A quick google search results the smart stow mowers to have Briggs and Stratton engines. Think those specific engines are specifically designed to be able to tilt towards its back without getting oil in the piston or adversely affecting other things?
- When I was under the friends SR4 I noticed it had what appears to be the same 3 bolt mounting pattern as my current toro and the recently acquired troy built Honda I have. I did not measure it but I have read that its a standard bolt pattern. Any issue there?
- Since Honda's have a different shaft size (7/8 inch) then a Briggs, Tecumseh, or kohler I figure I can just use the serial number off that SR4/Honda I worked on yesterday to order the adapter that drives the transmission and blade? Can keep it as Toro as possible.
I have been traded a not too old GCV160 on a troy built deck. I am thinking to test bullet #1 above I am gonna tune it up and get it running right (new carb, filter if needed, spark if needed) test mow for a sample size. then start storing it against the wall in the same position as the smart stow toro. Test the mower over another period of time and see if it smokes, leaks oil, or something else that might impede me from pulling it off that troy-built deck and slapping it on a smart stow mower that I have seen pop up on marketplaces for reasonable money.
My fall back. Just buy a cheap SR4 or 22 inch Recycler and swap a GCV engine with the correct size shaft and adapter (preferably the one I already have). Buy the GCV Toro sticker online and slap it on the engine shroud. It will look stock. So basically build a similar non-folding version of the mower I worked on.
So who thinks I am crazy? As far as mechanical experience I should be skilled enough to pull it off if feasible. Can rebuild a carb if I had to; but nowadays I buy new since makes more sense especially on Honda's worse case the China carbs have been good to me. Have replaced bottom plate on a 6.5 Tecumseh before. Adjusted valves on auto engines and Honda OHV small engines. I figure I can pull it off. Hoping someone on here probably a pro who has done something similar.
-edited for grammar and clarity-
