Help buying a push mower Honda HRX vs Toro Timemaster 30

[ncage30]

Guys i need some helping in purchasing a push mower. I live in Central IL and have anywhere from 1/4 to 1/3 of an acre. I don't have a rider. I only bag occasionally and mostly mulch. I only side discharge if i have to because of length of the grass. I'm trying to decide between an Honda HRX & a toro timemaster 30. Its probably pretty easy the selling point of the toro timemaster (30 in deck). I wish i could afford the exmark 30 but i can't. I've been somewhat concerned with mixed reviews on the performance of the timemaster. I've heard some that say its just awesome cut performance and others say if the grass is even slightly wet then performance goes into the crapper. I have had a smaller yard or honda made a 30 (that was affordable) thats what i would definitely get but a 30 in deck would sure help with the size of my yard. I especially like the dual mulching blades of the honda and that apparently because of the composite deck, grass doesn't stick to it. Also the 6 year warranty is awesome. From what i've seen the build quality of the timemaster seems probably on par with a residential unit like the 22 recycler. The honda, while not probably as well built as a commercial mower, seems a lot closer. Granted the timemaster is ~ $300 more too. If you were me which would you choose?

thanks...

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

Guys i need some helping in purchasing a push mower. I live in Central IL and have anywhere from 1/4 to 1/3 of an acre. I don't have a rider. I only bag occasionally and mostly mulch. I only side discharge if i have to because of length of the grass. I'm trying to decide between an Honda HRX & a toro timemaster 30. Its probably pretty easy the selling point of the toro timemaster (30 in deck). I wish i could afford the exmark 30 but i can't. I've been somewhat concerned with mixed reviews on the performance of the timemaster. I've heard some that say its just awesome cut performance and others say if the grass is even slightly wet then performance goes into the crapper. I have had a smaller yard or honda made a 30 (that was affordable) thats what i would definitely get but a 30 in deck would sure help with the size of my yard. I especially like the dual mulching blades of the honda and that apparently because of the composite deck, grass doesn't stick to it. Also the 6 year warranty is awesome. From what i've seen the build quality of the timemaster seems probably on par with a residential unit like the 22 recycler. The honda, while not probably as well built as a commercial mower, seems a lot closer. Granted the timemaster is ~ $300 more too. If you were me which would you choose?

thanks...

Here's my opinion. I don't have experience with the Timemaster, but I have heard it is only decent at mulching (dry) grass. The Honda on the other hand is great and yes the NeXite deck allows you to mow when wet. If you primarily mulch, I would go with the Honda, but with close to a third of an acre yard the Timemaster would be helpful. If you have any questions about the Honda I would love to help, but it's tough for me to make a decision. I guess if I were you I would go with the Honda because I know it will last, cut well, and I frequently mow yards that size with my Honda. But that's just me.

 

[ncage30]

Here's my opinion. I don't have experience with the Timemaster, but I have heard it is only decent at mulching (dry) grass. The Honda on the other hand is great and yes the NeXite deck allows you to mow when wet. If you primarily mulch, I would go with the Honda, but with close to a third of an acre yard the Timemaster would be helpful. If you have any questions about the Honda I would love to help, but it's tough for me to make a decision. I guess if I were you I would go with the Honda because I know it will last, cut well, and I frequently mow yards that size with my Honda. But that's just me.

Hi, exactly what i came here for is to get everyones opinion and i appreciate the reply. Ya if i had a smaller yard it would be an EASY choice and definitely would choose the honda. My large yard (at least as far as a push mower is concerned) is the only thing that had my leaning towards to toro. Maybe if i could drop $2K on a push mower then i would get the exmark 30 but i can't. I think the only unanswered questions i have had on the honda that i couldn't answer with research is how well the rear discharge system works on the honda. Most that i've asked said they never use it. I would think it would be prone to clog and a side discharge would have been the smarter choice but since i've never seen it work i could be totally wrong. You know how it gets in the spring when you get busy and then it seems to rain almost every day. Sometimes i have to cut either wet or grass that is longer than i would prefer. I don't bag unless i have a reason to bag (like late fall or early spring when i have a lot of debris on the lawn)

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

Hi, exactly what i came here for is to get everyones opinion and i appreciate the reply. Ya if i had a smaller yard it would be an EASY choice and definitely would choose the honda. My large yard (at least as far as a push mower is concerned) is the only thing that had my leaning towards to toro. Maybe if i could drop $2K on a push mower then i would get the exmark 30 but i can't. I think the only unanswered questions i have had on the honda that i couldn't answer with research is how well the rear discharge system works on the honda. Most that i've asked said they never use it. I would think it would be prone to clog and a side discharge would have been the smarter choice but since i've never seen it work i could be totally wrong. You know how it gets in the spring when you get busy and then it seems to rain almost every day. Sometimes i have to cut either wet or grass that is longer than i would prefer. I don't bag unless i have a reason to bag (like late fall or early spring when i have a lot of debris on the lawn)

I have used the rear discharge maybe only once or twice, just because I wanted to see how it did. I guess it has its pros and cons. The cons are that it seemed to discharge the grass more in front of your left foot (at least mine did), so the grass tends to clump more on the left side of the cutting path. It's not so even of a discharge. And of course since it can't just blow the grass all over the operator, there is not much "throwing distance", so the grass isn't able to spread out much, like it would be able to with side discharge. But on the flip side I guess a pro is that it won't throw the grass into mulch beds like a side discharge mower would. But I have found that even in crazy tall grass the Honda does better mulching it than rear discharge, if you are looking for a cleaner cut.