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To replace a craftsman.

20381 Toro Super Recycler (2012) with the evil Chinese Toro Motor. I have a personal vendetta against Honda (the other choice) for getting me out of bed at 4am too many times over the last year.

I think my lawn is now too afraid to grow.

EDIT: Corrected the part number / Engine type

FYI, your engine is not built or in any way part of B&S. Yes it is built in China for Toro to Toro's specs. FYI, here are a couple of differences, Toro. Cast iron sleeve, ball bearings on the crank, better cooling setup. Glad to see you got the aluminum deck.

Just Bought a Toro

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So did I yesterday! I opted for the 20381 Super Recycler with the Toro engine; it's to be delivered this morning. It will replace my twelve year-old Yard-Man with the broken-down self-propelling mechanism and leaky fuel tank, but which still runs and cuts nicely...and which I'm hesitant to discard.

rajon said:

20092 Toro Super Recycler (2012) with the evil Chinese Briggs and Stratton.

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Rivets said:

FYI, your engine is not built or in any way part of B&S.

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According to this from the Toro site, the 20092 indeed has a Briggs & Stratton, so Rivets' response confounds me.

As you can clearly see from the picture I am an idiot and bought the 381 not the 092. I spent an hour at the dealer peppering him with questions and trying every mower in the place so I was a little dizzy before walking out with the first mower he recommended. (Well he picked the same one with the Honda motor)

It starts so easy it feels like cheating.

The 20092 probably has a serial number starting with 311 which is a leftover last years model, which did have a B&S engine. Starting in 2012 the new Toro engineered engines are being used. Just check your serial numbers.

No harm, no foul. :wink: :smile:

I christened my 20381 yesterday afternoon; first impressions were positive. It started on the first pull, restarts were usually one and no more than two pulls. The sturdy wheel assemblies seem like they'll hold up well to the exceedingly bumpy backyard lawn. The Personal Pace system will take some getting used to; I could feel lurching and hear gear engagement on initial acceleration, but was able to negotiate the curves, nooks, and crannies with careful maneuvering including back-and-forth action. 180s also didn't seem to be a problem, but I have to admit I was probably being more cautious with the machine than usual.

What I was absolutely impressed with was its mulching ability compared with my old mower -- there were absolutely no telltale signs of clumps or residue anywhere to be found, even on the sidewalk! I usually mow high so perhaps it wasn't an "acid test", but as to serving my needs I couldn't be more pleased.

Knew you would like it, just one tip. To keep the mulching working, you need to clean the underside of the deck clean. Just tip the mower on it's side (carb up) and give it a quick scraping. Don't have to be prefect, just want to avoid build up.

Is the washout port designed to replace scraping or augment it?

Augment, if used after each use, you won't have to scrap as often. Don't have on my unit (18 years old) just check underneath for evidence of build up and remove.

This is my first time with one. The dealer indicated that using it once a month with the motor running for a few minutes would be sufficient. I will keep a very close eye on it initially and see what is required. The manual isn't very clear.

Using it once a month will allow the grass to dry and stick, we recommend after each use for about three minutes.

Music to my ears (eyes). I am a maintanence nut. A trait (disease?) I inhereted from my father. Anyone else here gut your toilets every other year and write with sharpie on the inside of the tank that you did it? Oil the fan on your water heater twice a year per the manual? (did you even read the manual?)

In my young (10 year) career in the automotive industry I have actually written a number of pages for owners manuals because I tend to work on advance, non carry over technologies. I can appreciate the time and effort that engineers take to write down how to take care of their products. Most of us are not very good at writing or communicating to anyone not trained in our esoteric way of thinking. Your manual and maintenance guide is more than a document, it is a gift from some geek somewhere.

Sorry for the rant, I will go back to doing geeky things.

I cleaned under the deck this afternoon and saw very little stuck-on residue. What was there, however, practically peeled off as if it was one of those peel-off fruit roll-ups, shiny backing and all! No, I wasn't tempted to eat it tongue, but was certainly curious about what caused the shiny effect. Will it always be there whenever I clean or is it because of a temporary factory coating on the underdeck?

Interesting thought - coating of Pam before mowing? :laughing:

It will be there for awhile, better it is kept clean the longer it will stay. I think (my opinion) Toro is trying a new paint.

The first cut is the deepest.

...Or 2 3/4"

Well my total mowing time went from a frustrating 90 minutes to a breathtaking 50 minutes. I had to all but run to keep up with the personal pace. It seemed the closer I got the faster it went (sarcasm included)

Lines were straight, not as deep as my craftsman, cleared up sooner. Mulch debris was so minimal I didn't even bother pulling my blower out.

I tried the washout port. It cleared about 90% of the gunk on the bottom and I was able to get the rest with a wad of paper towel.

All in all 5/5.

I have been thinking of getting the same model (either honda or toro engine). How is the new toro motor? I have been comparing toro to a Honda HRX series mower.

Currently I have a Lawn Boy Platinum (green Toro super bagger) with a briggs motor. I dont know why I have a super bagger when I only bag once a year. If I end up with a Toro I will have to order it through speedway sales because no dealers here stock Toro except Home Depot. As far as Honda goes Home depot stocks the HRX I am interested in but no dealer stocks them.

I did the same comparison and my thinking went as such...

The HRX requires 4 controls to start the mower, the Toro - 2. That is twice the potential failure points.

Two blades? That is twice as many to sharpen.

Honda engine vs Toro Engine?

Is Honda really going to send their best engines to a competitor?

Same specs, same 5 year warranty, Toro motor was $60 cheaper.

I work for an auto supplier and at the time was working on a Honda project so I was a bit biased against them so take the above with a grain of salt. So far I am very happy with the Toro motor.

rajon said:

.......Two blades? That is twice as many to sharpen.....

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It's not like there are two sets of blades, they are just split at the end for better mulching. I doubt it takes much longer to sharpen, and it results in a better cut! :thumbsup:

rajon said:

I did the same comparison and my thinking went as such...

The HRX requires 4 controls to start the mower, the Toro - 2. That is twice the potential failure points.

Two blades? That is twice as many to sharpen.

Honda engine vs Toro Engine?

Is Honda really going to send their best engines to a competitor?

Same specs, same 5 year warranty, Toro motor was $60 cheaper.

I work for an auto supplier and at the time was working on a Honda project so I was a bit biased against them so take the above with a grain of salt. So far I am very happy with the Toro motor.

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If you're looking for the best residential mower on the market, IMO and I know you wont agree Rivets :wink: the HRX 21 in. GCV190 Smart Drive Variable Speed Self-Propelled Walk-Behind Mower With Micro-Cut twin blades with the 4-in-1 Versa mow system will provide the best leaf shredding, bagging, mulching and discharge performance there is going and the price is hard too beat, my :2cents: for what it's worth.

Ric said:

If you're looking for the best residential mower on the market, IMO and I know you wont agree Rivets :wink: the HRX 21 in. GCV190 Smart Drive Variable Speed Self-Propelled Walk-Behind Mower With Micro-Cut twin blades with the 4-in-1 Versa mow system will provide the best leaf shredding, bagging, mulching and discharge performance there is going and the price is hard too beat, my :2cents: for what it's worth.

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Yeah I agree. And if you don't like the Smart Drive there is always the HRX217HYA with the Hydrostatic Cruise Control.

good choice on buying the Toro, it is a good mower and a great company to deal with

RIC, How much for that mower?

Ric said:

If you're looking for the best residential mower on the market, IMO and I know you wont agree Rivets :wink: the HRX 21 in. GCV190 Smart Drive Variable Speed Self-Propelled Walk-Behind Mower With Micro-Cut twin blades with the 4-in-1 Versa mow system will provide the best leaf shredding, bagging, mulching and discharge performance there is going and the price is hard too beat, my :2cents: for what it's worth.

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Bomba said:

RIC, How much for that mower?

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The HRX217VKA has an MSRP of $699. Honda Lawn Mowers: HRX217VKA, HRX217K4VKA

lawn mower fanatic said:

The HRX217VKA has an MSRP of $699. Honda Lawn Mowers: HRX217VKA, HRX217K4VKA

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Is that the price you paid for it?

Bomba said:

Is that the price you paid for it?

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Well I have the HRX217HYA. The HYA's MSRP is $100 more expensive than the VKA, but I forget what I paid for it. I think it was 700 and something. But depending on where you live / the deals that are being offered from your dealer you can get it for less than the MSRP. :thumbsup:

lawn mower fanatic said:

Well I have the HRX217HYA. The HYA's MSRP is $100 more expensive than the VKA, but I forget what I paid for it. I think it was 700 and something. But depending on where you live / the deals that are being offered from your dealer you can get it for less than the MSRP. :thumbsup:

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Thanks for that, FANATIC. You love your Hondas. I love mine too.... I have a new Odyssey!

lawn mower fanatic said:

Well I have the HRX217HYA. The HYA's MSRP is $100 more expensive than the VKA, but I forget what I paid for it. I think it was 700 and something. But depending on where you live / the deals that are being offered from your dealer you can get it for less than the MSRP. :thumbsup:

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Btw, I want the walk behind for mulching only, very little if any bagging. I like the nexite idea a lot. Is is lighter too?

Bomba said:

Btw, I want the walk behind for mulching only, very little if any bagging. I like the nexite idea a lot. Is is lighter too?

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OK...the HRX is a superior mulcher AND bagger, and the NeXite deck is great. I did a comparison between the HRX217VKA and the HRR216VKA and it says the HRX is 8 pounds heavier. I don't know what makes it heavier, but I know that it really doesn't matter because the Honda's (other than the commercial HRC's) are not heavy or hard to control AT ALL! :thumbsup: Honda Power Equipment: Honda Generators, Lawn Mowers, Snowblowers, Tillers

Hi
I had a engine blow on a 20332c 22" Recycler, In Australia i couldnt get the correct engine so i went thru my engines in stock and
decided to fit the 850I/C
Let just say it is the best toro push mower i have ever used it goes like a V8