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I have a Toro I bought back in 2009 and it's still alive and kicking. I replaced the belt and throttle cables this past summer because the rear wheels weren't really working anymore. Now, when I lift up the back end and depress the lever to engage the wheels they spin just fine. But when I'm walking behind it (on level ground), I don't feel like it's really helping at all.

As you might imagine, the wheel tread is worn pretty good, but there is some left. Could low tread make that much of a difference in self-propelling the mower (given I'm cutting on level ground)? It just seems to me it should feel like it's assisting some still, but maybe tread depth really does make that much difference. Just wanting advice before I drop $40-$50 on rear wheels.

Toro Recycler 22"
model# 20332
s/n 290063199888-384-9939

Thanks,

Andy

First check your drive gear and wheel gear. They need to be in good condition. This manual may also help. https://www.toro.com/getpub/22446

Put the mower on some concrete, see if the wheels are spinning or just not pulling.

There's no doubt the wheels are spinning just fine. I just came across a few sites where people did a retread using bicycle tread (securing it by drilling screws into the wheel). I'm going to give that a shot in a few days and will post the results here.

You can do what you want, but that drive is not off a quad for knobby tires. If those tires don’t spin on grass, knobbies won’t either. It’s either the gears or the belt tension is not adjusted properly. You don’t have to believe me, but I did one like that this past summer.

One reason I don't like front wheel drive propelled mowers. Have to lift on the handle to get traction. I have filed grooves in the tires on an old Murray that we had, helped a lot with traction.

Tom this Toro is a rear wheel drive mower.

Oops. Says so in the first post even. Thanks!

Not a problem, just didn’t want someone else to think it was rear wheel. Just would like to see how the OP will install screws in those tire. Will probably look like the studded snow tires we used to have in Wisconsin in the fifties. Dug in but really tore up the roads.

Rivets said:

You can do what you want, but that drive is not off a quad for knobby tires. If those tires don’t spin on grass, knobbies won’t either. It’s either the gears or the belt tension is not adjusted properly. You don’t have to believe me, but I did one like that this past summer.

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Rivets, thanks for your reply. I guess what I don't understand is how can it be the gears or belt tension if I can pick up the back end of the mower while it's running, push in the lever to engage the drive mechanism and see the wheels spin freely? It just makes no sense why the mower is not assisting AT ALL when it's on the ground and I push on the handle that engages the drive mechanism but will spin when off the ground. Can you explain that?

Rivets said:

Not a problem, just didn’t want someone else to think it was rear wheel. Just would like to see how the OP will install screws in those tire. Will probably look like the studded snow tires we used to have in Wisconsin in the fifties. Dug in but really tore up the roads.

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This IS a rear wheel drive push mower. That's why I'm picking it up off the ground to confirm the wheels are spinning .

And yes, it does look like studded tires LOL #8 x 3/4" sheet metals screws and BMX mountain bike tires cut to size. Didn't help, but if I do get this fixed, I'll have traction now

As soon as you sent the mower down either the belt starts to slip or in your case the piñon and bevel gears are to worn to stay engaged. One other case may be that you don’t have the traction cable adjusted properly. Shows you how to do this is your owners manual. I do know what you have, I’ve been working on Toros for the last 40 years, and I think I have a pretty good idea how they work.

Jack your car up in the air.
Set it in neutral & start the engine.
The wheels will spin
drop it on the ground & they will top.