Toro Self Propelled Front Tires Toe Out

[news_watch]

I have a toro rear wheel self propelled that the front wheels have toed out enough to bogg the mower down. End of last year I took one wheel mount apart looking for something to tighten, or clean out, or straighten. I'm pretty good mechanical wise, and I did not see anything obvious to cause this.
Before I tear it down again, I thought I might look for an on-line brain trust that might have seen this before.

I'm OK with fixing the wheels at a set height. I go for 3 inches and have never adjusted them. I'm thinking a simple plate might help and do away with the adjustment mechanism.

Thoughts?

Thanks,:thumbsup:
nw

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

I don't know the answer, but :welcome: to LMF! Hopefully someone will give you an answer soon! :smile:

 

[Rivets]

Sounds to me like the plastic wheel bushings are so worn that they could never roll straight. Probably need to replace the wheels or make metal bushings.

 

[chance123]

If it is a 21" commercial mower, it will have steel wheels. The axel bolts often bend. This may be frowned on, but a simple hit with a hammer on the rim and still on the machine does it just fine

 

[Rivets]

Toro doesn't make a commercial 21" mower, and yes it is frown upon to bent a bolt by hitting the plastic wheels. If you want to straighten it take it off and just tap it while it is being held in a vice with a nut or two protecting the threads.

 

[chance123]

Toro doesn't make a commercial 21" mower, and yes it is frown upon to bent a bolt by hitting the plastic wheels. If you want to straighten it take it off and just tap it while it is being held in a vice with a nut or two protecting the threads.

Huh? Toro/Exmark have been making them for more years than I can remember. It is what almost all the commercial services use out here. I agree that it is not wise to hit a plastic wheel but the Toro 21" commercial uses steel wheels. The Toro commercial 21" is model # 22171 and the Exmark (now owned by Toro) is model # M216KASPC. Google "Toro master parts viewer" and when you get there on the right you will see "start parts viewer" click on that and enter 22171 as the model. and you will see "commercial" under the description. It only goes back to 1999, but the design goes back to the 80's with VERY little changes. Plastic wheels used in a commercial application wouldn't last one day.

 

[Rivets]

I stand by my post. 22171 is an Exmark unit with a Toro name tag.

 

[chance123]

I stand by my post. 22171 is an Exmark unit with a Toro name tag.

Hmm. I don't understand. If you went on the link Toro master parts viewer which goes back to only 1999, and Toro bought out Exmark "LONG" after 1999. I think it was only 4 or 5 years ago. I am not speaking off the top of my head as I worked under Rich Hallen for Toro at their test and development site that used to be in Riverside Cal back in the 80's. This was also their irrigation plant. As they tested and developed their sprinkler systems, the grass grew, and we tested the Toro mowers as well as the competitions mowers on 15 acres of this grass. We were the ones that found the problems with the early Suzuki 2 strokes always breaking crankshafts on the (Toro) 22171 commercial mowers in the mid 80's. The problem was "no radius" (for strength) on the lower shaft. If you doubt what I say, call power trim in Buena Park California. They are distributers for Exmark here in So. Cal. or call your distributor.

 

[Rivets]

I was wrong, Toro does make a "commercial" mower, now label Heavy Duty but, Now I don't understand. You say that you worked on the Toro commercial mower 22171 in the 80's. That would have been tough as this model was tested as a " commercial" unit starting in 1999 and dropped from their line up after the 2003 model year. If I remember correctly the main reason was the cost $800+ was not living up to the reliability needed by the commercial industry. At my age my memory is waining, so this will be my last post on this subject, as I need what is left of my brain for more important issues.

 

[chance123]

I was wrong, Toro does make a "commercial" mower, now label Heavy Duty but, Now I don't understand. You say that you worked on the Toro commercial mower 22171 in the 80's. That would have been tough as this model was tested as a " commercial" unit starting in 1999 and dropped from their line up after the 2003 model year. If I remember correctly the main reason was the cost $800+ was not living up to the reliability needed by the commercial industry. At my age my memory is waining, so this will be my last post on this subject, as I need what is left of my brain for more important issues.

Actually in the mid 80's when the commercial mower used the Suzuki 2 Stroke the model was a 22025. I said I worked on the 22171 in the 80's because the design has hardly changed at all and I too have "old timers disease" and CRS. The deck, transmission, wheels were and in most cases the same as today's commercial mower. I have committed to memory part numbers such as 39-9160 for the drive wheel pinon gear that is exactly the same number today as in the early 80's (Mod #22020 to Mod #20680.
Probably my last post too, but its things like this that keep us sharp, in tune, and on top of things. Gotta exersize those brain cells to keep young by learning and "sharing" knowledge we have attained over the years. Now,,, my keys were here a minute ago, now I can't find them LOL.