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Greetings!
I am planning to purchase my first mower (and other related devices) this spring. I have approximately 3/4" of an acre or relatively flat lawn which I've always had mulched. I've narrowed my options down to the Toro Zero-turn Timecutter 42" MyRide models (to help my sensitive spine) and a Recycle/mulching kit. I'll probably pull a small fertilizer tow-behind, a dethatcher, a sweeper or other small items.

I've spoken with several local dealers, and each has suggested models that the other does not seem to know exist (go figure!). Research on the Toro web site seems to reveal the two primarily suggested models as:

SN75747, Toro priced at $4299, with a 22 HP Kohler engine.
SN75745, Toro priced at #3699, with a 24.5 HP Toro Commercial V-Twin 708cc engine with Self-Cleaning Air Filter Housing.

Other than the engine and price, I can find no other differences between the two models.

Does anyone have either of these, or know of what the real-world differences would be between these two models? Obviously one has more HP and a different engine, but I don't know enough about the Toro or Kohler engines to know if one is more reliable than the other or worth $600 more. I'm planning on performing most general maintenance myself.

Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

Back in 2014, I bought my Timecutter 4260 w/Kaw power. Never any issue from it. Had it for 7 some years & up-sized just cause I had a chance to.. Mine had all the bells & whistles.. (hourmeter, deck lift pedal, floor mat, tallest seat, etc.)

Either of those 2 you listed should have same EZT 2100 Hydros.. & other the different engines, same machines. The Toro branded engines are made in lonchin, china, but many say they do good.. Just FYI.

And those I think have 3 speed range selections, mine had 2. Ask the Dealers to let you test ride each..Don't be shy..

7394 said:

Back in 2014, I bought my Timecutter 4260 w/Kaw power. Never any issue from it. Had it for 7 some years & up-sized just cause I had a chance to.. Mine had all the bells & whistles.. (hourmeter, deck lift pedal, floor mat, tallest seat, etc.)

Either of those 2 you listed should have same EZT 2100 Hydros.. & other the different engines, same machines. The Toro branded engines are made in lonchin, china, but many say they do good.. Just FYI.

And those I think have 3 speed range selections, mine had 2. Ask the Dealers to let you test ride each..Don't be shy..

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Thank you for the feedback. Unfortunately I cannot test drive either model. Local dealers don’t have either in stock until I order them. The big questions would be what am I getting for $600 more and is it worth it? More reliability? Less expensive maintenance? Noticeable power? More prestige <kidding>?

FYI you will probably not find a 75745 anywhere, and if you do, it won't be for that price! Even used, that (slightly older) model is hard to come by. I find the Toro engines to be built just as well (even better in some aspects!) as the Kohler so I would not let that sway your opinion, however, my dealer has told me that the Toro engine will either be discontinued or will be used much less going forward as the cost of that engine from China has gone way up due to tariffs. Looks like the 75747 is your only option in that deck size if you want the MY Ride option, unless the 2023 models offer something different. Good Luck!

slinger2 said:

FYI you will probably not find a 75745 anywhere, and if you do, it won't be for that price! Even used, that (slightly older) model is hard to come by. I find the Toro engines to be built just as well (even better in some aspects!) as the Kohler so I would not let that sway your opinion, however, my dealer has told me that the Toro engine will either be discontinued or will be used much less going forward as the cost of that engine from China has gone way up due to tariffs. Looks like the 75747 is your only option in that deck size if you want the MY Ride option, unless the 2023 models offer something different. Good Luck!

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Slinger2,
I found both models (one at each dealership) and they both called and confirmed that they could order those models today if I said 'go'. So they are both definitely a possibility for me.

So the 75745 with the bigger engine is an older model? Good to know that the engines are comparable in terms of reliability.

Thanks.

Just slightly...I think it came out around 2020-21, but there haven't been many updates at all to the Timecutter since then so I would jump all over that model if you could get it for $3699 as you stated. There should be plenty of parts for those engines down the road if you need them. The only trouble is you sort of have to go through Toro for their engine parts as opposed to other engine manufacturers.

Parts tree is a decent source for Toro parts, Least that's what I saw a while back..

sam.marrocco said:

Slinger2,
I found both models (one at each dealership) and they both called and confirmed that they could order those models today if I said 'go'. So they are both definitely a possibility for me.

So the 75745 with the bigger engine is an older model? Good to know that the engines are comparable in terms of reliability.

Thanks.

Click to expand...

I don't think your dealer really checked with Toro on the 75745's availability, and certainly not for $3699.
I just spoke to Toro, and unless you can find one of these at a dealer, you cannot order one from the factory.
Why don't you check again or call Toro before you try to make a decision on a model that's not really available.
If you dealer truly can get one from somewhere better jump on it...but again I won't believe it until you tell us you bought it Good luck!

And think about replacement parts availability (if / when needed) .. If it is no longer available, are parts ?

I have the 75747 with my ride I guess going on my third year. My property isn’t level and was a bit disappointed with the traction so I upsized my tires and wheels. I purchased mine with the bagging system and immediately added an hour meter. I’ve also fabricated a chute blocker to keep debris out of my wife’s flower beds when not bagging. I am extremely pleased with the unit. My preference was for the kohler engine. This was based on research that I did at that time. Can’t speak to better reliability over the toro engine but I have had zero issues with mine. I feel confident that I made the right decision.

I have always liked the MX models. Because of the deck seat is better now. They last I got one that I got in 2011. Still going but I was using it commercially. I did replace the deck but if using personally would last longer.

My property is relatively level so no problem there. The Kohler 75747 looks like the model I’m probably purchasing in the spring. The bagger kit will be part of it, but I think I need to build some mods to allow me to use paper bags instead of the cloth that I. Will keep having to empty for leaves. Should be a good summer project. Now if only they had an option for a joystick on the 75747……

Any grade of paper porous enough to allow the volume of air to pass through fast enough will be too weak to support the weight of the grass.
Any paper strong enough to take the weight of the grass & handle the vibrations will not pass enough air.
Baggers are not cyclones they work basically like filters .
If you run bags then you should go to the effort of making sure the mower has a 2 element canister filter as baggers tend to generate a lot of very fine dust right where the engine sucks in it's air .
Also running baggers means that you must remove the blower housing every ear without fail to clean off the engine cooling fins.
The current crop of baggers were originally designed to sit behind tractor style mowers where the engine air intake is a long way away from the dust .

bertsmobile1 said:

Any grade of paper porous enough to allow the volume of air to pass through fast enough will be too weak to support the weight of the grass.
Any paper strong enough to take the weight of the grass & handle the vibrations will not pass enough air.
Baggers are not cyclones they work basically like filters .
If you run bags then you should go to the effort of making sure the mower has a 2 element canister filter as baggers tend to generate a lot of very fine dust right where the engine sucks in it's air .
Also running baggers means that you must remove the blower housing every ear without fail to clean off the engine cooling fins.
The current crop of baggers were originally designed to sit behind tractor style mowers where the engine air intake is a long way away from the dust .

Click to expand...

I did install a two stage air filter but had never thought of removing the housing to access the cooling fins. Thank you very much for an extremely helpful piece of information.

bertsmobile1 said:

Any grade of paper porous enough to allow the volume of air to pass through fast enough will be too weak to support the weight of the grass.
Any paper strong enough to take the weight of the grass & handle the vibrations will not pass enough air.
Baggers are not cyclones they work basically like filters .
If you run bags then you should go to the effort of making sure the mower has a 2 element canister filter as baggers tend to generate a lot of very fine dust right where the engine sucks in it's air .
Also running baggers means that you must remove the blower housing every ear without fail to clean off the engine cooling fins.
The current crop of baggers were originally designed to sit behind tractor style mowers where the engine air intake is a long way away from the dust .

Click to expand...

yes, a baffle of some sort would be required to let the grass drop into the bags and heavier particles do in a cyclone.

BudLight72 said:

never thought of removing the housing to access the cooling fins

Click to expand...

I was gonna say it's in the maintenance chart, But looked & it is not in mine anyhow.

But I do mine yearly anyhow..

sam.marrocco said:

Slinger2,
I found both models (one at each dealership) and they both called and confirmed that they could order those models today if I said 'go'. So they are both definitely a possibility for me.

So the 75745 with the bigger engine is an older model? Good to know that the engines are comparable in terms of reliability.

Thanks.

Click to expand...

Sam,
Were you able to order a 75745 for $3699?
If so I'm going to give my dealer hell for not being able to get one for me!

I just got a 60'' Timecutter MyRide Toro. 3 weeks ago or so. Only did a few trials and mulched a bunch of last year leaves, stuck by the fence.
I don't really know, how well it will cut, as it's February and no real growing grass yet. So I'll call this "off the hip" impression.
1. got it online, what saved me $800 in tax less $350 shipping from IO to WA. Still a formidable saving, as best price I could get from brick and mortat store was Tractor Supply, what would have been tax PLUS $200 shipping.
2. got it through AE Outdoor Power Equipment. Can't praise them more. VERY nice experience. VERY. Delivery took only a week. Liftgate to my property. Recommend to anyone.
3. Back to mower. Will start with gripe. Legal force must be very strong with Toro as it's way overdone on safety. Here's what it takes to start the machine: Sit dow and don't move(safety switch is trigger happy)>handlebars in neutral>choke up>clutch switch down>parking brake handle up/engaged> throttle half way open>turn key>engine starts> press down choke button>LOWER THE PARKING BRAKE(disengage) or, engine will turn off the very moment you start moving handlebars out of N. I'm like - seriously? And it's my thrid ZTR and fifth mower, not counting push one. Seriously? What happened to turn key and go?
4. Handlebars control is super sensitive. Slightest bars movement results in rather sharp response. What, in its turn, results in very precise operation when you want to stop. You have to be spacecraft precise on bars position.
5. I ended up with Toro engine. Wasn't supposed to but... Starts and runs, sounds healthy and powerful yet... it clearly bogs, when clutch is engaged. Bogs and goes back to normal operation, what makes wonder - hmm, give it a bit of tall and wet grass, what will happen?
6. Now, that's it for gripes. MyRide is very nice indeed. Still fine tuning it but I can clearly see - and feel - how seat moves independent from the frame.
7. I have 1.25 acre of wetland and it willl go through puddles with wet grass and mud without hesitation. I was going, as usual, to replace drive tires with ATV ones but, apparently, no need to. Goes up 35% hill without hesitation on wet grass. I didn't lose traction even once and I ran it up and sideways on my wet hills.
8. Feels very solid. First ZTR I can step onto the deck to sit in chair without deck even noticing it. Everything appears to be thick and solid.
9. Has deck lift assist. That is a nice touch.
10 A bit short for tall owners. Seat could move back more, at my 6' 2.5'' feels a bit crammed and seat is all the way back.
Will put it to real mowing soon enough, will report back.

Yes, the controls are very touchy. Trick I’ve learned when getting used to Z-turns, grab the handles so your thumbs are touching. This allows you to feel what each control is doing and shortens the learning curve. Also allows you to look forward instead of down as you learn to control the unit. After a short period the controls will become natural.

For women I tell them to consider it is a shopping trolley
for men I tell them to only steer with their dominant hand .
For most that is the right hand
So the right hand goes forward for left turns & back for right turns
The left is just used to speed control .
It is all about muscle memory
Once you stop concentrating about how far to move the right hand, the left will automatically cut in

Don’t let your wife on it. You may never get it back.

LOL