Hello all! Glad I found this place! It seems there is a good bit of discussion, albeit mixed etc......Still, I love forums but never imagined I would be posting in one for lawn mowers:laughing:
Anyhow, as the title says. I just moved, bought a new house and its in a nicer area and has a nicer yard than my previous. I decided it was time to ditch my 10 year old Toro Recycler and get something that will help me have the best yard on the block. The Toro has been a fairly decent mower. Only issues were with its cheap plastic drive system. The Personal Pace was actually very nice. The mulching is mediocre at best as I always have to follow with my gas blower and clear the clumps etc...the bagger isn't even an option,. Fills (or doesn't) too quickly and it seems I am dumping more clippings that actually mowing. The bag is lucky to get 1/2 full then grass begins to accumulate on the lawn. The mower is in need of it's 3rd set of rear wheels (RWD) and maybe a transmission as its making some odd noise and probably a new blade.
So, three reasons or so I am considering moving away from the Toro....1. doesn't leave my lawn looking as nice as we want 2. its given me a few issues with the drive systems 3. I want MADE IN USA
Okay, enough about the Toro. Convince me to buy the Snapper and which one.......Commercial doesn't appear available at either of my local dealers (not in stock anyhow). My preferred dealer told me that since I primarily mulch, to get the Ninja, however he really seemed to push the Toro Super Recycler on me. Explained how the gears were metal, not plastic and so on. Basically solving all of my gripes except the Made in USA part. My thought or want is to buy the Hi-Vac as I want a decent bagger when I need it or want it, and use a mulch plug with either the Ninja Blades or Gators. Maybe I am very off base, but I just need some advice. I have ZERO issue with bagging 90% of the time or more, I have just always been told its healthier for the yard to mulch :confused2: Plus the city I moved to had a compost dump, and its less than 2 miles away.
So lay it on me. I am ready to buy in the next day or so. Hi-Vac with mulching blade and a plug or Ninja Deck with a mulching blade and a bag attachment for those times. Thanks in advance!
This mower is gone,didn't last long after it was posted elsewhere as being for sale. The reason I sold it was because I have an Extra Tough 33" Hi-Vac that I have re-powered with a 19hp Intek Briggs. I love this mower. Best quality of cut and absolutely the best mulcher ever. As posted elsewhere,the vacuum in the name Hi-Vac is correct! Do not drive it across a gravel drive with the blade engaged! I have 2 other mowers,a zero turn and a lawn tractor ,both fairly new Husqvarnas and neither cut or mulch as well as the Snapper.I have just what you may be looking for ,but I live in the far west tip of Indiana. The mower is a SR3314 Hi-Vac with bagger and mulch cover if mulching is desired. Nothing is needed,ready to mow right now. And all of it is USA-made! This isn't a "For Sale" post,but this type of Snapper RER will serve you well,IMHO.
My Toro experience. If you bag, any, at all, look elsewhere. Toro mowers are built for lazy mulching. They choke you lawn with clippings that do not break down, just clog the turf. Now the old 1999 era Super Recyclers are very good mulchers. They have the aluminum decks and personal pace drive. If you can find one, BUY IT.
Best bagger on the planet IS the Snapper Hi-Vac with the blade lift wings bolted to the blade. This machine will suck spare change off your garage floor, with ease. It will suck rocks out of your yard. There is not any other brand, don't care if they call it "commercial" or NASA on it. I have not seen or used anything else even close in bagging performance.
I have not used the Snapper Ninja deck with the Ninja blade. This is the Snapper mulching setup. I have a feeling since the deck is made to mulch, this combo is a mulching winner. You can mulch with the Hi-Vac deck with good results. Actually just as good as any other mower out there.
slomo
Just a added note here from experience. I have tried both the Ninja blade and also the Gator mulching blade. I was disappointed with both compared to the OEM Snapper blade with lift wings and a mulch cover. The cut grass is cut/mulched so fine as to simply disappear.The "mulch" blades are hanging in the garage and will never be used again,except in a pinch.
Absolutely agree on Oregon blades,or for that matter,chain saw chains,bars,etc. If it says 'Oregon' on it, it's good stuff! I just gave away the Gator mulching blade for the 33" Snapper,but still have the 2 Gators on the zero turn Husqvarna. Still,the cut and the mulching ,using the regular winged blade with the mulch cover on the 33",I've not seen a better cut. It puts the zero turn with the Gator brand blades to shame.Nice to hear some feedback on the Ninja and Gator blades. I've never used the Ninja blade nor deck. I would like to try one some day if I get a used Snapper to flip. I have gator blades from Oregon. My opinion, Oregon makes the best blades out there. Especially considering cost of the blades. Gators are made to mulch. On a Snapper 21" commercial, I ran the Gator mulch blade and the mulch deck cover. I had no issues mulching.
slomo