It's been a good run, Toro, but adios!

[jtcarm]

I've been a devoted user of Toro lawn tools for many years.

Our last mower was 8 years old and getting onery to start, so SWMBO (she who must be obeyed), who loves doing yard work, asked for a new one for Valentines Day (no, I'm not swapping her!) Anyway, nothin fancy, just a 22" walk-behind self-propelled.

We went to HD and purchased what appeared to be the same model. But I was suspicious when I saw "Kohler" on the box. I don't know what a crapper company knows about lawn equipment. Plus I carry a chip on my shoulder about Kohler, a long-story totally unrelated to their products.

After 3 mowings, it wouldn't start. I went through checking all the usual suspects, plugs, carb spray, etc, but it just wouldn't start (our 8 yo one could still be coaxed to life.)

My lovely bride took it back to the BORG (Big Orange Retail Giant). They decided to service it. After 10 days and the grass getting long, she called, and they told her it was a mfr defect and being sent back, and would take 8-weeks for repar or replacement. Now why the BORG couldn't give her a loaner, I don't know, especially given how much we spend there (we actually go there on date night!)

Anyway, my gal is very persuasive, and after a couple hours, got them to exchange. I had to come up to HD since it had been purchased on my HD card and we had no receipt. When I got there, my wife said she counted seven of the same model that had been brought in for service/replacement.

We upgraded to a more expensive Honda.

At first I thought Kohler had bought Toro, but after Googling, found out Toro has replaced the tried & true Briggs & Stratton motors with ones built by Kohler.

So it's adios, Toro.

The BORG may not be on our date destination list, unless, of course, SWMBO says otherwise

 

[GKC]

I have always bought Craftsman lawn equipment (except for a Husqvarna zero turn mower) and I've always had very good luck with them. In fact, the walk behind mower I have now has a Kohler engine, which works perfectly. According to all the reviews I've read about the Craftsman models, the Kohler engines are much better than Briggs & Stratton.

 

[sceva]

Honda makes a very good mower / engine

Toro is not the company it once was. Kohler actually makes a decent engine but I don't know if I'd want one over a Briggs and Stratton's which are great engines.

I actually prefer the old Tecumseh engines that were on the older Craftsman mowers. Sears called them Eager-1 engines but they were Tecumseh.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

Ditto GKC. Our old Craftsman of undetermined age is still going strong,it was old when I came here 11 years ago. Outside of a blade or two & one tuneup it's problem free.

 

[italiansport]

I bought a John Deere push type 2 cycle lawn mower in 1974 when living in the Midwest. I left it at our last house as I saw no further use for it when we moved to Arizona in 1995. Other than typical required maintainence, new plug, cleaning etc. it ran for all those years without any real problems.
Jim

 

[G-Mac]

....But I was suspicious when I saw "Kohler" on the box. I don't know what a crapper company knows about lawn equipment. Plus I carry a chip on my shoulder about Kohler, a long-story totally unrelated to their products.

I'm not sure if Kohler the crapper company is the same as Kohler the engine company, but Kohler engines have a long-standing reputation as being premium quality.

I had a Lincoln Ranger 250 portable welder/generator with a 20hp Kohler V-Twin engine and it always started and ran flawlessly.

 

[bhayles]

Toro is not the company it once was. Kohler actually makes a decent engine but I don't know if I'd want one over a Briggs and Stratton's which are great engines.

I actually prefer the old Tecumseh engines that were on the older Craftsman mowers. Sears called them Eager-1 engines but they were Tecumseh.

Tecumseh 4 cycle engines are awesome. Tecumseh 2 cycle engines are awesome as well...awesomely crappy.

 

[Jessie]

I'm a green machine guy. Mower and tractor. 0 complaints

 

[chief38]

Still have my Toro 7 HP Snow Blower with the Techumseh engine that is 17 years old! Never fails to start on the 1st or 2nd pull. It does have an electric start but since it starts so easy I rarely use the electric starter.

I thought Kohler only made water fixtures and bath/kitchen accessories. Ya learn something new every day!

 

[jtcarm]

I'm a green machine guy. Mower and tractor. 0 complaints

If Massey-Ferguson made lawn equipment, I'd be all over it. Our old 65 diesel tractor still cranks up with no complaints. Neighbors are always wanting to borrow when their's won't start.

 

[Bkreutz]

What's this lawn mowing stuff you talk about? I'm allergic to gardening, I have someone else mow it. If the city would let me do it, I'd pave the yard and paint it green.

 

[pharmer]

We upgraded to a more expensive Honda.

Nothing like a Honda engine. I just brought a 10+ y/o machine to a local shop to replace the belt on the propulsion unit. Unfortunately the engine must be removed to acce$$ it. I could junk it but the motor runs like the day I bought it, starts on the first pull. I have the same unit here at the house that's 4/yo runs perfectly although the "smart drive" is just the opposite. They always "improve" what works perfectly. Joe

 

[sophie]

Had a Toro push mower with the Tecumseh engine for about 20 years. Put rings in in once. In '88 I bought a Honda SR214 self propelled (driveshaft) and it still runs like a top. Can't beat the Honda in my opinion.

 

[walkin jack]

I loves my Honda 6.5. 8 years old and Aunt Clara can still start it on the first pull.

 

[whitestang]

When I bought my house 4 years ago it came with a 10hp MTD 30inch deck rider which quit running in July last year, I bought a 21 inch with a 6.5 Briggs. I have 1/2 acre and in March bought a 2011 X300 Deere with 58 hours on it and have been pleased with it so far. the Deere has a 17 hp Kawasaki and a 42 inch deck.

 

[JohnSW]

but after Googling, found out Toro has replaced the tried & true Briggs & Stratton motors with ones built by Kohler.

I peeked at Toro's web site, and it looks like some models still come with a Briggs & Stratton engine.

 

[bhayles]

If the city would let me do it, I'd pave the yard and paint it green.

Move to Florida. That's THE thing in some retirement communities there.

 

[DeathGrip]

I have a '79 Toro self propelled with a 3hp Briggs that still runs well.

Confession time. A friend bought it new and after cutting the grass twice he put it in the garage. I got it from him 5 or 6 years ago. I took the carb apart and it was in good shape. Put a new filter on it and added some gas. It started right up after a few pulls and a little adjustment.

Tip, Always run non-ethanol in one. Ethanol will eat rings and valve seats in older mowers. You can get the good stuff at the boat dock.

Confession two. I let the neighbors crew cut my yard.

YMMV

 

[Buckey08]

One word, Honda! You can keep all the rest ,I'll keep the best!

 

[Frank46]

My brother out on long island ny has had a love hate relationship with his toro snowblower. Each year took it in to get serviced and each year when it came time to use it, it wouldn't blow snow. We had one toro snow blower at work. They used to have a contractor come in whenever they had problems with it. Took the info off the belts,spark plug,oil filter and air filter and got some money out of petty cash. Changed everything out including the oil. Told the big boss it was ready to go as the forcast was for 10" of the white stuff coming in the morning. the boss forgot to tell the oncoming shift so I show up at 6am wondering why everything is covered with snow. The maching don't work. I said I overhauled it yesterday before i went home. Guy gets it, starts right up and away he goes.Was weird working in that place. Battery dean on emergency generator, go to the garage and sign out a battery, fresh gas and stabilizer,new plugs,air filter and oil filter and oil. So here I am 5degree weather doing all this so the generator would work in an emergency. We were required to test the generator once a month to make sure it worked. Come in monday and was told we have a guy who comes in to take care of it. Go figure. Frank