Roll Tide Roll !!

I also purchased one earlier in the year and really like it, hopefully it's also worked out well for you

Is myride suspension worth it?

Yes, If your lawn is rough, if you have a bad back, if you have a large yard to mow, if you want the best riding residential mower...

Actually you are pretty close. I trained nuclear power plant maintenance crews and their supervisors for over 20 years.

Out of curiosity is it still running good? Any issues?

No, it's very easy. On the dash by the throttle/ignition feel the decal with your finger. You will feel a rectangular cutout under it. Cut that out with a sharp knife. Stick the hour meter in and then just plug it into the wiring harness.No wiring - just plug and play.

Willow is actually the smaller breed - Italian Greyhound

Paul Sikkema my mistake. Must have been the pajamas!

I agree, the review help me decide my choice to purchase

Glad it was helpful!

How’s it holding up after 3 years now?

Yes, I do have an opinion. The Kohler 7000 series has an excellent reputation. It has great fuel economy and the governor is more sensitive than the other brands - meaning when cutting heavy grass it will pick up quicker and the engine will not lug down as much. I have no preference between the Kohler and the Kawasaki (or the Toro engine) I would NOT pay extra for the Kawasaki.

I believe those holes are actually there to mount an accessory called a 139-7459 - 50 INCH BAGGING ENHANCEMENT KIT, which will enhance bagging performance in extreme conditions such as heavy, wet grass or autumn leaf bagging.

Welcome, I'm still waiting for my grass to grow and I refuse to just give it a trim like the other reviewers are doing. I'm hoping by the end of the week...

Paul Sikkema thanks you . I’m deciding on getting a zero turn soon and this is the exact model I will be getting

I am no genius but I think you need to move one of your handles slightly forward or slightly backward / Till you get it to go straight when you're both in the same exact spot

Hello. I'm sure you've fixed this already but anyone else who might be having the same problem, here is the fix. Lift your seat & you will see 2 11mm bolts for each handle. Just adjust the desired amount till both handles pushed all the way forward the mower stays straight. ****These do not take much force to adjust & only adjust so far. Be sure to keep an eye on the half circle cut out & plastic knob sticking out for a reference*** If the handles do not line up correctly in neutral then you adjust the bolts on the handles. Hope this helps

it's steel.

It's just a stick until you put a price tag on it. No, I haven't done the Gravely but I have reviewed the Ariens XD. It's the twin of the ZTX. My review is of the 52 inch version but the mowers are essentially the same except for the deck. Here is a link to the walk-around review: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nrOUa8R02J3UZZ8.html

These hydros are maintenance free. No oil to check or change.

The Honda HRX217K6HZA or Toro 21” Personal Pace® SMARTSTOW® Super Recycler® Mower (Model 21386)

Personally, I mulch and then use a good sweeper to pick up the chewed up leaves. I have this sweeper: homedepot.sjv.io/kAJKV It's less expensive and takes up a lot less room in my storage shed. That said, The Toro baggers work well but I suggest installing the high-lift bagging blades instead of mulching blades. Mulching blade may not have enough airflow to throw wet leaves into the bagger and fill the bagger.

@@PaulSikkema Thanks for the pointers. I think I am going to try to the mulch option this fall. I just don't want the mulched leaves to clump and kill the grass - I am going to try to mow several times and while it is dry.

This Toro does not. Are you looking at the Raptor XD or the FasTrak SDX? They are both at least $1000 more than the TimeCutter. If you want to look at a comparable Toro look at the Titan Series.

I have no preference. The Toro and the Kawasaki are both good.

Please go to my main page. I have two videos testing the cut quality.

@@PaulSikkema sounds good. This video just popped up in Google search, didnt see the other ones.

I have a cut quality video of this mower up! Awesome cut quality!

Travis F78 go toro!

An extended warranty from the manufacture is a good investment. But- a protection plan/extended warranty from the retailer is not.

I like the 50. It has a wider tire stance so it will feel better on the slope.

No, I don't have an answer at this time. I'll ask my dealer if he knows. My Exmark has an hour meter and the slot where it sits under the seat is missing on this mower.

Dude I have it, it's right in the little triangle area in front of the throttle. Had to pay sixty five bucks for It which was a rip off

@@buckybarnes3803 Toro is brutal on pricing accessories. I put a $20 Husqvarna meter in mine, same size and wiring.

I find it pretty ridiculous for a manufacturer to skimp on adding an hour meter particularly for this level of machine and since maintenance is based on hours of operation. Fortunately there are inexpensive hour or rpm/hour meters you can add but why put the consumer through this extra hassle.

I only paid 45$ for the hour meter.It pops in right on the control panel,there is a cutout covered up by the dash label.

HI James. It will go through a 5 ft gate with the chute up. The chute catches when going through a 6 foot gate with it down. So, I suggest a 7 ft minimum to clear the mower with a bagging chute.

The 42 and 50 inch decks have the quick release covers. There is a tab you push on each side. The screw on mine is to hold the the bottom piece - the piece that doesn't come off - on the deck. The 60 inch does not have the quick release.

I just got this same mower, mine has one screw holding covers on.Dealer said toro started putting screw in cause covers were popping off.

If your lawn is fairly rough (a normal lawn) the MyRide is a great choice. It significantly reduces the jarring ride you usually get with a ZTR. If I were to buy a Toro it would have the MyRide...

No, it does not. There is a cutout on the dash (just feel the decal to see where it goes) and the plug is in the wiring harness. It's about $67 at your dealer or The Home Depot.

Hi May, I couldn't quite figure out the bracket you want to attach. I suggest taking a ride to your nearest Toro dealer tomorrow and looking at a mower on the sales floor. When you look lower the deck all the way so you can get a good view.

Paul Sikkema thank you so much for responding!! I think we’ve figured it out. One bracket has a slightly raised side and bent towards the center as to NOT slip into the hole on the frame. We were afraid it had come out of there. But we definitely will head to a dealer tomorrow. Thank you God bless you

Stamped decks just plug the discharge. They are multi-purpose decks so they are not the best choice if you want to mulch all the time. A fabricated decks with baffles will do a better job. Just remember, to mulch properly you need to mow no more than 1/3 of the grass stalk off at one time. That means if you mow at 3 inches you should be out there mowing when the grass gets to 4 inches or so. During the growth season for your grass you will need to mow more often than once a week. Mow slower than side discharge so the blades have the time to reduce the clippings into little pieces. All that said, If you mulch correctly grass won't clump up under the deck.

Thanks!! That settles it I’m getting the 75744

@@PaulSikkema Only problem here is that when you install the mulching baffles on this fabricated deck, that is ALL YOU CAN DO (no bagging or side discharge) unless you remove the whole mulch kit. Kind of a PITA if you have a lot of rain or go away on vacation for 2 weeks and the grass is too tall or wet to be mulched. Not easy to switch between discharge modes like the Toro stamped deck models or the John Deere residential zero turns. But the mulch kit looks to be effective with the built in "kickers" like on the Super Recycler mowers which are great at mulching.

All of us quickly learn to tip the seat up when we get off - especially if you wear shorts :)

Yes, I cover the topic extensively over at todaysmower.com. To recap, stamped decks are better for weekly mowing and most are designed to mulch with a simple blade change and discharge cover. Commercial, deep, fabricated decks are better for longer grass and will mow well at higher speeds. In other words if you have a smaller residential lawn and keep your mowing speed under 5 mph the stamped decks can be a good choice. But - if you have multiple acres and want to get done as fast as possible the fab decks generally will handle the job a lot better and faster.

@@PaulSikkema you certainly answered my questions. Thank you Paul!

Yes, but there are few others that are just as good. In other words, if you have to drive 50 miles to buy this Toro it may not be the best choice for you. You local dealer may carry another brand that is just as good (for example, Ariens) Is a 50 inch the best size for your yard? Read this article to help you decide: todaysmower.com/2019-the-best-residential-zero-turn-mowers/ If this is the right size for your yard please read this article before you buy: todaysmower.com/2020-the-best-48-52-inch-zero-turn-mowers/

I don't have a preference. Ariens: I like the way the deck sticks out the left side for trimming. I like the larger rear tires. I like the 4-point suspension on the deck. Toro: I like the larger front tires. I like the replaceable front casters. I like the automatic parking brake. They both mow really, really well. The IKON XD seems to mow taller grass better. If you let parts of you lawn go for a month it's cuts that stuff better. The Kawasaki, Toro and Kohler engines are all good engines that will last. Since they are so close I suggest going to the Toro and Ariens dealers, listen to what they say, and then pick the dealer you like best.

All the adjustments to the deck are done with the front bracket. Make sure the rear bracket is in the slots on the deck. Make sure the rear tire pressure is the same for both wheels. I find running 20 psi will raise the cut a little,

I went over and looked and CR is stating N/A which means they didn't test the bagger. If you've never owned a ZTR with a bagger there are a few things to know so you won't be disappointed. 1. They work very well for leaves and dead grass. 2. They do not work very well if you have the mulching blades installed. If you want to bag green grass clippings weekly, you need the high lift bagger blades installed. You can use the regular blades the mower came with - but they won't create as much suction to pick up all the grass. The hi-lift bagger blades also work very well for side discharge. 3. They don't bag wet grass. If there is dew on the grass they may work, but won't throw the bagger full. If the grass is wet from rain they most likely will plug the discharge chute more than they throw the grass into the bags. 4. There are a few companies that make a powered bagger. Gravely for example has a fan that attaches to the deck and that will throw any grass - even wet stuff into the bagger. (but it's $900) All that said, if you are mowing your Bermuda when it needs it (two to three times a week) you won't have any issues. It's when you wait until you have 4-6 inches of growth you will have problems. If it's not doing a good job slow down to a walking speed.

@@PaulSikkema I never let it get to high and always dry. Looks like I will not be disappointed with bagger results with the proper blades and wanted to stay away from a powered blower. This helps a lot. Many thanks. James Camp

Paul hate to bother you again with a question but getting my order finalized and I saw Toro's KZfaq video on their bagger which showed weights being installed on the front of the mower. Do you know if this actually comes with the bagger and if not, is it recommended knowing I never cut my lawn when wet which of course would add more weight. Again thanks for your help. James Camp

Yes, the weights come with the bagger. You will need them installed if you have slopes. Almost all ZTRs get very rear "tippy" with a bagger full of green grass. It's nice that Toro includes the counter weights. For safety, I can't tell you not to use them.

@@PaulSikkema Many thanks!

Get it right back to your dealer. They'll get the part and fix it for you.

There are two small levers/rods located in the back of the mower by the transmissions. Those levers (bypass) release the trannys so that you can move the mower without the engine running. My first guess is that the right hand bypass lever is engaged. Move that lever to the engaged position and it should work. If it doesn't - get it back to the dealer so they can fix it.

To take a front wheel off. Raise the other front wheel off the ground with a ramp, etc.,Then remove the axle. On most of these ZTR's you will need two 3/4 inch wrenches to loosen the nut and remove the bolt.

I have no problems with the Toro engines. They are made to to Toro's spec by the world's 4th largest engine manufacture. The dealer like the engines and are having less issues with them than all the other brands.

Stay away fr9m the Chinese Toro engines, it has a plastic Cam Gear.. Crap!

Interesting that you would mention that. Kohler has been using the composite cam gears since the mid-90's. Even your car most likely has a set.

@@PaulSikkema Kohler stopped using plastic cam gears because of all the failures, no one else uses them anymore, the Only reason the Chinese engine has one is strictly for Cost and no other reason. The Chinese are definitely not known for their plastic durability manufacturing.. I would take any other engine over the Chinese.. have you seen how much metal comes out of the first oil change? which by the way must be completed after five hours of use.. that right there tells you somethings wrong. Many cars have use plastic cam gears but what that actually is is a metal gear that is nylon coated it’s not exactly a plastic gear and those were not very good either because eventually they broke down and ended up in the oil pan

@@Krazycat321 talking about the composite cam it's the in the kawasaki to I got to say when mine broke down and I tore the engine down and had a broken cam gear and to see that it was plastic was not expecting that

Did you see the jack accessory?

@@PaulSikkema accully comes factoryed and theres jack system kits avaliable at kubota

I guess I am not aware that they have the oscillating front axle on the residential Kommander series. Even if it did their cheapest mower is $2000 more than this one. That said, there are many flip-deck models available in the $4000-$10,000 range besides the Kubota.

Yes, one inch is better but Toro has been using the ZT2100 transmissions for many years. It's been a very good, dependable tranny.

At $400 it's a good project tractor. Yes, they are built like a tank. Bring a quart of fresh gas with you and the tools to drain the gas tank/carb. Depending on how long it sat the fuel bowl may be full of water and the gas in the tank will be bad. Hopefully he had the fuel shut-off closed. If the fuel shutoff was left on check the engine oil, smell it and make sure there is no gas in the oil before you try to run it more than at idle. I'm very concerned with "it only needs hydraulic fluid." It has a hydro transmission and it may require a rebuild if it won't move. If you can check the oil in the trans, it should be the color red. If it's brown or black and smells burnt you probably have a bad hydro. The decks were the weak link on that tractor. All new decks cut a lot better and the old decks rusted out and always needed spindle bearings - expect to repair the deck. Go to mytractorforum.com and talk to the guys in the Wheel House section if you need parts. You can always fix it up and join the antique lawn tractor shows :)

There is no chip board on this machine. The electrical system on this machine is "conventional" and the mower doesn't use a computer module. The engine has it's own module mounted on the engine itself. It does have a logic module for the automatic parking brake system but that is located on the frame near the battery and completely sealed. The first year (5 years ago) they did have to replace a few of the brake modules right away but Toro quickly found the issue and there have been no problems since. Here is a parts list so you can verify this info www.toro.com/en/parts/partdetails/?id=52403

Exmark has its own deck designs and it is different than Toro's. It is a very similar deck. but different. Specifically this year Toro did a slight redesign making it easier to put the Bagger Boot on (don’t have to remove the metal cover over Top Discharge opening.) It's also easier to install the mulch kit. New 42’’ units come with 3n1 Wave Blades now.

I like them both and each one has unique features that makes one better than the other for you. I like the large front casters and front step on the Toro. It cuts very, very well. I like the cutout for the bagger discharge so it's not as wide. I like the large rear tires and that you can step on the deck of the Ariens. I like the 4-point deck suspension. It cuts even better than the Toro and handles long grass better. I like the offset deck so it's very easy to trim around utility poles and smaller trees. If you want to bag all the time Ariens has the only powered bagger in this price range. I've covered both of them extensively here on KZfaq and answered a lot of questions about each one in the comments.

@@PaulSikkema Thanks! I watched both videos and agree with everything above. I do think in my experience the Ariens service (at least in my area) didn't seem to snob if I bought the mower from a box store (can get better discounts there). I think I'm leaning toward the Ariens due to the offset deck...my new house has over 50 evergreen privacy trees around the fence, so minimizing trimming is important. i also like the bigger tires, and honestly if the Toro 20" tires I'd probably go with that since it's just a brand I tend to trust a bit more. 20" is a big step in comfort from the 18" tires for me.

I have no preference. I have owned all three and they all perform well. I just sold a 50 inch with a Toro with 800 hours on it and the engine had no issues. I have a 42 inch with a Kohler with 400 hours and it runs perfectly. I have the Kawasaki on a 52 inch Ariens with 90 hours and that also runs great. I just scrapped a John Deere with only 40 hours on it - it had the Briggs Intek.

@@PaulSikkema thanks

Yes, it will tow a 36 or 42 inch residential roller filled with water.

I've been following Toro very closely for over 5 years now and the only issue they had 3-4 years ago was the electric brake box - and that was with all models. That issue has been fixed. - Fuel and storing your mower over the off season is always an issue and most people don't know how to properly store their mower - and they blame the manufacture for that. That said, No, I don't think the feedback is accurate. Toro's owner reviews are a solid 4.5 out of 5 or better across the board. I also have a couple of large Toro dealers who are honest with me and there are no reoccurring issues. In other words, I can highly recommend a Toro TimeCutter.

Yes, when the engine is idling and you make a hard turn the transmissions will "growl." If the noise is very loud then there may be air in the transmission and it needs to be purged.

I have not heard if they are even developing one. In any case, I would expect Toro/Exmark to develop a commercial model long before they make a residential one. Toro won't make a "cheap" electric and residential homeowners are just not ready to spend 10-12K on a quality electric zero-turn.

I'm meeting with Toro next week and I'll ask then. Would you please ask this question again after Oct 23rd? Kawasaki is also made in the U.S.

@@PaulSikkema I certainly will. Thanks for asking.

@@PaulSikkema Paul: just asking this question again about the Toro engine as requested (see above). Did you attend Equipment Expo 2022? Toro has a price increase coming at the end of this month so should I buy this year's model and save a couple hundred bucks or are there some significant improvements coming for 2023? Thanks in advance for your answers.

The Toro engine is being discontinued because of cost - not performance. The V-Twin lawsuit from B&S on foreign made engines, Tarifs, and shipping have all made importing v-twin engines unrealistic at this time. Yes, Equip-Expo was great!. I'll have videos on it in the next week or two. The only thing coming from Toro residential is a 60 inch Blacked out Titan Havoc edition to go along with the TimeCutter Havoc from last year. The rest of the residential line-up will not change. (Almost everyone is focused on commercial electric ZTRs and robotic mowers right now)

@@PaulSikkema Thanks Paul, that confirms the same information i was given.

Sealed bearing spindles are the way to go for most homeowners. Why? Because half of us don't know how use a grease gun and the other half has no need for a grease gun for anything except the front wheels of their lawn tractor. As long as you don't try to force water into the bearings with a pressure washer these bearings/spindles will last many years. That said, Only the commercial machines that see hundreds of hours a year really need greaseable spindles anymore.

If you are running this commercially (it's not a commercial mower) I strongly suggest filling each front tire with 1/2 a quart of SLIME and each rear tire a quart each. That said, EVERYONE and I mean every manufacture is having real issues getting parts right now - especially parts made overseas. The "virus" hit Asia just at the right time as to stop a lot of the production of the parts we need to build this years mowers. In addition, some of the major parts suppliers have had to shut their warehouses down because of the virus for extended periods of time. All that affects if you can get spare parts when you want them. Belts, tires and electrical components seem to the the hardest hit. Please give every manufacture a little slack right now.

It really depends on what you want. They are VERY close for performance and quality. They both side discharge extremely well. They are both built very well and have a good reputation. The Toro has the smart speed so you can pull heavier loads. I also feel it rides a little better with the larger front casters. Toro has a larger dealer network so you may be able to find a good dealer closer to you. If you want to mulch the Toro is slightly better. The Ariens has larger rear tires so it has better traction on slopes and soft/sandy soil. It also has the 4 point lift on the deck so if your lawn is rough and wavy it will follow the mower and cut more evenly. If you want to bag the Ariens has the best bagging system - but it is more expensive. If you want to bag all the time their bagger works in all conditions including wet grass.

@@PaulSikkema I like everything about the toro except the small rear tires, but my lawn is relatively flat. zi like the 4 hanger system on the aries as well, but I did not see the deck on the toro moving much as you mowed. I was concerned about the cut when you first started and you slowed down, so does the ariens cut better faster or the toro, or the same?

The lawn I mowed with the Toro was a lot smoother than the lawns I mowed with the Ariens. Tha said, the Ariens will mow as fast as the mower will go and leave a perfect cut. The Toro also cuts very well but it mows the best about 2 mph slower than the Ariens.

@@PaulSikkema Paul, great reviews. I know you said both the Kohler and Kaw were great engines. But I am curious about the HP and power of the two. I am thinking of going with the IKON XD 42 and wonder if the 22HP Kohler will give me more power over the 18.5 Kaw. What is your opinion on that?

There are different ways and standards to measure horsepower. Kawasaki uses a different standard than Briggs and Kohler. Personally, Kawasaki's measurement standard is closer to what's used for farm/industrial engines. So the 18.5 HP Kaw and 22 HP Kohler are actually about the same in terms of power/torque to mow your lawn.