Toro vertical storage mower. Mower roundup: Toro’s TimeMaster mower updated with new engine

Mower roundup: Toro’s TimeMaster mower updated with new engine

The newest engine in the Toro TimeMaster 30-inch mowers is now equipped with a Briggs Stratton Professional Series 1000 engine, which Toro says offers increased gross torque and displacement compared to previous models.

According to Toro, this new engine delivers more power to rotate the blade with 10.00 ft-lb of gross torque. The TimeMaster is also able to handle thicker, heavier grass with ease. Additionally, the overhead valve (OHV) engine design runs cooler and cleaner for better fuel economy and a longer engine life.

“The new Briggs Stratton Professional Series 1000 engine is a powerful upgrade for the TimeMaster product line,” said Wade Tollison, Toro senior marketing manager. “Combined with the 30-inch wide mowing deck, the added engine torque helps our customers take charge of their yards, with even more power to cut through lush grass while also saving a bunch of time.”

Other features include a Super Lo-Tone engine muffler, a dual-sealing commercial-grade air management system that helps keep debris from entering the engine. The ReadyStart starting system also comes standard.

Toro says the TimeMaster mower’s new engine enhances productivity and allows users to cover more ground in less time. The company also says that the 30-inch wide cutting path and travel speed of the mower can reduce mowing time by up to 40 percent.

Toro announces new engine for Recycler mowers

Beginning this year, both Toro Recycler mowers with SMARTSTOW will be equipped with a Briggs Stratton engine featuring Just Check Add technology. Toro says the new engine allows the mower to be stored upright and never requires an oil change. Regular scheduled maintenance must still be performed.

Toro says the new engine allows the mower to be stored upright and never requires an oil change.Photo: Toro

Briggs Stratton offers both technologies in one engine for the first time, and these features together make the Recycler mower easy to maintain and store.

The engine includes new vents, gaskets and oil seals, as well as a unique fuel tank design that helps prevent oil and gas from leaking when the mower is stored upright.

“We’ve seen great success with the Just Check and Add innovation on Toro all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive Personal Pace models, so launching it on our SMARTSTOW models is another exciting step forward,” said Wade Tollison, Toro senior marketing manager. “Our collaboration with Briggs Stratton assists us in making lawn mowers that meet consumers’ unmet needs for more storage space and easier maintenance, without compromising on mowing power, performance, and productivity.”

Additionally, the Just Check Add technology helps keep debris out of the engine while also allowing the engine to run cooler. Toro says it partnered with Briggs Stratton to offer the unique engine on Toro Recycler SMARTSTOW mowers, which can be stored upright for a 70 percent reduced storage footprint. The models also fold in three tool-free steps to reduce overall storage space.

Altoz tracked zero-turn mowers

Altoz’s TRX zero-turn mower comes with two type and two deck size choices.Photo: Altoz

The TRX turned heads in October when it was introduced during GIEEXPO 2016 and received a 2016 Pro Tool Innovation Award (PTIA), which recognizes best-in-class products for innovation, power and value.

Equipped with rear-mounted tracks, a torsional suspension system and patent-pending technology for commercial use on sloped, wet and untamed terrain, the TRX allows lawn care professionals, utility companies and municipalities to maintain places they normally can’t effectively or safely cut with a traditional zero-turn mower.

BOB-CAT upgraded mower decks

The new deck’s improved airflow lifts grass, providing a higher quality cut, according to the manufacturer. Photo: BOB-CAT

BOB-CAT says it has updated its commercial zero-turn mowers with more power and improved cutting decks, among other features.

Improvements to the Predator-Pro and ProCat mowers include the manufacturer’s new 61-inch “DuraDeck XF” cutting deck. The mower is now ¾-inch deeper, allowing for more airflow and better dispersal of clippings.

BOB-CAT says the airflow and enhanced baffle system also improve the vacuum and lift of the grass, providing an even better quality of cut.

The 6 Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mowers of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Michelle Ullman is a home decor expert and product reviewer for home and garden products. She has been writing about home decor for over 10 years for publications like BobVila.com and Better Homes Gardens, among others.

Barbara Gillette is a Master Gardener, herbalist, beekeeper, and journalist. She has 30 years of experience propagating and growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals.

Emily Estep is a plant biologist and journalist who has worked for a variety of online news and media outlets, writing about and editing topics including environmental science and houseplants.

If you dream of a lush, green lawn, but dread the maintenance involved in keeping it that way, then a self-propelled lawn mower can make your life easier. These mowers not only power the blades but also power the wheels to make your pushing requirements little more than guiding the machine across the grass.

Brock Ingham, gardener, landscaper, and founder of the website Bigger Garden, says, The main advantage of a self-propelled mower is that it requires less effort to operate than a push mower. This can be beneficial for people with large lawns or those who have difficulty pushing a mower due to physical limitations. Self-propelled mowers can also provide a more consistent cut, since the speed is controlled by the mower rather than the operator. Overall, a self-propelled lawn mower can make mowing easier and more efficient.

Henry Bravo, founder and editor-in-chief of SmartGardenHome.com, adds, Self-propelled lawnmowers are much easier to maneuver around obstacles, and they can handle uneven terrain without a problem. Plus, I can adjust the speed so I can mow quickly or at a slower, more leisurely pace. And I love that I can easily switch between mulching, side discharge, and bagging capabilities.

We bought and tested several self-propelled mowers, both gas and electric, and evaluated many others based on their power, the size of lawn they can handle, their options for handling grass clippings, their range of cutting heights, the easiness of using the mower, and their overall value.

Best Overall

EGO Power Select Cut 56-Volt 21-Inch Self-Propelled Cordless Lawn Mower

• Variable-speed self-propel
• Generous battery runtime
• Fast recharging
• Folds for compact storage

Earning the top spot in our tests is a battery lawn mower that rivals the power of a gas mower but without the smelly fumes, the oil changes, or the frustrating pull cord. Instead, this self-propelled mower from EGO has a 56-volt, 7.5-Ah battery that provides up to 60 minutes of runtime on a single charge; that’s enough to mow most lawns up to a 0.5 acre and more than enough for our small yard. We put the mower to the test in early spring, mowing a lawn just out of winter dormancy that was patchy, wet, and ferny.

Other than attaching the bag, assembling the mower was easy. And a mere press of the button brought it roaring to life. This mower has a 21-inch cutting deck and a one-hand lever that adjusts the cutting heights through six different settings for grass heights of 1.5 to 4 inches. We found it very easy to adjust.

The lawn mower easily handles all common types of lawn grass, including tougher warm-season varieties like Bermudagrass, zoysia, and St. Augustine. A few buyers have complained that it struggles to lift overly tall grass high enough for an even cut. However, we found that it struggled a bit in the wet grass as well, becoming stuck at one point in a ferny patch. Aside from that, it delivers a precise and crisp cut that is sure to impress.

The speed of the mower is variable, so you can set it to match your stride from a leisurely 0.9 mph up to a brisk 3.1 mph. As this was our first time using a self-propelled mower, there was a bit of a learning curve. At first, it felt like the mower was pulling us along. However, we soon got the hang of it and appreciated the ease of adjusting the mower’s speed. We also liked the adjustable handle, which made it more comfortable to mow.

We found that the mower was easy to maneuver, even around obstacles or sharp turns. As the self-propelled function does most of the heavy work, this is also a great mower for yards with slopes. At nine inches in diameter, the mower’s wheels are fairly large, and it is rear-wheel drive, which also helps when mowing over rough terrain or hilly areas. You can dispose of the grass clippings in the included 2-bushel bag, discharge them to the side, or mulch them into fine clippings to quickly decompose them into healthful lawn nutrients. This mower even has a LED headlight, so you can mow early in the morning or at dusk to take advantage of mild temperatures.

Most of the mower‘s construction is heavy-duty plastic for weather and rust resistance, but that might not be as durable as steel, although we felt it seemed quite sturdy. Once you finish mowing, the handle folds all the way down for easy storage. We really appreciated this feature, as the mower doesn’t take up as much room in the garage. This mower comes with a 56-volt battery and a fast charger that has the battery ready to go in just an hour.

How It Performed Long-Term

We are extremely satisfied with the performance of the lawn mower, particularly with how long the battery lasts. It can easily handle mowing the lawn three times without requiring a recharge. Even when it does need to be recharged, it only takes around 20 minutes. The mower is also highly effective when dealing with thick, tall grass and can even tackle 10 days of uncut grass without issue. Additionally, it can handle damp grass and leaves with ease. Initially, it took some time to become familiar with turning it on and utilizing the self-propel feature, but once we did, mowing the lawn became a breeze.

Price at time of publish: 549

Cutting Width: 21 inches | Power Source: Battery | Weight: 62.6 pounds | Grass Discard Options: Bag, mulch, side-discharge

The Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mowers in 2023 for Making Your Yard Work Easier

These lawn mowers drive themselves, taking the load off you in the process.

By Roy Berendsohn Published: Mar 21, 2023

One of the perks of the warm-weather season is getting to spend time outside. If you own your own home and have a yard, it’s very likely that in order to enjoy your outdoor space, you need to mow the lawn. The larger the yard, the more work it will be to maintain. If you have a lot of grass to cut, you’d be wise to consider a self-propelled lawn mower especially now that there are a ton of sales just in time for Memorial Day.

The primary difference between a standard push mower and a self-propelled mower is that the former moves when you push it, and the latter essentially moves itself with only your guidance. Once the engine is running, all you have to do is squeeze a handle or push a lever and the mower will start moving forward with you as you walk.

Turning the mower around is your job, but once you have your heading, just keep the drive handle squeezed and escort the mower down the path, no pushing necessary.

Self-propelled law mowers take power off the engine and route it via a belt to a pulley on the transmission and axle. When you move the drive control lever on the mower handle, you tension the belt, causing the pulley to turn, and this drives the transmission, moving the mower forward.

Move the drive control lever back and the tension is released, the pulley stops turning, and the mower stops moving forward. The belt-driven transmission is a time-tested design to power the mower and take the load off you in the process.

What to Consider

A mower is like many consumer products in that the more features a manufacturer adds, the more expensive it becomes. But a longer or more eye-catching list of features isn’t necessarily better. Sometimes less is more. Here are the most important to keep in mind.

Front-wheel drive mowers tend to be less expensive than rear-wheel drive units. They can be easier to turn because you don’t have to disengage the drive wheels to do so. Simply push down on the handlebar to raise the front wheels off the ground. However, their traction isn’t as strong on hills or when the bag is full, as there isn’t as much weight over the drive wheels.

Rear-wheel drive mowers do cost more and aren’t as easy to turn, as you do need to disengage the drive—but this isn’t too much of a hassle. Rear-wheel drive mowers shine on hills and inclines, and when the grass bag is full. In either scenario, weight is shifted rearward and over the drive wheels, which enables superior traction, thus making the self-propel more effective.

An engine as small as 125 cc can power a mower, but most are somewhere in the 140 cc to 190 cc range. A large engine helps when powering through tall, lush grass or in extreme conditions, such as with a side discharge chute in place and mowing tall weeds in a border area. Also, the extra torque provided by a larger engine can improve bagging when the going gets tough (tall, leaf-covered grass in the fall). But if you mow sensibly and pay attention to deck height—and especially if you don’t let your lawn get out of control—an engine between 140 and 160 cc has more than enough power to get the job done.

A mower can have all four wheels the same diameter (7 to 8 inches), or it may have rear wheels that range from 9.5 inches to 12 inches in diameter. Larger rear wheels help the mower roll more easily over bumpy ground.

With some mowers you can start the engine with the twist of a key or the press of a button. It’s a great option, but a luxury. Keep the mower engine tuned and use fresh fuel with stabilizer added to it, and you’ll never have trouble starting.

Any number of mechanisms can control a mower’s ground speed—a squeeze handle, a drive bar that you press forward, even a dial. There’s no single right answer here. Look at the design and think about how you like to work. For example, if more than one person will be using the mower (and not all of them are right-handed), a drive control like that on a Toro Personal Pace mower might be the answer. Just push down on the bar to make it go faster. Let up on the bar to slow down.

A mower that can bag, mulch, and side discharge is known as a three-function mower, the most versatile kind. Two-function mowers bag and mulch or mulch and side discharge.

Mowers will typically have one, two, or four levers to control the deck height. Single-lever adjustment is the easiest to use, but it requires more linkage, which adds weight and complexity. If, for some reason, you find yourself varying deck height frequently, it’s a good option. Otherwise, two or four levers work just fine.

Only Honda makes a gas-engine mower with a high-impact plastic deck (there are battery mowers that have plastic decks). Otherwise, mowers generally have a steel deck, and a few manufacturers—Toro, for one—offer a corrosion-resistant aluminum deck. An aluminum deck won’t rot the way a steel deck will, but you still need to keep it clean.

This is a hose fitting mounted on top of the mower’s deck. When you’re done mowing, hook up a hose and run the mower to power wash the underside of the deck. We’ve had mixed results with these, but they’re better than just letting a mass of dried grass clippings accumulate.

expensive mowers come with a more durable bag with more dust-blocking capability. If you bag a lot, especially leaves or other lawn debris in the fall, then you need a mower with a higher quality dust-blocking bag. Having said that, if you rarely bag, the standard one that comes with a mower will last you the life of the mower.

Also called wide-area mowers, machines in this subgroup help homeowners better reconcile their need for more power and speed with the fact that they may not have enough storage for a tractor or zero-turn mower. A typical residential walk mower has a single-blade deck that cuts a swath from 20 to 22 inches wide. Wide-cut mowers (built for homeowner use) have either a single blade or, more typically, a pair of blades, cutting from 26 to 30 inches with each pass. Some of these are rated for light commercial use and have larger decks, in the 32-inch range, and engines that start at 223 cc and go up to about 337 cc.

Wide-cut mowers typically employ gear or hydrostatic drive transmissions, and they have top speeds of about 4 to 6 miles per hour. At their fastest, they move so quickly you have to trot to keep up with them. Needless to say, they’re overkill for small yards; only opt for one of these if you’ve got a significant plot of land that you need to keep tidy, but not one so large that you’d be better off going with a full-on riding mower.

How We Tested and Selected

We compiled this list based on Popular Mechanics mower testing and our knowledge of the lawn mower market at large. For our testing, we put mowers through the paces using our standard Popular Mechanics methodology: We cut turf grasses such as fescues and blue grass and rougher non-turf grasses like Timothy, clover, orchard grass, and wild oats, all in both normal and shin-deep heights. We mow uphill, downhill, and across the faces of hills. The maximum slope we cut is about 30 degrees.

That may not sound like much, but it’s about all you can do to stand on it, let alone push a mower up it or across it. We mow damp and wet grass to test general cutting performance and whether clippings accumulate on the tires. And we cut dry and dusty surfaces to see how well the bag filters under less-than-optimal conditions.

Honda HRN 216VKA

Key Specs

Honda mowers enjoy a sterling reputation. Having tested their walk and self-propelled mowers for the last 30 years, we feel confident that Honda’s entry level mower is a great choice for homeowners looking for power and durability. The HRN features a GCV 170 gas engine that’s built to withstand long hours of operation.

If you do your own maintenance (and most owners who buy this class of product do), you’ll appreciate the easily accessible spark plug and the fuel shutoff valve that enables better winter storage. Close the fuel shutoff and run the mower until it sputters to a halt. This will clear the carburetor of any gasoline, which will prevent the ethanol in it from disintegrating and causing running issues later on. Open the shutoff valve in the spring, add some fresh gasoline, and the mower should start easily.

All this maintenance stuff is great, but we can also tell you that our past test findings on other Hondas prove that their cut quality is outstanding for cleanliness. Sharp blades deliver a velvet-like finish. And their bagging ability is also quite good, in the same league with other well-bagging mowers from Toro.

In all, if you take mowing seriously, you should enjoy this Honda. If you have a little wiggle room in your budget, consider the Honda HRX, which features a mower powerful engine and a composite deck that won’t rust and is renowned for its durability.

One note is that Honda has announced that it will cease selling lawn mowers in the United States after this year—so if you’re considering buying one, best do it sooner rather than later.

Toro Recycler 60-Volt Max Lithium-Ion

Key Specs

Toro mowers have garnered more recommendations from us than any other brand for two reasons: build quality and cut quality. These were amply demonstrated in our testing as the Recycler turned in the best ratio of cut area per amp-hour of battery in the self-propelled category, while at the same time not skimping on cutting, mulching, or bagging quality.

We attribute this outstanding mower performance to three features, all upgrades to the previous version of this machine. First, the air vent at the front of the mower deck seems to improve mulching and bagging performance. Toro calls it Vortex technology, a design that increases air flow under the deck. This helps to stand the grass for a cleaner cut, which improves mulching performance, and also allows better airflow into the bag when collecting the clippings.

Next, the company’s redesigned “Atomic” blade configuration appears to assist the air flow and clipping movement. Finally, the three-phase, 60-volt motor is exceptionally efficient, resulting in a large cut area for a single battery.

Toro has maintained features that make this mower work: rear wheel drive, a one-piece deck that’s all steel (no plastic nose), 11-inch wheels to help it roll over roots and crevices, and the same fold-forward handle that was an industry breakthrough when it was introduced some years ago.

Ryobi 40-Volt Brushless Self-Propelled Mower

Key Specs

This is one of Ryobi’s top-of-the-line mowers, and it’s American-made construction is something we wish we saw more of. It delivers a tremendous cut area with its two 6-Ah batteries providing a total of 12-Ah of capacity, and its X-shaped blade leaves a pristine surface in its wake.

Ryobi estimates the design should provide 70 minutes of run time; we didn’t time our cut, but it strikes as plausible. Its rear-wheel drive and reasonably aggressive tire tread pattern provide good hill climbing and sidehill cutting performance, and its bagging on all surfaces (level, sidehill, and uphill) is also commendable.

Other ease-of-use features include an easily installed or removed bag that mounts and dismounts straight up and down through the handle; deck adjustment is quick and easy thanks to a single-level deck height adjustment. The straight edge deck is polypropylene; it will never rust and needs very little care other than basic cleaning.

Toro TimeMaster 30 in. Briggs Stratton Personal Pace

The Toro Timemaster 30-in. mower has been around for several years and has earned a reputation as a sturdy workhorse for homeowners who want to cut down on their mowing time. It’s also used by some professionals as well. A few years ago the Timemaster got a slightly more powerful Briggs and Stratton gas engine, so it should have no issues powering through most demanding mowing jobs.

The Timemaster is rear-wheel drive and features Toro’s Personal Pace drive system that’s used on many of its self-propelled mowers. This allows the mower to move at your speed by simply pushing down or releasing the handle, which is spring-tensioned.

With a 30-in. deck, Toro claims the Timemaster will help you reduce your mowing time by about 40% compared to using a standard-sized mower. You can mulch, back, or side discharge with the Timemaster, and the handlebar can be locked in a fully vertical position to reduce space consumption in storage.

If you have half an acre to a full acre of lawn to mow and prefer the experience of a walk-behind mower versus a tractor or zero-turn, the Timemaster is worth a look.

Craftsman M220

Key Specs

Craftsman mowers have been doing very well in our tests, so we can recommend this one because it’s so much like the many other of the brand’s models that we’ve tested. If you’re looking for a good blend of maneuverability and power, you’ll get it with this mower. Its front drive helps move it along and makes it easy to turn.

It’s important to note that front-drive mowers do lose some traction when running uphill, particularly with a full grass bag. But if your slope is less than 20 degrees, and you’re not bagging uphill, you’ll be fine. The side discharge will also help you handle tall grass. Adjust the two deck levers to bring the mower up to full height and have at the rough stuff.

The fact that this mower bags, mulches, and side discharges is a plus, enabling you to handle a wide range of mowing conditions, from early spring and late into the fall. Three-function mowers like this are our preference for that versatility.

Toro Super Recycler Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

Key Specs

This is a beauty of a mower, with a cast-aluminum deck and a smooth-running Briggs Stratton 163-cc engine. We tested the Honda engine-equipped version, and it was effective at both bagging and mulching, even in moist grass.

Equipped with rear-wheel drive and the Personal Pace system (the farther you push the drive bar, the faster the mower goes), it’s an effective hill climber and moderately effective on sidehill cutting. It has relatively small 7.5-inch tires on all four corners, which causes this Toro to bump up and down a bit on washboard surfaces. But the good news is that it’s equipped with a far higher quality tire than we’re used to seeing these days. We didn’t notice them pick up any grass on moist surfaces.

Other features we like include its forward-fold handle that has a built-in shock absorber that Toro calls a Flex Handle Suspension, and a high-quality grass bag that loads through the handle, from the top.

QA

Are there special maintenance considerations with self-propelled mowers?

Yes. Both front- and rear-wheel drive mowers typically feature a drive belt, which can crack or wear out over time. Fortunately these belts are not difficult or particularly expensive to replace.

Secondly, you may have to replace the drive wheels occasionally. These wheels are driven with gears. there are typically teeth on the inside diameter of the drive wheel that line up with a gear on the axle. These teeth can wear out, especially if they are made of plastic. Higher-end mowers may feature drive wheels with a metal gear that meets the metal axle gear, which improves longevity of these components.

My lawnmower says I don’t ever have to change the oil, but just add oil when needed. Is this OK?

It’s not a good idea to never change the oil in your lawn mower. In a lawn mower, same as a car, oil degrades over time and is less effective at reducing heat and friction in metal components. Changing the oil in your lawn mower is easy to do and will significantly increase its service life. For most homeowners, changing the oil at the beginning or end of each mowing season should be sufficient, though there is certainly no harm in doing it more often.

Roy Berendsohn has worked for more than 25 years at Popular Mechanics, where he has written on carpentry, masonry, painting, plumbing, electrical, woodworking, blacksmithing, welding, lawn care, chainsaw use, and outdoor power equipment. When he’s not working on his own house, he volunteers with Sovereign Grace Church doing home repair for families in rural, suburban and urban locations throughout central and southern New Jersey.

Toro 60V Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Review

Caring for a 1/4-acre zoysia lawn may not seem very demanding—but I care about cut quality. Using the Toro 60V self-propelled lawn mower gave me the opportunity to compare against both gas mowers and other electric models. Having used both types on the property, I have certain expectations. The Personal Pace Self-Propel System and simple handle lock set the Toro 60V mower apart as uniquely painless to use. Compared to most, its innovative, trouble-free utility makes this worth the up-front price difference inherent in battery-powered lawnmowers. For medium to small yards, this battery-powered mower is a worthy replacement for your gas model.

Key Takeaways

• Personal Pace self-propel system works very well
• Adequate run-time for 1/4-acre lawns or more
• Plenty of power to cut zoysia and even tall weeds
• Compact vertical storage
• Priced from 499 to 699 depending on whether you buy the bare mower or the maxed out kit with 7.5Ah battery

Toro 60V Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Build Quality

When I first picked up the 60V Max Toro Electric Self-Propelled Lawn Mower I was surprised by how light it was overall despite the 22” metal deck. After ensuring the battery had a full charge I set my sights on my neighbor’s overgrown 1/4 acre back yard. The metal deck and the weight that does come with it was helpful in keeping the machine on track through the thick weeds.

Earlier electric mowers, with plastic decks, might float a little and cause an uneven cut. While heavier than plastic, the mower is still nimble enough that my 12-year-old son took a few laps with it and remarked at how light it was. The steel deck will also last longer than plastic, which wears faster and breaks easier.

Height Adjustment

For the overgrown weed lawn I used the chute with the Bag-on-Demand lever set to the recycling position. This lever makes it super-easy to switch between bagging and mulching. This feature—in our opinion—should be standard on all mowers. Imagine not having to store (or lose) another removable mulch plug!

I set the cutting height to 1 3/4 inches. The cutting heights available range from 1 inch to 4 inches with seven stops/half stops between. Each wheel is independently adjustable which is a slight downside when you are as lazy as me. The upside is durability increases as there are less moving parts to break.

This Mower Starts Much Easily Than Gas

Starting up the Toro 60V Self-Propelled Lawn Mower was somewhat intuitive and assisted by the quick start guide on the handle.

After inserting the battery, I held the blade control bar and pressed the electric-start button and off it went.

Much more natural is the Personal Pace Self-Propel System. It is a feature across the Toro line up of self-propelled mowers. As you push forward/down on the handle it propels the mower forward. The harder you push/the further down you push, the faster the mower goes. Simple and effortless speed control makes it so easy!

How It Feels (Power) Compared to Gas

The Flex-Force power system was seamless in its power delivery when the weeds got really thick. The system is always sensing the resistance the blade is encountering and ramps up the RPMs for the tougher stuff and dials them down to conserve energy when the terrain is easier to cut. The transition from low to high RPMs was smooth and I never felt a lag—even going into the 12” high mess in my neighbor’s backyard.

How is the Battery Life?

Pro Tool Reviews regrets not having had this mower in time for their best battery-powered lawn mower article, but it can still be compared to what we know about existing models. For example, battery performance impressed me when cutting through nearly 1/4 acre of weeds. After using it for that tough 30 minutes, the battery still had 1/2 life remaining. This model came with the 6.0 Ah battery which has a 150 minute charge time and Toro rates as being able to handle 1/3 of an acre. That seems believable based on my use and assuming you keep your lawn maintained.

Mowing a 1/4-acre Zoysia Lawn

I wanted to use the Toro 60V lawnmower next on my 1/4 acre zoysia lawn which called for the bagger. I took the chute off and moved the bag-on-demand lever to the bagging position by pressing the button on the lever in and moving it downward. Lifting the rear deflector up and putting the bag in place was easier than most – the brackets where the bag pins hang are well defined—so it just drops right in place. The Toro handled the zoysia lawn like it wasn’t there. Granted it is easy to mow, but the RPMs and deck were like a perfect vacuum—sucking up the leaves and clippings efficiently. The 1/2 charged battery lasted through the whole yard. While the grass itself is an easy cut (the Flex-Force never felt the need to up the RPMs) It is worth noting that I had to empty the bag twice and the mower was carrying that load itself.

Easy Handle Adjustment

The Washout Port is an ok feature that works modestly well. The weeds that I mowed were dry so the deck didn’t get too dirty. The port just cannot accomplish what lifting the deck up and hosing it out can. What’s more, putting the mower in the vertical-stow position is ideal for hosing out the deck. In this position the mower handle is folded forward onto the mower, locked in place and the mower is lifted to sit on its back. Disengaging the handle locks is easy and makes it convenient to adjust the handle height or put it all the way forward for the vertical-stow position.

Price

The Toro 22” 60V Electric Self-Propelled Lawn Mower is sold both as a bare tool and as a kit. Here are the various configurations:

• Base config: Toro 22″ 60V MAX Smartstow High Wheel Push Mower (Bare Tool) – 349
• Base Self-propelled model: Toro 22″ 60V MAX Smartstow Personal Pace High Wheel Push Mower (Bare Tool) – 399
• Kit 1: Toro 22″ 60V MAX Smartstow High Wheel Push Mower Kit – 499
• Self-propelled kit: Toro 22″ 60V MAX Smartstow High Wheel Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Kit w/6Ah battery – 559
• Maxxed out self-propelled kit: Toro 22″ 60V MAX Smartstow High Wheel Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Kit w/7.5Ah battery – 699

Kits include a charger and one (in our case) 6.0 Ah battery for 559. The price is competitive for the 22” deck and performance. For 100 more you can get the same kit with the 7.5 Ah battery. There are multiple retailers carrying this mower, including Home Depot, Ace, and Acme Tools.

Final Thoughts on the Toro 60V Mower

The Toro 60V Self-Propelled Lawn Mower is easy to use, lightweight and durable. The Personal Pace Self-Propel System and simple handle lock set it apart as uniquely painless to use. Compared to most, the innovative, trouble-free utility makes this worth the price difference. For medium to small yards, this is a worthy gas mower replacement.

Toro 60V Super Recycler Personal Pace Lawn Mower Review 21568

For many years, Toro has been a trusted name on both the professional and consumer levels alike, and it’s easy to see why. Today we’re taking a look at the Toro 60V Super Recycler Personal Pace Lawn Mower which boasts superior cutting capabilities, commercial-grade features, and a sleek new design.

Toro 60V Super Recycler Personal Pace Lawn Mower Performance

• Blade Tip Speed: 16,949 ft/min.
• Bagger Capacity: 1.8 bushels
• Runtime: 50 min.
• Blade Design: Single-Blade with Accelerator
• Cutting Width: 21 in.
• Mowing Speed: 4.0 mph

The Toro 21568 lawn mower features an aluminum deck that is designed to create maximum under-deck airflow. This improved airflow is thanks to Toro’s Vortex air intake system that pipes fresh air straight into the cutting chamber. This allows for more efficient bagging and mulching because the clippings are able to efficiently circulate inside the deck for smoother ejection.

This 21-inch mower is powered by a single 60V battery and Toro tells us that you can expect up to 50 minutes of runtime using a 7.5Ah battery. This equates to approximately 1/3 acre of mowing but it could go further under ideal conditions. Keep in mind that your mowing conditions and grass height will play a significant role in your overall runtime.

Toro 60V Super Recycler Personal Pace Lawn Mower Design Notes

• Model: Toro 21568
• Power Source: Toro 60V battery
• Deck Material: Aluminum
• Drive Type: Rear-wheel drive
• Cutting Height: 1.0-4.0 in.
• Height Adjustment: 4-point
• Motor Type: Brushless

The controls are pretty straightforward on this mower, but there are a few things to know before getting started. As you would expect, you must first pull back on the presence bar and then press the power button located on the left side of the handle in order to activate the blades and self-propelled system. The same button is also used to manually switch to maximum cutting power on the fly.

Toro utilizes a unique self-propelled system that is designed to match your walking pace instead of the other way around. Rather than thumb paddles or variable speed dials, the spring-loaded handle senses your pace and adjust the drive speed accordingly. As you push forward on the handle, it propels the mower forward. The further down you push, the faster the mower goes. Simple and effortless speed control makes it so easy! The drive speed tops out at 4mph and, even on grass, our testing team had a hard time comfortably out-pacing this mower.

If you’re anything like me, busy day-to-day schedules often find you mowing whenever time permits. This Toro mower gives you the ability to mow in low-light conditions with the help of dual high-beam LED headlights.

Additional Features

• Removable mulch plug
• The folding handle allows for hassle-free vertical storage
• Compatible with all Toro 60V batteries

Toro 60V Super Recycler Personal Pace Lawn Mower Price

This Toro battery-powered Super Recycler lawn mower kit retails for 849.00. The kit includes a 7.5Ah battery, charger, and a replacement mower blade. Toro backs this mower with a 5-year limited warranty and covers the battery for 3 years.

The Bottom Line

The Toro 60V Super Recycler Lawn Mower is easy to use, lightweight, and durable. The Personal Pace Self-Propel System, Vortex air intake, and simple drive controls make it effortless to use, even in thick grass. Compared to most, the innovative, trouble-free design makes this worth the price difference when compared to similar gas-powered alternatives. For medium to small yards, we believe this is a worthy gas mower replacement.

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