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Just subbed!! Great video, i just purchased a house and have been looking at these 2 exact mowers. I was already leaning towards the Honda but this sealed the deal!
I respect your review of both the Honda and the Toro. I have never had a Honda mower, but I do like Honda engines. I have purchased 3 Toro mowers, the 1st two were 22 inch cuts lasting me over 15 years. The Toro I now have is the 30 inch cut. I will not have another self propel mower that is not made like the Toro - I now use "Personal Pace TimeMaster". I never have problems with it starting and going into gear, due to not engaging the part of the mower that puts it in motion - which is one of the features I really like about the Toro. The mulching blade I put on the Toro mulches excellent - (very fine). Thanks for your video.
The Honda twin blades does an excellent job of mulching. Being able to fold down the handles easily is great for storage in smaller spaces. 3 years with mine and zero complaints.
I have a Toro Personal Pace Recycling mower and it has never started moving unless the bar is activated. It continues to start easily and work well after many years of use. The personal pace was the seller for me; it makes the job easier for those with mobility issues or arthritis. My elderly neighbor had a self-propelled mower and nearly had to run to keep up.
I'm the opposite, the self propelled are usually too slow. Just bought one of these second hand and I love it, although I'm thinking of taking off the cable to save gas.
All self-propelled mowers should have a speed regulator on them. I wouldn't buy one without it after trying my dad's purchase of self-propelled early on and I could hardly keep up with it. I've got two, an old one bought at a garage sale with "for parts" written in it. Put back tires I had on rear and after about the seven years I've used it, it's still going strong. Don't think they make the brand anymore. I love the control lever it has. My newer mower is a Snapper bought just before they sold out and I don't think you can get one with the original self-propelled mechanics. It also has great speed control. I need it as I am late 60s year old just giving up mowing due to health. I hope to try again but couldn't do it if there was no speed control!
I work on both and can say that both have similar issues. As I test each one out after working on them, I can say I prefer the Toro for mowing as you have better control on the self propelled aspect. I have noticed both experience issues with axle shaft rusting problems. The older Hondas had bushing issues and received bulletins reguarding the issue. I get many in that will not pull backwards any more. Both have wheels that wear out way too quickly. Service on both is usually related to worn drive belt issues and extreme neglect both experience frozen cables. I think both mowers are decent and both are very popular.
User reviews are subjective. But a review from a service repairman is what I would rather view. Wish I knew what mower you recommended! Thanks for your input...
He's exactly right. Honda's are absolutely horrible to work on and are totally over engineered. Their drivetrains will go bad eventually, no doubt about it.
@@megaversemusic7822 Ariens Commercial grade. Any model from a DEALER is better than the scrap the big box stores sell. Sadly, most mowers are now manufactured in another country. MTD pretty much owns the market on many brands. Honda has always been my personal favorite. The biggest issue I have with Honda is if you hit something hard, like a big rock or metal, it can bend the crank, the shear key doesn't save the crank shaft like other mowers. Always research whatever you purchase and have the sales person walk you through the mowers construction. Anything with a plastic transmission or plastic gears, pass on it.
@@scottfirman , and my Toro, 20334 about 5 years old, has plastic drive gears on the wheels, rear wheel drive. Every two years and replace them. But the solution is changing them out for metal. About $70.
Same here and I was going to get the Toro as I loved my previous 15 year old one but the guy at Home Depot convinced me to get the Honda and I made the right decision
My Husqvarna has a Honda engine and this is my 3rd year and It starts on the first pull. I believe for residential mowers the engine matters despite the brand name.
Thanks for the video. I’ve currently been using a Toro GTX that’s over 30 yrs old. It would be tough to switch brands knowing how well my previous mower served me.
I've had my Honda mower for ten years now. It's still starts on the first pull every time. The one single 5 dollar part of the Honda that's worth it's weight in gold in the fuel shut off valve. An absolute must have. Honda will always be a better buy. Thanks for a great video.
Toro replaced this model with a version that allows for the handle to be closed down similarly to the Hondas and added upright storage as a new feature. You also don't have to chase the Toro as you do with the Honda. The pressure sensitivity that adjusts to your pace is something anyone with a large yard would surely notice and appreciate, much more than that extra inch you get with the Toro. lol
What, one's given before item is EVEN USED? Anyone can read the instructions or ask sales associate about the mower but that's not giving a review on the working of the mower either. A review is only good after about ten uses, giving you time to adjust to the new mower!!
The Honda is far superior to the toro,, I have the exact models he uses in this video and the Honda beats the toro, hands down. I’m keeping the toro as a “back up” or as a loner to family if needed,,, but the toro will be collecting dust from now on. 😉
@@murdomurdo176 my toro 22 is still running after 3 years of jungles, thru water, rocks, and even toys. That machine still works. No blade or oil change and still running 💪🏻😛😅
Thank you for doing this. I've used hondas for 20 years (two to be exact). Neither of them failed on me, I sold them because I moved. I was considering Toro, but his video has helped me be confident in sticking with Honda.
Had a Toro Personal Pace that finally died after 16 years and 5 of those years it was used commercially to cut a dozen yards weekly. That being said, I never liked having to "push" anything so I purchased that same Honda in the video last week. Best decision ever on a mower.
I bought the Honda tonight from the orange box store for 419.00.. Son is unboxing as I write this.. It looks like an impressive machine.. Thanks for the production.. It helped me decide standing in the store 👍🏻
I was with my dad and we had a hard time choosing between toro and honda. I chose the Toro with push to start because i was worried about my dad getting to old to cut. The push propel feature and push to start will probably be a good relieve to my dad as he goes passed 65. Good video thanks for the side by side comparison. Both are great machines.
Great video, I have a 1987 Honda HRA214, a beast paid $600. Bought a new house needed a zero turn, did not use for 22 years. Sold home, bought one with small yard. I changed oil, cleaned carburetor and it’s runs perfect.
Perfect review. My Toro's front drive stopped working about 4 weeks ago and is now a "true" push mower, however, it has treated me well for the past 7 years cutting this Florida grass! I've been researching both mowers, and after this review I ultimately purchased the Honda. Thanks for taking time to post, it was well worth the watch!
This often happens when the belt slips off pully, did you check on that? Seen that issue in several different mowers. Need to make it easier to get at:)
I think a side discharge is a must, then a blade stop, then the single height adjustment. And unless you're going to mow your yard every 3.5 days, mulching isn't the way to get a good cut on thick grass. I love the Personal Pace feature. I have a Craftsman 28 inch self-propelled as my main ditch mower, but when I do grab the Toro, my first thought is how nice a light mower is to use.
I don't know the first thing about lawnmowers, but I just bought my first house so this video was very helpful. Going for the Honda based on your review today, thanks for taking the time to review both - appreciate people with high attention to detail such as yourself. Take care
I was in the same boat I ended up with the toro because I really liked the idea of being able to store the mower upright. It was a huge upgrade from my hand me down black and decker electric mower that felt like it had hardly any power. It’s a night and day difference for me I’m satisfied with the Toro. Good luck mower shopping. Don’t forget lawn feed!
Nothing can beat Toro's personal pace system as far as self propelled goes, imo. It is simply outstanding and simple. As far as starting go, the toro isn't already moving if you actually hold onto the handle instead of pushing the self propelled actuator.
I love Honda because it starts right up on 1st or 2nd pull. Two blades cut grass much nicer in mulch mode than single blade. That’s why I chose Honda. I purchased the Honda model HRX217 for stronger engine 200cc and its features. Nice review sir.
Good review. Had a similar Toro for 11 years and had the same issue that I was mowing the lawn twice because it was leaving a lot of grass behind. Just bought that Honda mower to replace it 3 weeks ago and it is a better machine, so I think you made the right choice. The Toro was very good, though, it just ended up having several maintenance issues over the years, so I actually put a few hundred dollars into it to keep it going, mostly a brake blade clutch system that failed early on. I also appreciate that the Honda doesn’t leave me smelling like burning oil. The engine on my Toro was an American made Briggs & Stratton from 2009 and started well, but I couldn't tell if the new Briggs engine was US made or Chinese. The Honda is made in North Carolina and that was enough to make the decision for me. The Honda seems to use less gas and uses less oil on my old mower- 12 vs 20 ounces. And it doesn’t leave me smelling smoky. The only issue I’ve had with the Honda is that I bag my grass and when you go to put the bag back on you have to make sure that there is not grass in the 2 catches that the bag sits in. If there is grass, the bag will bounce out as you are mowing because it is not able to fully seat low enough. As for the power drive on the Toro personal pace system, it actually does work quite well and you would get used to it. I was afraid I wasn’t going to get used to the Honda system, but that wasn’t a problem either. I really appreciate that the Japanese company makes these machines and engines in America. I also love that I can dump the grass much more easily out of the Honda because the opening is dramatically larger than the Toro, where I would have to stand there and shake the heavy bag up and down for a minute to get it all out.
Being around Honda more, we knew it would do pretty good. Now the Toro didn't do bad at all, but it was definitely cheaper as design and just didn't make use of 15 year tech advancements. We appreciate your comment, glad this may have helped you!
Briggs and Stratton engines are still made in the U.S. They pump out 9 million engines per year here, operate 6 U.S. facilities, and employ 3,000 Americans. I’ll stick with Briggs in my mowers, and I just bought the Toro.
Just bought the Honda today! Up where I'm at in the Red River valley. The grass is real thick. A side discharge would be nice. However the Honda has a rear discharge as well. Just flip it to "bag" without at bag on it. It poops out the grass in nice strait lines. Then just mulch er up on a second pass. Great review of both mowers man. These little Honda mowers are great.
I bought a HRR216 from Home Depot back in September 2019 and it's currently getting a new transmission put on it...... Hope it's just a lemon and that the new transmission doesn't go bad like the first one did.
I owned a Toro with a Suzuki two-cycle engine back in the 80s. It was such an amazing machine. It was around for decades. I gave it to my Dad years ago, and eventually he let it go. Ugh! Loved it. And the only mower I've loved more than that one is my new HRX. You get so much with these Honda mowers. Give them good fuel (TruFuel, in my case) and they are pure, flawless joy.
One of my reasons that I went with the Honda was the gas shut off valve. This way I can shut off the valve and run the mower until it dies-- thereby not leaving residue in the carburetor. Starts fast and fresh each start that way...
There will always be residual regardless including fuel bowl so its moot, It’s just not enough to run the mower engine. Most people are not going to drain the fuel bowl after each use, it’s not the carburetor it’s the fuel. Buy marine grade fuel (ethanol free) , most these issues go away, any youll get improved fuel economy.
@@2002SLPSS1991 Literally 2002SLP is right. There are tons of videos on running equipment dry. Best bet is ethanol free fuel with fuel stabilizer. Unfortunately any ethanol will corrode aluminum like the kind found in carburetors. ProjectFarm (youtube) did a test to prove it. I mix literally like 2oz or 2.5oz of fuel stabilizer per 5 gallons of gas. The 32oz bottle is like $8 at Walmart. and I just leave everything wet - chainsaw, weed eater, mower, etc. Works fine.
@@lifeisgood070 I'm lucky, my local Stewart's shop a block away has ethanol free premium gas. Plus I think they're the only place left where you don't have to pre-pay for your gas. Not to mention they also have the best ice cream you can get, and it's still a full 1/2 gallon. I subbed btw.
That Toro "self propel" design is HORRIBLE! You literally HAVE to push on it to make it go. That's not "walk behind" or "self propelled". It is "push assist" at best. I have an older Honda HRR model with the same transmission design as that Honda. It's hands down, THE BEST system I've EVER seen on a walk behind\push assist\self propelled mower. The Toro might be ok if you have a perfectly flat, level lawn. But on a "country's lawn that has hills, contours, ups & downs and off angle cutting, that would be a nightmare. The Honda? I can be in the ditch, cutting around a street sign pole, going uphill at a cattywhompus angle and with 3 or 4 fingers on the bar and the thumb on the throttle lever, that thing pulls itself up and out with zero effort from me. ANY speed you like, it's just like a motorcycle or ATV throttle lever. Want faster? Twist it further. Where most "self propelled" mowers will walk away from you on the down hill and then on the up hill you feel like you have to push or gear it up ....with the Honda it's just like a car\motorcycle\atv, you just give it more or less gas. Getting tired and don't feel like slugging up that hill again? Just give it a little more twist and it will not only pull itself up the hill, but if you hang on good it'll pull you up too. And the "quadra-cut" dual blade system! I've literally cut waist high grass and all I had to do was slow down more. And that was only because of the sheer volume of grass the mower has to discharge in that condition. (Yes, discharge. It literally was filling the bag about every 10-12ft.) But EVERYTHING it discharges is cut up so small ...it's more like a blender set on "puree" than a mower on "mulch".
I’m in the market for this HRN model Honda, thank you for helping me realize that this is the mower I want. Very nicely made and beautiful black color deck. My HRT216TDA model will retire soon. 🥺😩😐
Lightweight is good and what did I use it for it’s a lawnmower th-cam.com/users/postUgkxTPN04aT-Qdjr_KS3ql7ng8wnU3wwsCqk also recommend Yes it is lightweight so hence not as robust as our old one. But if you take care it does the job really well.
firefighter, emt, lawn mower reviewer. This dude is living his best life. Just wait for the videos once he's living off his pension. Good things to come!
I've used both the top Honda (6 years) and the Toro Personal Pace mowers (8 years). Both cut my St. Augustine lawn well. However, the extra weight of the Honda made it more cumbersome and left deeper grooves in my lawn over time. The Toro was much more maneuverable, and I really liked the personal pace feature. I got tired of constantly adjusting the pace of the Honda. Considering the big difference in price and the maintenance cost of the Honda, I sold my Honda and fell in love with the ease of the Toro. I've mowed happily ever after.
HONDA makes great Engines but no side discharge on this mower is a deal breaker for me ! I have mowed commercially for 30 years and there are MANY conditions that mulching just doesn't work !
I thought I should add my experience. I bought the 2018 model of the Honda HRN216 and had it for one year before I sold it quick on Craigslist. I had a terrible time with the quality of the cut with it leaving a streak of grass uncut which drove me crazy. I tried sharpening the blades, buying a new blade set, raising the governor on the mower and nothing seemed to help. After reading on forums it seemed I was not the only one with the issue as others seemed to mention poor deck design not providing enough vacuum to lift the grass blades. I have since bought this exact Toro Super Recycler since I've had Toro's in the past and been happy with them. The Toro is providing me a much better cut on my grass than the Honda. I am not sure if I had a bad Honda deck design or something but these are my two cents. Thank you for the video! Few conveniences I miss from the Honda but much happier with the Toro so far.
I have the Honda HRX 217 with key start. I like the mower, runs well and I like the setup for actuating the propulsion. I've never been happy with the quality of cut either. More importantly though mine has issues with being pulled backwards. It binds up and is hard to pull back. There's known issues with the rear bushings and they have to he cleaned periodically but in my case it didn't help. I suspect there's an issue with the transmission. I took it to the dealer to have it checked out under warranty and they basically won't do anything about it, very disappointing.
@@chickenfishhybrid44 If I remember correctly, my Honda didn't really pull well backwards either as it felt like it was going to break something and was really tight. Still happy with my Toro though!
@@KandAshow funny enough my previous mower was a Toro like in this video. I still had it and just recently fixed it and got it running again. It certainly pulls back easier than the Honda. I just don't like the personal pace sliding deal,I like the Honda system better. Now that I have both the mowers I gotta decide what I'm guna do lol. I might sell them both and find something else. I'm just not sure there's anything out there much better or different than either of the models I have though unfortunately.
My Honda's self propell does not work all the time, but then again-it is an '86 HR214s model. i got it used from a landscaping guy next door so you can only imagine the abuse it went through. When the rubber wheel broke, it sat in the old garage for 3 years. It started on my 3rd pull thanks to that fuel shut off valve. Body is aluminum so no rust. Very impressed by my Honda lawnmower's quality, that's probably why they're gonna put themselves out of business.
I've had Toro's personal pace for more than 10 years. What I do like about Toro's "PP" is that you do not consciously push the handle "in" in order to make it move. you just walk forward while holding the handle and it will move as fast as you can walk, If you stop walking it stops moving. Not intending to knock Honda's speed control but it does not appear to be as near as automatic as Toro's version. Don't get me wrong, I still want a Honda, just not at the cost of losing automatic personal pace. Thank you for taking the time to create and publish this video.
I'm now shopping for a new mower. I had a Toro Personal Pace mower for 28 years and it just died on me. Was extremely happy with it for all those year. Never had a problem with it until she finally died...RIP. I love the Personal Pace system as I just start walking and it keeps up with my pace...Hmmm, maybe that's why the call it Personal Pace! Nice review. I think I still might stick with the Toro due to the success I had with the previous one. I also am purchasing this for my cabin where sometimes I don't get up there to mow for 8-10 days and not having a side chute might be a problem for me cutting tall grass. I think mulching will clump up too much when it's a little taller.
thank you someone finally has said it also, the side discharge is priceless when in the long grass situation. makes the job easy. my personal pace gears have stripped out after 9 years of abuse. don't know what to think about that but I'll probably still buy the toro again
Nice video, thank you! The side discharge is key though, because Honda's rear discharge is miserable. It's the only thing I hate about my HRR model. Honda's are made for bagging, bag it beautifully but I don't bag. Honda's blades are great for mulching too but one can't mulch an untreated lawn very well. I really like the undercarriage of the HRR too, but the rear discharge things is terrible! And the main reason I have trouble with my HRR.
Liked my Honda 170cc mower. Bought it from Lowes when we moved in New house in July. No problems until this spring when I seeded yard. Bogs down through thick grass and has ALWAYS missed (not cut) random blades of grass throughout yard. Ordered a Toro 190cc. My Dad always owned Toro and would be proud (R.I.P.) Waiting on delivery.
Thank you. I had a Toro exactly like the one you reviewed for years. Now, I have moved and need a new mower and I just bought the Honda that you also reviewed! Lucky coincidence for me. I loved my Toro, but I’m glad I picked the Honda! 😊
I'm currently looking for a new mower, and Honda stopped making them. I was lucky to score a Honda, one of two left in the area! I pick it up early next week. This review solidified I'm making the right choice. Thank you!
I own both, one Toro Super recycler, and a Honda HRX. There both great mowers. The personal pace on the Toro is hands down the better drive, you never have to fight with the speed like you do on the Honda. The Honda HRX looks more modern, where the Toro looks a little old school. I have thick southern Saint Augustine grass, only mulch my grass, I can't tell when I'm done which mower I used. The duel blades on the Honda look flimsy compared to the Toro but time will tell if they last 5 years like my Toro. The Honda definitely feels a lot heavier when your mowing, where the Toro feels nimble. The Honda is better on gas but has a smaller tank but I do love the fuel shut off on the Honda. The Honda does call for a lot more maintenance than the Toro. The Honda has a bigger motor, but doesn't seem more powerful? When im mowing a small yard with lot of turns and having to pull it backward, and lots of landscaping, hands down I'm using the Toro. When I mow large stretches of straight lawn and not as many turns, I use the Honda. People ask me if I had to choose only one mower, The Toro hands down .
“A lot more maintenance “? Once a year oil and air filter. That’s it. My last Honda HRR lasted over a decade until “somebody” hit a stump that was hidden by a patch of heavy weed growth. Until then, all it ever needed was annual oil and air filter changes, new spark plug twice, and a new set of drive wheels once (the treads wore off). All were quick and easy to do. It would still be running like new were it not for that stump strike. Replaced it with another Honda.
@@prestachuck2867 he’s just backing up what the guy said in the video about the Toro apparently never needing to have an oil change even though Briggs & Stratton motors on other lawnmowers require oil changes so I don’t get the difference
@@dm285 Yeah I’ve had my Troy built with a Briggs & Stratton for 4 years and the owners manual said you didn’t need to change the oil until two years and I’ve seen some people go five years and never changing the oil on Briggs & Stratton engine. so I figured how much harm could two do. So that’s what I followed and then ever since then that I’ve seen what happens when you don’t regularly change the oil, So I did it last year and I will do it before next so that way it will basically be a year between oil changes, and I also now live by a very good saying that I heard a couple years ago that oil changes are the cheapest form of insurance.
Just bought the Honda today, w/ my 10% off coupon came out to $365. Once you open the box and get familiar w/ the mower you can tell that it's quite a step up from anything else at that price point! Thanks for the video and for the first time in many years I'm actually looking forward to mowing the lawn :)
So far this has been the best video comparing this two products. Thank you. This video definitely has help me to make the right decision…absolutely I’ll go for the Honda.
Love your review, one point don't plug your fridge in garage into cheap multiplug. You will burn it up and possibly start a fire. Use straight into wall outlet only. Thanks for reviewing. God Bless you!
Im from Florida and now live In Arkansas (lots of rain and very wet grass) and can honestly say Honda Is the way to go. I tried multiple Toros before and the Honda’s are just Heavier duty and the double blade helps mulch better and also helps it not choke up when the grass is very thick, wet, or just heavy. I can honestly mow 2 ft tall grass with my Honda HRN or HRR . Cant say the same about the little toros. To get something equally as good with Toro you have to go commercial
Mine was doing the same thing leaving strands of grass when I had it on the mulch setting, so I had to mow the grass again. Found out it was grass build-up around the flap door it wasn't closing the flap all the way tight in the mulch setting, cleaned it off that fixed the problem.
You’re a real American hero for going out and buying both mowers to make this video. I was just bragging about how my old Troy bilt was bulletproof and it’s been through hell and back but I jinxed myself because somehow the motor filled up with gas and it hydro locked itself. I pulled the plug to try and blow the gas out of the cylinder but the engine is seized. I guess it ran for too long using gas as a lubricant 😂. Anyway I was looking at these exact mowers except ones with a few more options like the blade stop option you can get if you buy these at a local lawn equipment store and not Home Depot. The choice seems to be pretty clear. I noticed immediately that the toro was a lot bouncier when you were mowing and that the Honda just seemed like it was in another class. Almost* like a commercial mower. The only thing I liked about the toro is it’s ability to side discharge but I think you can get a chute that goes on the back of the Honda that’ll throw the grass out the side. *for all you mower snobs, yes I know that the HRN is not a commercial mower. I know the difference and I don’t need your spiel about how much heavier built a commercial mower is and that they’re built to mow a billion hours a week.
I'm about ready to buy another mower and have had my personal pace for 14 years now- no issues, still starts on first pull. I noticed the gear in the back starting to make noise last couple times out.
THANK YOU!!! I just went to both Lowes and Home Depot and thought about each one. I had the GCV model Honda from 2007ish and still starts with one pull. Vanity things are starting to fall apart that's why I'm looking for a new one. I almost bought the new Toro with the push button start same functions as the one in ur video but 100 dollars more. I said wait a minute let me check the Honda out at the same price I know how long they will last and they are still making the same engine. I didn't get it cause the only one they had the box was all chewed up. Went home and just saw ur video and u answered the questions I had. THANK YOU GOOD SIR...Honda it is!!!!!
I had a Honda and it was a great mower, I now have a Toro and it to is great. I personally prefer the Toro, cuts just as well but seems a little lighter.
I have the Toro AWD mower because my yard has a hill on the side and I used my neighbors new Honda mower and it beat me to death I had to push it more than the self propel did. But with the Toro I had no problem one reason is it is much lighter and 4 wheel drive. Now if my lawn was all flat the Honda probably would have worked for me. Cut wise the Toro had a better cut for me. My brother has a 30 year self propel Craftman and when it came to cut quality it was the best I can roll a golf ball across the lawn but it was a slow mover.
I just bought the same Honda mower the other day used it to cut two properties and it seems really great very easy to push almost don't need the self propelled system but it's great to know you have it! 😎😎😎👍👍
Great video thanks. The reason I'm looking is that a couple years ago I went with an electric electric mower and now I'm considering going back. {must be an Echo in here, LoL} I used a corded electric mower for a few years, got tired of dragging the cord around. Was very happy with the electric electric, but the battery doesn't cut my entire yard anymore, unless it's perfect condition. Honda has made the best small engines for decades. Your video was great and confirmed my long standing beliefs.
Actually purchased the HRX. Tried it for several days and returned it. Bought the HRN with the blade shut off feature and I love it. The HRX is a great mower but I found for my needs it was not able to reverse like the HRN. It clicked and had alot of resistance. The HRN is as smooth as butter. Plus the handle is about 2 inches higher on the HRN and just felt more comfortable. Thank you for the video.
*I have an old Honda HRT 216 from 2008 that I still use today. About 5 years ago I upraded the stock 8" wheels on this mower to the 9" ball bearing wheels from the HRX mower which are taller and easier rolling. Years later I now want to upgrade to this new HRN 216 mower however I do not like the fact that the HRN 216 doesn't have a full steel deck, the front area that holds the front wheels is plastic and I've seen these crack and break before. Luckily I was able to find a brand new HRN 216 with a bad transmission and brand new engine that was not running so I bought this junk HRN for $50, removed the new engine from the HRN and got it running with a basic service and carb clean. I then installed this new GCV 170 engine on my old HRT 216 and now I have a honda mower with full steel deck and new GVC 217 engine so I'm very happy with this mower now and saved myself alot of money. The GCV 217 engine is so quiet, powerful and the fact that I no longer have to move a lever on the handle bar to choke in order to start this thing is sweet.*
Awesome video, Honda should compensate you, thanks for this very well done review, after researching which mower would work best for me your video helped me decide, I went and purchased one from Home Depot unboxed it and went and cut my yard (on Sunday yesterday) ...very easy to use and very powerful. Thank you
Great video! Thank you for taking the time & effort to help us out! I just bought the HRN216VKA last evening. Haven't unboxed it yet. Had my Toro (front wheel drive) for about 8 yrs. It's begun to give me trouble over course of this yr. Now the front wheel has begun to spontaneously lock up. Looking fwd to using my new Honda this coming wknd!
Thanks you thank you thank you , I'm out front of home Depot now and just looked at both these mowers and couldn't decide which one. So I came outside to TH-cam it and low n behold there's this video lmao. I'm going with the Honda
Just bought a new Craftsman with Honda motor. I enjoyed your video. You are clear and easy to understand. My lawnmower arrived with a broken oil can. There was quite a bit of oil but mostly in the plastic bag with the instruction booklet. The oil did not have a top on the can or actually the plastic bottle. There is no top to be found. I searched for a video because the booklet is soaked in oil. I don't know about what some of the parts are and how the speed control works. I will continue to search for that info, but all in all, this was educational. Thank you.
Thanks, I appreciate your time on the making of this video. I bought the toro from homedepot and after three years it’s been giving all kinds of trouble. YES, buy Honda.
Man that shows the quality. Unfortunately, ours was overused at times and just wore it down. That’s why we got new ones to review and see which ones better for our use. Thanks for watching also
Thanks for the video! I recently bought a Honda mower and have yet to use it. My 4 year old Troy Bill mower with a 190cc Briggs and Stratton engine started surging. I tried to fix it but with no luck so I bought the Honda. Thanks again and nice truck.
Interesting comparison. I've had a Toro Personal Pace Lawn mower for 15 years. This lawn mower has always started on the 1st pull as well. I recently bought a used Honda, but in very good condition, because I thought I bent my shaft on my Toro at the end of the season last year. I was able to fix it so I kept it. I like the Honda as well, but it is heavier. they both have their pro's and cons. So I decided to keep both, and use each for for specific areas of the yard.
Great video, except for the volume, my wife thought I started my old Honda in the living room! 😂 . After 15 years the GCV160 is running great, but the shell was not Honda, aftermarket brand, and the shell rusted out... Maybe a gokart project motor. Absolutely incredible 1 pull start motor, runs great still.
So you really didn't address the main reason you did the comparison. You said your 15 year old Honda was leaving grass uncut even after you cut it twice. How did these two new mowers address THAT issue?????
This video is 3 y/o and you paid $400 for the Honda at home depot and today May 2023 I bought the same Honda model at home depot for almost $600🤔🤔, mine still in the box and waiting for a nice day to cut my grass. I've seen great reviews for the Honda. And thanks for your review.
You might be trying too hard with the self-propelled Toro system. I know I did at first also. If you are used to controlling the speed of the mower, it’s easy to put too much input into it. You should just grab the handle, relax your arms and walk into the mower. The mower should just go as fast as you walk. When you speed up, it speeds up, when you stop it stops. You stop even thinking about the mower’s speed. I tried a neighbor’s mower (had a thumb controller), and I found it frustrating to have to even think about it again: too fast, adjust, too, slow, adjust, when i was so used to it happening automatically with the Toro. Maybe yours needs to be calibrated? I think it’s just run by a belt with a tensioner.
I agree with this comment...once you become accustomed to Personal Pace, there’s nothing like it. I had a 12-year-old Toro that I gave to my neighbor, and he fussed about the Personal Pace the first mowing. But, after about 4 mowings, he no longer thinks about the Personal Pace, and therefore, loves it! I really like the Honda, especially its ability to adjust both front wheels or both rear wheels together. (I like to have the front slightly higher so the mower will glide through tall grass.) However, I went electric (EGO), and LOVE that mower, but I really miss my Personal Pace. (I don’t actually get to use the EGO too much as my wife has discovered that she loves it more than me!)
@@J_Neighbor I agree. I could never go back to a traditional self propelled system where you have to use your thumbs and release the mechanism every time you get to the end of a row. with Toros PP system you never have to let go of anything. I always describe it as using an "assisted push mower", because you never have to fiddle with any settings and you have to give it a little "push" to get it started as opposed to it pulling you along. I love that Toro has gotten into the Battery mower business now as well. However, I will wait a few years to see how their batteries hold up before making the switch. Just like cars, people migrate to what they are comfortable using. Within the first 10 seconds of this video, I knew he'd pick the HONDA. Not better or worse, just "familiar".
I agree with that BLKSG6. I find no issues regulating speed. You just walk into it with relaxed grip and off it goes. I ease up slightly over thicker or taller grass, to give the mower more time over area for a more thorough cut. The only thing I am not a fan of, and it may be all mulching mowers, is my mower can start to choke when grass is too thick or too tall (zoysia, usually once a week, but not always). now, I have not tried other mowers, so maybe they all can struggle when mulching and not discharging/bagging the grass. Other than that, love my Toro. Oh, and the cut is very clean/level, no extra lines or any slants ot the cutting area. A very nice looking lawn every time. I had an older riding Murray, rear-engine, single blade (I think it was 30" cut) and man would that cut uneven, taller on left down the center line and then even on the right. ugly looking lawn. I don't think the blade turned fast enough or maybe wasn't heavy enough. It was sharp, I checked that many times.
On your older Honda mowers (pre HRX/N), try setting the rear wheels one notch lower than the fronts. This should resolve the missing strands of grass issues.
I have the Honda ... and I've had the Toro. The Toro had oil issues and froze up on me (!#$!$) I bought the Honda and never looked back. It was pricey when new, but I love it. The Honda mows my St Augustine here in Pinellas county perfectly. I mow as high as it will go. I'll buy another one if the Honda wears out on me. Thanks for a great and objective review!
Thank you very much for this review. I literally had these two models in my Home Depot on line shopping cart. You have made my decision easy and clear.
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If you enjoyed the video, make sure to subscribe to the channel! There will be more reviews on products in the future!
Edit: Only 0.1% of viewers are subbed! It’s a 1 button press and does so much to help us grow!!
I don't understand what you mean when you say one out of a thousand viewers are subbed. What does that mean.
@@Tupelo777 For every 1000 viewers only 1 will subscribe.
Df p desde
Just subbed!! Great video, i just purchased a house and have been looking at these 2 exact mowers. I was already leaning towards the Honda but this sealed the deal!
The worst part about watching TH-cam is the annoying begging for a sub... it really is annoying
I respect your review of both the Honda and the Toro. I have never had a Honda mower, but I do like Honda engines. I have purchased 3 Toro mowers, the 1st two were 22 inch cuts lasting me over 15 years. The Toro I now have is the 30 inch cut. I will not have another self propel mower that is not made like the Toro - I now use "Personal Pace TimeMaster". I never have problems with it starting and going into gear, due to not engaging the part of the mower that puts it in motion - which is one of the features I really like about the Toro. The mulching blade I put on the Toro mulches excellent - (very fine). Thanks for your video.
The Honda twin blades does an excellent job of mulching. Being able to fold down the handles easily is great for storage in smaller spaces. 3 years with mine and zero complaints.
I have a Toro Personal Pace Recycling mower and it has never started moving unless the bar is activated. It continues to start easily and work well after many years of use. The personal pace was the seller for me; it makes the job easier for those with mobility issues or arthritis. My elderly neighbor had a self-propelled mower and nearly had to run to keep up.
I'm the opposite, the self propelled are usually too slow. Just bought one of these second hand and I love it, although I'm thinking of taking off the cable to save gas.
All self-propelled mowers should have a speed regulator on them. I wouldn't buy one without it after trying my dad's purchase of self-propelled early on and I could hardly keep up with it. I've got two, an old one bought at a garage sale with "for parts" written in it. Put back tires I had on rear and after about the seven years I've used it, it's still going strong. Don't think they make the brand anymore. I love the control lever it has. My newer mower is a Snapper bought just before they sold out and I don't think you can get one with the original self-propelled mechanics. It also has great speed control. I need it as I am late 60s year old just giving up mowing due to health. I hope to try again but couldn't do it if there was no speed control!
I work on both and can say that both have similar issues. As I test each one out after working on them, I can say I prefer the Toro for mowing as you have better control on the self propelled aspect. I have noticed both experience issues with axle shaft rusting problems. The older Hondas had bushing issues and received bulletins reguarding the issue. I get many in that will not pull backwards any more. Both have wheels that wear out way too quickly. Service on both is usually related to worn drive belt issues and extreme neglect both experience frozen cables. I think both mowers are decent and both are very popular.
User reviews are subjective. But a review from a service repairman is what I would rather view. Wish I knew what mower you recommended! Thanks for your input...
He's exactly right. Honda's are absolutely horrible to work on and are totally over engineered. Their drivetrains will go bad eventually, no doubt about it.
RC Hobbyist Extreme, What mower do you recommend? What are your top brands & choices? Thanks!
@@megaversemusic7822 Ariens Commercial grade. Any model from a DEALER is better than the scrap the big box stores sell. Sadly, most mowers are now manufactured in another country. MTD pretty much owns the market on many brands. Honda has always been my personal favorite. The biggest issue I have with Honda is if you hit something hard, like a big rock or metal, it can bend the crank, the shear key doesn't save the crank shaft like other mowers. Always research whatever you purchase and have the sales person walk you through the mowers construction. Anything with a plastic transmission or plastic gears, pass on it.
@@scottfirman , and my Toro, 20334 about 5 years old, has plastic drive gears on the wheels, rear wheel drive. Every two years and replace them. But the solution is changing them out for metal. About $70.
I just bought the Honda this morning, before I found your video. Started on the first pull love it.
Same here and I was going to get the Toro as I loved my previous 15 year old one but the guy at Home Depot convinced me to get the Honda and I made the right decision
My Husqvarna has a Honda engine and this is my 3rd year and It starts on the first pull. I believe for residential mowers the engine matters despite the brand name.
@@jerryc3050 hard to go wrong there.
Thanks for the video. I’ve currently been using a Toro GTX that’s over 30 yrs old. It would be tough to switch brands knowing how well my previous mower served me.
No problem. Give it some research and thought, we had our preference, but that doesn’t mean either was bad. In face they were both really solid mowers
My dad has had the same Toro Super Recycler since '95/'96. I loooove that mower. Still works awesomely.
Bruh, "awesomely" isn't a word. You should have said Beterer
@@woodyhayes7402 my bad... :-(
@@tootzy-the-roll - You know I was just teasing you?
@@woodyhayes7402 well, duuh. Everybody knows that beterer is not a word. Beterestest is the correct word.
@@tootzy-the-roll - Dayum! I've learn't a new word!
I've had my Honda mower for ten years now. It's still starts on the first pull every time. The one single 5 dollar part of the Honda that's worth it's weight in gold in the fuel shut off valve. An absolute must have. Honda will always be a better buy. Thanks for a great video.
this is the type of reviews I'm looking for
Thanks Jerad. We tried to keep it simple for all
Toro replaced this model with a version that allows for the handle to be closed down similarly to the Hondas and added upright storage as a new feature. You also don't have to chase the Toro as you do with the Honda. The pressure sensitivity that adjusts to your pace is something anyone with a large yard would surely notice and appreciate, much more than that extra inch you get with the Toro. lol
What, one's given before item is EVEN USED? Anyone can read the instructions or ask sales associate about the mower but that's not giving a review on the working of the mower either. A review is only good after about ten uses, giving you time to adjust to the new mower!!
I use toro and I haven’t had any issues or changes so far it’s strong 💪🏼
The Honda is far superior to the toro,, I have the exact models he uses in this video and the Honda beats the toro, hands down. I’m keeping the toro as a “back up” or as a loner to family if needed,,, but the toro will be collecting dust from now on. 😉
@@murdomurdo176 my toro 22 is still running after 3 years of jungles, thru water, rocks, and even toys. That machine still works. No blade or oil change and still running 💪🏻😛😅
@@murdomurdo176 I’m probably going to move on from my 30 inch I own to a scag 30 commercial mower 🤪 I heard those are good as hell. Check it out!
With the toro you have to replace the governor spring kit, and clean out carburetor which is very easy to do, 7 years my toro works great 👍👍
Oooof
Your garage is cleaner than my house, lol.
Clean your house
@@melindaortiz9741 Funny Melinda! Made me laugh 🤣
It is not a garage it's a living room 🤣🤣
Lol
FYI update, I bought the Honda and you won't be disappointed. Definitely worth the money.
Thank you for doing this. I've used hondas for 20 years (two to be exact). Neither of them failed on me, I sold them because I moved. I was considering Toro, but his video has helped me be confident in sticking with Honda.
Had a Toro Personal Pace that finally died after 16 years and 5 of those years it was used commercially to cut a dozen yards weekly. That being said, I never liked having to "push" anything so I purchased that same Honda in the video last week. Best decision ever on a mower.
Regret that honda yet ? Honda used to be good but most of my customers hate the new ones. So cheaply made.
I bought the Honda tonight from the orange box store for 419.00.. Son is unboxing as I write this.. It looks like an impressive machine.. Thanks for the production.. It helped me decide standing in the store 👍🏻
When we first bought our Honda mowers they were eye-watering expensive. 16 years later of the 5 we initially bought 3 are still in regular use.
Both are top of the line. I have a toro mower and a Honda pressure washer and both are outstanding
I was with my dad and we had a hard time choosing between toro and honda. I chose the Toro with push to start because i was worried about my dad getting to old to cut. The push propel feature and push to start will probably be a good relieve to my dad as he goes passed 65. Good video thanks for the side by side comparison. Both are great machines.
keeler1160 , that would be "good relief . . .goes past 65". Have a nice day.
I bought my dad an electric start Toro and in only a few years it was a POS.
Great video, I have a 1987 Honda HRA214, a beast paid $600. Bought a new house needed a zero turn, did not use for 22 years. Sold home, bought one with small yard. I changed oil, cleaned carburetor and it’s runs perfect.
I had my Honda mower for over 20 years. Always started and ran fine. Can't beat their engines for longevity either!
Perfect review. My Toro's front drive stopped working about 4 weeks ago and is now a "true" push mower, however, it has treated me well for the past 7 years cutting this Florida grass! I've been researching both mowers, and after this review I ultimately purchased the Honda. Thanks for taking time to post, it was well worth the watch!
This often happens when the belt slips off pully, did you check on that? Seen that issue in several different mowers. Need to make it easier to get at:)
or a stretched/glazed belt, replace it and clean the area and you'll be good to go for 7 more years.
Toro is garbage
I think a side discharge is a must, then a blade stop, then the single height adjustment. And unless you're going to mow your yard every 3.5 days, mulching isn't the way to get a good cut on thick grass. I love the Personal Pace feature. I have a Craftsman 28 inch self-propelled as my main ditch mower, but when I do grab the Toro, my first thought is how nice a light mower is to use.
Love my Honda! I wore out my last one after 11years. The new one is even better and hoping for another 11 years.
I don't know the first thing about lawnmowers, but I just bought my first house so this video was very helpful. Going for the Honda based on your review today, thanks for taking the time to review both - appreciate people with high attention to detail such as yourself. Take care
Thank you for watching as well! Glad to help and of course, good luck with your mowings
I was in the same boat I ended up with the toro because I really liked the idea of being able to store the mower upright. It was a huge upgrade from my hand me down black and decker electric mower that felt like it had hardly any power. It’s a night and day difference for me I’m satisfied with the Toro. Good luck mower shopping. Don’t forget lawn feed!
Nothing can beat Toro's personal pace system as far as self propelled goes, imo. It is simply outstanding and simple. As far as starting go, the toro isn't already moving if you actually hold onto the handle instead of pushing the self propelled actuator.
I thought the same with the toro but got a hrn and the self propelled is night and day better. Imo
All true. Don’t forget the easy stow
Toro super recycler is a great mower for the money, would purchase over these two.
I love Honda because it starts right up on 1st or 2nd pull. Two blades cut grass much nicer in mulch mode than single blade. That’s why I chose Honda. I purchased the Honda model HRX217 for stronger engine 200cc and its features. Nice review sir.
It is impossible to find the 217 at big box stores
Is the Honda engine is a lot quieter than the Toro?
Good review. Had a similar Toro for 11 years and had the same issue that I was mowing the lawn twice because it was leaving a lot of grass behind. Just bought that Honda mower to replace it 3 weeks ago and it is a better machine, so I think you made the right choice. The Toro was very good, though, it just ended up having several maintenance issues over the years, so I actually put a few hundred dollars into it to keep it going, mostly a brake blade clutch system that failed early on. I also appreciate that the Honda doesn’t leave me smelling like burning oil. The engine on my Toro was an American made Briggs & Stratton from 2009 and started well, but I couldn't tell if the new Briggs engine was US made or Chinese. The Honda is made in North Carolina and that was enough to make the decision for me. The Honda seems to use less gas and uses less oil on my old mower- 12 vs 20 ounces. And it doesn’t leave me smelling smoky. The only issue I’ve had with the Honda is that I bag my grass and when you go to put the bag back on you have to make sure that there is not grass in the 2 catches that the bag sits in. If there is grass, the bag will bounce out as you are mowing because it is not able to fully seat low enough.
As for the power drive on the Toro personal pace system, it actually does work quite well and you would get used to it. I was afraid I wasn’t going to get used to the Honda system, but that wasn’t a problem either.
I really appreciate that the Japanese company makes these machines and engines in America.
I also love that I can dump the grass much more easily out of the Honda because the opening is dramatically larger than the Toro, where I would have to stand there and shake the heavy bag up and down for a minute to get it all out.
Being around Honda more, we knew it would do pretty good. Now the Toro didn't do bad at all, but it was definitely cheaper as design and just didn't make use of 15 year tech advancements. We appreciate your comment, glad this may have helped you!
Personal pace is the best system out there.
Briggs and Stratton engines are still made in the U.S. They pump out 9 million engines per year here, operate 6 U.S. facilities, and employ 3,000 Americans. I’ll stick with Briggs in my mowers, and I just bought the Toro.
Dude your video should be about that beautiful lawn. WOW! I need to go to work on my yard.
Haha. Thanks. Florida lawns can be really nice
Just bought the Honda today! Up where I'm at in the Red River valley. The grass is real thick. A side discharge would be nice. However the Honda has a rear discharge as well. Just flip it to "bag" without at bag on it. It poops out the grass in nice strait lines. Then just mulch er up on a second pass. Great review of both mowers man. These little Honda mowers are great.
Thanks for watching and the tip. Hondas are definitely powerful machines
I bought a HRR216 from Home Depot back in September 2019 and it's currently getting a new transmission put on it...... Hope it's just a lemon and that the new transmission doesn't go bad like the first one did.
I owned a Toro with a Suzuki two-cycle engine back in the 80s. It was such an amazing machine. It was around for decades. I gave it to my Dad years ago, and eventually he let it go. Ugh! Loved it. And the only mower I've loved more than that one is my new HRX. You get so much with these Honda mowers. Give them good fuel (TruFuel, in my case) and they are pure, flawless joy.
One of my reasons that I went with the Honda was the gas shut off valve. This way I can shut off the valve and run the mower until it dies-- thereby not leaving residue in the carburetor. Starts fast and fresh each start that way...
There will always be residual regardless including fuel bowl so its moot, It’s just not enough to run the mower engine. Most people are not going to drain the fuel bowl after each use, it’s not the carburetor it’s the fuel. Buy marine grade fuel (ethanol free) , most these issues go away, any youll get improved fuel economy.
@@2002SLPSS1991 wow never thought about residual after running dry but makes perfect sense. GREAT advice!
@@2002SLPSS1991 Literally 2002SLP is right. There are tons of videos on running equipment dry. Best bet is ethanol free fuel with fuel stabilizer. Unfortunately any ethanol will corrode aluminum like the kind found in carburetors. ProjectFarm (youtube) did a test to prove it.
I mix literally like 2oz or 2.5oz of fuel stabilizer per 5 gallons of gas. The 32oz bottle is like $8 at Walmart. and I just leave everything wet - chainsaw, weed eater, mower, etc.
Works fine.
@@lifeisgood070 I'm lucky, my local Stewart's shop a block away has ethanol free premium gas. Plus I think they're the only place left where you don't have to pre-pay for your gas. Not to mention they also have the best ice cream you can get, and it's still a full 1/2 gallon. I subbed btw.
That Toro "self propel" design is HORRIBLE! You literally HAVE to push on it to make it go. That's not "walk behind" or "self propelled". It is "push assist" at best.
I have an older Honda HRR model with the same transmission design as that Honda. It's hands down, THE BEST system I've EVER seen on a walk behind\push assist\self propelled mower. The Toro might be ok if you have a perfectly flat, level lawn. But on a "country's lawn that has hills, contours, ups & downs and off angle cutting, that would be a nightmare.
The Honda? I can be in the ditch, cutting around a street sign pole, going uphill at a cattywhompus angle and with 3 or 4 fingers on the bar and the thumb on the throttle lever, that thing pulls itself up and out with zero effort from me.
ANY speed you like, it's just like a motorcycle or ATV throttle lever. Want faster? Twist it further.
Where most "self propelled" mowers will walk away from you on the down hill and then on the up hill you feel like you have to push or gear it up ....with the Honda it's just like a car\motorcycle\atv, you just give it more or less gas.
Getting tired and don't feel like slugging up that hill again? Just give it a little more twist and it will not only pull itself up the hill, but if you hang on good it'll pull you up too.
And the "quadra-cut" dual blade system!
I've literally cut waist high grass and all I had to do was slow down more. And that was only because of the sheer volume of grass the mower has to discharge in that condition. (Yes, discharge. It literally was filling the bag about every 10-12ft.) But EVERYTHING it discharges is cut up so small ...it's more like a blender set on "puree" than a mower on "mulch".
I’m in the market for this HRN model Honda, thank you for helping me realize that this is the mower I want. Very nicely made and beautiful black color deck.
My HRT216TDA model will retire soon. 🥺😩😐
Lightweight is good and what did I use it for it’s a lawnmower th-cam.com/users/postUgkxTPN04aT-Qdjr_KS3ql7ng8wnU3wwsCqk also recommend Yes it is lightweight so hence not as robust as our old one. But if you take care it does the job really well.
firefighter, emt, lawn mower reviewer. This dude is living his best life. Just wait for the videos once he's living off his pension. Good things to come!
I've used both the top Honda (6 years) and the Toro Personal Pace mowers (8 years). Both cut my St. Augustine lawn well. However, the extra weight of the Honda made it more cumbersome and left deeper grooves in my lawn over time. The Toro was much more maneuverable, and I really liked the personal pace feature. I got tired of constantly adjusting the pace of the Honda. Considering the big difference in price and the maintenance cost of the Honda, I sold my Honda and fell in love with the ease of the Toro. I've mowed happily ever after.
HONDA makes great Engines but no side discharge on this mower is a deal breaker for me ! I have mowed commercially for 30 years and there are MANY conditions that mulching just doesn't work !
@@paulb2769 Yes, that's an important consideration for some people.
Picked up a Husqvarna Honda powered mower. Amazing quality. Best of both manufacturers.
Really impressed.
I thought I should add my experience. I bought the 2018 model of the Honda HRN216 and had it for one year before I sold it quick on Craigslist. I had a terrible time with the quality of the cut with it leaving a streak of grass uncut which drove me crazy. I tried sharpening the blades, buying a new blade set, raising the governor on the mower and nothing seemed to help. After reading on forums it seemed I was not the only one with the issue as others seemed to mention poor deck design not providing enough vacuum to lift the grass blades. I have since bought this exact Toro Super Recycler since I've had Toro's in the past and been happy with them. The Toro is providing me a much better cut on my grass than the Honda. I am not sure if I had a bad Honda deck design or something but these are my two cents. Thank you for the video! Few conveniences I miss from the Honda but much happier with the Toro so far.
You won't be happy trying to keep the personal pace transmission working for long without periodic replacement.
It's garbage.
I have the Honda HRX 217 with key start. I like the mower, runs well and I like the setup for actuating the propulsion. I've never been happy with the quality of cut either. More importantly though mine has issues with being pulled backwards. It binds up and is hard to pull back. There's known issues with the rear bushings and they have to he cleaned periodically but in my case it didn't help. I suspect there's an issue with the transmission. I took it to the dealer to have it checked out under warranty and they basically won't do anything about it, very disappointing.
@@chickenfishhybrid44 If I remember correctly, my Honda didn't really pull well backwards either as it felt like it was going to break something and was really tight. Still happy with my Toro though!
@@KandAshow funny enough my previous mower was a Toro like in this video. I still had it and just recently fixed it and got it running again. It certainly pulls back easier than the Honda. I just don't like the personal pace sliding deal,I like the Honda system better. Now that I have both the mowers I gotta decide what I'm guna do lol. I might sell them both and find something else. I'm just not sure there's anything out there much better or different than either of the models I have though unfortunately.
@@chickenfishhybrid44 yeah, it's tough finding a decent power in this price range. I'm happy with my Toro after 3 seasons of cut. Maybe I'm lucky.
My Honda's self propell does not work all the time, but then again-it is an '86 HR214s model. i got it used from a landscaping guy next door so you can only imagine the abuse it went through. When the rubber wheel broke, it sat in the old garage for 3 years. It started on my 3rd pull thanks to that fuel shut off valve. Body is aluminum so no rust. Very impressed by my Honda lawnmower's quality, that's probably why they're gonna put themselves out of business.
Appreciate the info. Thanks for makin a video I can actually learn from and not fall asleep halfway through. Haha. Also Beautiful grass!
Very helpful my current mower is on its last leg and I was dreading the purchase of a new one but thanks to you I don’t have to stress about It 💜🙏🏻
I've had Toro's personal pace for more than 10 years. What I do like about Toro's "PP" is that you do not consciously push the handle "in" in order to make it move. you just walk forward while holding the handle and it will move as fast as you can walk, If you stop walking it stops moving. Not intending to knock Honda's speed control but it does not appear to be as near as automatic as Toro's version. Don't get me wrong, I still want a Honda, just not at the cost of losing automatic personal pace.
Thank you for taking the time to create and publish this video.
I'm now shopping for a new mower. I had a Toro Personal Pace mower for 28 years and it just died on me. Was extremely happy with it for all those year. Never had a problem with it until she finally died...RIP. I love the Personal Pace system as I just start walking and it keeps up with my pace...Hmmm, maybe that's why the call it Personal Pace! Nice review. I think I still might stick with the Toro due to the success I had with the previous one. I also am purchasing this for my cabin where sometimes I don't get up there to mow for 8-10 days and not having a side chute might be a problem for me cutting tall grass. I think mulching will clump up too much when it's a little taller.
Thanks man. Take it easy. I think the personal pace is best for your needs
thank you someone finally has said it also, the side discharge is priceless when in the long grass situation. makes the job easy. my personal pace gears have stripped out after 9 years of abuse. don't know what to think about that but I'll probably still buy the toro again
Nice video, thank you! The side discharge is key though, because Honda's rear discharge is miserable. It's the only thing I hate about my HRR model. Honda's are made for bagging, bag it beautifully but I don't bag. Honda's blades are great for mulching too but one can't mulch an untreated lawn very well. I really like the undercarriage of the HRR too, but the rear discharge things is terrible! And the main reason I have trouble with my HRR.
Liked my Honda 170cc mower. Bought it from Lowes when we moved in New house in July. No problems until this spring when I seeded yard. Bogs down through thick grass and has ALWAYS missed (not cut) random blades of grass throughout yard. Ordered a Toro 190cc. My Dad always owned Toro and would be proud (R.I.P.) Waiting on delivery.
Thank you. I had a Toro exactly like the one you reviewed for years. Now, I have moved and need a new mower and I just bought the Honda that you also reviewed! Lucky coincidence for me. I loved my Toro, but I’m glad I picked the Honda! 😊
I'm currently looking for a new mower, and Honda stopped making them. I was lucky to score a Honda, one of two left in the area! I pick it up early next week. This review solidified I'm making the right choice. Thank you!
I own both, one Toro Super recycler, and a Honda HRX. There both great mowers. The personal pace on the Toro is hands down the better drive, you never have to fight with the speed like you do on the Honda. The Honda HRX looks more modern, where the Toro looks a little old school. I have thick southern Saint Augustine grass, only mulch my grass, I can't tell when I'm done which mower I used. The duel blades on the Honda look flimsy compared to the Toro but time will tell if they last 5 years like my Toro. The Honda definitely feels a lot heavier when your mowing, where the Toro feels nimble. The Honda is better on gas but has a smaller tank but I do love the fuel shut off on the Honda. The Honda does call for a lot more maintenance than the Toro. The Honda has a bigger motor, but doesn't seem more powerful? When im mowing a small yard with lot of turns and having to pull it backward, and lots of landscaping, hands down I'm using the Toro. When I mow large stretches of straight lawn and not as many turns, I use the Honda. People ask me if I had to choose only one mower, The Toro hands down .
“A lot more maintenance “? Once a year oil and air filter. That’s it. My last Honda HRR lasted over a decade until “somebody” hit a stump that was hidden by a patch of heavy weed growth. Until then, all it ever needed was annual oil and air filter changes, new spark plug twice, and a new set of drive wheels once (the treads wore off). All were quick and easy to do. It would still be running like new were it not for that stump strike. Replaced it with another Honda.
@@prestachuck2867 he’s just backing up what the guy said in the video about the Toro apparently never needing to have an oil change even though Briggs & Stratton motors on other lawnmowers require oil changes so I don’t get the difference
@@dm285 Yeah I’ve had my Troy built with a Briggs & Stratton for 4 years and the owners manual said you didn’t need to change the oil until two years and I’ve seen some people go five years and never changing the oil on Briggs & Stratton engine. so I figured how much harm could two do. So that’s what I followed and then ever since then that I’ve seen what happens when you don’t regularly change the oil, So I did it last year and I will do it before next so that way it will basically be a year between oil changes, and I also now live by a very good saying that I heard a couple years ago that oil changes are the cheapest form of insurance.
do you have any hobbies?
@@thehourglasswithaman its an old petrol 4 stroke. it guzzles oil.
I got the red toro but with a black bag and I like the personal pace and the ease of switching from mulching to bagging
Just bought the Honda today, w/ my 10% off coupon came out to $365. Once you open the box and get familiar w/ the mower you can tell that it's quite a step up from anything else at that price point!
Thanks for the video and for the first time in many years I'm actually looking forward to mowing the lawn :)
Thank you for watching! Glad to help and happy mowing!
So far this has been the best video comparing this two products. Thank you. This video definitely has help me to make the right decision…absolutely I’ll go for the Honda.
I happy to say thank you. I got a Honda, awesome machine got the job done and easy to use, super smooth machine.
Well you’re welcome. Thank you as well for watching!
Just purchased a New Honda today . I REALLY ENJOYED YOUR VIDEO , I really thank you.
I just bought a Toro and it works great 👍🏽
Nice man! Glad to hear
Love your review, one point don't plug your fridge in garage into cheap multiplug.
You will burn it up and possibly start a fire.
Use straight into wall outlet only.
Thanks for reviewing.
God Bless you!
Im from Florida and now live In Arkansas (lots of rain and very wet grass) and can honestly say Honda Is the way to go. I tried multiple Toros before and the Honda’s are just Heavier duty and the double blade helps mulch better and also helps it not choke up when the grass is very thick, wet, or just heavy. I can honestly mow 2 ft tall grass with my Honda HRN or HRR . Cant say the same about the little toros. To get something equally as good with Toro you have to go commercial
Agreed. I'm in the Midwest and the slight wetness will make it stop while you're cutting. Very frustrating
Mine was doing the same thing leaving strands of grass when I had it on the mulch setting, so I had to mow the grass again. Found out it was grass build-up around the flap door it wasn't closing the flap all the way tight in the mulch setting, cleaned it off that fixed the problem.
I got the Honda HRX217HYA recently. It’s such a great mower. These Hondas are just great. Great video! I enjoyed it.
Thanks for watching the video! Glad you enjoyed it!
You’re a real American hero for going out and buying both mowers to make this video. I was just bragging about how my old Troy bilt was bulletproof and it’s been through hell and back but I jinxed myself because somehow the motor filled up with gas and it hydro locked itself. I pulled the plug to try and blow the gas out of the cylinder but the engine is seized. I guess it ran for too long using gas as a lubricant 😂. Anyway I was looking at these exact mowers except ones with a few more options like the blade stop option you can get if you buy these at a local lawn equipment store and not Home Depot. The choice seems to be pretty clear. I noticed immediately that the toro was a lot bouncier when you were mowing and that the Honda just seemed like it was in another class. Almost* like a commercial mower. The only thing I liked about the toro is it’s ability to side discharge but I think you can get a chute that goes on the back of the Honda that’ll throw the grass out the side.
*for all you mower snobs, yes I know that the HRN is not a commercial mower. I know the difference and I don’t need your spiel about how much heavier built a commercial mower is and that they’re built to mow a billion hours a week.
Toro smart stow was the way to go for me... with the larger wheels on back. 7.25 brigs engine is powerful
I'm about ready to buy another mower and have had my personal pace for 14 years now- no issues, still starts on first pull. I noticed the gear in the back starting to make noise last couple times out.
how is the smart and stow going? Im interested in the Toro and Honda ..just cant make up my mind
@@Arthurmd22 so far so good...glad I purchased it over the Honda
THANK YOU!!! I just went to both Lowes and Home Depot and thought about each one. I had the GCV model Honda from 2007ish and still starts with one pull. Vanity things are starting to fall apart that's why I'm looking for a new one. I almost bought the new Toro with the push button start same functions as the one in ur video but 100 dollars more. I said wait a minute let me check the Honda out at the same price I know how long they will last and they are still making the same engine. I didn't get it cause the only one they had the box was all chewed up. Went home and just saw ur video and u answered the questions I had. THANK YOU GOOD SIR...Honda it is!!!!!
Both quality machines, my preference would be the Honda generally a higher quality engine and their dual blade mulching system is excellent.
cardo i agree. I have an older model of the one shown in the video similar to the op’s original honda mower.
The new one looked to have a bar blade
Ditto. Toro is just a name sake these days. My mower is John Deere with Kawasaki engine. Snow blower is Honda,
@@tonyhwang3888 Toro sr4 is better then Honda junk.
@@littleeagle7563 bullshit
Definite nice features available on both. Two years ago I got the Honda and haven’t had a single issue with it. Starts on first pull every time.
I had a Honda and it was a great mower, I now have a Toro and it to is great. I personally prefer the Toro, cuts just as well but seems a little lighter.
Excellent video. I used to own a Honda lawn mower and I loved it and I dearly miss it. I'm on the verge of getting this Honda.
I have the Toro AWD mower because my yard has a hill on the side and I used my neighbors new Honda mower and it beat me to death I had to push it more than the self propel did. But with the Toro I had no problem one reason is it is much lighter and 4 wheel drive. Now if my lawn was all flat the Honda probably would have worked for me. Cut wise the Toro had a better cut for me. My brother has a 30 year self propel Craftman and when it came to cut quality it was the best I can roll a golf ball across the lawn but it was a slow mover.
Both are great options and will get the job done. I currently have a Honda, well the older 160cc model from like 4 years ago.
I just bought the same Honda mower the other day used it to cut two properties and it seems really great very easy to push almost don't need the self propelled system but it's great to know you have it! 😎😎😎👍👍
Yeah! Thanks for watching man. Glad you enjoy yours, or I hope you do!
Great video thanks. The reason I'm looking is that a couple years ago I went with an electric electric mower and now I'm considering going back. {must be an Echo in here, LoL} I used a corded electric mower for a few years, got tired of dragging the cord around. Was very happy with the electric electric, but the battery doesn't cut my entire yard anymore, unless it's perfect condition. Honda has made the best small engines for decades. Your video was great and confirmed my long standing beliefs.
Thank you as well. Glad we could help you
Actually purchased the HRX. Tried it for several days and returned it. Bought the HRN with the blade shut off feature and I love it. The HRX is a great mower but I found for my needs it was not able to reverse like the HRN. It clicked and had alot of resistance. The HRN is as smooth as butter. Plus the handle is about 2 inches higher on the HRN and just felt more comfortable. Thank you for the video.
*I have an old Honda HRT 216 from 2008 that I still use today. About 5 years ago I upraded the stock 8" wheels on this mower to the 9" ball bearing wheels from the HRX mower which are taller and easier rolling. Years later I now want to upgrade to this new HRN 216 mower however I do not like the fact that the HRN 216 doesn't have a full steel deck, the front area that holds the front wheels is plastic and I've seen these crack and break before. Luckily I was able to find a brand new HRN 216 with a bad transmission and brand new engine that was not running so I bought this junk HRN for $50, removed the new engine from the HRN and got it running with a basic service and carb clean. I then installed this new GCV 170 engine on my old HRT 216 and now I have a honda mower with full steel deck and new GVC 217 engine so I'm very happy with this mower now and saved myself alot of money. The GCV 217 engine is so quiet, powerful and the fact that I no longer have to move a lever on the handle bar to choke in order to start this thing is sweet.*
Awesome video, Honda should compensate you, thanks for this very well done review, after researching which mower would work best for me your video helped me decide, I went and purchased one from Home Depot unboxed it and went and cut my yard (on Sunday yesterday) ...very easy to use and very powerful. Thank you
Nice! Glad to help. Thank you for watching as well!
Great video! Thank you for taking the time & effort to help us out! I just bought the HRN216VKA last evening. Haven't unboxed it yet. Had my Toro (front wheel drive) for about 8 yrs. It's begun to give me trouble over course of this yr. Now the front wheel has begun to spontaneously lock up. Looking fwd to using my new Honda this coming wknd!
Thanks you thank you thank you , I'm out front of home Depot now and just looked at both these mowers and couldn't decide which one. So I came outside to TH-cam it and low n behold there's this video lmao.
I'm going with the Honda
Hah. Thanks for watching man. You won’t be disappointed with you choice
I just bought the same Honda too. Happy with the purchase.
Thank you so much for the side by side comparaison
This was a time saver
There’s a reason the toro has no change oil.... it won’t last long enough to need a oil change.... nothing beats a Honda. Was no contest.
Great video.
Thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed it! I agree also
Thank for the video my lawnmower just died on me and you just helped me what too buy thank you sir.
i love my Toro recycler easy stow. the east stow feature is worth every dime
and you can side discharge when the grass gets too long and the hondas are stuck bagging it
@@Tupelo777 Ummm, no, you are not stuck bagging it with the Honda.
Lmao
Just bought a new Craftsman with Honda motor. I enjoyed your video. You are clear and easy to understand. My lawnmower arrived with a broken oil can. There was quite a bit of oil but mostly in the plastic bag with the instruction booklet. The oil did not have a top on the can or actually the plastic bottle. There is no top to be found. I searched for a video because the booklet is soaked in oil. I don't know about what some of the parts are and how the speed control works. I will continue to search for that info, but all in all, this was educational. Thank you.
Thanks for posting. You helped me make up my mind. Honda it is !
Yeah! That’s what we do
Thanks, I appreciate your time on the making of this video. I bought the toro from homedepot and after three years it’s been giving all kinds of trouble. YES, buy Honda.
my dad purchased a new honda mower in 1988 and i use it on my lawn. Still have the original receipt
Man that shows the quality. Unfortunately, ours was overused at times and just wore it down. That’s why we got new ones to review and see which ones better for our use. Thanks for watching also
Thanks so much!!! I narrowed my decision down to these 2 mowers. You made the choice for me!!!!!!
I just purchased the Honda and hands down the best gas spm that i have ever owned.
Thanks for the video! I recently bought a Honda mower and have yet to use it. My 4 year old Troy Bill mower with a 190cc Briggs and Stratton engine started surging. I tried to fix it but with no luck so I bought the Honda. Thanks again and nice truck.
Thanks for such an honest review. Honda it is!
Thank you also!
Aggreed. Honda is my pick now for the new season.
Interesting comparison. I've had a Toro Personal Pace Lawn mower for 15 years. This lawn mower has always started on the 1st pull as well. I recently bought a used Honda, but in very good condition, because I thought I bent my shaft on my Toro at the end of the season last year. I was able to fix it so I kept it. I like the Honda as well, but it is heavier. they both have their pro's and cons. So I decided to keep both, and use each for for specific areas of the yard.
Its heavier because its made well.
If anything is the same price as a Honda there’s no question you always go with the Honda
Incorrect: Toyota
@@colormesarge nope I stand by what I say lol
Great video, except for the volume, my wife thought I started my old Honda in the living room! 😂
.
After 15 years the GCV160 is running great, but the shell was not Honda, aftermarket brand, and the shell rusted out... Maybe a gokart project motor.
Absolutely incredible 1 pull start motor, runs great still.
So you really didn't address the main reason you did the comparison. You said your 15 year old Honda was leaving grass uncut even after you cut it twice. How did these two new mowers address THAT issue?????
This video is 3 y/o and you paid $400 for the Honda at home depot and today May 2023 I bought the same Honda model at home depot for almost $600🤔🤔, mine still in the box and waiting for a nice day to cut my grass. I've seen great reviews for the Honda. And thanks for your review.
Thanks for the simple and Honest Presentation.
Yep! Thanks for watching
I have the new Honda mower. It does a great job on my St. Augustine grass. I heard Honda was getting out of the mower business. Thank you!
No, they are going full electric. mowers, but not gas.
You might be trying too hard with the self-propelled Toro system. I know I did at first also. If you are used to controlling the speed of the mower, it’s easy to put too much input into it. You should just grab the handle, relax your arms and walk into the mower. The mower should just go as fast as you walk. When you speed up, it speeds up, when you stop it stops. You stop even thinking about the mower’s speed. I tried a neighbor’s mower (had a thumb controller), and I found it frustrating to have to even think about it again: too fast, adjust, too, slow, adjust, when i was so used to it happening automatically with the Toro. Maybe yours needs to be calibrated? I think it’s just run by a belt with a tensioner.
After time, you will figure it out and get used to it. Thanks for the tip though!
I agree with this comment...once you become accustomed to Personal Pace, there’s nothing like it. I had a 12-year-old Toro that I gave to my neighbor, and he fussed about the Personal Pace the first mowing. But, after about 4 mowings, he no longer thinks about the Personal Pace, and therefore, loves it! I really like the Honda, especially its ability to adjust both front wheels or both rear wheels together. (I like to have the front slightly higher so the mower will glide through tall grass.) However, I went electric (EGO), and LOVE that mower, but I really miss my Personal Pace. (I don’t actually get to use the EGO too much as my wife has discovered that she loves it more than me!)
@@J_Neighbor I agree. I could never go back to a traditional self propelled system where you have to use your thumbs and release the mechanism every time you get to the end of a row. with Toros PP system you never have to let go of anything. I always describe it as using an "assisted push mower", because you never have to fiddle with any settings and you have to give it a little "push" to get it started as opposed to it pulling you along. I love that Toro has gotten into the Battery mower business now as well. However, I will wait a few years to see how their batteries hold up before making the switch. Just like cars, people migrate to what they are comfortable using. Within the first 10 seconds of this video, I knew he'd pick the HONDA. Not better or worse, just "familiar".
@@bradsechrist9746 If the Toro discharged grass like the Honda it would be perfect. I own The Toro 22 personal pace mower and I love it.
I agree with that BLKSG6. I find no issues regulating speed. You just walk into it with relaxed grip and off it goes. I ease up slightly over thicker or taller grass, to give the mower more time over area for a more thorough cut. The only thing I am not a fan of, and it may be all mulching mowers, is my mower can start to choke when grass is too thick or too tall (zoysia, usually once a week, but not always). now, I have not tried other mowers, so maybe they all can struggle when mulching and not discharging/bagging the grass. Other than that, love my Toro.
Oh, and the cut is very clean/level, no extra lines or any slants ot the cutting area. A very nice looking lawn every time. I had an older riding Murray, rear-engine, single blade (I think it was 30" cut) and man would that cut uneven, taller on left down the center line and then even on the right. ugly looking lawn. I don't think the blade turned fast enough or maybe wasn't heavy enough. It was sharp, I checked that many times.
I don't have a Honda, but I've heard great things about it. I own the Toro Recycler, both the gas and 60v. They do a great job on my St Augustine.
On your older Honda mowers (pre HRX/N), try setting the rear wheels one notch lower than the fronts. This should resolve the missing strands of grass issues.
Can this be assumed with any mower ? I have an older troy bilt that misses strands no matter how meticulous I am, and with sharp blades.
@@Resistculturaldecline This is only a fix for the Honda models I stated. I saw the recommendation on a lawn forum a while back.
@@ThaiXLe Ok, fair enough. I was curious is just being unlevel in general would cause uncut strands. Thanks for the reply
Same with any walk-behind Snapper mower.
I have tried that - it definitely helps to get threw taller overgrown grass but doesn't solve this problem
I have the Honda ... and I've had the Toro. The Toro had oil issues and froze up on me (!#$!$) I bought the Honda and never looked back. It was pricey when new, but I love it. The Honda mows my St Augustine here in Pinellas county perfectly. I mow as high as it will go. I'll buy another one if the Honda wears out on me. Thanks for a great and objective review!
Thank you for this. Simple, informative.
Thanks for enjoying it Will
Thank you very much for this review. I literally had these two models in my Home Depot on line shopping cart. You have made my decision easy and clear.
Unwrapping those feels like winning the lottery!
Heh doesn’t it?
@@pascopowerproducts7330 Greetings from Winnipeg Manitoba 🇨🇦
Oh hello! Greetings here from tampa Florida!