My experience with my Toros have been 180 degrees from yours. The SR 4 is one of the best models ever made. I also have an older one with the Tecumseh engine. It was used for my back up ditch mower. Sat for 2 years, shot some starting fluid in it, started on the first pull. Cable problems??? Make sure they're adjusted properly, and keep them lubed. No need to wash the deck each time. I do not cut grass when it's wet, and just blow the deck off each time it's used. I use 4 different Toros. The only problem I have had is one personal pace one I have at my lodge. The deck rotted out where the battery box is. My fault completely. It's about 20 years old, I DIDN'T clean the underside of the deck and eventually the wet grass did it in. The engine (Briggs) still runs great, I did take care of the engine. Want to hear some horror stories??? Talk to the Honda guys after their transmissions give up the ghost. Then it truly becomes a push mower!!!
I just replaced my '99 Personal Pace with a brand new one. I've not had nearly the trouble you have. I've kept several yards and a cemetery in check with it. Things did wear out, of course. The drive train was completely worn out and it was shoving a brick through the yard. Still ran great and cut perfectly. It had a special Briggs engine that was 30% quieter than everything else. You didn't notice that until you got around someone else's mower. The new I got is a blacked out model with red trim. So far, so good.
Toro mowers aren't what they used to be unfortunately. We had a 2008 Super Recycler which is IMO much more worth spending the money on than the standard Recycler. That aluminum deck and improved blade and underside design really does a great job mulching. I've never used the personal pace since our's was a base model that was a push mower but I know people love and hate it. I have to say though, the B&S engine on that thing always started right up, even after sitting for months at a time. I recently gave it to someone who needed a mower and I have a Honda HRX with the blade clutch which is hands down the best mower I've ever used.
Cool, I like the cut quality of the Recyclers but they are very heavy and cumbersome. The personal pace system always seems like more work than the traditional "variable speed" setup, and I've thought about converting mine in the past.
Been using the same recycler with a Briggs on it instead for about 7 years now to mow 4 lawns at a time. Only issue I’ve had is the cores of the wheels break out from rough ground, mine are now filled solid with non expanding gorilla glue. Has held up that way for a few years. Bagger tends to bounce open too, have to wedge a 2x4 between the bag and the handle bars. Also couldn’t get a battery that would crank it fast enough to start so I bought a second battery box on eBay, mounted it next to the original with self tappers, and spliced it into the wiring.
When you say "cores," are you talking about the cracked plastic cone at 7:43 on the video? If so, not sure what you mean about using the glue. I agree that that is a weak spot for Toro & I would love to strengthen it if possible. Grateful if you could elaborate.
@@jjparody8257 Mine have cracked the opposite direction so that the whole cone shape is separate just riding on the axle, especially the backs as they take more weight. I replaced the backs with new once, then the second time took them off, rinsed them out and dried them, set them face down, and filled them with glue until it was level with the inner edge of the wheel. I used a tooth pick to pop an air bubbles and get it as solid as possible.
@@jeffrey.lebowski I see it now; that's a great idea. Last question, what kind of glue? You mentioned some type of Gorilla & I thought of JBWeld but I think the cost of enough JB to fill that area would be more than a new wheel.
Your right good work horse mower The problem is is they just Nicolin dime you to death. Anytime it when I had my small engines business and I got these I would fix them once or twice if they came back in trade-ins the second time but after that I usually just put them in my boneyard for parts if they came back for a third time because they’re just not worth putting a whole ton of money into. Especially if you have a small engines business because it’s not feasible to keep band aiding mowers that Constantly need things in my opinion
There are way too many nice mowers sitting at the dump to put up with that crap. Glad you enjoy them but they would have hit my dead line a long time ago.
You must be really tough on your Toros, I have had and sold over 20 of them ranging from 2004 to 2014 front wheel and rear wheel versions and they are great mowers. I'm not a huge fan of that personal pace, I like a mower you throw into a gear not have pressure determine the speed. I had a 1994 Toro Super Pro Recycler 3 speed that was still in perfect shape when I sold it last year.
I picked up a 3 speed model last year. About 25 years old and in perfect condition. I took the transmission cover off, scraped out the old grease, and repacked it. Smooth as silk and will probably outlive me.
My friend sold me a bunch of tractors, one he sed the motor was knocking bad. I sed dont matter. So a lil investigation , 3 of the 4 motor bolts were gone , the 4th bolt was loose, hence " rod knock", was the smoothest motor actually. I ended up selling the motor back to him lol
I love my super recycler. I’ve had it for years and used it commercially. Never let me down. Mine has the Honda engine
My experience with my Toros have been 180 degrees from yours. The SR 4 is one of the best models ever made. I also have an older one with the Tecumseh engine. It was used for my back up ditch mower. Sat for 2 years, shot some starting fluid in it, started on the first pull. Cable problems??? Make sure they're adjusted properly, and keep them lubed. No need to wash the deck each time. I do not cut grass when it's wet, and just blow the deck off each time it's used. I use 4 different Toros. The only problem I have had is one personal pace one I have at my lodge. The deck rotted out where the battery box is. My fault completely. It's about 20 years old, I DIDN'T clean the underside of the deck and eventually the wet grass did it in. The engine (Briggs) still runs great, I did take care of the engine. Want to hear some horror stories??? Talk to the Honda guys after their transmissions give up the ghost. Then it truly becomes a push mower!!!
Toro Recyclers, They practically RECYCLE Themselves!
I just replaced my '99 Personal Pace with a brand new one. I've not had nearly the trouble you have. I've kept several yards and a cemetery in check with it. Things did wear out, of course. The drive train was completely worn out and it was shoving a brick through the yard. Still ran great and cut perfectly. It had a special Briggs engine that was 30% quieter than everything else. You didn't notice that until you got around someone else's mower. The new I got is a blacked out model with red trim. So far, so good.
I admire your persistence but I think I would have bought a new mower and chucked those in the dump awhile ago. lol
Still using the montgomery wards?
Toro mowers aren't what they used to be unfortunately. We had a 2008 Super Recycler which is IMO much more worth spending the money on than the standard Recycler. That aluminum deck and improved blade and underside design really does a great job mulching. I've never used the personal pace since our's was a base model that was a push mower but I know people love and hate it. I have to say though, the B&S engine on that thing always started right up, even after sitting for months at a time. I recently gave it to someone who needed a mower and I have a Honda HRX with the blade clutch which is hands down the best mower I've ever used.
Cool, I like the cut quality of the Recyclers but they are very heavy and cumbersome. The personal pace system always seems like more work than the traditional "variable speed" setup, and I've thought about converting mine in the past.
Been using the same recycler with a Briggs on it instead for about 7 years now to mow 4 lawns at a time. Only issue I’ve had is the cores of the wheels break out from rough ground, mine are now filled solid with non expanding gorilla glue. Has held up that way for a few years. Bagger tends to bounce open too, have to wedge a 2x4 between the bag and the handle bars. Also couldn’t get a battery that would crank it fast enough to start so I bought a second battery box on eBay, mounted it next to the original with self tappers, and spliced it into the wiring.
When you say "cores," are you talking about the cracked plastic cone at 7:43 on the video? If so, not sure what you mean about using the glue. I agree that that is a weak spot for Toro & I would love to strengthen it if possible. Grateful if you could elaborate.
@@jjparody8257 Mine have cracked the opposite direction so that the whole cone shape is separate just riding on the axle, especially the backs as they take more weight. I replaced the backs with new once, then the second time took them off, rinsed them out and dried them, set them face down, and filled them with glue until it was level with the inner edge of the wheel. I used a tooth pick to pop an air bubbles and get it as solid as possible.
@@jeffrey.lebowski I see it now; that's a great idea. Last question, what kind of glue? You mentioned some type of Gorilla & I thought of JBWeld but I think the cost of enough JB to fill that area would be more than a new wheel.
@@jjparody8257 Clear gorilla glue, dries clear without foaming or expanding.
Your right good work horse mower The problem is is they just Nicolin dime you to death. Anytime it when I had my small engines business and I got these I would fix them once or twice if they came back in trade-ins the second time but after that I usually just put them in my boneyard for parts if they came back for a third time because they’re just not worth putting a whole ton of money into. Especially if you have a small engines business because it’s not feasible to keep band aiding mowers that Constantly need things in my opinion
There are way too many nice mowers sitting at the dump to put up with that crap. Glad you enjoy them but they would have hit my dead line a long time ago.
You must be really tough on your Toros, I have had and sold over 20 of them ranging from 2004 to 2014 front wheel and rear wheel versions and they are great mowers. I'm not a huge fan of that personal pace, I like a mower you throw into a gear not have pressure determine the speed.
I had a 1994 Toro Super Pro Recycler 3 speed that was still in perfect shape when I sold it last year.
I picked up a 3 speed model last year. About 25 years old and in perfect condition. I took the transmission cover off, scraped out the old grease, and repacked it. Smooth as silk and will probably outlive me.
My friend sold me a bunch of tractors, one he sed the motor was knocking bad. I sed dont matter. So a lil investigation , 3 of the 4 motor bolts were gone , the 4th bolt was loose, hence " rod knock", was the smoothest motor actually. I ended up selling the motor back to him lol
Buy a stainless steel brake cable kit for a bicycle. No more rotted cables!
what happened to your montgomery wards
I would have kept that honda you found down the road and sold both them Toros.
Yeah, they're great until the transmissions give up!!! My GCV 160 engine on my craftsman works great though!!!
You should have gotten a Honda, its better than America built..
Sounds like a piece of shit they dont make things like they used to