36 inch

[ahmha]

For the past couple of weeks i,ve spent quite a bit of time search/researching past threads, amazing amount of info is availible there. here's my question.. between these three models..lesco 36" 15kw belt @$2150 ...exmark metro36" 15kw belt @$2350 ....toro proline 36" 12.5kw belt @$2500...which do you like? given these three specific models. ............seperate statement at @$4000 has anyone looked at the toro timecutter z(44" 17kohler) supposedly a home- owner mower but quite similar to the toro z master z100 series but @2000 less? thanks in advance to all.

[joshua]

toro proline 36" 12.5kw belt @$2500,,,,, personaly i would have to rule out this mower because of the horse power it just doesn't seem like enough for the price. i'm a exmark fan so i would say the exmark but i have never seen a lesco at work. it also depends on what you get with it, on my buys i got free bagging systems for my walk behinds. also, dealer support is a big issue.

[cutting edge]

This is not the answer to the question that you are asking, but I would look into a hydro. After reading on lawnsite about belt drives slipping in damp conditions I asked our local exmark rep. for his views on their belt drives. He said that their belt drives were entry level machines and that if I was planning on financing one that I would be better off getting the hydro for just a few more dollars a month. I don't know if you would be financing this machine, but from what he said and what I have read here I think that a hydro is a better buy over a belt drive. Just my .02

[Edited by cutting edge on 03-10-2001 at 01:36 AM]

[accuratelawn]

15 hp is overkill on a 36 belt drive. Look at the prices for 36 with 121/2 Kaw or 13 Kohler. The Toro is overpriced.

[ahmha]

these are base prices from local dealers( lesco and exmark ) and alamia.com for the toro. yes i will be financing and this will be my first commercial mower purchase. everybody has to start somewhere. as for the hydros i'd love to start with one but... i really can't justify the expense this time when its possible i'll upgrade to some sort of Z rider in coming years. thats why i mentioned the toro timecutter bc/ for $1500 more than the belt drive wb you get a hydro z rider. but alas for my present budget i'm gonna have to choose between one of these three. this will be my first experience with a wb so i thought i'd try out sulkys or velkys or proslides after deciding on a mower.

[Evan528]

12.5hp not enough for a 36 inch mower? I have a 12.5 kawasaki on my gravely 36.... I can bush hog with that mower and the engine dosnt even strain! yes i do think 2500 dollars is alot of a 36 inch mower... it all comes down to whether you would rather have pistal grips or the t-bar steering. Many who use the toros with t-bar would gladly pay extra for another one! Also, a belt drive is fine to start out with! I used my 36 inch belt drive for 2 years fulltime when i first started and had no problems... yes the belts will slip if it is raining or the grass is really saturated but 95% of the time i have no slippage at all. If the grass is so wet that the belts are slipping its a sign you shouldnt be cutting!

[rdh]

12.5 on my snapper 36"
i can bush hog also and it never clogs up.
i never even have to scrape the deck even in wet grass.

[kutnkru]

Ergonomics:
The Toro is the way to fly here. The T-Bar system for steering will eliminate so much of the operator fatigue that pistol grips will give you.

Quality of Cut:
The eXmark with the 15hp will give you better performance than the toro because they are both belt driven units. I am not a big fan of Lesco equipment because most of their products are MTD manufactured and I want durability from my equipment. And Lesco just doesnt give me that warm fuzzy feeling about being able to contend with the others in question.

Hope this helps.
Kris

[Richard Martin]

If it were me I would go with the Exmark. In fact I did! Once I got over a couple of bumps in the engine (not Exmarks fault) my 36 has been flawless.

I know a lot of people put the pistol grips down because of the fatigue factor but I just don't have that problem and neither does my helper.

The 15 hp engine will work very well on this mower, you will be happy.

When you have a choice between buying online and local you should go with the local option. This way you should not have any problems getting your machine serviced quick should the need arise. Most dealers will put a machine that they didn't sell at the bottom of the repair list.

[equipguy]

Go with the LESCO heck you get a two year warranty with the unit covers engine and mower. The mowers are not made by MTD they are made by CTP joint venture. Service is important with the product that you buy will the dealer back the product with a loaner if yours goes down? If so,heck your getting two mowers for the price of one. Maybe we like LESCO so much because of the great service that we get.

[Roger]

I started five years ago with an Exmark 36" hydro, 15hp Kohler. I had some initial problems with the Kohler, but since that time, the machine has been trouble free. I feel the quality of cut is excellent compared to other contractors in my area.

My viewpoint is the extra money for hydro was well worth the initial expense. I'm glad every day that I choose the hydro. I'm nearly 60 years old and the mobility of the hydro makes a huge improvement in how I can work. Also, I feel the productivity increase of a hydro can pay itself back in short time. I always have the speed I want, not having to select one gear over another. Also, the hydro enables me to make tri-corner turns at the end of the passes, leaving a clean job and no turf damage.

If you are working solo, and can add just 2 or 3 extra jobs each week because of productivity, won't the payoff be there? And, you have a machine easy to operate and one that can do a good job on all properties.

I know that many have used gear drive machines for a long time and have done well with them, but for my money ....

[MowForReal]

Get the Exmark. I own an Exmark 36. Only the two belts have needed replacing. It is very reliable compared to another belt-drive I had before. And the grip pistons aren't too bad.
Never buy anything made for a homeowner if you going to use it often.--like everyday!
I wouldn't get a 36" as your main machine. Go with something bigger like a ZTR.--They're twice as fast. My business operates two ZTRs. And you just sit there and bounce around.

[summitgroundskeeping]

Look at Gravely. Very nice 36"'ers, but a little long. Definitally worth at least considering.
http://www.gravely.com

[Evan528]

I own a 96 gravely 36 with a 12.5 kawasaki! This mower has run flaulussly sinc it was new! I have not done a thing to it exept proper maintenance! the quality of cut is exelent and has plenty of power for even the toughest conditions!

[LScom Addict]

I think the Toro you mentioned would be of the same caliber as the Ariens available at the Home Depot. As for the walk behinds I would rate them in this order: 1.eXmark 2. Toro 3. Lesco

[dlandscaping2]

i have the toro 36 tbar with the 12.5 kaw engine and it is great i have had no real problems except a manufacture screwup on the blade belt which was fixed no charge i love the tbar steering. the quality of cut is identical to the exmark for the fixed decks the machines are exactly the same except for the handles. i put an exmark and toro side by side and neither had a problem in 1 foot grass neither stalled but my lesco 48 with 15 kawa did stall a few times and it was brand new i would go with the toro for now because your hands will not b hurting after a few hours behind it it is fun to use and i use it 10times to 1 over my pistol gips just my input and the timecutter i asked my dealer about it today and he said they are junk and would not hold up for me and i only use my mowers 2 times a week for 8 hrs each day ifu look at them they are like the older toro floating deck walkbehinds 99 and older except they have a seat and no tbar haha

[kutnkru]

DL2

Welcome to lawnsite.

I noticed in your profile that you put the great 'ol US of A for your location. You might want to at least put in your state so that as questions arise we will know which demographic locale you are from and this helps everyone better understand your soil, grass, and weather conditions.

Just a hint and enjoy!
Kris

[Lawn DOG]

You guy's have little whimpy 36" mowers. My Great Dane Surfer 36" mower has a 17hp Kawasaki. Can you say "POWER". Eat my dust!:D

[leaflawnandlimb]

the 36 exmark metro will be avail. with ECS next season. (2002)

[kutnkru]

Originally posted by Lawn DOG
You guy's have little whimpy 36" mowers. My Great Dane Surfer 36" mower has a 17hp Kawasaki. Can you say "POWER". Eat my dust!:D Reminds me of the story about the old bull and the young bull standing on the hill looking down at the herd of cows below ... you know the rest -LOL!!! :laugh:

Kris

[eslawns]

The mowers are not made by MTD they are made by CTP joint venture.

Lesco mowers and MTD Pro mowers are completely identical. Not similar, identical. I saw them side by side at the Expo last year. Whoever makes them, they make both of them. At least unless they've changed since the spring.

I agree that Lesco has great service, but for the $$ that Exmark is awesome.

For the orifinal ?? a 15hp is not too much hp, and a 12.5 is not too little. If you prefer the T-bar steering, go with Toro. If you like the pistol grip, consider other factors, such as the distance the dealer is from you, or whether they offer loaners, or even whether you want to buy other equipment from them. Either machine is a good choice.

[Eng Mwr Guy]

If the only choice is the 3 mentioned I would recommend the Exmark. The 36 inch deck Gravely has a good reputation but you indicated no interest in this.

I will not bash the competition. I will say that Exmark builds a good walk machine, better than their parent company Toro.

With all that said, find out which dealer will service you at quitting time when you are behind in your accounts. Find out which dealer will jump on your trailer with their tools and fix you up on the spot. This is where you want to be. Your dealer choice should be one of the primary considerations.


Barry Adamski
Gravely/Ariens Engineer

[Cleve]

Hello neighbor,
My first commercial mower was also a 36" WB.
Now use a Walker diesel for most lawns but still use and enjoy the Toro T-bar with the 14HP Kohler on it. Got to believe that a 12.5 will be more than enough for the 36".
I never have had the Toro bog down or cause any problems. Still makes a smooth cut on any lawn. With the T-bar (only type I have used), you can mow and steer with one hand at your side. Not something you see with the pistol grip mowers.
Cleve.

[lawnperfections]

I just purchased a 36 Honda, gear drive, with a sulky out the door for $2852.00, my 1st comm. mower. Demoed the 3 you are asking about.

[65hoss]

You'll wish you had something instead of that Honda before long. I bought a true gear last spring, within 3 months I sold it. Hard to operate, especially with sulky. The guy I sold it to has had many problems with it. 100 hours on it and the spindles are gone, its been in the shop many times, and parts are really hard to get. Sell it now and buy the exmark.


The exmark equipment in my experience has been the best I've found, and the manufacturer support is second to NONE!

[Jerald O'Malley]

Hey lawndog im with you on this. i own a 36 Wright stander with a Kawi 17 and it is in a different league compared to any belt drives with 13 or 14 hp. I should know, i have used belt drives for over 10 years Ransomes, Buntons etc. I have always been a big fan of Honda engines 13hp but it still doesnt compare to the power of the 17hp

[miquel]

Most certainly the Toro is overpriced, but it's by far the better machine.