Toro 32" Recycler Mower-Need Advice

[joed]

I recently came across a good deal for a used Toro 32" Recycler WB. It has a 12.5 Kohler engine on it and seems to be in good use. I don't know whether to take the deal for the following reasons:
1. This model has a floating deck but only 1 long 32" blade. I have heard that this causes the machine to scalp.
2. It has no bag. That's another $500.
3. I don't know if it will significantly decrease my mowing times. I only have 10 lots which I do with a 21" John Deere and 21" Toro commercial units. Is this thing gonna help me?
I would appreciate any advice from those of you who have the machine or have seen it work. My other alternative is to finance a 36" Toro with a fixed deck. Yet, the cost doesn't seem justifiable given the part-time nature of my business. Thanks for the help.

[lawrence stone]

Back in the day when I was a young scrub I had a Toro rear engine riding mower with a 12 hp briggs and a 32" deck.

I had just a mulching blade and a discharge cover and left a trail of clippings along the one edge of the deck. I mostly used it the side discharge mode with a blade with lift.

If this unit has the proper installed plastic kickers and a proper recycler blade it should work fine.

If you don't like that deck e-mail me and I will trade you a 48" recycler deck and carrier plus the drive tires (32" have smaller sized rear wheels and tires vs. larger units) somewhere halfway in upstate NY.

[joed]

Is the 48" recycler you are talking about a fixed deck? I never knew that there was a 48" floating recycling deck

[lawrence stone]

Originally posted by joed
Is the 48" recycler you are talking about a fixed deck? I never knew that there was a 48" floating recycling deck

Yes it is a full floater that was produced in the early 1990's.

It is a welded beast and is as HD as they come. There are two 23" blades that turn into each other in separate chambers. One small 10" blade is in the center out front cuts the part the twin blades don't. Be advised you will have to use 2 or 3 gear in very heavy growth and the deck will need cleaning more than a side discharge machine but there is no bagging issues.

A pic of the underside of the deck is attached.

[Stinger]

I own the exact same unit of which you speak. We put it in backyards where gates limit the size of machine that can be used. It will run circles around any 21'' unit and decrease your current cutting time. The single blade does not scalp and gives a good cut either mulching or open chute. If you are in this for the long haul go for the 36'' otherwise buy a jungle wheels or some kind of sulky and get to work.

[joed]

What's a jungle weed? Does the 32" have a sulky attachment?

[Calvin]

Joed,
Stay far away from any belt driven machine if your doing Toronto city lots. Your 21 will run circles around a 32 belt on our small props. Go hydro.
If you're getting that Toro from Kooy Bros. it may be the one we tried last year & quickly discarded. The 32 deck was a seller for gates but getting that machine around those small, tightly landscaped lots makes the 21 a better choice.
Hydro.
Hydro.
Hydro.

[joed]

Calvin,
Thanks for the advice. I know the hydro is the way to go but given its cost and the part time nature of my business, it is just too much to spend. A new 36" hydro goes for about $8 000 and for that money I might as well start looking for a good used Walker. I wonder if a 36" Walker wouldn't be a better bet. Nonetheless, it's hard to find a good used 36" hydro. The only steering system I like is Toro and Exmark's ECS.
Most of my properties average about 3 000 sq feet. That's why I think the 32" Toro might be o.k. What is it that you did not like about it when you tried it out? The only thing I didn't like was the big blade. Look forward to hearing from you.

[mowerconsultant]

Originally posted by joed
Calvin,
Thanks for the advice. I know the hydro is the way to go but given its cost and the part time nature of my business, it is just too much to spend. A new 36" hydro goes for about $8 000

I would be more than happy to sell you 36 hydros for 8000.00 a piece ........ call me !!!
lol
I think your numbers were mistyped there....

Pj

[Scag48]

Mowerconsultant-I think Joed was talking about Canadian currency. LOL. I jumped when I first saw that then I realized he's Canadian. But with the currency exchange, that makes it about $4750-$5000 American? That's a bit too high as well...

[Calvin]

Exmark 36 TTHP with bag & mulch kit $8500 Canadian. including TAX.

Joed,
The big blade causes serious scalping problems if you are cutting short in the spring. No problem over 3 during mulching season.
Unless your props have alot of wide open spaces stick with the 21's until you can afford hydro. YOU WON'T SAVE TIME with a 32 belt on most Toronto props. Way too many reverse maneuvers in our small, lanscaped lots for a belt drive.

[joed]

Calvin,

Wow that price for the exmark is out of this world! If I have to spend that type of money, I look for a ZTR like a Walker.

Anyhow, let me ask you a question. How much time does a 36" machine actually save you on the lawns we do. I know for example that a 4500 sq foot property takes me about 25 minutes just to mow. What would the 36 take if it can get into all of the nooks and crannies? I'm guessing 15 to 20 minutes. Am I right?

[Calvin]

I don't know if were doing the same type of Toronto props but a Z would be much less useful than a WB on our props. See a couple guys with Walkers but we outgun them with the WB's.
You will cut your time in more than half with a good 36 hydro plus you will be expending much less energy.

[joed]

Calvin,
You are a convincing salesman for the hydro. When you decide to sell your Exmark, you've got me sold on it. How does a hydro work in comparison to a belt drive? Doesn't Toro's T-bar system on a gear drive make the mower act almost like a hydro? I imagine the Toro 36" fixed deck mower wouldn't be a solution for me either.

[Calvin]

T-bar doesn't make it work like a hydro. Belt drive is belt drive no matter what control system you have. Personally I wouldn't waste my money on a belt, whatever money you save you will quickly make back with a hydro. Belt may be fine in big open areas but not on city lots. Get the 36 Toro T bar hydro or Exmark TTHP. We use both, Toro for sideblowing spring growth (SFS deck, no mulch kit avail. for floating hydro 36), Exmark for mulching. If you have to choose one go Exmark & suffer through the spring growth.

[joed]

Thanks Calvin. You are again swaying me away from my original intentions. Hydros are definitely better and I really like Exmark's 36 with ECS since you can mulch with it. The Toro 36 can't mulch and that's the disappointing aspect of it. When you side-discharge, don't you create a huge mess? Beyond Toro and Exmark, would you reccommend a pistol grip 36" hydro? Last, where's a good place to look for used hydros?

[Calvin]

I used to use pistol grip Toros. Will never will buy pistol again. Once again our small lots make an enhanced control system almost essential. Go T-bar or ECS. Toro will probably have a mulch kit for the 36 hydro floater for next year. The SFS deck distributes clippings pretty well in the spring so there is no "huge mess".
Personally I stay away from any used comm unit but I think WE Enterprices has a last year model Exmark hydro for a good price.

[joed]

Calvin,
Thanks again for your help. I actually found an interesting model last night at Kooys. They have a Ferris Hydro 36" for $5 100. The control system is quite easy. All you do is push down one thumb latch to make it go forward and pull the latch back to make it go into reverse. It does have a fixed deck and no mulch kit, however. Have you ever seen the Ferris work?