32' Toro Walk behind--CUt/Options

[GreenIsland]

Not to offend anyone- and not to rehash- as I have searched and searched and am getting alot of conflicting data. My question is is the 32" Toro walk behinds cut professional enough - and if not what other brands would be my option -- I have alot of yards with gates and no other size will work. I was looking into one of these yet I have seen alot of negative flak on the actual quality of cut. Owners please post-- people upset that this question has probably been ask a million times sorry-- just need real good advice.I mainly would be using machine on Buffalo grass. Any modifications help appreciated as well.Thanks

[Mowingman]

I bought one last spring for the same reason, narrow gates leading into big yards. Mine is fixed deck, T-bar steering, and 12.5hp Kawasaki eng. I am very happy with it. It cuts nice and has plenty of power. Toro does not make a mulch kit for this machine and Gator blades are not available for it. However, I have not found the lack of this capability to be a problem, as the cut looks good anyway. You could run doubles on this machine if you wanted to. I cut Bermuda and St. Augustine, so I don't know how it would do in other grasses. I like the 32" as it will clear a 34" opening.:)

[Eng Mwr Guy]

If you don't need a t-bar the new 32 Gravely is pretty good.

Barry

[65hoss]

I checked out the new gravely's last week. Nice looking machines and they are very well built. (Barry, you guys did a good job). Can you get a mulch kit for the 32"? If so, go look at them over the toro.

[sid]

EXMARK VIKING HYDRO 32" will kick any 32" belt azz.

[GreenIsland]

I got on the Toro website and it appears that they have a mulch kit for the 32"- others have stated they do not. Because I live in such a desolate state I can't even find a dealer with one. Can anyone tell me if they have such a machine with mulcher--I appreciate it. AS far as the other brands of machine I can't find many dealers close as well that are carrying anything in a 32-- I'm afraid the larger ones just won't get me through many gates. (KANSAS=Few MAchines/Many gates)

[LAWNGODFATHER]

All of the commercial mowers cut proffesionaly, just your opinion or variation of that is what counts.

[Ray&Christine]

I have a Toro 32 inch WB. It is a great machine, in six years the only thing I have replaced is the front tires. The quality of cut is not too bad, I have not had any complaints from my customers about it. It came with the recycler deck which mulches and side discharges. If the grass is really long it will tend to clump a little when side discharging but it mulches very well, other than that I would not hesitate buying another one if this one ever wears out.

Ray

[joed]

Green Island,
Opinions on the Toro 32" depend on the model you are looking at. The older model with the single blade and floating deck has not had a lot of positive review from what I have heard. It apparently tends to scalp and does not side discharge real well. The newer fixed deck 32" has much better reviews probably due to the fact that it has 2 single blades leaving a much nice cut. As far as I know, this unit has no mulching kit, which is a shame but you could probably manufactor one for yourself. Other models you may wish to consider are the Gravely 32 and Exmark 32. The toro 32 is exactly the same as the exmark 32 except for the T-bar steering. The exmark 32 comes only with pistol grip. ECS is not available. If you really want to spend some big bucks, you could always go with the Exmark hydro 32". It'll be close to double the price but a hydro is a hydro though personally, I would not want to spend that amount of money on a 32" mower.

[MuskTurfKing]

I don't know where you got your info joed, but the new Toro's use a single blade, Exmark uses 2 blades. I don't see how you can scalp a lawn with such a small deck, doesn't seem possible, heck I can't even scalp with my 42" FIXED lawn tractor.

You can get either a fixed deck or a floating deck with the Toro, for a price of course, a deck so small that would not be a main mower, I would go with whatever is cheaper, it's not going to be used all the time...or is it?

Personally, I feel that if money is tight, it could be worth the extra time to use a 21" and spend a little longer unless the back yard is just huge. A 21" costs less, cheaper to maintain, less to breakdown etc, less equipment and less hassle = more $$$

If cheap is what you want, Toro makes a 10.5 HP, fixed deck mower, I'm sure it's cheap, you don't need a big ol' fancy 32" just for your gated accounts.

Hank

[MWHC]

I have an older Toro 32" with a 12.5 Kohler and floating deck. This unit does scalp easily, especially in the hands of an inexperienced user. That is my only complaint really.

The quality of cut depends on the length of grass. It mulches and bags fairly well. The unit has been extremely durable. It is also the only mower that I own that will bag cigarette butts (every other mower I own spits them out). T-bar is also real easy to train new people on.

[MuskTurfKing]

How can a floating deck mower scalp easily? That's why you buy a floating deck, so it won't scalp as easily, right?

Hank

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Exmark Mero 32" belt drive Pistol grip only.

Exmark Viking 32" hydro ECS only.

No Exmark 32" available with a floating deck.

[Eng Mwr Guy]

****65hoss wrote

I checked out the new gravely's last week. Nice looking machines and they are very well built. (Barry, you guys did a good job). Can you get a mulch kit for the 32"? If so, go look at them over the toro.****

Mulch kit available, double blades available and striping kit available.

Barry
Ariens/Gravely

[joed]

MuskturfKing writes,
I don't know where you got your info joed, but the new Toro's use a single blade, Exmark uses 2 blades.

Muskturfking,
Toro's 32" floating deck has a single 32" blade. The 32" fixed deck has 2 blades just like Exmarks.

[MuskTurfKing]

Sorry about that Joed, ya learn something new every day. I think if you have enough power to turn the 32" blade good, the quality of cut should be great. I know Total Lawn has the 32" floater and he says it cuts VERY good. Maybe it cuts our bermuda that we have down here better.

Personally, when I start full time later, I'd like to have me a Walker, and a 21 or a 32, it all depends on the accounts I have.

Hank

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Lets get some thing straight.

My old Snapper Comet 32" single balde with a 11hp B&S had plenty of power to mow Zoysia.

Next this guy is in Kansas so not much Burmuda and Zoysia.

Not like yall from them Southern states.

Next he has many many fenced in lawns to mow, and most of them are bagged.

Any commercial 32" mower will do fine.

Just don't get a stelth.

Now what is Buffalo grass?

[MuskTurfKing]

I'm assuming your talking to me, so when I was talking about Bermuda, it had nothing to do with his deal, I was just rambling, like I am now.

He said they have to be bagged? I reread all his posts, where am I missing this?

I also want to know what "Buffalo" grass is.

Hank

[Nelson]

I have a Toro 32" floating deck W/Sulky. Does just fine for me. Gets threw any gate W/O any problems. Has plenty of power even with the Sulky. I am @ 220 Pounds & Have not had any problems yet. I purchased it last August. So no problems thus far. When I do get more accounts I will get a bigger deck. But for know It does the job for me. :D

[Mowingman]

BUFFALOGRASS
The only turfgrass choice native to North America. Warm-season grass with fine,wiry blue-green blades. Suitable for school yards, church grounds, and other low-maint. locations. Good for native plant and xeriscape landscapes. Not as showy as other turf choices, but more durable than many.Spreads by stolens.Grown from seed, sod or plugs.(From "Neil Sperry's Complete Guide To Texas Gardening") It looks like a yellowish coarse Bermuda Grass.:(

[joed]

GreenIsland & Mowing Man,

I just got a response from Exmark in which they said that an Exmark mulch kit for the 32" fixed deck Toro should work since Exmark makes the 32" mower for Toro and the 2 decks are identical. You would need to go to an Exmark dealer to get it, however.