Looking at 36" Hydro

[Scag48]

Hey guys. Well, I'm back to looking at a 36", can't get a 48" dad says. I'm going to check it out this weekend when I'm over on the other side of the mountains. It's a brand new Toro 36" hydro full floater with e/start for $3500, which to me, is a good deal. I'm going to go through it pretty good and want to put it through the paces. I'll see if there is some way to test it out, but since I don't live over there, I can't really take it anywhere to try it out. Seeing how it's new, I'm sure there isn't a whole lot that is going to be wrong with it. I would like some input on this mower if anyone out there has one. I will specifically be mulching and have heard that between Toro and Exmark, the race is about a tie. Can I use a Proslide or Velke for this mower? I'm looking at getting a Proslide for it, but where can I get one? None of the dealers that I have talked to had any clue what I was talking about. LOL. Thanks for any input, positive or negative, I'd really like to know how these machines perform since I haven't really traveled down this road. I'll keep posted as I can. Thanks guys!

[SLS]

Scag48,

I was wondering if the Toro you are going to look at has a twin-hydro setup? You know...a hydro pump and wheel motor for each drive wheel.

I just bought a Exmark Turf Tracer HP 36" w/ECS (15 hp Kawasaki) and if the Toro is anything like it I think you'll be very pleased. It is not an electric start type...but it fires on the first pull every morning. Great cut, easy to handle, easy to maintain, and gobs of power! A fantastic piece of machinery! I have a Jungle Wheels sulky (never tried the Proslide) so I cannot comment about that.

Good luck on your search...and "hydro rules!". :D

[ProMo]

i emailed mark the proslide guy to see if he can set you up

[dlandscaping]

Well scag48,
the toro hydro is a nice machine and discharges well, has the 5bu bag which is nice, no latches. but no mulch kit.
Exmark and toro fixed decks have a kit. i have one on my toro 36 fixed and arent that impressed with it. In fact i am taking it off.

[Flex-Deck]

Get the eXmark 36" Viking - put a Flex-Deck on it for a 54" cut-we sell direct for $1299 and you would have about 3 hrs mounting time - Add the "$4000 for a hydro and you will end up with a $5299 - flip up and get thru gates - trimming and contour mower that mows 54" width.

Just how much is a normal 54" hydro?

Thanks, Brad

[LAWNGODFATHER]

SLS it has 2 pumps and wheel motors. It is the smae hydro system as an eXmark.

Brad has given you another option for the Exmark mower with a Flex-Deck.

Scag48 is it a pistol grip or t-bar?

[Scag48]

I checked out the Toro today. I wasn't impressed with it all that much. The T-Bar was easy to learn, but was annoying because you can't take one hand off of the bars to scratch an itch or something. It was good for the price, but it doesn't mulch. You have to get the 37" deck to mulch and that wasn't possible for the price. The single cylinder Kohler 15 didn't appeal to me. So, with all that said, he had a demo Exmark Turf Tracer HP 36" with Jungle Wheels on it. I was really impressed with this machine. With 5 hours on the machine, they offered a 15% discount, which the price before tax was $4100. Tax and mulch kit comes out to $4500 out the door. I tried the Metro HP 36" and the belt didn't compare. Doesn't counter-rotate with turns, and my dad even tells me its a waste to buy a belt when for $700 more, I can get a hydro. That's the direction I'm headed. When I get the money I'm going to go pick it up. Exmark is far superior to the Toro. I even got a free exmark T-shirt!:D My hat is off to the dealer. Very insightful and spent an hour and a half talking with me about it and letting me try the machines out. It's nice to have a good dealer and this one is definately a keeper. :)

[dlandscaping]

"The T-Bar was easy to learn, but was annoying because you can't take one hand off of the bars to scratch an itch or something."

What kind of tbar are you talking about??????
You can operate that machine with only one hand never mind itching. And if you take both hands off it returns to neutral. I dont get what you are saying here.
As for the toro with no mulch kit, yes as i said there isnt one but it has a larger bag. The tthp is a good machine but no elec start and ecs which i didnt care for. Well the decision is yours but dont get too hyped up about that mulch kit.

[Scag48]

dlandscaping-If you take one hand off the hydro T-bar, the machine will turn, unless one hand was exactly in the middle of the bar, which would be tough. I don't want to bag. I don't care for it and it takes too much time emptying on the job and disposing after the day is over. I'd rather mulch because it's good for the lawn anyway. I'm not a big guy and I could easily pull start the TTHP. If you find that an inconvenience, I'd say you're a little picky. I'm not bashing the machine, I'm just saying that it didn't have what I'm looking for. The ECS handles weren't as touchy as the T-bar. The T-bar had a tendency to wander a little and couldn't get it to go perfectly straight. With the ECS, you just hit the two sticks on top to get it to move and steer with the levers, which wasn't too hard to learn. Also, on the T-bar, to get it to go full ground speed, you have to loosen those little things on the side of the bars to move up the front bar in turn making the hand bars go farther making the machine go faster (phew!) Now, if you want to go fast sometimes but want to slow down in some places, you'd have to set the speed bar as fast as you want to go. But when you want to go slower, you'd have to try and maintain constant pressure on the hand bar like halfway. If one hand got tired, you'd turn. Kind of hard to explain, but the Toro owners know what I'm talking about. Anyway, just my opinion. I'm headed down Exmark road. Hopefully we'll pick it up next week. Can't wait!

[dlandscaping]

Scag48,
I am a toro owner. I use tbar every day. Have logged close to 650 hours on my tbar and mowed with a neighbor in the spring with his toro hydro. I have also used ecs and wasnt impressed too much work with thumb and fingers. Tbar is easier. I wasnt saying the tthp is hard to pull start in fact it is the easiest, I have owned that engine before, i was stating that you just dont have that $200 option on the exmark. You wont be able to mulch everything especially in the fall. When leaf season rolls around you will want a bagger. You cant mulch through leaves that your machine is just pushing along it doesnt work. This is why I am adding a tracvac to my machine and taking off the mulch kit. If you had an itch why not stop the machine since you have to on the exmark. I just found some of what you posted inaccurate. Good luck with your new mower though.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Originally posted by Scag48
I don't want to bag. I don't care for it and it takes too much time emptying on the job and disposing after the day is over. I'd rather mulch because it's good for the lawn anyway. With the ECS, you just hit the two sticks on top to get it to move and steer with the levers, which wasn't too hard to learn.

I don't bag or use a mulch kit. I let it fly, does the same thing if not better.

EXMARKS DO NOT HAVE TRACKING LEVERS, they have ONE (1) speed lever in the middle, and a tacking knob on the right hydro to adj. it straight.

With the toro "T" bar you put your hand in the middle and hold it to your set ground speed. It will go straight or your "tracking" is off.

Also on a T bar hydro you set you speed at full and stick you fingers between the t bar and the speed set to help with going straight at lower speeds.

I don't care for Toro T bar's either.

[Flex-Deck]

LGF is right - Mow it high and let it fly - Just figure out a blade system whether it be doubles or gators or anything else that cuts the clippings into small pieces. The yard will look better every year as you return the clippings to the ground supporting the growth.

See you at the KC BBQ.

Thanks, Brad - Will have an eXmark 2002 36" Viking with the Flex-Deck Trimming and contour mowing attachment (54" total cut-fold up and get thru gates) along with a 455 - JD Tractor with the Flex-Deck.

Thanks Brad

[Scag48]

LGF-I tried to explain. LOL. The two "levers" that I was refering to were the two things on the handles that your palms sit on. You can take on hand off and the other holds it down. I'd rather steer by pulling levers than by pushing a large bar. Just my opinion.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

That be the OPC/safety switch.

The T bar is easier to learn for beginners, but once you have use pistol grips there is no going back.

I kinda like the ECS but still have mixed feelings on it. I guess I would have to put some hours on one, and get used to it.

[Evan528]

Originally posted by LAWNGODFATHER
.

The T bar is easier to learn for beginners, but once you have use pistol grips there is no going back.



I agree!!! I have used pistal grips for almost 8 years now. I have demoed just about every alternative steering out there for walkbehinds out there and still prefer the feel and control of good ole pistal grips! The only new steering Id ever even consider is the ECS on Exmark. Guess its the figers doing the steering. All the other alternatives are steered using yuur arms abd upper body muscles!

[Scag48]

When you use your arms, you can get tired and stripes can be inconsistent, and we wouldn't want that! :D I'd much rather not use much needed energy just to run the mower. After trimming for a long time, it would be tough to use your remaining energy just to mow. I'm thinking that I would get tired too easily running a T-bar. Just my opinion again.

[brucec32]

Originally posted by Scag48
I checked out the Toro today. I wasn't impressed with it all that much. The T-Bar was easy to learn, but was annoying because you can't take one hand off of the bars to scratch an itch or something. It was good for the price, but it doesn't mulch. You have to get the 37" deck to mulch and that wasn't possible for the price. The single cylinder Kohler 15 didn't appeal to me. So, with all that said, he had a demo Exmark Turf Tracer HP 36" with Jungle Wheels on it. I was really impressed with this machine. With 5 hours on the machine, they offered a 15% discount, which the price before tax was $4100. Tax and mulch kit comes out to $4500 out the door. I tried the Metro HP 36" and the belt didn't compare. Doesn't counter-rotate with turns, and my dad even tells me its a waste to buy a belt when for $700 more, I can get a hydro. That's the direction I'm headed. When I get the money I'm going to go pick it up. Exmark is far superior to the Toro. I even got a free exmark T-shirt!:D My hat is off to the dealer. Very insightful and spent an hour and a half talking with me about it and letting me try the machines out. It's nice to have a good dealer and this one is definately a keeper. :)

This is another example of a poorly conducted demo. The dealer should have shown you how to hold the t bar. IT can be STEERED with one hand, so keeping it straight with one is easy. Also, apples to apples features, a hydro will cost more than $700 more than a belt drive. Still worth it in most cases, but get the facts straight to make the best decision. The T bar is continually misunderstood by those who haven't learned to use it yet and are used to different systems. Once it becomes second nature, I find it less tiring and easier to use in odd places. You certainly don't have engine kill if you let go of it in gear like pistol grip belt drives, it returns to neutral.

I have Exmarks and Toros. The Exmark is great, but hardly could be said to be "far superior to the Toro". In fact, with T bar steering, the Toro is the best belt drive out there, since it's nearly as easy to control as a hydro. Certainly beats knee-shifting with pistol grips. On hydros, the advantage narrows. On some types of turf, the Exmark cut is superior, but on much it doesn't matter enough to care. On a tight budget, I'd pick a floating deck belt drive Toro T-bar over a fixed deck hydro for the way I use walk behinds (for mowing turf after rainy nights before the ground is dry and as a backup and gated area mower, with very different mowing heights between lawns). $2800 vs. $4500 takes a long time to make up in productivity the way I use em.

[brucec32]

Originally posted by Scag48
dlandscaping-If you take one hand off the hydro T-bar, the machine will turn, unless one hand was exactly in the middle of the bar, which would be tough. I don't want to bag. I don't care for it and it takes too much time emptying on the job and disposing after the day is over. I'd rather mulch because it's good for the lawn anyway. I'm not a big guy and I could easily pull start the TTHP. If you find that an inconvenience, I'd say you're a little picky. I'm not bashing the machine, I'm just saying that it didn't have what I'm looking for. The ECS handles weren't as touchy as the T-bar. The T-bar had a tendency to wander a little and couldn't get it to go perfectly straight. With the ECS, you just hit the two sticks on top to get it to move and steer with the levers, which wasn't too hard to learn. Also, on the T-bar, to get it to go full ground speed, you have to loosen those little things on the side of the bars to move up the front bar in turn making the hand bars go farther making the machine go faster (phew!) Now, if you want to go fast sometimes but want to slow down in some places, you'd have to set the speed bar as fast as you want to go. But when you want to go slower, you'd have to try and maintain constant pressure on the hand bar like halfway. If one hand got tired, you'd turn. Kind of hard to explain, but the Toro owners know what I'm talking about. Anyway, just my opinion. I'm headed down Exmark road. Hopefully we'll pick it up next week. Can't wait!

Maybe you should learn to use the mower a little better. It's jerky because you're inexperienced and still heavy handed on the controls. The Exmark is said to be the superior mulcher, and my lazer hp has an identical deck and does great. But you need to realize that some mowers are easier to learn, but that doesn't make them easier to use in the long run.

[RX7]

ok I'm confused about the facts about the toro. In a couple weeks I am going to buy a new walk behind. I want a 36" and I have had my mind set on a toro t-bar for a while. I want to get a floating deck for a better cut, and I would also like it to be hydro drive. I like to mulch most of the time. Is there a mulch kit for the 36" toro, floating deck, hydro drive, t-bar?:confused:

[Lawnagent007]

RX7, you will need to go to the 37" Recycler deck for mulching with this machine. I run a 37" Recycler floating deck, hydro drive with t-bar steering and electric start. This has been a great mower for my business.

Skag48, IMO the t-bar steering is very easy to learn and use and causes way less fatigue than any pistol grip type design. Also the electric start comes in handy on those cold mornings. Just a turn of the key vs several pulls on the cord.

Hope you enjoy you exmark!

[RX7]

Lawnagent007- I can't find anything on the toro site about a 37" recycler. Are they still making that model? What is a good price for one? Do they make a bagging kit for it and will Toro's two wheel sulky work on it? Does it mulch well? Thanks for the help. -RX7