Toro or Kawasaki Powered Zero Turn Mower

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Toro offers two engines between both models of their 42 inch deck and their 50 inch deck in their zero turn mowers this year. The SS and the MX 42 inch deck both feature the 24.5 hp Toro motor. The "Commercial" range in the 50 inch deck features a Kawasaki motor.

Which of the two engines; the Toro or the Kawasaki is the most reliable? Also, more economical to get engine parts for?

While discussing zero turn mowers, has anyone compared between a Toro and something like the Hustler Raptor ? Which of the two mowers is the more reliable?

Kind Regards
Lionel

[DeanoH]

Before you think of buying anything Toro have a very close look at their spare parts prices and availability.

I nearly got caught on this hook a couple of years ago trying to source a simple ignition coil for a second hand Toro ride on mower. No 'non genuine' spares available as Toro had the market all stitched up and the Toro spares were eye watering expensive in Australia and US agents were 'unwilling' or precluded from selling overseas.

Better IMO to buy from a less 'aggressive' company.

The John Deere ride on mower I bought over 20 years ago with Kawasaki engine and transmission is still going strong and its had a hard though well maintained life. BTW John Deere spare parts prices are much, much cheaper and more readily available in Australia than Toro parts.

Deano :)

[mick88]

I would opt for the Kwaka engine.
Most of our small motors here are all Honda and they always seem to start first pull and run trouble free
and I am sure a Kwaka engine would serve you much the same.

Cheers, Mick.

[JR1]

My folks own a macadamia plantation- they use a toro zero turn as one of their mini harvesters. The toro uses a Kubota engine. they also have 2 other mowers and a bobcat running similar kubota engines. As far as reliability, they haven’t had any issues, and the machines get a rough workout running 10-12 hrs days for weeks on end.
Don’t have much info on the cutting decks as their deck was removed for the harvester adaption.
Might be worth a call to some suppliers in orchard/plantation area re:parts etc. they are near Lismore and use a place called ongmac trading. Hope it helps.
Josh

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Thanks for the replies.

Funny thing about the Toro is that a couple of years ago they had an option of a 42 inch deck or a 50 inch deck - both were powered by a Kawasaki motor. This year the bog standard SS and the Industrial MX in the 42 are both fitted with "Toro" motors. It is not until the 50 inch mower that they have a Kawasaki motor fitted. Makes you wonder why a difference of 8 inches means the Toro motor is not used any more?

I have had a lend of a friend's one or two year old Toro 42 inch. It is the model that came fitted with the Kawasaki motor. I have used the Toro for a couple of days mowing long grass; in the meantime I have been reading reviews. I then checked out my local Hustler dealer on Friday. The Hustler Raptor 42 inch does come with a Kawasaki motor fitted as standard.

As a comparison between the Toro I have been using and the Hustler - it is easy to see that the Hustler has a more robust frame. Dearer too of course. The Raptor SD has a transfer case that is not sealed, so it actually be serviced. The lower model Raptor has a sealed transfer case and is not serviceable. Looks like I will be saving my pennies until the end of this month to get up to matching the cost of the Hustler Raptor SD. Damn mower will be dearer to buy than my current daily driver Commodore was!

Kind Regards
Lionel

[crash]

A mate runs a lawn mower business - he uses Hustlers.

[Homestar]

If you go the Toro, go the Kwaka. I used one in a commercial application for several years and it was great, but Toro parts are expensive.

The Hustler is the go IMO - more robust and there's a reason a LOT of professionals and councils, contractors, etc use them.

[Lionelgee]

Hello Homestar, Crash, Mick88, DeanoH & JR1

Thank you for all your replies - much appreciated.

Yes Hustler will be the one that I will aim for - the SD. The SD is the more industrial version of the two styles in 42 inch cut. It is more accessible for servicing. It will just take a bit longer to meet the cost.

All the grass has been cut for now anyway, using a friend's Toro 42 inch deck with a Kawasaki engine fitted to it - so getting control of the grass was the first priority; and it has been tucked away. The grass was long and the Kawasaki engine powered through it.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Slunnie]

The John Deere ride on mower I bought over 20 years ago with Kawasaki engine and transmission is still going strong and its had a hard though well maintained life. BTW John Deere spare parts prices are much, much cheaper and more readily available in Australia than Toro parts.

Deano :)

I agree. My John Deere has the 25hp Kwaka with a 54" deck and things are rough here! In the last 6 or 7 years it hasn't had or needed anything other than the standard off the shelf DIY JD service kit which is not expensive and contains everything.

[gromit]

Lionel,
Do you have a spare Land Rover rear axle ? If so you could make one of these .....

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/11/114.jpg



Colin

[Pedro_The_Swift]

height adjustment by air pressure?[bighmmm]

[austastar]

Hi
O, H, and not much S.

Love it.

Cheers

[Homestar]

Love it - now there's an idea.

[vnx205]

Hi
O, H, and not much S.

Love it.

Cheers

I'm sure all the safety guards were temporarily removed so that the photo would display all the working parts. :D :D

[numpty]

My 48" Toro, bought 12 months ago, runs a Kohler motor. When did they change to Kwakkas?

[Pedro_The_Swift]

you can buy some really big Kohlers with a pull start--- [bigrolf][bigrolf]

[OneOff]

Agree with others above.

Look to what your local council or mowing contractors use and aim for that. Quality will pay for itself for years to come. I bought an Ever-ride 17 years ago - never an issue (Kawasaki) and I'll never need another mower, the thing is built like a tank.\

Our local council use Scag mowers.

[Lionelgee]

My 48" Toro, bought 12 months ago, runs a Kohler motor. When did they change to Kwakkas?

Hello Numpty,

According to the Queensland retailers the Kawasaki is fitted to the 2017 model Toro MX5025 Zero Turn Mower 50" KAWASAKI BRAND NEW 2017 | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Toro-MX5025-Zero-Turn-Mower-50-KAWASAKI-BRAND-NEW-2017/302513182466?hash=item466f30d702:g:nkwAAOSwhqhZ~O6 p) with the following details - Toro MX5025 Zero Turn Mower 50" Kawasaki 23HP V twin FR691V engine with spin on oil filter Accessed 7th November 2017.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Lionelgee]

Lionel,
Do you have a spare Land Rover rear axle ? If so you could make one of these .....

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/11/114.jpg



Colin


Hello Colin,

Yes I do have more than one spare rear Land Rover axle. Wow what a unit! What could possibly go wrong?

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Bigbjorn]

A good friend bought a house on 5 acres. The land had been cleared and grassed but not levelled or cleaned of sticks and stumps and rocks. He was using domestic rider mowers that seemed to be totally rooted after 2 years. At the Toowoomba Field Days our company stand was next to Greenfield Mowers. We reps got talking over drinks and I asked about what he needed. He is a big guy around 17 stone. The Greenfield rep said what we was using would barely carry him around let alone do rough mowing as well. The recommendation was to get a small farm tractor 25-40 hp diesel, under blade or front blade and a pto slasher. Set the blade 3"-4" above ground level and it would take the top off any humps and drop the dirt into the hollows and the slasher would cope with the rough stuff. After a couple of years of this treatment he should have smooth grass and somewhat level land. Then he should go to a roller mower.

[Colmoore]

Lionel,
Do you have a spare Land Rover rear axle ? If so you could make one of these .....

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/11/114.jpg



Colin

Looks safe enough; from here....

[Grumbles]

A mate - retired pro gardener/mower man - recently bought a John Deere 42 inch cut zero turn ride-on for a very competitive price. He is rapt with it.

[B.S.F.]

Because most of our property is on a slope, a lever operated zero turn with front caster wheels would have been to dangerous, I bought a steering wheel operated zero turn. When I do a 'zero turn' the front wheels are at right angles to the machine and one rear wheel is stationary while the mover swings around, ready to cut the next row. Is that how a lever operated Z/T works or do the rear wheels turn in opposite directions and you're facing the row you've just cut?
Just curious, no other reason.
.W.

[Don 130]

Because most of our property is on a slope, a lever operated zero turn with front caster wheels would have been to dangerous, I bought a steering wheel operated zero turn. When I do a 'zero turn' the front wheels are at right angles to the machine and one rear wheel is stationary while the mover swings around, ready to cut the next row. Is that how a lever operated Z/T works or do the rear wheels turn in opposite directions and you're facing the row you've just cut?
Just curious, no other reason.
.W.
I use a Toro/Kawasaki at work. Because the wheels a hydraulically driven, one can be going forward, while the other is going backwards.
Don

[Homestar]

Yep, one forward, one back, you can spin in circles on the spot. Good fun, the one I used for several year at another job was operated on some quite steep ground - they have a very low centre of gravity.

[Ancient Mariner]

We have had our kawasaki powered Toro 50" for 8 years and is on its 3rd sets of blades. Apart from one 1 set of blade spindle bearings (due to 20 ' of nylon rope) $14 and easly changed plus a new battery it has been trouble free We have two other mowers a Kubota wich is useless on slopes as needs a difflock and a Greenfield wich was the best on slopes till I modded the Toro .Anybody interested I posted a thread in Non LR technical chat last week that I have been meaning to reply to:no2:


AM

[B.S.F.]

[QUOTE=Ancient Mariner;2805260]We have had our kawasaki powered Toro 50" for 8 years and is on its 3rd sets of blades. Apart from one 1 set of blade spindle bearings (due to 20 ' of nylon rope) $14 and easly changed plus a new battery it has been trouble free We have two other mowers a Kubota wich is useless on slopes as needs a difflock and a Greenfield wich was the best on slopes till I modded the Toro .Anybody interested I posted a thread in Non LR technical chat

That's where I wanted to post my question, but couldn't find it.
.W.