Howdy folks.
I have had the same Toro lawn mower my entire adult life. I think it was purchased in 1989, my dad gave it to me in the early 90s when my wife and I got our first house. It has always started within two pulls unless flooded or run out of gas or something, and I think all I've ever done to it is replace the spark plug one time, clean the carb one time, and sharpen the blade. It has an a cast aluminum deck, a Tecumseh engine, a clutch blade brake, and no self-propulsion. It has been an oil burner for a while, I haven't bothered changing the oil in years since I'm constantly topping it off. Just in the last six months, it makes a thumping sound when it starts that speeds up and then goes away. The blade isn't loose or anything like that, so I think it's on the way to croaking.
If I could get another brand new one exactly like it, I would. Based on this mower, I'm pretty loyal to Toro. but I have no idea if current Toros are any good or really are related to this old one at all. Are they good? Are they Chinese? Is there something else I should be considering? The 2 things I (think) I want are a Honda engine, unless it isn't better, and a clutch blade brake. I suspect I cannot avoid self-propulsion, but I would be happy to not have it. Looking again, I don't think Toro makes a push mower with a Honda motor and clutch blade brake. That's a bummer. Also, what's the deal with these Briggs & Stratton engines that claim to never need oil changes? That seems like crazy talk…
Thanks, Doug
I have had the same Toro lawn mower my entire adult life. I think it was purchased in 1989, my dad gave it to me in the early 90s when my wife and I got our first house. It has always started within two pulls unless flooded or run out of gas or something, and I think all I've ever done to it is replace the spark plug one time, clean the carb one time, and sharpen the blade. It has an a cast aluminum deck, a Tecumseh engine, a clutch blade brake, and no self-propulsion. It has been an oil burner for a while, I haven't bothered changing the oil in years since I'm constantly topping it off. Just in the last six months, it makes a thumping sound when it starts that speeds up and then goes away. The blade isn't loose or anything like that, so I think it's on the way to croaking.
If I could get another brand new one exactly like it, I would. Based on this mower, I'm pretty loyal to Toro. but I have no idea if current Toros are any good or really are related to this old one at all. Are they good? Are they Chinese? Is there something else I should be considering? The 2 things I (think) I want are a Honda engine, unless it isn't better, and a clutch blade brake. I suspect I cannot avoid self-propulsion, but I would be happy to not have it. Looking again, I don't think Toro makes a push mower with a Honda motor and clutch blade brake. That's a bummer. Also, what's the deal with these Briggs & Stratton engines that claim to never need oil changes? That seems like crazy talk…
Thanks, Doug