I'm looking at these and would appreciate any input, positive or negative, from current/past owners. Opinions on the OEM engines with regard to maintenance, reliability and ease of servicing would be especially appreciated. Thanks!

I had one for two years. Never had an issue.

My yard, however, is very slanted/hilly. So I would get some drift if the grass was even slightly wet/dewy.

I traded it for a garden tractor.

The engine was sound and the cut was great.

I DID buy mine from a local shop vs. a Home Depot. I heard there was a difference in the models and build quality.

quote:

Originally posted by Patriot:

I DID buy mine from a local shop vs. a Home Depot. I heard there was a difference in the models and build quality.

As someone that works for a servicing dealer I'd love to propegate this rumor. How're, there is no truth to it. I've been to the factory where they are built, the same models that come down the line are shipped to big box stores and servicing dealers.

As a dealer, I've seen no issues with the Toro engines. There are a couple of advantages - they design these engines themselves specific to the application as opposed to an off the shelf Kohler or Kawasaki (which are both very good engines). They can save money by using their own engine as opposed to paying the other guys a premium, especially the Kawasaki which apples to apples costs them more than the Kohler for no real advantage.

I looked at those but was not impressed. Instead I bought a Ybravo 25" and could not be happier with it. The Kawasaki engine is strong and smooth. Buy once cry once.

I own a MX5050 with just under 90 hours on it. I have replaced the blades and deck belt. In fairness, abuse accelerated need for replacement.

I opted for a welded deck over a stamped one.

I might need to replace the battery at some point this year (3rd season).

I have no complaints.

Thanks for the replies. ffips, you mentioned you have around 90 hours on yours. Reading through the manual online, I was very surprised to see that the hour meter is both optional, and in my view, ridiculously expensive at almost $60. Did you have to buy an optional hour meter or do you just log your time manually? Also, would you characterize your usage as heavy-duty re: hills, holes, etc. to where you went with the fabbed deck vs the stamped or was it just personal preference? I noticed both stamped and fabbed decks are made from 10 gauge and my area is reasonably flat and not terribly bumpy so I was considering the stamped deck.

BRL, thanks for the insight into big box models vs dealer models. Also, in your experience with other brands, is it customary to make hour meters optional on equipment at that price point?

I'm considering going the mulching route with the Recycler kit rather than bagging. Any experience with that accessory?

https://www.amazon.com/discoGo...8MCG8ZM5XEJG2A4B8YP1

Put your own hour meter on.

I just bought a 42" Hustler Raptor which is equivalent to the Toro Timecutter, both homeowner grade zero turns. Mine has Kaw 21.5hp 651V and Hydro gear EZT hydro transmission. I bought mine off Craigslist for $1200, model year 2013 for my niece to use on a 3/4 acre flat lawn and it is perfect for that. Steep hills would be bad for the EZT.

Toro TC used to use Kaws but I see they have their own branded engines now. They ought to know what they are doing considering they make Exmark and Toro commercial mowers, widely considered among the best cutting mowers made.

Any reason you like the Toro better than the Hustler Raptor? Also $3000-3500 will buy a nice used commercial mower if you have patience but if you are just going to mow an acre or less that's overkill. I keep a high end 61" commercial mower and an entry level commercial 48" mower for backup but I have several yards to maintain.

^^^^

I plan to get an aftermarket hour meter if I end up going with the Toro. I've seen several of the Hustler's but have never really dug into them all that much.

I went to a dealer, the hour meter was already on it. I don't think I paid extra for it, but maybe I did without knowing . It is a digital LCD on the frame behind the seat. Local dealer was $200 higher than a dealer 30 mins away. I drove and saved the money. Watched the dealer open the box and set it up (put on drive arms and add fluid to hydro).

Years 1 and 2, I was mowing 2.5 acres weekly from about April until around late September (Georgia). If I was busting it, I could get done in about 2 hours.

This year, I have a hill to mow. Not sure how it is going to go.

When I say I replaced the blades/belt due to abuse, I didn't realize there were some hidden rocks in the yard, those probably buggered up the blades throughout the first season. The belt had to work extra hard if I was cutting tall grass. Sure, I heard the mower bog down a bit but I kept in the throttle. The manual said for the first 50 hours, the deck wouldn't be fully broken in. This fatty was mowing and couldn't be bothered to slow down or stop to pick up sticks. Smaller than thumb diameter got mowed.

I replaced oil at 10 and 50 hours. I will change again at 100. The blades were swapped at around 60 hours (at some point mid way through second season) deck belt was maybe 5 or 10 after that. I say all this to say, I worked it and it took it with only wear items having issues. Wasn't the torture test it sounded like though. The original blades were significantly thinner than the OEM replacements.

I went with a welded deck because if I recall correctly the stamped were a couple of gauge thinner at the time maybe 10 vs 12. Also, stamped had thinner spots vs welded simply due to the process of pushing flat metal into a shaped form.

Other sellers at the time compared this model to the Exmark brand. Basically it was as close to commercial without being commercial as could be. I think I paid right at 3K for it. The Exmark was another grand or more depending on seller.

I almost went with a yard tractor, but they didn't really gain any advantage over a riding mower (had hoped for tilling use). The zero turn significantly decreased time. Prior owner of that house had a 42" rider and spent 4-5 hours. The 50" ZT cut that time in half.

The only head scratcher came when Dad used it (first time ZT user) and went to refuel. For whatever reason he decided to check the air filter before going again. When he went to start it, it wold start, bit die under load (driving or blades). I told him to let it sit until I got home. I tried it and had the same results. Has him show me what he did. I brushed a tiny amount of dust from where the air filter sits and after that it was back to going strong. I suspect, there might have been something gumming up the autochoke that got dislodged when I had manually moved that and then brushed off the dust. It has gone without issue since.

I would be careful buying the Kaw engine.

A couple guys around here that have their own lawn service had zero turns with those engines and they lasted until the warranty was up.

One was on a Hustler zero turn.

Also, RE mulching, unless you let the grass get tall, it is difficult to find clippings. Just let it side discharge. If you want even more spread, bungee the discharge shoot up (many don't even use one) and it goes everywhere.

Caution if you have the chute up or off, those deck blades are hella close to the edges. Use caution.

If the clippings are just too much, a mulch kit or bagger can be added later.

Also, mine has a Kohler engine.

The seat on the 50" ones was "upgraded" too. Sometimes the arm rests are nice.

I have one with a Kawasaki motor and it is great. I had some starter issues but had a local place rebuild it and it’s fine. It puts the POS of Cub Cadet I had to shame.

I have a 50" timecutter with a Kawasaki on it and it has been bulletproof. I mow 1.2 acres and all have done is changed plugs and oil in 6 years.

I think next year I will replace the mail belt and get the hydros serviced. That's cheap compared to what it has delivered.

If you are getting windrows, raise the deck to transport and run over the windrows. The deck raised high will make them disappear and you only have to make half as many passes w/out being particularly careful.

quote:

Originally posted by Aquabird:
I would be careful buying the Kaw engine.

A couple guys around here that have their own lawn service had zero turns with those engines and they lasted until the warranty was up.

One was on a Hustler zero turn.

Which one; Fr, Fs, FX, EFI or carb? Kaw makes a great mower engine (John Deere, Bob-cat, Exmark, Ferris et al all use them) but they did have had some problems with the 1000cc DFI. Factory is helpful.

Had one killed it in three years. I mow about 4 acres with dips, rocks and ditches. While was a nice cut it just didn't hold up but then I'm rough on a mower. Chris

^^^^

Sounds like you need a Ferris with independent suspension and a Grammar suspension seat. Hustler has a flex fork option that takes the shock out of bumps. Downside is If you are going downhill and brake, the flex forks will dip and deck will scalp if you aren't careful. Learning curve.

I have a Toro Time Cutter. Bought it about 5 years ago with the 24 horse Kawasaki engine. I mow about 6 acres and believe me it gets a real work out every season. Rocks, sticks, you name it. I mow all of that every week but one of the acres I mow about every three weeks and the grass is well above seat level, plows right threw it.

This is the best mower, with the most reliable engine, I have ever owned. I would buy another one in a heartbeat.

Lots of good information to consider. I've been vacillating between 42" and 50" models. There's a pretty substantial price difference but if the 50" does the same area in about half the time it takes with the 42", it may end up being a better deal in the long run. One downside would be if I ever needed to transport a 50", I'd have to rent a trailer instead of just loading it into my truck bed.

I'll probably go check a few different models out in the next few days. Thanks again for the replies.

Keep in mind my 50 vs 42 time compare was a rider vs a zero turn. The zero turn has a higher ground speed and turns sharper. There are riders out there now with closer to zero turn ground speeds and 6 or 8 inch turn capability.

You might be challenged to get a 42 into your truck unless you have long sturdy ramps. Steep inclines and zero turns aren't a good combo.