Toro 20360 e-Cycler 20-Inch 36-Volt Cordless Electric Lawn Mower

by Toro

• Redesigned packaging for 2011 to reduce shipping damage
• Weighs only 77 lbs – lighter than most other battery/cordless mowers.
• Simple two-step operator controls – integrated one-handed control assembly with two-step action – safe and easy to use.
• The 4-inch deep-domed deck design is specially designed for superior mulching performance.
• 2-Year Full Coverage Warranty.

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 99 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B004I6D96E
• Item model number: 20360
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,551 in Patio, Lawn & Garden (See Top 100 in Patio, Lawn & Garden)
  • #59 in Patio, Lawn & Garden > Mowers & Outdoor Power Tools > Mowers & Tractors > Walk-Behind Mowers

Product Description

Amazon.com

The Toro 20360 e-Cycler Cordless Mower is a push power mower that features superior mulching performance and a lightweight design. Because it's battery powered, this mower will spare you from the hassles of buying gas or oil and will save you money, time, and energy. For further convenience, the e-Cycle is easy to operate and features a durable steel deck that cuts a 20-inch swath and is height adjustable to meet your needs.

20360 e-Cycler Cordless Mower At a Glance: Emissions free Easy to operate 36-volt cordless battery Mulch or bag Adjustable blade height

Simply insert the key, move the control lever toward the handle, and you're ready to mow.

The deep-domed deck is designed to increase the performance of the mulching system.

Sturdy 7" front wheels and 8" rear wheels make the e-Cycler easy to maneuver.

Save Time, Money, and the Environment
With the e-Cycler Cordless Mower, you won't have to worry about refueling, buying gas or oil, or dealing with messy spills in your garage or shed. The powerful, emission-free, 36-volt battery will give you up to 10,000 square feet of mowing on just one charge.

Easy Starts and Trouble-Free Operation
To start the e-Cycler, simply insert the key and move the control lever toward the handle. The sturdy and thick 7-inch front wheels and 8-inch rear wheels make the mower easy to maneuver, while the small profile of the 20-inch dome allows you to mow in those hard-to-reach places.

Choose from Mulching or Bag Collection
The deep-domed deck is specially designed to increase the performance of the e-Cycler mulching system, which minces grass clippings into fine particles, putting them back onto your lawn to give you a healthy, lush looking yard.

If you'd prefer to collect your grass and leaf clippings, you can quickly and easily attach the grass bag.

Powerful Battery is Easy to Charge
The e-Cycler's battery is charged at the factory, so you can get started mowing right away. After that, it takes approximately 12 to 16 hours to fully charge a depleted battery.

It's recommended that you charge the battery after each use with the included charger cord, which plugs directly into a household outlet. To make things simple, a two-color LED tells you whether your battery is charging or is fully charged.

Warranty Information
The Toro 20360 e-Cycler Cordless Mower is backed by a two-year warranty that offers full coverage for the mower and the battery.

What's in the Box
Toro 20360 e-Cycler Cordless Mower, battery, and charger cord.

Product Description

Toro, Green, E-Cycler Cordless Mower, 36V, 12A, 7,000 To 10,000 SQFT Run Time, Push Drive System, 7" Front, 8" Rear Wheel Height, Standard Mulch, Rear Bag, 20" Cutting Width, Steel Deck Material, 1" To 4" Cut Height, Environmentally Friendly, No More Gas & Oil, 2 Year Full Warranty, 1 Year Battery

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

361 of 364 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Decent mower in a crowded field, see comparison chart.... February 1, 2011

By Y. R. Wu TOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

<SUMMARY> In a crowded field the Toro compares well based on it's performance - it cuts and mulches *very* well. Where it falls short is on features and to a lesser extent, construction. If I had to do it again, I'd take a closer look at the B&D CM1936. Both of these mowers were the top picks in the March 2010 Consumer Reports. I would rate this as 4+ stars overall but ding them half a star for customer service. The redesigned packaging should resolve the numerous issues people seem to have had with shipping damage.

I've had this machine for a whole season and was able to test it back to back with our B&D CMM1000 24V 19" cordless mower before I sold it some months back. To make things fair I sharpened the B&D and cleaned the deck. The Toro was substantially quieter and easier to maneuver (It's lighter and the weight is biased towards the rear wheels. After 12 years the B&D is still an impressive machine but in tall or wet grass it simply couldn't keep up. I had to re-mow with the B&D while the Toro gave a good cut with a single pass - even when walking quickly! You could hear the motor slow down but it still gave an excellent cut and mulched effectively.

The improved performance isn't surprising given the extra voltage. I'd note that when we bought the Black & Decker CMM1000 ~11 years ago, the only other cordless mower was the Neuton 14" via mail order. Now there are more than you can shake a stick at (SEE CHART)

Fit and finish is good but some items do not inspire confidence. The plastic motor cover is flimsy though it's hard to judge as two of the plastic bosses were broken (more on that later) Where the charger plugs in wobbles a lot and the locknut holding the circuit breaker in place was half off with no Loctite applied. This would have been lost within the first hour of use. Finally, the first time I tried to attach the grass catcher I had to wrestle with a wire which interfered with the grass door.

The handle folds but it's the same others - you have a large plastic wingnut you have to turn...and turn...and turn... Hasn't anyone come up with a better quick release for this?

The metal deck makes a big difference - it's deeper and mulches more efficiently, and makes for a smaller overall mower - despite this, our old B&D CMM1000 feels slightly more solid. Also, The B&D had a proper "Mulch Plug" while the Toro mulch cover allows grass to collect in a hollow area behind the mulch door - despite this, I never noticed the grass clumping. The one annoyance is that you have to tilt the mower to dump this out or you are going to be dragging it into your garage.

Also the Toro's metal deck allows the blade to get much closer to fences and trees. With the B&D, the 2 layer plastic deck was much thicker so the blade was at least 3" away. This is more like 1" <UPDATE> It's the wheel placement. If you lay a straight edge across the outside of the wheels, there's 1/2" to the Toro blade but 1-1/2 inches on the Black and Decker. Unfortunately the Toro seems to waste this advantage on one side as the handle sticks out so that it rubs if you mow with a fence on your right.

Toro says "Lighter than most other cordless mowers" but I'm not so sure (SEE CHART)

I have mixed feelings about the on/off switch. I preferred the dead mans bar on the B&D rather than this lever, which forces you to keep your right hand on the handle at all times. On the other hand, you can power off when crossing a sidewalk or driveway just by relaxing your grip.

Overall, this mower performs well but doesn't of the other features / details right. For the price, I think the B&DCM1936 offers a lot more, but if flat out mowing performance is your criteria, this is the one for you.

I might be biased towards B&D given our 10+ trouble free years with their CMM1000, but you could say that I might also have a favorable bias towards the Toro since I received it through Amazon Vine.

<TORO CUSTOMER SERVICE>
I received this item with some minor damage. There are 4 screws which hold the top plastic cover on. Two of the screw bosses were broken. When I removed the cover, I saw that the two zip ties holding the batteries down were also broken. Finally, one of the rear wheel adjusters was bent. I called Toro up and after a Looooong time on hold they told me to either pay to have it repaired myself or to go through Amazon and return it. Not really worth the hassle and rather frustrating.

<LIKES>
+ 36 volts gives LOTS of power - mulches effortlessly
+ 20 inch cutting path (really 19-5/8", but our 19" B&D was only 18-1/2)
+ Tall metal deck gives more complete mulching
+ Wheel placement BIG plus for cutting next to fences, trees

<DISLIKES>
- Toro Customer Service
- Does not store vertically like the B&D
- Wheels adjust individually
- No dead man bar
- Grass catcher very small (perhaps 1/2 the volume of the B&D)
- Charger plug wobbles
- Bar not as ergonomic, also rubs against fence when mowing alongside.

<COMPARO>
I've put a quick guide of the most popular models on Amazon. All info reported by manufacturer. Amazon won't let me put prices in my review, sorry!

MOWER............Path/Volt/Watt-hr......WT............COMMENTS

Neuton CE5.3............14"/24V/240......48#....Plastic deck, Removable batt.
B&D CM1836..............18"/36V/NA.......64#....Plastic deck
Greenworks 25092......18"/24V/480......95#....Self Propel, Removable Batt
Worx ECO WG780.......19"/24V/408......80#....Removable Battery
Haussmann CLM46NU...19"/24V/NA........94#....Haussmann who?? Metal deck
B&D CMM1200.............19"/24V/432......76#....Update to our old CM1000
B&D CM1936...............19"/36V/360.......72#....Plastic deck, Removable Batt
Neuton CE6................19"/36V/360.......69#....Plastic deck, Removable Batt
Earthwise 60120..........20"/24V/480......92#....Metal deck, Removable Batt
Toro 20360.................20"/36V/432......77#....Metal deck

<FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS>

>>Why SHOULD I get a cordless electric mower? They are super quiet, clean, and convenient. They aren't necessarily cheaper than a gas mower since they cost more up front but there is almost NO maintenance. (We spent [...] over 10 years for a set of replacement batteries.) Corded electric mowers are a lot cheaper but then you have a cord. Also, certain models like the B&D can be stored vertically since there is no oil or gas to leak out

>>Why SHOULDN'T I get a cordless mower? Up front cost (Typically [...] more) Also, They weigh significantly more than gas mowers so if you have a hilly lot or have difficulty with physical exertion, forget it. They don't have as much power as gas (even the 36V ones) and re-fueling means charging for a few hours so if your lot is over ˝ acre you may want to reconsider.

>>Why do they all come with mulching PLUS bagging? Electric powered mowers have come a long ways but mulching still takes a LOT more power than discharging, so bagging is pretty much a standard feature for when you let your grass get too long.

>>What is a watt-hour? It's basically how big your gas tank is - the more watt-hours, the longer you can mow before you have to recharge.

>>Is the cutting path a big deal? It can be - 1) The first thing manufacturers do when power is marginal is reduce the blade size, so I tend to see the smaller mowers as more likely to be underpowered. Second, when you consider a ~3" overlap on each pass, a 20" blade effectively cuts 13% more than an 18" (especially since manufacturers generally inflate their blade lengths by about 1/2") If you have a larger yard, you definitely do NOT want anything under 18"

>>Why might I want a removable battery? If you have a large yard, you can swap out for more run time (Note that a second battery typically costs [...]). Also, You WILL need to replace the batteries eventually, and a this makes it easier (Note that I replaced the CMM1000 batteries by myself, about a 20 minute job requiring only a screwdriver and pliers) Finally, if you keep the mower in a shed that doesn't have power, a removable battery will let you bring it in for charging.

>>Why should I care about higher voltage? Higher voltage = more power, PLUS you can recharge the mower faster. With the same chemistry and current, a 36V mower will charge 50% faster than a 24V mower.

>>Metal deck or plastic? Metal rusts but with minimal care it's not an issue. Plastic does get scratched up, and since it isn't as strong, it makes for a larger mower.

If you've found this review helpful or have questions/comments, please let me know!

77 of 82 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Late to the game, this mower should be better (or cost only $250) April 16, 2011

By Kevin Harper

Amazon Verified Purchase

(Updated September 30, 2011: I am still using the mower as my main mower and I still concur with everything I say below. Recently I discovered my Dremel gives a MUCH sharper blade than sharpening by hand with a file. After sharpening with the Dremel, the mower was able to go through damp 8" tall grass without the motor bogging down to a stall. Whatever electric mower you may get, I HIGHLY recommend you machine sharpen the blade every few cuts.)

(Updated April 26 and May 14, 2011: In the review below I added a slower RPM for the Toro, and a harder ability to clean the bottom of the deck. In the title I lowered the ideal price from $300 to $250.)

(Updated June 9, 2011: I hate the steel deck due to the sticking clumps of grass. I mow my lawn around sunset so the grass is not wet when I mow. The plastic deck (underside) of my CMM1200 wins over steel hands down because grass never sticks to the plastic. I also updated the battery run time below which is still good and the quietness which is good.)

INITIAL NOTES: *** Do not buy this mower if you routinely bag grass! The standard blade is horizontally flat and does not tip upward to give enough updraft. The result is a clogged chute when the bag is only one-fifth full (see more below). ***

*** With all battery mowers, always sharpen your blade (like a knife) which helps the motor to maintain RPMs, gives a cleaner cut to the grass, and helps the battery last longer. Sharpening takes just a minute with a simple 5"-7" file. No need to remove the blade even. I HIGHLY recommend machine sharpening the blade. ***

I have used a Black and Decker CMM1200 for the past three seasons on a 1/2 acre lot which is mostly grass. The CMM1200 is ok but I wanted to upgrade to a better mower. The e-Cycler is slightly better in some ways but is lacking overall. I would have given three stars, but lowered to two stars, because this mower should be better coming out four years after the debut of the CMM1200. Also, a $400 price is not justified for its limited features.

Despite the two stars, I have been using this mower as my main mower so far this season (basically to get my money's worth). I hope next season I can find a good battery mower that has the qualities I mention in my wish list at end of this review.

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After Mowing More Than Forty Times Here's What I Like About The E-Cycler:

** The height adjustment is good ** I can mow from 1" to 4 1/2" (1" higher than the CMM1200). I routinely cut at 3" so it's nice to be able to raise the mower in case I miss mowing due to extended rains, being on vacation, etc. There is no single lever adjustment like other mowers but I don't adjust the height often so it's ok for me. compared to the CMM1200, the e-Cycler has an extra inch of height and goes 1/2 inch lower. The single lever height adjustment on the CMM1200 is a nice convenience though.)

** The blade width is good ** It is 19 3/4" wide. (an inch more than the CMM1200)

** The battery capacity is good ** I can mow my entire back yard (14,000 sq. ft) with 5" sparse grass, though the mower goes a bit slower after 10,000 sq. ft. I always split the front (3500 sq. ft.) and back yard into two different days so this is fine with me. (battery capacity is the same as the CMM1200.)

** The quietness is good ** Like other battery mowers, this mower is about half as loud as gas mowers. slightly more quiet than the CMM1200)

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Here's What I Don't Like About The E-Cycler (Comparison To the CMM1200 In Parenthesis):

** Overall mowing ability isn't good ** It is underpowered and heavy (as a typical battery mower), leaves several grass blades uncut here and there, and doesn't completely mulch some grass clippings to small pieces. The motor strains and slows a bit when trying to mulch 2" of cut grass. The motor is fairly weak and should be TWICE as strong (even at the expense of battery life). 36V means nothing for power and only allows reduced operating amps to help battery life overall this is about the same mowing experience as the CMM1200 but I wanted to upgrade to have better mowing experience, not the same)

** Bags grass poorly ** This is a terrible design flaw but I rarely bag grass. When first starting the mower I noticed the empty bag did not puff up with air. After mowing for one pass I noticed the mower was spitting grass from underneath which usually means the chute is clogged. Sure enough the chute was clogged but there was only about 2" of clippings in the bag. I emptied the bag and tried another pass but the same result. I can see part of the problem is with the blade design - it's flat and doesn't curve up like a fan blade. I ordered a new blade from Amazon which looked like it has an upward angle to increase airflow but it did not... it was a standard replacement. Another problem is the chute opening is short and wide and meets the bottom part of the bag. Instead, the chute should be taller, more narrow and higher up relative to the bag so it can keep throwing grass as the bag fills up. Poor bagging is simply unacceptable and makes Toro appear inept. As a long-time mower manufacturer they should have done better. It is a shame and an embarrassment for this American company to release a mower with such a design flaw. I expect things to work reasonably well out of the box. the CMM1200 in the same area picked up about 3X as much grass before the chute became clogged - the bag was only about 1/2 full which is typical for this mower. The CMM1200 does a better job bagging because it has a taller opening for the chute and a sharp up-curve of the blade for stronger airflow.)

** Leaves strong wheel tracks in the grass ** slightly worse than the CMM1200, even though both have 2" wide tires)

** It feels heavier and harder to push than the CMM1200 (but really is about the same weight) ** It is only 4 lbs heavier than the CMM1200 (78 vs 74 lbs. - I weighed them individually with me on a bathroom scale. Perhaps it's the higher angle of the handle on the Toro making it seem harder to push.)

** The steel frame/deck ** I don't know about the longevity of a steel frame but it is much harder to clean/rinse and has a tendency to twist and bend. Even fairly dry grass loves to clump to the steel (or paint) on the underside. for the CMM1200 I didn't mind the plastic frame which was rather sturdy and I never had to clean grass underneath it with a hose. Grass tends to avoid sticking to the plastic underside and I could just use my blower to move away the bit that did stick underneath).

** The motor & battery cover is not user-removable which is absolutely ridiculous ** The four hex screws of the cover have an unusually narrow space around them so they require a special tool (normal sockets will not fit). This is just plain dumb and short-sighted. I cannot replace the battery myself and do simple maintenance unless Toro provides a tool to remove the screws. the CMM1200 cover could be removed with a screw driver which was great. An electric mower is extremely simply under the hood: Battery, motor and wires. Nothing to be scared of.)

** The charger gives a green light when not plugged into the mower which is silly ** Because of this, I can't tell if the battery is fully charged or if the charger is slightly unplugged from the mower. the CMM1200 charger is better because the light goes out if unplugged from the mower (while still plugged into the outlet) and is green or red depending on the charging status when plugged in to the mower)

** The key is in an awkward location near the motor and cannot be tied to the mower handle easily ** The key can be left in when charging which is a silly safety hazard (the CMM1200 key has to be removed when charging - a good thing - and came with a string to easily attach the key to the handle so the key won't be lost)

** The mulching cover is difficult to lift up, does not close completely, and does not sit flush with the underside of the deck ** When mulching, three handfuls of grass accumulates in a void that the mulching cover creates with the deck. Every time the mower is jostled when I reach the sidewalk or driveway a bit of that mulched grass spits out. That's annoying because there's more grass to clean up from the walkways. The spring for the cover is a bit strong so lifting up the cover when bagging is hard. Because of the way the bag latches onto the frame, I cannot tip the bag out slightly to see if the grass chute is clogged. this is worse than the CMM1200 which had a relatively seamless mulching plug that somewhat conformed with the underside of the deck. The CMM1200 back cover could be lifted slightly and the bag tipped back slightly to see if the grass chute is clogged or beginning to clog which was useful. The CMM1200 didn't spit out as much grass when reaching the sidewalk.

** The overall shape of the housing is a bit weird ** (CMM1200 has a similar odd look as well)

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Wish List And Desired Improvements For The E-Cycler:

A stronger engine and/or a "boost" switch that would run the mower at more power for a shorter period of time. That way I could walk faster with the mower and save time. Instead of one battery, I would like two removable lithium batteries, so the mower could be a little lighter. Switching batteries is easy enough for my blower and trimmer, so the same can be done for a mower as well.

A faster RPM and more updraft. It seems some grass leaves are uncut because the RPM is too low. Bagging would improve with more RPM and a better updraft. Read more ›

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Works great! April 7, 2011

By Jason Cody

Amazon Verified Purchase

I've been using this mower for a few weeks now and so far it is working great!

Pros: Cuts evenly, mulches decently, and there is more than enough charge to mow my entire yard (1/3 acre). Built well, doesn't feel like it is going to break on you.

Cons: The price, this mower is not cheap. Sort of heavy, not a con for me but some people might complain.

Missing: A power gauge to show remaining charge.

Notes: Charger cuts off when the mower is fully charged so you can leave it plugged in. This makes it easy to connect to a small solar panel for green friendly charging w/o over charging.