Customer Reviews

Toro Recycler (22") 190cc Personal Pace Lawn Mower w/ Blade Override - 20333

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

This is my first self-propelled mower. I'm coming from a basic, no-frills machine that I bought some years ago when I just wanted something cheap that would do the job.

I bought this mower at the local Depot, cheaper than the advertised price here even after tax was added. I brought it home and unpacked it. Setup was done in just a couple of minutes -- unlike my previous mower, this one is almost entirely assembled in the box. All you need to do is put the handle on and attach the blade clutch lever to it. No tools required.

Next, add the fluids. The mower comes with the right amount of 30-weight oil. Then fill up the gas tank, and you're off.

The mower has an engine kill switch like you'd find on a motorcycle. Switch to "I" (Ignition). Pull the starter cord. Mine fired up on the first pull! The engine runs smoothly (and much quieter than my old mower). You don't need to have the safety bar pulled in at this point -- the engine will run, but the blades will not spin.

Pull the safety bar in and the blades start spinning. Release it and they stop, but the engine keeps running. Kill the engine by flipping the ignition switch to OFF.

That's cool. With my old mower, every time I let go of the safety bar it killed the engine and I would have to pull the starter cord again to get it going.

The propulsion is really nice. The upper section of the grip is spring-loaded and slides up and down the vertical handlebar rods slightly. The more pressure you apply to the handlebar, the faster the mower will want to move. Release the bar, and the mower stops moving. There is another, secondary handlebar underneath that can be used to circumvent the propulsion entirely, if desired.

There is also a large lever that allows you to change between mulching and bagging. This can be done at any time. With the bag attached, pulling the lever to the rear will start bagging, while pushing the lever forward will close off the opening to the bag and start mulching instead. The mower also comes with the side discharge attachment, which installs easily and is very effective.

When you're done mowing, there is a port on the side that accepts a standard garden hose. Attach a hose to the mower and turn it on. Then start the mower and start the blades spinning. It does a really good job of cleaning out the mower for you. When the water coming out starts to run clear, just shut off the hose and let the blades keep spinning for another few seconds until the mower is dry. You will still need to clean out some of it, though, like the bag port, which the hose doesn't reach.

The Briggs & Stratton engine seems strong, easily handling whatever horrible things I threw at it (with a caveat, explained below). Propulsion was also strong, and even going up a steep incline behind my house required only about 5% of the effort required with my previous mower. The overall build quality is excellent, and it's a real looker to boot.

There are a couple of minor quibbles, but nothing significant enough to merit the loss of a star. I'm not a huge fan of the white wheels, which were already turning green after the first mow. And the wheels themselves don't turn as freely as those on my old mower. Presumably this is because of the propulsion mechanism, so I guess that could be the case with any self-propelled mower. And finally, when in mulching mode, the mower seems to stall more frequently than my old mower when it hits the hard stuff. I live in Florida, and it rains a lot in the summer. Sun + lots of water = grass that's sometimes a foot high in a week. So if the grass gets too long in between mows, this mower will sometimes stall because there's way too much material to mash around. However, switching to side discharge or bagging solves the problem immediately, and the mower will cut ANYTHING.

Started first pull right out of the box. There is no primer bulb and no starting ritual to learn. I do recommend running it completely out of gas when it is time to change the oil. Toro wants you to lay the mower on it's side to drain the oil out. This also floods the engine with gasoline making it hard to restart.

Drive system is user friendly and completely intuitive. The faster you walk the faster it goes, the slower you walk the slower it goes. You stop and it stops. It does need to coast a couple of inches forward to disengage the drive system or it is hard to pull backwards. Try to pull it backwards more than two feet and the rear guard gets pulled under the machine and then you have to drag it along. It you have a yard that requires a lot of backing it can get tiring. This is my only complaint of the mower. I am 6 feet tall and the handle height is perfect for me. The hand grips are very comfortable and almost vibration free. Relaxing to operate...even fun at times. I said I'd never own a self-propelled lawn mower but at 51 years of age it's time. That and my yard is almost a full acre.

I also own this engine on a different mower and this version is not as loud.

I do not bag or mulch since my grass is usually too tall for that. In the free discharge mode it is unstoppable. My grass was 7" high when I got the mower and I cut it with the deck set at the second lowest height setting possible and I could not induce it to stall. Not even running at full speed. Very impressive. (It was late afternoon and the grass had mostly dried out.) In routine mowing with just slightly overgrown grass it leaves a very nice cut. No need to mulch or bag. Even in the deep grass that day it did not leave a mess behind. I have used the mulch mode once and it made the yard look beautiful. But it is not practical to mulch if I am going to be taking off more than 1 1/2 inches of grass in a single pass. Then I really have to slow down to make it look nice.

If it lasts I will be very pleased. The only concern I have about potential longevity is that the drive system whines at times like those big riding rechargable kids toys. Not a judgment, just an observation.

AUGUST 19th UPDATE: In the review I stated that the mower effortlessly took off five inches of grass in a single pass with no issues. If the grass (fescue) is damp or rich with moisture from recent rains, trying to take off that much at once will clog the discharge chute. Trying to remove three inches at once will clog the chute if it is damp and thick. We sold off our last commercial mower in the spring and this is the first residential mower I have been willing to tolerate. And while it can't compete with the high speed blades on commercial mowers it runs circles around the stuff that Sears, Lowes and Walmart sells.

I have a love-hate relationship with this mower. I have always had cheap mowers, this is the first premium mower I have ever purchased. I have had 2 mulching mowers before this one, both bare bones models, in fact this mower cost as much as all the other lawnmowers I have bought before it combined.

It starts right up, propels like a dream, bags and side discharges well, but it won't mulch. Both my old, cheap mowers mulched much better. Well thats not entirely true, if you mow every four days this mower mulches better than any I have ever used. It lifts the grass and suspends it above the rotating blade, where it eventually cuts it up so fine you see no trace of the cut grass when you are done. If the grass is very long at all, it can't process that cut grass and it builds up until it clogs and stalls, leaving clumps of grass all over my yard. The net result is I end up cutting my grass twice if I want it mulched ( which I do, thats why I bought a mulching mower).

I bought this mower last spring so I have used it for a full year. I does mulch better in July and August when the grass doesn't grow as fast as it does in the spring.

If you have thick grass, intend to mulch and only want to cut your grass once a week, don't buy this mower you will be disappointed as I was. You can buy a mulching mower that will perform the same or better for half the price. If you mow frequently or have thin grass it does a wonderful job, best I have ever seen.

To sum it up, this mower (Toro Recycler, model 20333) is PERFECT. I am a female in my mid-20's and our yard is a big hill in the back and is ridiculously uneven. I spent last summer dreading mowing the backyard because it was so difficult - and waiting to mow it made it even worse (we live in NC where the grass grows very fast). I swore up and down to my husband that we would be purchasing a riding lawn mower this year because I refused to push mow the backyard ever again.

After several hours of research I decided that a self propelled mower may be a better option for us for three reasons: 1) we are still young enough for the physical activity involved 2) more cost effective (the mower with bagger is about as much as a bagger for a riding mower) and 3) our yard is only about an acre, total.
I could not be happier with this mower. I slid the box out of the truck using a motorcycle ramp (my husband is overseas, so I had to do this by myself with a preschooler "helping"), reviewed the assembly instructions, and got to work. All that needed to be done was attach the handle (no tools), fill it with oil (included), and pop on the bagger. To my shock, it started on the VERY FIRST pull. I'm used to having to do the "prime, pull, pull, pull, prime, pull, pull" ritual with our old mower so I had a huge smile on my face and literally said "wow" out loud.

It had rained overnight and a little this morning so I didn't mow the entire yard, but I did test it out on a large pile of leaves that had gathered in a corner, and the dreaded hill in the back. If my neighbors could have seen my face they would have thought I was on some sort of drug because I was smiling from ear to ear. That dreaded hill is no longer a problem and the pile of leaves was no match for this mower. I didn't have to struggle up the hill or back off because it was getting bogged down - I just walked and it mowed. I know it sounds too good to be true, but I seriously just walked and it mowed (I was skeptical when I first started researching these types of mowers)! It is heavier than our old mower (one of the cheapest push mowers you can buy) but I didn't have trouble turning or pulling it.

I can see how some people would feel awkward with the personal pace feature at first, but I thoroughly enjoyed it!
After I was done testing it out, I wanted to try the wash out port. This is a great feature too! You don't have to struggle to tip and hold the mower back to wash the deck. You just attach the hose, turn the water on, start the mower and wait til the water runs clear. Easy!!

All of this took me less than an hour. That's even with me checking and double checking to make sure I had everything right before I started it up the first time.

Like I said in the title, I cannot say enough good things about this mower."

First the good: The personal pace system for self-propulsion is the absolute best design ever created for a lawn mower. It is fantastic! Whatever speed you want to go, just do it, and the mower automatically responds to match your pace. I really can't say enough good things about this feature. The Toro design engineer who thought this idea up is absolutely brilliant. The Toro company should make provision for him/her to be able retire comfortably on the merits of this one idea. Bravo!

Now the bad: This is the worst mower I've ever used for bagging. If you bag your grass clippings, I would recommend looking at a different mower. The exit hole for the bagger is so small, it clogs before the bag is a quarter full. I have to stop and empty the bag before I walk 25 or 30 paces. Very frustrating. Very close to unusable. Maybe the name of the mower ("Recycler") should have tipped me off that it was only intended to be used as a mulching mower, but it came with a bag, and was advertised as a solid bagger. I've ruined two lawns by trying to mulch grass clippings, and I can't afford to keep repairing the damage that mulching causes.

So in summary, the engineer who designed the "Personal Pace" self-propulsion system has created the absolute best feature ever invented in a consumer mower. But the engineer who designed the bagging system has created the worst feature ever invented. And if it was the same engineer, all I say is, "Dude! What were you thinking?".

If you mulch, the "Personal Pace" system makes this mower worth the money. But if you bag... run, don't walk, to select a different mower.

I got about 10 uses out of this mower before it stopped working.

The engine had seized -- no oil. The manual says to check oil before every use. That's no exaggeration. The service guy who gave me the not-covered-by-warranty bad news told me it's a common issue with the Briggs and Stratton engines in these mowers. They use oil fast.

I'm not kind to my lawn mowers, but I usually get five years out of a used mower. I've never bought a new one before. I'll never buy a Toro or Briggs and Stratton engine again.

It's probably not bad if you're at all careful, but if you tend to neglect your engines this is NOT an option.

My Lawn is ALL HILL.This Toro Recycler is fantastic.I can cut with one hand,and just go side to side.There's no primming,just pull,and the mower starts everytime.
The best money I've ever spent.

I agree with others that this is a great mower for the price and don't have a lot to add that has not been said. The only issue is that I have very thick grass and the mower will bog down or stall at times without a bag. It almost seems it has a tendancy to over mulch but if you cut more often it should not be an issue.

After my Honda Self-propelled mower lost its transmission I was in the market for a more heavy duty mower and I thought I found it with Toro. Before I tell you what I don't like about this mower let me tell you what I do enjoy.

Pros:

1) Easily starts: The engine has a sure start feature that ensures an engine start on the first or second pull.
2) Quality materials: The deck is made of heavy steel that is sure to stand up over time.
3) Ergonomic handles: The handle bar is very comfortable for extended mowing.
4) Simple crossover: The change between mowing and mulching is quick and easy, one simple piece and your ready to go.
5) Easy to adjust: The wheels easily adjust to the level you need.
6) Easy to clean: With an easy flush attachment the mower is easy to clean without having to flip it on its side.
7) No stop: If you need to pick something up or walk away from the mower for a second the motor stays running.

Now for some of the things I thought could have been better.

Cons:

1) The pull cord: It would seem that with a no-stop feature described above it would make sense that you would not need to turn off the motor when emptying the bag. However, if you pull the bag up straight through the handle bars the pull cord can snag on the bag and engage the flywheel gear making it grind down. You will have to either shut the motor down or pull the bag out from under the bars. This could have been solved simply by putting an extra eyelet further down the handle bars.
2) Self-propelled: Some reviews are satisfied with the power assist on this mower, I am not. My old Honda mower propelled itself just by pulling a lever, which I loved. This mower makes you constantly push against the control bar in order to make the mower move. Yes, this is designed to adjust the mower to your walking speed but the mower transmission must be relatively weak in order not to over speed the user. When it comes to hills the mower becomes very slow and heavy given it doesn't have the low end torque to propel itself up the hill and maintain the speed of the user.
3) Motor maintenance: The motor oil level needs constant attention. The motor is a high quality Briggs but it consumes oil at tremendous rates. Since the day I purchased this mower the motor has always backfired when starting giving me a little pop just before it starts. Doesn't seem to hurt anything but its worth pointing out.
4) Shut-down: I personally don't like the dinky little off switch that shuts the motor down. You have to sit and hold it until the motor has come to a full stop.

A pretty good mower but I don't think I will get another one like it when this one fails.

All Feedback is Appreciated. Thanks for reading and good mowing.

This mower was highly rated by a leading consumer magazine, so I ordered it sight-unseen through Amazon. It will do the job, but there are some disappointments.

The self-propulsion feature is responsive and works well. I have several places in my yard where I have to go forward then back up. Pulling this mower backwards is a chore, but going forward is a breeze, as the mower adjusts to your walking pace.

This is a "guaranteed start" mower, and so far it always starts on the first or second pull. No wretched priming, choking, etc. Not sure how they accomplish this but it's nice!

Toro provided a container of oil which had been punctured sometime during shipment. So, there was oil splashed over much of the contents of the box. Most of the wheel adjustment mechanisms seemed to be damaged as well. One of the wheels will not stay in the position I set. I suppose I could borrow a truck and take it to a Toro dealer for repair, but I think I will try to fix it myself.

Most manufacturers (including Toro) will tell you not to mulch in the Spring. I do anyway. This mower bogs down a lot, but that is really stretching what the mower is designed to do. I also cut the grass fairly low and that doesn't help matters.

The "quick flush" feature cleans a lot of the grass out from under the mower but not all of it.

So I think Toro has basically a good product, but they need to improve their shipping container. Be prepared for some disappointments if you buy this unit.