New Toro Super Recycler & Stihl Attachment

[Hedgemaster]

Not only did the new mower get dirty today, it got RAINED on! I picked up a client yesterday at the end of the day and made arrangements to mow the yard around mid day today. Got home, saw the "doom and gloom" forecast, and called her to ask if I could mow at 9am instead because the rain was coming. (Her grass is already too stinking high as it is) "That's fine!" she said. Here's the Toro digesting some greenery this morning... I have to say that I'm impressed with it's mulching capability. Even with that high grass, there was minimal "clumping". There is no way my old Craftsman would mulch grass as tall as this thing can. It also is pretty good going up hills. The Personal Pace self propel system works quite well. On level ground, you can move pretty fast with it. I'm not sure what speed it's rated at, but it will move faster than I can. ( ) I still have to say that the "washout port" is retarded. I think it's a better marketing angle than it is a useful feature. Rather than unscrewing my sprayer attachment to connect my hose to the mower, I tilt the mower to the side, and hit it with the nozzle set to "jet". I can hose off the whole thing that way. If I use the washout port, only the front gets sprayed. Speaking of washing. Here's the filthy beast when I got back home. It had started to rain as I was wrapping up the job. My poor baby had to ride home in the rain. Note: This cargo carrier is IDEAL for jobs when you don't need the whole trailer, or are working in the city. Well, that's my update. I like the mower a lot. It's getting dirty, it's making me some money, and it's due for it's first oil change!

[Steve]

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I bet you have inspired more than a few people to purchase one of those mowers for themselves.

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[Hedgemaster]

Originally Posted by Steve

I bet you have inspired more than a few people to purchase one of those mowers for themselves.

Heh. Maybe so.

I don't have it handy, but I have a Consumer Reports magazine that had a mower section in it. This model was their #2 pick. A Honda got the #1 spot, and as I recall it was priced $200 higher than the Toro.

So far, I agree with the old saying "You get what you pay for." I've always owned Craftsman and Murray mowers... some were cheap, and some were more expensive, but overall, none compare to this Toro.

I had nothing to do today, so I mowed my lawn then got my three "backup" mowers out of storage. Two of them started on the very first pull and the third needs a fuel line and gas tank replaced, so I didn't bother starting it until I get those changed.
I sprayed them all with Simple Green and hosed them down, then lined them all up for a photo. I'll post a pic if my phone ever gets finished sending them to my email...

[Hedgemaster]

OK, here's the rest of the gang. The old ones wanted some love, so I cleaned them up a bit and got them all together for a family photo...


Newest to oldest...



1. Toro Super Recycler SR4 - Brand new. Mulch/bag/side discharge
2. Toro Recycler. Mulch/bag/side discharge. Consumer model - about 8 yrs old. I just got it last season. Needs a new fuel tank
3. Craftsman Mulch/bag/side discharge - I bought this new about 9-10 years ago. Decent mower, but I bent the shaft 2 years ago and it vibrates like mad. Also, the deck broke in one spot where the engine bolts on.
My "beater" mower for questionable yards that may have hidden dangers for the first cut.
4. Homelite 20" Mulching mower. Mulcher or side discharge - no bag. This mower belonged to my father in law who only used it for about a year before he passed away.
It's at least 18 years old, but has only seen about 3 seasons of use. I kept it as a backup, but never really needed to use it. It's really lightweight and compact. Started on the first pull too.

Oldest to newest...











It's funny. I was just thinking about how long these mowers have lasted considering the complete lack of maintenance. I changed the oil in the Craftsman last year - for the FIRST time. LOL! Never changed a spark plug on a mower in my life either. Blades sharpened maybe every other year...
Things will be different with the new toro.


Well, that's my slightly dysfunctional family. Hope you enjoyed the show.

[Hedgemaster]

Two more "way too high" lawns mowed with the Toro today and once again, it came through with flying colors.

I wasn't about to bag the first lawn, as I would have been emptying on every pass. I did have to put it at the highest setting for the back yard, but next time I cut it, I should be able to drop it down some more.


The second lawn I tried bagging, as he has a "dumping spot" over the hill in the back, but the grass was just too high, and the bag filled too quickly.
I switched back to mulching and had rather good results, even with the amount that I was taking off.

I'm going to have "Bagging is for Suckers" custom painted on the side of this mower! LOL!

[ProGreen]

I have a Stihl FS80 Pro Series, how can I tell if it has an interchangeable head like yours? It has the same two screws to take it off as that one.

[Hedgemaster]

Originally Posted by ProGreen

I have a Stihl FS80 Pro Series, how can I tell if it has an interchangeable head like yours? It has the same two screws to take it off as that one.

I dunno... is that an older model?
I just looked in my Stihl catalog and I don't see an FS80 at all.

[Paineless Creations]

Originally Posted by ProGreen

I have a Stihl FS80 Pro Series, how can I tell if it has an interchangeable head like yours? It has the same two screws to take it off as that one.

No it will not, Hedgemaster is the running the Kombi Set up

[Paineless Creations]

Hey Hedge I have the same Stihl setup as you KM130R Kombi I bought the the same hedge trimmers late last year. I have been using them for spring clean ups. Very sharp and cuts well, But to me its very hard to use as it is very big, hard to handle, Any thoughts.

[Hedgemaster]

Actually, it's not the Kombi system.

It's the FS90R and it accepts gearbox attachments at the end of the shaft, rather than using a split shaft.

I went this route for two reasons - strength of the solid shaft and lower cost while having almost the same attachment options. It was less expensive to go this route (by $100), and there are only one or two attachment differences. The bonus with the Kombi system is that you can get extensions for the pole pruner, where my unit can not use an extension, and you are limited to the length of the stock shaft.

Yes, it does seem a bit unwieldy, but I haven't actually used it yet. I have a loop handle from an old trimmer I may slip on in front of the factory handle to give me more "grasping" options when using it that way.