Toro lawn mower fuel. Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Reviews 2023

Toro Lawn Mowers Use This Type Of Gas

This company has been in business for over a hundred years, and is headquartered in the Minneapolis suburb of Bloomington, Minnesota. It designs, manufactures, and markets lawnmowers, snow blowers, and irrigation system supplies for commercial and residential customers, farmers, public sector organizations, and the public sector at large.

As a Toro lawn mower owner you need to be aware that proper gas must always be used to operate the lawn mower. You are therefore interested in finding out whether your Toro lawn mower runs on standard fuel or blended fuel. Here you will find the answer to your question, so you can relax as you have come to the right place.

If you’re unfamiliar with Toro lawn mowers, you might not know that selecting the right gas for them is essential to their longevity. Therefore, make sure you choose the right one. You could put the fuel system of the mower as well as the engine in jeopardy if you choose the wrong type of gas for it. Any type of gas won’t work with your Toro.

4-cycle engines enable Bull lawnmowers to run on regular gas. It usually contains 87-octane unleaded gasoline with a maximum 10% ethanol content. For optimum performance and long service life, the lawn mower should run on the right gas.

Can You Use Regular Toro Mower Gas?

Increasing the octane number in a fuel increases its quality and octane level. By ensuring the fuel has a higher quality, the fuel is more likely to ignite properly through the combustion process as a result of a spark from the spark plug, rather than early due to piston compression as a result of the spark plug.

The Toro lawn mower can be used with regular gas, but it must not contain more than 10% ethanol content in it in order to run properly. The Toro requires gasoline with an octane rating of at least 87, which is required for the engine. Regular gas, as defined by the US Energy Information Administration, is generally rated at 87 octane, which is the same as what is marketed as premium gas.

Type of Gas Required for a Toro Lawn Mower

If you are heading to the local gas station to purchase gasoline for your Toro, you should make sure that you choose unleaded gas that has an octane rating of 87 or higher when you make your purchase. For use with all gasoline engines in Toro products, unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87 (RM)/2 method) is recommended, and this is the most recommended fuel grade. As long as the ethanol content in the gasoline does not exceed 10% by volume or the MTBE concentration does not exceed 15% by volume, the gasoline will be acceptable. No more than 10 percent ethanol should be present in the gas. Ideally, you should use gasoline with low or no ethanol content, even if it isn’t 100% ethanol-free.

As a rule, you will have a lot of questions regarding the type of gasoline that you should select. It may be that you wonder whether you should use regular gasoline that contains over 10% ethanol when you are trying to run your car.

Why Does My Toro Lawn Mower Need Low-Ethanol Gas?

It is a problem that small lawnmower engines are not fully able to absorb the ethanol, particularly in this case. Ethanol is an environmentally friendly fuel that comes from corn and is a biofuel based on corn. The reason why it is so critical to add this additive to gasoline is precisely because of the reason mentioned earlier. Unfortunately, small engines of Toro lawnmowers don’t qualify for the use of this method, which is best suited to car engines.

The result of this is that the fuel system is clogged up, which then results in ignition problems. From a consumer standpoint, it makes sense for the ethanol content of the fuel to be low, if not zero, if at all possible.

Advantages Of Ethanol-Free Gasoline

For your Toro, it is wise to use gasoline that is ethanol-free. There are two types of recreation fuel available on the market: REC-90 and recreational fuel. Buying fuel from gas stations can be a bit expensive, sometimes costing up to 2 per gallon if you are buying from a convenience store.

The more energy that is used, the more power that is generated. A substantial improvement in fuel economy (about 3-4%). No reliance on ethanol crops to provide fuel. Due to the fact that ethanol attracts water, which can cause rusting to occur on an engine’s interior parts, ethanol causes an extremely small amount of harm to engines.

This is the reason why hardware stores and engine shops are also offering it for sale. This is a package of four-cycle fuel canisters, the right fit for Toro lawn mowers.

There are a number of benefits associated with ethanol-free gas, including the following:

• Enhances the life expectancy of the equipment by extending its use
• In order to protect against break-ins, new equipment has been installed.
• An increased trigger reaction simplifies ignition.
• When not in use, the machine doesn’t emit smoke or odors.
• Engine-adaptable

For Toro lawnmowers, fresh gasoline is recommended.

Volatile components evaporate, causing the materials to deteriorate. The machine will have ignition problems when evaporation reaches a certain level. For this reason, fresh gasoline should always be purchased for Toro lawn mowers.

• Unleaded, clean.
• If operating at high altitude, use 87 octane/87 AKI (91 RON).
• MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether) or ethanol up to 10% is acceptable in gasoline.

What Happens When Gasoline Expires?

There will not be contamination of old natural gas, but rather the gas will lose its combustibility and volatile compounds as it ages. If this residue is left to rest for a long period of time, it will turn gummy and become varnish as a result. As a result of this unwanted residue, the carburetor will become clogged, leading to a multitude of problems relating to the engine.

It is possible to damage internal engine components when you use old gasoline. During this process, gum residue may begin to form on the inside of the drain and may cause blockages.

The best option for storing any unused gas for later use is to do as follows:

The plastic gas can should be designed to work with unleaded gas so that you can use it safely. If you want to use a gas can for storing gas, be sure that you choose an appropriate one. Some plastic containers are not designed to store gas and will break down over time.

• With the extra gas that isn’t being used right away, add a fuel additive. Gas leftovers will stay fresher longer this way. This Sea Foam Engine Treatment works well for me. Sea foam benefits can be found here.
• Make sure you only buy enough gas to last 30 days. Gas is best used quickly. While the idea of knowing exactly how much gas you have in your tank, as well as how much you will need every time you mow your lawn can be tricky.
• Before adding new gas, the current can should always be empty. Before using any stored gas, make sure it has been properly cooled. As a result, you won’t have to waste gas by letting it sit for months, and you’ll be able to use fresh gas instead of old gas.
• Any remaining gas in the can should be disposed of appropriately at the end of the season. Your car or other machine may benefit from this if needed. Gas cans should not be left sitting after the season.

Conclusion

It is possible to cause costly damage to your beloved Toro Mower Gas by running it on the wrong type of fuel/gas. The machine is not the only thing damaged, but the engine is the most serious.

You should also use low-ethanol fuel of less than 10% for your Toro lawn mower if it has an 87-octane rating. Small engines cannot run on ethanol because it is not conducive to the environment.

Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Reviews 2023

Deciding on the best self-propelled lawn mower isn’t as easy as it used to be. Do you need commercial or residential quality? Do you want to use gas or batteries for power? How much grass do you need to cut? Are you a mulcher or a bagger?

Having tested dozens of the best walk-behind lawn mowers from entry-level residential to the top professional models, we got our Pro team together to choose our top mowers in a range of scenarios.

One of the big things changing in the market is Honda’s announcement that the brand is exiting the lawn mower market. While you can still buy Honda mowers until they run out of stock, 2023 marks the end of production. We still highly recommend them, but due to the news and iffy availability, we’re not considering Honda as part of our choices this year.

Want to see more, including ride-on and robotic recommendations? Read out Best Lawn Mower Reviews main article!

Best Self-Propelled Gas Lawn Mower

Commercial: Exmark Commercial X-Series Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

As we bid adieu to Honda this year, the HRC series still gets two thumbs up from us while you can get them. From there, we turn to Exnark and its Commercial X line that complements its Lazer Z zero-turn mowers well. Some professionals will certainly turn to the higher-capacity 30-inch model, but we expect the 21-inch model will find its way onto more trailers.

Exmark wisely uses a Honda 163cc GXV engine with a legendary reputation for reliability. It’s fed by a generous 1-gallon fuel tank and turns the blade at tip speeds up to 18,500 fpm. There’s also an option for a Kawasaki FJ180V engine if you’d like to step up to a 179cc engine.

The deck is 1/4-inch aluminum construction that keeps the weight down (112 pounds) while maintaining high durability. The deck is adjustable from 4.5 inches on the high side all the way down to 1 inch while the drive runs at speeds up to 4.2 MPH.

Residential: Toro Super Recycler Series 21-Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

Toro runs deep in the residential lawn mower sector and our favorite among them is the Super Recycler series. Getting the best of all the technology Toro has to offer, our top recommendation (model 21565) includes the Personal Pace drive system and the Smart Stow design that allows you to vertically store the mower even though it’s a gas model.

It uses a 163cc Briggs Stratton engine that produces 7.25 ft-lbs of torque and just under 17,000 fpm blade tip speed.

Toro touts a commercial-grade construction on this model and includes a lighter aluminum deck rather than steel. In addition to that, you get outstanding cut quality, especially on the mulching side (you better with the name Super Recycler!). Wrapping it up, the Personal Pace drive system adjusts to your walking pace so there are no levers or dials to adjust.

Best Self-Propelled Electric Lawn Mower

Just a few years ago, if you wanted to find the best battery-powered lawn mower, you could only find residential models. Now, there’s an emerging class of professional-grade options and we have picks for both Pros and homeowners.

Professional: Milwaukee M18 Fuel 21-Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

There aren’t many true commercial self-propelled lawn mowers with lithium-ion power sources. Milwaukee launched their effort in 2022 with a monstrous 10 ft-lbs of torque that tops what you typically see from a 200cc gas engine. It’s more than just muscle, though. Its blade and deck combine to handle mulching and bagging better than most.

As you roll into fall, the mower’s high-lift mode keeps the blades at 3300 RPM to help pull those lightweight leaves and clean up your lawn. Other features include 180° LED lighting, LED battery indicators facing you, variable speed thumb bar (in addition to the speed wheel), a durable build, and much more.

Price: 1099.00 with two 12.0Ah batteries and dual-port Rapid charger

Residential: EGO Select Cut XP 21-Inch Lawn Mower with Speed IQ

The evolution of EGO’s flagship mower is interesting. It started with the dual-battery Peak Power model that raised the bar of what lithium-ion is capable of. Then, we saw the first stacked-blade SelectCut options that improved cut quality and effectiveness in tall grass. The two technologies combined in the SelectCut XP. Now EGO adds Speed IQ to the mix.

Speed IQ is a self-propelled drive system that automatically adjusts to your pace. However, it’s not a spring-loaded set of handles like Toro uses on its Personal Pace models. Instead, there’s a sensor doing some serious engineering magic… and it works like a charm from our brief time with it at Equip Expo 2022 (formerly GIE).

Price: 599.00 bare, 999.00 with a 12.0Ah battery and Turbo charger

Best Large Walk-Behind Lawn Mower

Commercial: Greenworks Commercial 30-Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

Can a battery-powered commercial mower really displace gas models? Greenworks Commercial has an 82V 30-inch model that got our attention at the Equip Expo in late 2022, and it’s hard to ignore as a legitimate option. It has the power to replace a 200cc gas engine with blade speeds up to 16,000 FPM. On a full charge, it can cover up to 2 acres.

There are drive system features worth considering as well. Independent hub wheel motors engage what Greenworks calls the Easy Turn System (ETS), making the mower easier to maneuver. Another big deal is that there is a powered reverse function—something that’s incredibly helpful with the weight of mowers in this class. The controls are all up next to your hands and there’s even a display to help you keep track of your battery levels.

Price: 1999.99 bare, 2999.99 with three 8Ah batteries and a dual-port charger

Residential: Toro TimeMaster 30-inch Personal Pace Mower

With 10 ft-lbs of torque delivered from its Briggs Stratton 223cc engine, the 30-inch Toro TimeMaster is our pick as the best large walk-behind lawn mower. Not only does it deliver big power to turn its time-saving 30-inch blade, but it also features Toro’s Personal Pace self-propelled drive and Spin-Stop that lets you stop the blade without shutting off the mower.

It all adds up to big-time savings on larger lawns. Grab model 21200 if you want an electric start or the 21199 if you don’t mind a recoil start and want to save 100.

Price: 1599.00 (21199), 1499.99 (20200)

Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mower for the Money

Toro’s 21-inch Recycler (21352) offers an excellent value for budget-minded homeowners. It’s a Made in the USA rear-wheel drive system powered by a Briggs Stratton 140cc engine. It comes ready to mulch, bag, or side discharge and you don’t have to worry about changing the oil. Just check the levels and add more when it’s necessary.

Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Brand

No one in the self-propelled lawn mower market dominates like Honda. Their engines enjoy a reputation for quality and durability every other manufacturer is shooting for, and their mowers are simply outstanding.

They typically run at a premium, though. Both Honda mowers and Honda-powered mowers are more expensive than similar designs from other brands. The big kick in the pants is Honda leaving the market, though.

That opens the door for Toro. There are a lot of Toro models we recommend for good reason and hit a wide range from budget-friendly homeowner mowers to commercial zero turns. It’s one of the best-selling brands of walk-behind mowers.

Getting hard sales figures is tough to come by, and it’s always possible we missed the mark. However, we see more Honda and Toro walk-behind mowers on commercial trailers and residential lawns than any other brand.

Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mower for Bagging

You don’t have to ditch your current self-propelled lawn mower and buy a whole new one to improve your bagging efficiency. In most cases, adding a high-lift blade to your current mower will make a significant difference. With the exception of electric mowers, you don’t need to worry too much about matching the brand making the blade, but you do need to match the arbor style and the length. The package should tell you which brands it is compatible with.

If you’re still in the market for a new mower, higher RPMs make for better airflow and bagging. Check mowers with a 160cc or higher engine and compare the top blade speeds. You can always swap blades, but you can’t change the speed.

Pro Tip: If you have a 2-point or 4-point deck height adjustment, set the front wheels of your mower one notch higher than the rear to improve bagging.

Best Self-Propelled Mulching Lawn Mower

Similar to a high-lift blade for bagging, you can improve your mulching efficiency with a mulching-specific blade. These usually have additional cutting edges that cut the clippings more times before they drop back into the grass. Keeping the blade sharp ensures you get the best mulching results every time you mow.

If you’re in the market for a new mower, look for a 160cc or higher engine to give you the torque you need to keep your blade speed high in thicker grass. Remember, you can always add a mulching blade, but you can’t make up for an underpowered engine.

Pro Tip: You get the best mulching results if you’re only taking an inch or two off the top of your grass, so make sure you stay on top of lawn maintenance during the peak cutting season.

Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mower – Priorities

Best Rear-Wheel Drive Self-Propelled Lawn Mower for Hills: YBravo Gen II 25-inch Commercial Mower

After running into issues with other commercial walk-behind mowers, we turned to YBravo 25-inch commercial mower to take care of a 3-acre soggy field that our ZTs only bogged down in. Its Kawasaki 180cc engine kept the blade turning where others simply stalled.

When it’s time to move out of the radio station swamp and you’re going for a more professional look, its cut quality is excellent as well. Available in a 21-inch and the 25-inch model we tested, Ybravo is worth serious consideration.

If you have a Bad Boy dealer closer to you, check out the same model sold under the Bad Boy brand name.

Price: 1299.00 (25-inch model)

Best All-Wheel Drive Self-Propelled Lawn Mower: Toro 22-inch Personal Pace All-Wheel Drive Mower 21472

AWD mowers are what you turn to for work on slopes and uneven terrain where it’s possible to have a wheel or two lose traction. For the best all-wheel drive self-propelled lawn mower, we like the Toro 21472 Personal Pace model.

Its 22-inch deck is on the larger size of standard mowers and the Personal Pace system is easy to work with once you get used to it. If you switch between mulching and bagging, the mower’s lever system is super simple.

Packing plenty of power with its 163cc Briggs Stratton engine, it’s not so much that it destroys the competition. It’s that its performance is excellent and the innovations are genuinely helpful while keeping its price in check.

Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Recommendations

Not every mower earns an award, but there are several other models we recommend that didn’t find a place earlier in the article. Check these options out if one of the others doesn’t fit your needs.

Best Lawn Mower Buying Guide – What We Look For

Gas vs Battery

Gas power still wins the day when you’re highest priorities are keeping your purchase price down and your power level high. With advancements in battery and motor technology, the OPE world is shifting towards battery power, though. It’s cleaner and quieter to run and requires less maintenance.

However, you have to look at premium models to get true gas power, and runtime can be a limiting factor. It’s also less likely you have a service center nearby that can get you back up and running quickly if there’s a problem.

If your lawn is a 1/4-acre or less, there are a lot of battery-powered options available. Once you get beyond that size, you need to consider how many batteries you’ll need and legitimate options really start to thin out once you hit 1/2 an acre. With larger lawns, newer battery-powered zero turn mowers are a legitimate option.

Take a deeper look at the comparison between gas and battery power in this article.

Commercial vs Residential

This might be better titled “professional vs homeowner” considering there are both commercial and residential professional crews. Regardless, commercial mowers are built with better components and commercial engines, creating a machine that is built to last for years of high-hour daily use.

If you’re a homeowner mowing once a week or so, a good residential mower can still last for 5 or 10 years (or more) if you take care of it. It just uses components and engine designs better fit for occasional use.

Engine Size and Cutting Power

If you stay on top of your mowing and cut quality isn’t a high priority, an engine as small as 140cc is likely fine.

Move up to the 160cc–180cc class for better performance when the grass is thicker and taller, or when you want to make sure you get excellent mulching, bagging, and/or clean cuts. The greater power improves lift and is less likely to bog down in thick patches.

When you’re looking at deck sizes beyond 22 inches, you should start looking for engines in the 180cc–200cc range (or higher) to ensure it can keep the RPMs high while it’s cutting such a large swath.

Cut Quality

We look for three major components of cut quality: evenness, mulching size, and bagging efficiency.

Evenness is pretty straightforward. When we’re testing, we look for grass blades that weren’t cut and indications that there wasn’t enough lift to clip all of the blades at the same level.

When mulching, smaller clippings are better since they drop down closer to the base of the remaining grass. We also look to see if a mower is prone to leaving trails and clumps.

For bagging, it’s all about how much grass is collected, if the chute tends to clog while we’re cutting, and how much grass is deposited back to the ground.

Noise Level

One of the major benefits of battery-powered mowers is the lower noise levels compared to gas, but that doesn’t mean gas mowers have to be obnoxious. We expect higher levels than battery-powered models and that is typically the case.

When we test noise levels, we measure from our operator’s ear to get an idea of what the person using the mower should expect. Even though some mowers are quieter than others, we still recommend hearing protection when you’re using a gas model.

Fuel Efficiency

How efficient gas mowers use fuel has a very direct effect on your wallet, especially when you’re mowing every day as a Pro.

Fuel efficiency testing is more than just a runtime calculation. The cutting swath of a mower comes into play, especially on those 25 and 30-inch models. With larger lawns, it’s possible to get more cutting done per gallon of gas with an engine that uses more gas per hour.

Deck Size

21 or 22 inches is pretty standard for most mowers. Jumping up to a 25-inch or 30-inch mower may seem tempting, but it’s not for everyone.

If your lawn is a 1/4-acre or less, the time you gain with a larger deck might not mean a whole lot of time savings. Where you really gain some time is on lawns that are a 1/2-acre or more.

Keep in mind, larger deck-size mowers are heavier. When you have to mow wet or soggy areas, the weight can work against you.

Steel vs Plastic (Poly) Deck

The vast majority of gas mowers have steel decks while battery-powered models have a much higher percentage of plastic poly decks.

Those poly plastic decks are tougher than they look, but they probably won’t hold up as well as steel in the long run. It’s still highly unlikely that you’ll wear through one before it’s time to replace the mower, though.

However, there’s a whole lot more design flexibility that comes with poly decks, and engineers can do some amazing things to help with airflow that directly affects cut quality along with bagging and mulching efficiency.

Deck Height

Here in Florida, we have a lot of St. Augustine grass that we cut at 3 1/2 inches, so we prefer a mower that has at least a 4-inch maximum deck height.

Depending on what species of grass you have, you might be able to get away with a lower height, but 4 inches is a good all-around benchmark.

On the low end, most of us aren’t cutting golf course greens (you’d use a reel mower for that, anyway), so the minimum deck height usually isn’t an issue.

However, if you use a blade that dethatches or scalps for maintenance or re-seeding, you might want to make sure the deck height gets low enough—typically 1 1/2 inches or less.

Height Adjustment

Single-point height adjustments are the easiest since you can raise or lower the deck with just one lever. It’s common on battery-powered lawn mowers, but not so much on their heavier gas counterparts.

Part of that is because the single-point mechanisms tend to introduce additional flex into the system and the weight of a gas mower puts more strain on the mechanism. So while we generally prefer single-point, we understand why gas mowers may opt away from them.

Pro Tip: Set the front wheels one notch higher than the rear wheels to improve bagging efficiency on 4-point or 2-point adjustable mowers.

Adjustment Levels

If you’re really OCD, more height adjustments mean more precise cutting. Realistically, most of us are going to find a good height on any mower as long as it hits the maximum and minimum heights we mow at.

Setting the Speed

The type of speed adjustment your self-propelled lawn mower has can make or break your experience. There are pull levers, thumb push levers, full push bars (Toro’s Personal Pace), and iterations on those.

Try it at the dealer before you buy it. If you hate working the mechanism for a couple of minutes, imagine what it’s going to feel like after 30 minutes or an hour.

Front-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, or All-Wheel Drive?

Front-wheel drive lawn mowers are typically the least expensive and work well for even terrain. They also help you turn the easiest since you lift up the drive wheels as you make your turns.

Rear-wheel drive mowers add some cost but create better traction on hills and slopes. They’re particularly good at pushing the mower’s weight uphill where front-wheel drives start to lose traction as they try to pull the weight.

All-wheel drive mowers are the most expensive and generally do the best job on hills, slopes, and uneven terrain. On particularly bumpy areas where it’s likely one or more wheels will lose traction, it’s the best bet.

Wheel Size

Larger wheels tend to handle bumps and uneven terrain better than smaller wheels according to manufacturers. However, it’s a claim that Consumer Reports says isn’t really the case.

Electric Start

If you’ve used a gas engine, there’s a good chance you’ve worn out your arm pulling the cord to start it. There’s no doubt that having an electric start on your mower can take away a lot of the frustration.

It won’t make up for poor maintenance, though. A well-maintained mower starts easily on the first or second pull. That begs the question as to whether the electric start is worth an extra hundred dollars.

It’s totally up to you, but if it’s in the budget, we want it.

Mulch, Bag, or Side/Rear Discharge?

Most quality mowers are 3-in-1, meaning you can bag, mulch, or side/rear discharge. Less expensive models often only provide options for bagging and mulching. Which one you choose depends on what type of grass you have, how fast it grows, and your personal preference.

In central Florida where St. Augustine, Zoysia, and Bahia dominate our landscapes, the summer heat and rains make our grass grow incredibly fast. Most of us mulch out of necessity since we almost need a dumpster for the volume of clippings we create.

Handle Positions

Most lawn mowers have 3 handle positions you can set. For tall guys like me or average-height guys like Clint, it helps you find a more comfortable grip. Some mowers opt for 2, or sometimes just 1 handle position.

Value

Value is more than just price. We take a broad look at the performance and features compared to the price to determine the value of each mower.

Why You Can Trust Pro Tool Reviews

Ever check out a “review” site and you can’t tell if they actually tested the tools or if they’re just “recommending” the Amazon top sellers?

That’s not us. We only recommend what we’d actually use, even if we don’t earn a commission from it. It’s all about giving you a legitimate recommendation and our honest opinion of each product.

We’ve been in business since 2008 covering tools, writing reviews, and reporting on industry news in the construction, automotive, and lawn care industries. Our Pro reviewers work in the trades and have the skills and experience to know whether tools can perform well in the field.

Each year, we bring in and review more than 250 individual products. Our team will put our hands on hundreds of additional tools at media events and trade shows throughout the year.

We consult with innovators in the technology and design of tools to gain a broader grasp of where these products fit and how they work.

We work with more than two dozen professional contractors around the United States who review products for us on real job sites and consult with us on testing methods, categories, and weighting.

We’ll provide more than 500 pieces of new content this year absolutely free for our readers—including objective evaluations of individual tools and products.

The end result is information you can trust because of the editorial, scientific, and real-world professional experience we collectively utilize each and every time we pick up and test a tool.

Reasons Why Your Toro Lawn Mower Won’t Start Troubleshooting Tips

If you buy something through our posts, we may get a small commission. Read more here.

Like any other garden tool, operational problems aren’t uncommon for a Toro lawn mower. And when it doesn’t start right away, you may think it’s time to buy a new one.

However, did you know that troubleshooting Toro mowers starting issues isn’t as complicated as you think? Read along as our experts discuss all the possible ways of handling this issue.

Toro Lawn Mower Parts to Check and Fix

Air Filter

You may not know, but airflow is crucial for keeping your Toro mower engine going. It’s also a no-brainer that these tools are exposed to different elements and weather, so finding your air filters clogged with dirt and grass isn’t a surprising sight.

A clogged air filter could ultimately lead to overheating and damaging your Toro lawn mower engine. It can cause surging in your lawn mower or backfiring issues. If you don’t want that to happen, regularly checking the air filter is a preemptive measure our team would recommend.

Remove it from the air filter housing and tap it continuously on a hard surface or wall to eliminate as much dirt as possible. If you’re having difficulty removing the air filter cover, it should unlock once you turn it clockwise. However, remember to disconnect the spark plug wire before doing these steps.

After removing debris and dirt, lift it using your lawn mower jack to check if you can see the light shining through the paper air filter. If not, we suggest replacing your air filter for better mowing operations.

Carburetor

Did you know that most mower engines that refuse to start often suffer from a dirty carburetor? Generally, the mixture of air and gas is what regulates the combustion of your Toro lawn mower. Because of this, deposits from bad gas or old fuel in the carburetor are likely the main culprit why this lawn mower won’t start.

If you have mechanical knowledge in handling Toro mowers, cleaning the bad gas away by yourself isn’t so much of a hassle. In fact, usual carburetor problems will only require you to fill it with fresh fuel. However, we recommend disconnecting the fuel line before you do any cleaning.

Should the method prove ineffective, all you need to do is remove the fuel bowl and fuel feed bolt. You can find fuel feed bolts in units equipped with Honda engines. But if the units in question are older Toro lawn mowers, you just need to locate the Briggs gas bowl behind the air filters.

Use a carburetor cleaner to eliminate the dust and dirt particles. Make sure to spray carb cleaner into the jet and brush the bolt gasket clean. On top of these methods, our Toro mower experts suggest checking if the fuel flows on the carburetor. If not, users are advised to conduct a fuel flow test on the unit.

Controls and Attachments

Another possible reason why your Toro lawn mower won’t start is its controls and attachments. Given the high incidence of injuries when using lawn mowers [1]. it’s understandable why manufacturers engineered some safety mechanisms in these machines. Believe it or not, your Toro mower wouldn’t run if its blade is engaged or some controls are not in the right position.

Fuel Level

It’s not rocket science that you need to check your mower’s fuel tank levels whether there is too much oil or nearly at drained level before the cutting operation. And if the fuel supplied in your Toro Lawn Mower has been there for thirty days, that’s bad gas. If you ask our team, it’s best to replace it before it starts damaging your mower.

You can also check if the gas or fuel tap switch is turned on. When using Toro mowers, you don’t need to press any button because this feature automatically connects the fuel system to the unit’s engine. Sometimes, simple things like insufficient gas tank levels are what’s stopping the mower from running.

Fuel Type

As we previously discussed, keeping the gas fresh in the fuel tank is a great way to extend the life of your mower. You can easily keep track of this as bad gas has a stronger smell than fresh gas.

If you can, we also urge you to keep the fuel line going with ethanol-free gas and opt for non-oxygenated fuel. Should you find yourself with no choice, you can go ahead and fill it up with fresh gas as long as it doesn’t exceed 10% alcohol fuel content, or you’ll put the fuel system at risk.

We understand that there will be instances where you won’t be using your Toro Lawn Moro for a long time. You can use a fuel stabilizer to prevent fuel quality from going bad while sitting in the gas tank.

It’s normal to feel unsure if you’re unfamiliar with lawn care equipment. The best you can do is as your Toro dealer or consult the lawn mower user manual to see the specific fuel type suited for the unit.

Fuel Pump

If the above lawn mower repairs didn’t work, it’s time to check the fuel pump. Pumping old fuel from your gas tank can easily damage the components and plastic elements in the fuel pump. Once it happens, it will be hard for the pump to hold pressure during the operation. And that will result in your lawnmower refusing to start.

Unless you’re a Toro Push Mower expert, you’ll be able to tell bad pumps from the leaking fuel lines. But visually speaking, testing the fuel flow is your best shot. Typically, we try to do this using a fuel shut-off valve or clamp.

You can freely start or stop the fuel flow with these fuel valve tools. Keep an eye on the fuel hose attached to the pump. Even if there’s a fuel flow, you still need to see if the pumping is constant. If not, we suggest replacing the fuel pump once and for all.

Fuel Filter

A clogged fuel filter can also be one of the reasons why an old lawn mower won’t start. With dirt buildup caused by stale fuel, it will be hard for the filter to let the fuel pass into the hose. You can try cleaning, but it’d be wise to just get a new fuel filter for smooth lawn mower cutting operations.

Besides getting a new filter, you should know that the same excessive residues can block the unit’s fuel line. It’s easy to point out the fuel filter as the main culprit, but did you know that inspecting the hose is just as important?

In our team’s years of lawn mower troubleshooting experience, the best method we can suggest is using a fuel valve or clamp for flow testing. You can use compressed air to blow the debris and residues away from the tube.

Spark Plug

As a regular lawn mower user, you’d know that a spark plug wire plays a huge part in triggering the ignition coil for engine combustion. The moment the spark plug wire stops working, expect numerous lawn mower problems to come your way.

You can spot a faulty spark plug wire by checking for dirt deposits or cracked porcelain and electrodes. If you simply found dirt deposits on the surface, cleaning spark plug wires with a soft cloth and plug spray cleaner is one of the quickest solutions you should consider.

Like getting a new filter, spark plug replacement is crucial in lawn mower troubleshooting. When you spot a wet spark plug, always remember that it can cause further damage to the engine if not replaced immediately.

Our team of lawn mower experts firmly suggests spark plug replacement every 25 hours of cutting operation. But if that’s not possible for you, it’s only logical to get a new spark plug once every year.

Battery

If your mowers run with an electric ignition switch, checking the battery levels can help you figure out my the machine isn’t working. You may not know, but any Toro dealer will tell you that the unit will not start with a defective battery.

If you see a yellow and red light flashing in its indicator, your battery is still charging. As soon as the green light appears, that’s when you know it’s fully charged. However, keep in mind that it’ll take a whole day or two to get your lawn mower full-charge battery.

It’s also a moderately inexpensive part to replace, so trust us when we say it’s a relief if this is the one problem with your mower.

Cables and Terminals

Not all lawn mower users can easily do this, but inspecting your unit for loose cables and damaged terminals should explain the mystery of why your mower wouldn’t start. Issues like malfunctioning choke lever are likely caused by cable breakage that connects it to the ignition switch.

You should also ensure that none of the battery terminals are corroded. If you see a corroded terminal, our resident lawn care experts recommend scrubbing it with a baking soda and water solution.

Ignition Switch

When a mower doesn’t start, it’s not uncommon to think that it’s an ignition switch problem. You see, an ignition coil is in-charge of delivering voltage to the spark plug. If the ignition coil gets damaged in any way, there’s no way the engine will run.

One way to fix this problem is through a multimeter. It’ll tell you if there’s a break in the ignition coil continuity. If that result comes up, you should be prepared to replace it.

Safety Switch

Safety switches are installed in mowers for safe cutting operations. This feature stops the mower from working without an operator as it detects parking brake engagement. If the switch failed to work, your mower wouldn’t start as well.

Fixing this issue includes using a multimeter to test the bad switch. And while some mower users would recommend bypassing the safety switch. our team doesn’t encourage doing that method. It may get your machine running, but the safety risks aren’t easy to ignore.

Starter Solenoid

If you heard some click or hum before your mower turned dead on you, there’s a high chance you’re dealing with a defective solenoid. If you don’t know, it’s a switch that’s responsible for the engine turnovers of your mower.

You can confirm your suspicions by testing the solenoid through a battery charger. If the starter doesn’t work, replacing it is your only option.

Recoil Spring

Most push mowers from the Toro brand require using recoil to start the engine. In short, the user needs to pull the rope to make the unit start. The problem starts when the recoil fails to work due to defective pulleys and loose springs. In some cases, the restring method could make your mower run again.

Recoil Starter

Even if you restring the mower’s recoil, the engine won’t start if its entire assembly is defective. Our team would try pulling the starter just to see if the pulley extends or if it captures the engine hub. And once you let go, the rope should rewind back. If you didn’t see any of that happening, you need a new recoil starter.

Bail Lever

The bail or throttle lever has a crucial role in starting the engine and turning the ignition switch. However, if you start the mower with the switch in an off-position, it can become stuck and stop the engine from turning on. Loose or damaged cables may cause this issue. Should the wires show any sign of breakage, replacement is highly recommended.

Flywheel Key

As a beginner, you may not know that a flywheel key prevents the mower’s crankshaft from twisting. It protects the unit from damage when cutting through hard elements like tree barks and stumps.

Problems in the flywheel key often start when the mower blade loosens up. It’ll get sheared and ultimately lead to engine issues. Unfortunately, the only way to solve this problem is to replace the flywheel key.

The best riding mowers: Mow your lawn faster

Up your summer lawn care game with a riding mower that makes for a faster, more eco-friendly mowing experience.

Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovel.

Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovel.

Riding mowers are a popular mower choice for homeowners, especially if you have a big property to maintain every summer. They have cutting decks measuring from 42 to 72 inches, so you can make short work of everything from typical lawns to large properties, like sports complexes and golf courses.

Unlike their push mower counterparts, riding mowers have more features to consider in order to find the right fit for your yard. You can choose either a manual or hydrostatic transmission, so you can set and forget your speed or operate your mower like a car. You can even get riding mowers with cruise control or all-wheel drive for better traction.

While gas engines are far more common among riding mowers, there is a wide selection of battery-powered models if you’re looking for a more eco-friendly solution for lawn care. My pick for the best overall riding mower is the Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP for its 24HP engine, 54-inch cutting deck, and ability to mow up to four acres with a full gas tank. You can keep reading below to find out more about the Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP as well as our other top picks.

Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP

Best riding mower overall

• 24HP engine
• 54-inch cutting deck
• Automatic transmission
• Attachments and accessories available

Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP tech specs: Engine: 24HP Kohler | Cutting width: 54 inches | Transmission: Hydrostatic/Automatic | Max yard size: 4 acres

The Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP riding mower is an excellent choice for a variety of lawns. It’s built with a 24HP Kohler engine and a 54-inch cutting deck to let you handle inclines and rough terrain or haul tools, mulch, and potting soil around your property.

The hydrostatic, automatic transmission makes operation similar to a typical car, so you can spend more time actually cutting your grass and less time learning how to drive your mower. With a 3-gallon tank, you’ll be able to mow up to 4 acres at a time.

Ryobi 80V electric riding lawn tractor

Best electric riding mower

• 2.5 acre max range
• Quick-charge batteries
• LCD heads-up display
• USB charging ports

Ryobi 80V electric lawn tractor tech specs: Engine: 80V brushless electric | Cutting width: 46 inches | Transmission: Hydrostatic/Automatic | Max yard size: 2.5 acres

Electric riding mowers have become more popular in recent years as homeowners and landscaping professionals look for ways to make lawn care more eco-friendly. The Ryobi 80V electric lawn tractor features a 46-inch cutting deck and enough power to let you mow up to 2.5 acres on a single charge, and you can recharge your mower batteries in as little as 2.5 hours.

This means you can take care of other tasks, like weeding or landscaping, while you’re waiting for your mower to recharge. An LCD screen gives you a heads-up display of run time, battery levels, and reminders to inspect and sharpen your mower blades. It even has two USB ports for charging your phone while you mow.

Toro Titan Max

Best zero-turn riding mower

• Mows up to 7 acres at once
• Highly maneuverable
• 10-gauge steel construction
• Tool-free air filters

Toro Titan Max tech specs: Engine: 26HP Kohler 7000 | Cutting width: 60 inches | Transmission: Dual hydrostatic/automatic | Max yard size: 7 acres

Zero-turn riding mowers are popular with homeowners who have larger properties or lots of obstacles like trees or specialized landscaping. The Toro Titan Max’s exceptional maneuverability and larger cutting decks make quick work of yards up to 7 acres in size, while the 26HP Kohler 7000 engine uses a dual hydrostatic drive for smooth, intuitive operation.

Toro also made regular maintenance a bit more streamlined with tool-free air filters. The deck and mower body are made from tough, 10-gauge steel to stand up to dings, rocks, run-ins, and anything else your lawn can throw at it.

Cub Cadet CC30E

Best compact riding mower

• Battery-powered
• Great for yards up to 1 acre
• Compact design great for small storage areas and narrow spaces
• Push-button cruise control

Cub Cadet CC30E tech specs: Engine: 56V electric | Cutting width: 30 inches | Transmission: Hydrostatic/Automatic | Max yard size: 1 acre

Compact riding mowers like the Cub Caded CC30E are great for suburban lawns on the smaller side. The CC30E features a smaller design that is perfect for storing in multi-use sheds and garages or maneuvering through gates and narrow spaces. The 30-inch cutting deck and 56V battery let you mow up to 1 acre (or one hour) at once.

It uses a hydrostatic drive for smooth, intuitive driving while the 18-inch turning radius lets you easily mow around trees and other obstacles. It even features a push-button cruise control, so you can set-and-forget your forward speed and concentrate on mowing around obstacles, as well as staying aware of your surroundings.

DeWALT Z160 Commercial

Best riding mower for large properties

• Mow up to 10 acres
• 5.5 gallon gas tank
• Dual hydrostatic drive
• Great for hills and inclines

DeWALT Z160 Commercial tech specs: Engine: 24HP Kawasaki V-Twin | Cutting width: 60 inches | Transmission: Dual hydrostatic/automatic | Max yard size: 10 acres

The DeWALT Z160 Commercial zero-turn riding mower is designed from the ground up to handle large properties. The 60-inch cutting deck and 24HP Kawasaki V-Twin engine let you mow up to 10 acres at once, making it an almost perfect choice for rural properties or landscaping professionals. The dual hydrostatic drive makes operation smoother, though the twin-stick steering does take some getting used to.

With 22-inch rear wheels, you can easily take on inclines and rolling hills that may be on your property. A 5.5-gallon fuel tank means you’ll spend more time actually mowing and less time refueling. And if you opt for the bagger attachment, you’ll be able to gather up to 11 bushels of clippings before you need to empty.

What is the best riding mower?

I chose the Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP as the best riding mower you can buy. It features a 54-inch cutting deck and 3-gallon fuel tank, letting you mow up to 4 acres in a single go. The 24 horsepower engine also lets you take on steeper inclines and rough terrain or haul tools and gardening supplies around your property. The hydrostatic drive makes operation similar to a typical car, while an LED display gives you accurate usage hours for streamlined maintenance.

Best riding mower

Cutting width

Transmission type

Ryobi 80V electric riding lawn tractor

Which is the right riding mower for you?

Other than your budget, there are a lot of features and scenarios you have to consider while shopping for a new riding mower. The size of your yard will determine how wide the cutting deck should be, though either a 42 or 46-inch version will be more than enough for most yards.

You can choose either a manual or hydrostatic transmission. A manual model lets you set and forget your speed so you can FOCUS, while hydrostatic models operate more like cars, going faster the harder you press the pedal. This makes them more intuitive to operate but also more expensive.

Zero-turn mowers are designed for mowing in oddly-shaped areas or around lots of obstacles like trees, lamp posts, and lawn ornaments. They’re called zero-turn because they have a zero-inch turn radius; you pivot around either rear wheel for ultra-tight turning.

Buy this best riding mower.

If you need.

A well-rounded riding mower. The 54-inch cutting deck and 24HP engine let you mow up to 4 acres at a time.

Ryobi 80V electric riding lawn tractor

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An all-electric riding mower. The electric engine requires less maintenance than gas models, making your lawn-care routine more eco-friendly.

An excellent zero-turn riding mower. Precision maneuvering lets you mow around trees, landscaping, and other obstacles with ease.

A compact riding mower. The 30-inch deck and smaller build make this riding mower perfect for smaller suburban lawns.

A riding mower that can handle larger properties. This commercial-grade, zero-turn riding mower lets you cut up to 10 acres at once.

How did we choose these riding mowers?

I used to work for MTD Products (now owned by BlackDecker), which assembles a variety of lawn mowers, snow blowers, and other powered lawn equipment. Using the expertise and knowledge I gained during my time there, I looked for riding mowers with these qualities:

• Motor size: You’ll want a riding mower with at least a 10HP engine to give you enough power to handle minor inclines and lawns up to half an acre. Larger riding mowers like the John Deere Z530M have more powerful engines, often topping out over 20HP to let you tackle rough terrain and even haul equipment.
• Cutting width: Many riding mowers have either a 42 or 46-inch cutting deck, which is great for lawns between.5 and 1.5 acres. However, if you have a large, multi-acre property, you’ll want to choose a larger cutting deck. Many brands have options between 50 and 72-inch cutting decks.
• Transmission type: The less expensive riding mowers will have either a 6 or 7-speed manual transmission. This means you will use a dedicated lever to set your engine’s forward and reverse speeds, with a single brake pedal for stop control. The more expensive models feature a hydrostatic drive, which operates in a similar way to an automatic transmission in a typical car or truck.
• Accessories: Lawn care goes beyond regular mowing. I chose riding mowers that have the ability to hitch small trailers or wagons for hauling tools, mulch, or potting soil. I also chose mowers from brands that make after-market add-ons, like rear bagging units for collecting grass clippings, mulching kits for re-feeding lawns, and snow plows for year-round use.

How do you decide which riding mower to buy?

Assuming you have a budget in mind, the first thing you need to do is find out how big your lawn is. You can either find your lot size on your memorandum deeds if you’ve bought your house, or you can check your city’s website to see if you can request lot measurements if you’re renting. If your lot measures about an acre, you’ll be able to use a 30 or 42-inch cutting deck without any issues. For lawns up to two acres, a 42 or 46-inch deck is ideal. And if your lot is over two acres, you can get a mower with up to a 72-inch cutting deck to handle larger areas.

The transmission type is also important. Many newer models have what is known as a hydrostatic drive. This means that they operate similarly to how a car drives: You push the pedal and it moves forward or backward. And the harder you push, the faster you go. This makes it easier to learn how to drive, but that also makes the mower more expensive. stripped-back models have variable speed manual transmissions, which allow you to set and forget your speed so you can FOCUS on paying attention to obstacles and people who may be nearby.

And finally, you’ll want to consider the power source for your new riding mower. Gasoline engines are far more common, but there is now a wider variety of battery-powered models to choose from. The perks of a gas engine are that you’ll get near-infinite run times (as long as you have enough fuel to keep the engine going) and a bit more power for handling steep inclines and rough terrain. The downsides are dealing with exhaust emissions and maintenance that can be a time and money sink. Electric models don’t need engine maintenance, so you save a bit of money in the long run. But they usually have a maximum run time of about an hour, which means that you may have to plan your mowing over several days if you have a larger yard.

How big of a yard do I need for a riding mower?

Riding mowers are best suited for yards measuring one acre or larger. A model with a 42-inch cutting deck is great for mowing up to two acres, so if you have more land than that, you’ll want to spring for a 46, 54, 60, or 72-inch cutting deck.

If you’re right on the threshold, you can get what’s known as a mini rider. They usually have compact bodies for easier storage and 30-inch cutting decks to make short work of lawns that are just a touch too large for a push mower.

How long should a riding mower last?

No matter if you choose a gas or battery-powered riding mower, proper maintenance is key to extending the life of your mower. For gas engines, you should change the oil and filters, clean the spark plugs, and sharpen the blades before you mow for the first time in the spring. And you should use fuel treatments like STA-BIL to prevent gas in the tank or extra jerry cans from going bad from moisture contamination. This prevents buildup of gunk that can ruin your engine, improves engine performance, and gives you a cleaner cut for a healthier lawn.

Electric mowers don’t need engine maintenance, but you should perform thorough inspections at the start of mowing season to check for battery damage, corrosion on battery contacts, damage to the battery housing, and also to sharpen the blades. If you do regular maintenance, not only will you save money by avoiding big repairs from worn-out parts, but you can also expect your riding mower to last 10 years or more.- which is great news, since they can be an expensive investment.

What is the cheapest riding mower?

Unfortunately, riding mowers aren’t ever really what we consider budget-friendly. However, there are models like the Murray MT100 that retail for less than 2000 without sacrificing power or cutting width.

Are there alternative riding mowers worth considering?

Whether you’re shopping at a big-name DIY store like Lowe’s, a local hardware store, or an authorized brand dealer, there are tons of options for a new riding mower. You can choose either gas or battery-powered models, cutting deck widths from as small as 30 inches to as wide as six feet.

Here’s a short list of other riding mowers I thought were great choices:

John Deere Z530M

The John Deere Z530M features a 60-inch cutting deck for making quick work of large properties. Exceptional maneuverability lets you mow around trees, lawn decor, and other obstacles with ease.

Husqvarna YTH1942

The Husqvarna YTH1942 features an updated, 19 horsepower engine and 42-inch cutting deck to take on inclines and haul dirt, mulch, and gardening equipment.

Murray MT100

For under 2000, you’ll get a 13.5 horsepower engine, a 42-inch cutting deck, and a 6-speed manual transmission with the Murray MT100.

Toro Lawnmower Starting Problems: Troubleshooting with Fixes

Toro lawnmowers are renowned for their excellent machinery, often employing their self-made Toro engines that can run for years without any hitches. However, taking your Toro Lawn Mower out could be unpleasant when it would not start after repeated tries. In such cases, knowing what problem your lawn mower faces and how to troubleshoot it effectively is necessary.

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Toro lawnmower starting problems:

Your Toro Lawn Mower might fail to start because of a fault in one of the few major components; it could be a faulty spark plug that wouldn’t ignite, a plugged carburetor with fuel deposits, a faulty ignition coil, a clogged fuel filter or perhaps a broken flywheel. Maintaining three-quarters of fresh fuel with stabilizers inside the tank at all times is essential for your Toro Lawn Mower to start without any issues. Inspect the battery, its connections, and the power switch for electric lawnmowers if it doesn’t start or shuts down abruptly.

This article will discuss troubleshooting a Toro lawnmower that doesn’t start or stops just after starting. Hence, ensure you don’t miss out on the detailed procedure to perform this independently.

Troubleshooting a Toro Lawnmower is easy and takes only a little insight to solve these issues.

• 1 Toro Riding Lawnmowers

• 1.1 1. Lawnmower Does Not Start?

• 1.1.1 1. Fuel Quality
• 1.1.2 2. Lever Position
• 1.1.3 3. Changing the Rubber Boot
• 1.1.4 4. Unclogging Air Filter

• 1.2.1 1. Clogged Carburetor
• 1.2.2 2. Old Gasoline
• 1.2.3 3. Toro Lawn Mower Fuel Cap

• 1.3.1 – Cleaning Air Filters
• 1.3.2 – Cleaning the Carburetor
• 1.3.3 Make sure the airflow through the carburetor remains unaffected so that it doesn’t emit black smoke.

• 1.4.1 – Faulty Plug:
• 1.4.2 – Spark Timing:
• 1.4.3 – Faulty Ignition Coil

• 2.1 1. Lawnmower Engine Doesn’t Start.
• 2.2 2. Lawnmower Pull Cord Doesn’t Work?

• 2.2.1 – Check for Blade Obstruction:
• 2.2.2 – Damaged Recoil Starter:

• 3.1 1. Lawnmower Doesn’t Start.
• 3.2 2. Lawnmower Shuts Down?

Toro Riding Lawnmowers

Riding Lawnmowers is a preferred alternative for mowing all types of landscapes. They come with a suspension system for the safety of the rider and highly robust spindles and belts for durability and precision.

However, some of the problems that can occur commonly with any riding lawnmower are discussed here, in addition to the troubleshooting procedure required to solve these problems.

Lawnmower Does Not Start?

There could be a simple explanation as to why your lawn mower fails to start. One of the components directly involved in ignition might be clogged or damaged and need a replacement. Let’s discuss those components and how they can be repaired to make your Toro lawn mower start again.

Fuel Quality

Filling your tank with good-quality fuel is sometimes sufficient to cause the lawn mower to start again. The first thing to check is the fuel because poor quality fuel is often associated with ignition problems for the engine. Lousy quality fuel contains certain impurities that precipitate on the machine and cause it to clog, causing the lawn mower not to start.

Lever Position

The next thing to check for is the lever to be in the correct locking position; and not the neutral one. Like a car’s clutch, press down on the lever firmly while pulling the ignition cord to start the lawnmower. These steps are critical to ensure that your Toro lawnmower starts easily.

Changing the Rubber Boot

Restart the lawnmower by inserting the rubber spark plug boot again. Change the rubber boot with a new one if the mower still won’t start.

Unclogging Air Filter

Depending on the model, an air filter is located on the side of the mower. This filter should be removed, washed in warm water, and cleaned inside and out. Before reinstalling the air filter, completely dry it out.

Toro Lawnmower Starts but Then Dies?

The same malfunctions that were causing your lawnmower to not start could also be behind it, stalling repeatedly. Other than the ones listed above, some of the important aspects to consider are discussed below:

Clogged Carburetor

A clogged carburetor is one of the most common reasons your Toro lawnmower is stalling. A carburetor is often clogged when the fuel is made to stay in the tank for a long while. A low-quality fuel disintegrates into components that can grease up the lining of the carburetor, causing it to choke.

It is advised to keep your carburetor clean, unclogged, and debris free at all times for the lawn mower to stay up and running.

Old Gasoline

A fuel with more extensive ethanol contents is known to attract more moisture. When the humidity vaporizes, the substance left behind is sticky and adheres to the pipelines and the fuel system. Fuel can quickly become old and unusable, almost in 30 days, and can start degrading.

• Use and replace fuel within 30 days
• Buy high-quality fuel
• Store fuel in a cool, dry place
• Don’t leave the fuel uncovered, as it can attract moisture
• Use fuel with fuel stabilizers and fuel additives.

Toro Lawn Mower Fuel Cap

The gas cap is essential for the ventilation of your lawn mower. It equalizes the air pressure on both sides and allows the fuel to flow within the engine. A plugged fuel cap can restrict the flow of air, causing the Toro lawn mower to stall excessively.

To confirm this issue, remove the gas cap and start the lawn mower; clean the fuel cap thoroughly under warm water and place it again to see if the problem subsides. You should replace it with a new one if it doesn’t.

Lawnmower Is Smoking?

If your Toro lawn mower starts producing smoke while running, there could be a problem with the engine’s fuel consumption or the gas itself. The engine begins consuming more fuel and this occurs when the air filter is dirty, or the carburetor jets are plugged with fuel residues.

When an engine consumes more fuel or when it is running rich (on a high air-fuel ratio), it emits smoke from the exhaust gases. The smoke basically comprises unburnt hydrocarbons, thus implying that the air supplied was insufficient for combustion to sustain.

To prevent the engine from smoking, make sure the airflow to the engine is restored.

– Cleaning Air Filters

The first step to correcting this problem is to clean all air filters with a soap solution. Dry the air filters and reinstall them back after cleaning. If the filters seem damaged or broken such that they allow dust particles to flow across them, consider replacing the filters altogether.

– Cleaning the Carburetor

Cleaning the carburetor and adjusting it according to the owner’s manual will help eliminate the smoke. Make sure that the airflow jets are cleaned and deposit-free. Use a thin metal wire to clean them thoroughly.

Lawnmower Runs Rough/Misfires?

The engine may misfire or stop working if the spark plug is no longer igniting or has electrodes corroded with soot. As a result, it fails to generate a sufficient voltage to spark the fuel effectively.

– Faulty Plug:

The spark plug’s electrodes often get plugged with soot. Over time, this degrades spark quality and affects the combustion. Hence, the first thing to inspect in case the engine misfires is the spark plug. Remove the plug and clean its electrodes from carbon deposits.

Also, check the gap between the electrodes with a feeler gauge which should be 0.02 inches. If the electrodes seem damaged, install a new spark plug.

– Spark Timing:

One of the possible reasons for a misfiring engine is incorrect spark timing. The engine ignites shortly before or after the top dead center is reached. Under normal circumstances, ignition occurs at the top dead center to produce the maximum power. This advancement in ignition causes a loss of power, and the engine may misfire as a consequence.

The most common reason for engine misfires could be a broken flywheel key. Flywheel keys are small metallic strips that fit into the groove, thereby coupling the flywheel with the crankshaft. The keys tend to shear off when an engine stops abruptly, such as after hitting a hard object.

Due to this, the flywheel loses contact with the crankshaft, and the alignment between piston movement and spark firing gets off. To adjust the spark timing, you will need to make sure the flywheel key is replaced:

• Expose the flywheel: Disassemble the engine cover and expose the flywheel and ignition coil.
• Turn off the engine: Make sure the engine is turned off and the spark plug is removed while you perform this procedure.
• Replace the key: Check the flywheel key. Remove it if a part of it has been sheared off. These keys are usually made of Aluminum. Hence, make sure you get the right key for your engine. It can easily be obtained by contacting your manufacturer and can also be purchased from any hardware store.

– Faulty Ignition Coil

In case the spark plug is working fine and the engine still doesn’t fire, the ignition coil is likely to be faulty. The spark plug receives the current needed to spark and ignite fuel in the engine’s combustion chamber from the ignition coil.

Ignition coils may malfunction and stop working altogether or deteriorate and work intermittently. When changing a coil or performing other engine work that requires removing the coil, the appropriate air gap should be set between the coil and the flywheel.

Lawnmower Has a Dead Battery?

Most lawnmowers have a dead battery when they have been kept sitting for a long time. In that case, you would need to recharge them again separately. Hence, remove the battery from its casing and use a 12V battery charger to recharge the battery.

Make sure the water level is also up to the recommended mark. After it has been recharged, use a multimeter to test the voltage reading at its positive terminal (in red). If the meter reads 12V, then the battery is all set to be reused again.

In case the reading is less than 12V, your battery plates have been sulfated, and the battery needs to be replaced.

Lead acid batteries typically last up to five years. To increase the battery life, make sure you keep the water level in check from time to time. Also, whenever you plan to store the lawnmower for a long, remove the battery terminals to prevent discharging.

Furthermore, make sure the battery terminals are kept clean and free of silt deposits.

Toro Self-Propelled Lawnmowers:

Toro also produces self-propelled lawnmowers with the latest Vortex technology that provides maximum airflow to the engine. Apart from these, these mowers come with a mulching feature that slices down grass into much finer pieces that supply additional nutrients to your soil.

Let’s discuss how to troubleshoot some of the common problems that you might face using a self-propelled lawnmower by Toro.

Lawnmower Engine Doesn’t Start.

If your Toro Self-Propelled Lawn Mower does not start, it could be due to debris stuck in the engine’s airbreathing system, such as the air filters or carburetor. Apart from that, a spark plug with damaged electrodes could also cause this issue.

The filters and carburetor must be thoroughly cleaned from all deposits that could obstruct the normal airflow to the engine. For carb cleaning, I recommend buying a carburetor repair kit. It contains the essential spare items that can help restore your carburetor to being new. You can also use a cleaning liquid or WD-40 to get rid of greasy fuel deposits in the carburetor jets.

Another reason your self-propelled Toro Lawn Mower fails to start is a faulty spark plug. Spark plugs are essential for ignition, and damage to their electrodes could prevent the engine from starting. Replace the spark plug with a new one to get your lawn mower up and running.

Lawnmower Pull Cord Doesn’t Work?

In self-propelled lawnmowers, the pull cord can often get stuck due to grass or debris buildup from the ground. In some cases, a damaged recoil starter can also render it inoperable.

– Check for Blade Obstruction:

If your pull cord is stuck, the first thing to do is to check for grass strands that could have been stuck in the cutting blades. Tilt the mower over and make sure the air filter is pointing upwards. Also, remove the spark plug wire while you do this to prevent the engine from starting accidentally.

Carefully remove all the grass and other debris stuck between your blades and the spindle. If the pull cord still doesn’t work, proceed to the next step.

– Damaged Recoil Starter:

The recoil starter assembly is located underneath the blower housing. Remove the screws that secure the blower housing. Once exposed, check the recoil starter wires if they can spin or not. If they are stuck, try to unwind them.

In case they seem damaged, it’s better to replace the entire recoil assembly. You should consult the owner’s manual by Toro to get the exact parts for replacement.

Once the recoil starter assembly is replaced, the pull cord can function seamlessly now.

Important Note: If your lawnmower is under warranty, make sure you report this issue to the manufacturer and have them repair/replace it. Doing this by yourself may render your warranty claim null and void.

Toro Battery Powered Lawnmowers:

Battery lawnmowers by Toro have been quite popular lately due to their low noise, lesser maintainability, and lesser operating cost. These lawnmowers use an electric battery to power an electric motor that drives the cutting blades.

Here are some of the common starting problems, along with the fixes for battery-powered lawnmowers.

Lawnmower Doesn’t Start.

If your battery-powered Toro Lawn Mower is not starting, make sure you inspect the battery, the battery charger, the power switches, and the motor.

Inspect the battery and see if its terminal connections aren’t loose. Use a multimeter to check the voltage reading and see if it’s less than the rated value. If it is, recharge it again to see the reading. If the reading is still low, your battery life has probably ended, and you should contact the manufacturer for replacement.

If the battery is fine, the power switch needs to be checked. It could be damaged or have loose connections in case the lawnmower doesn’t start. If the battery and switches are fine, then your motor could be the main culprit, and hence it needs to be replaced/repaired by your manufacturer.

Lawnmower Shuts Down?

If an electric lawnmower shuts down, it could be due to a faulty power switch or a loose connection. If the motor overheats, it may also cause the mower to shut down in some cases.

A damaged power switch most likely causes your lawnmower’s stoppage. Check the switch by using a multimeter. Set the meter to Ohmmeter and see if it gives a beep on discontinuity. If it does, the switch is faulty and needs to be replaced.

Other than the switch, your lawnmower probably has a thermal switch that can trigger a shutdown in case the motor overheats.