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Author Topic: Brought Home A Beast of a Lawn Mower Today... Updated  (Read 677 times)

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Brought Home A Beast of a Lawn Mower Today... Updated
« on: April 29, 2023, 07:00:44 pm »
Late last year I bought our first mower after our lawn guy passed away.
It was a non self-propelled (push only) and only  cuts about a 20 inch swath.
I have 1.4 acres and it is nearly all lawn.

With the little mower I had to cut the grass in 4-6 "installments".

Today, in FB marketplace I located a well used but well maintained TORO 52" commercial hydro drive walk behind about 27 miles from home.

For the princely sum of $450. !

It is 27 years old.
Needs carb rebuilt (or float unstuck).
Needs small metal patch over a 3" long hole in the front of the mower deck.

The good news...
It was always well maintained.
Drive and deck run smooth and effortless and nothing is loose.
Came with an extra set of new blades.
Also came with bagger attachment and bag.
Most important... Runs and cuts great as is.

It has a reverse, 4 forward speeds, and power steering!

It is also fast as hell. In higher gears it will move fast enough to run behind it as it is designed for use with the little trailer you can stand on.
I don't have this attachment so I will be using the lower gears.

Gil

Here are a couple pictures...


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Re: Brought Home A Beast of a Lawn Mower Today
« Reply #1 on: April 29, 2023, 07:53:35 pm »
Congratulation on what is apparently a great score on a needed item. That is one heck of a lot of lawn, so I'd think searching for that ride-on platform might not be a bad idea.

Any plans to convert it to steam power?!?!     ;c)
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Re: Brought Home A Beast of a Lawn Mower Today
« Reply #2 on: April 29, 2023, 09:01:35 pm »
Thanks, Daniel. I considered a ride on but made the decision knowing I need the exercise.
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Re: Brought Home A Beast of a Lawn Mower Today
« Reply #3 on: April 29, 2023, 09:06:27 pm »
1.4 acres, heck I mow a lot less than that & have a seat. Nice walk behind mower though, that ought to keep you in shape.
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Bruce, St. Paul Indiana, USA
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Re: Brought Home A Beast of a Lawn Mower Today
« Reply #4 on: April 29, 2023, 09:13:54 pm »
Does it have a cup holder?  :D
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Nick

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Re: Brought Home A Beast of a Lawn Mower Today
« Reply #5 on: May 01, 2023, 09:23:04 am »
You have to make a video Gil!

Price is great.

My Cub mower with 52" cutting deck was $1700!
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Re: Brought Home A Beast of a Lawn Mower Today
« Reply #6 on: May 01, 2023, 02:21:58 pm »
Almost forgot... even gave me an spare pair of new drive belts.
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Re: Brought Home A Beast of a Lawn Mower Today
« Reply #7 on: May 14, 2023, 09:40:11 am »
Update.....

While it is still fairly early in our warm season, I decided to remove all the sheathing around the engine to make sure the cooling fins were all clean. A requirement for air-cooled engines on hot summer days. 

And.... I'm sure glad I did..!!

The pictures below tell the story.  Needless to say it is all clean and back together. 

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Re: Brought Home A Beast of a Lawn Mower Today
« Reply #8 on: May 14, 2023, 09:41:40 am »
I was in a hurry to get it done and get to mowing so much so that I neglected to take any pictures of the cleaned cooling fins.

I assure you it now has great air cooling capacity.

Gil
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Re: Brought Home A Beast of a Lawn Mower Today... Updated
« Reply #9 on: May 24, 2023, 09:25:23 pm »
Eww....that has never been cleaned (until now) there are things I always do when buying a new machine, change the oil & assume all filters need replaced.
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Bruce, St. Paul Indiana, USA
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Re: Brought Home A Beast of a Lawn Mower Today... Updated
« Reply #10 on: May 25, 2023, 09:50:07 am »
Quote from: St Paul Steam on May 24, 2023, 09:25:23 pm
Eww....that has never been cleaned (until now) there are things I always do when buying a new machine, change the oil & assume all filters need replaced.
I agree 100%.
The previous owner gave it a full end of season service last fall.
Oil change, new oil filter, new air filter, sharp blades, fresh grease in all the fittings, winterize engine/fuel system, etc.

After inspecting to verify all this, I asked myself....  what may have been neglected?
Then I took off the engine shrouds suspecting I might find some additional maintenance work.
I'm glad I too a peak "under the hood".
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