I need some help in this as well as I am looking for the same features but just can spend the money for the hxr217. I hear great things about Toro and Honda, but if anyone is will to share, that would be great.

 

I have the honda. I like it. Works well. Cuts at 4" if you want. The drive is weak so if you are on a hill, you will also need to give the mower a push. I used a craftsman mower and the drive on that is so violent, it almost rips out some grass as it starts. You can hold the mower in place and it'll dig into the dirt and make ruts. I wish the honda was like that but alas... Maybe the plastic version, higher end one, is. Not sure. I haven't used any toro mowers so I can't compare. Sorry. I choose the honda hoping it is like their cars and just lasts forever. I am having the wheels get stiff when I back up so it looks like I need to sand the drive rods smooth. Common problem on the cheaper honda. FYI.

 

I have the honda. I like it. Works well. Cuts at 4" if you want. The drive is weak so if you are on a hill, you will also need to give the mower a push. I used a craftsman mower and the drive on that is so violent, it almost rips out some grass as it starts. You can hold the mower in place and it'll dig into the dirt and make ruts. I wish the honda was like that but alas... Maybe the plastic version, higher end one, is. Not sure. I haven't used any toro mowers so I can't compare. Sorry. I choose the honda hoping it is like their cars and just lasts forever. I am having the wheels get stiff when I back up so it looks like I need to sand the drive rods smooth. Common problem on the cheaper honda. FYI.

Thanks for sharing. Spinning machete, haha. :lol:

 

The Honda's are really amazing. I used the 217 for a smaller area and mulching or bagging is very well done. They have had some drive issues which is disappointing but their quality of build and engines are #1 in my opinion. Even used they fetch incredible prices when selling too.

 

You won't go wrong with either. Which one has a dealer closer to you?

 

I bought an HRX217 10 years ago. I change the oil every year, replace the air filter every other year and it has not been back to the shop since I bought it. Cuts and mulches well, Honda engines can't be beat in this size range. No Toro experience to share, sorry.

 

If garage space is a concern, the Toro stow away is a really nice feature.

 

Toros have side discharge. Hondas don't. That might be a big deal. Also, the two blade scissor setup versus standard single blade is a huge difference (not saying one is better). Finally, you can get a Toro with a Honda engine, but most are Briggs. Also, the cutting heights are a bit different.

Also, I believe with Toro Personal Pace, there is no way to push manually without the drive assist unless you velcro the engine bail down to the personal pace handle, and then push with the metal fixed handle behind it. Someone can correct me if wrong.

 

Honda has rear discharge. I use it all the time and prefer it to the mulching mode. The vacuum power is really strong when discharging and it stands up the grass nicely. Also, you don't blow clippings into your flower beds. You do get your shoes and bottoms of your pants covered in grass though...

 

Maybe I don't need a new mower after all. Maybe just a new blade. I have had my mower six years and have never replaced the blade. I sharpen it but it's got some nicks in it.

Considering that sometimes I bag and sometimes I mulch, what blade do you guys recommend? Would a Gator G3 like the one below be sufficient for bagging and mulching? Or would it not generate sufficient suction for bagging?

https://www.oregonpartsonline.com/oregon-part-95-615/

 

Honda has rear discharge. I use it all the time and prefer it to the mulching mode. The vacuum power is really strong when discharging and it stands up the grass nicely. Also, you don't blow clippings into your flower beds. You do get your shoes and bottoms of your pants covered in grass though...

How does the rear do as far as allergies or airway irritation? So, it does get on your shoes...

 

You could always make sure it's running at the correct rpm also.

 

Toro with a honda engine.

 

I think you will find the Honda is a slightly better mulcher than the Toro Recycler.

If cleaning up leaves in the fall is an issue, I'd prefer the side discharge of the Toro. The side discharge lets me corral the leaves to the middle of my yard and when I have a deeper pile in the middle, I switch to mulch to chop them up and then to bagging and go over the entire lawn. That trick saves me a ton of bags (2 instead of 12). But if that's not an issue for you, I think the Honda might have the edge in mulching.

I ended up with the Toro Super Recycler and the only time I saw *anything* left on the lawn when mulching was one time when it was quite wet and I had a few clumps show up. When the lawn is dry, I never see anything, but...... it's the Super Recycler and not the regular Recycler. The Honda is probably in the same league as the Super Recycler as far as mulching goes.

The Toro Personal Pace system is really nice too..... Tough choice!

 

Honda has rear discharge. I use it all the time and prefer it to the mulching mode. The vacuum power is really strong when discharging and it stands up the grass nicely. Also, you don't blow clippings into your flower beds. You do get your shoes and bottoms of your pants covered in grass though...

How does the rear do as far as allergies or airway irritation? So, it does get on your shoes...

The rear discharge is pointing down so it blows it at the ground but it moves enough air that it continues along the ground and gets on your shoes. If you mulch or bag, your shoes will stay clean. It doesn't blow anything up so it doesn't affect me while walking behind it. If it is really dry, it can pick up dust but that applies to most mowers which have good suction.

 

I am leaning toward the Honda.

Does the self propel always go the same speed, or can I change speeds throughout the mow based on how hard I press the handles down?

 

Honestly I would finance one that has power reverse. Looks like you can get a mail in rebate for $300 with a $500 purchase. Most are 0% for 18 months. https://www.toro.com/en/financing/lawn-and-garden-equipment

 

I am leaning toward the Honda.

Does the self propel always go the same speed, or can I change speeds throughout the mow based on how hard I press the handles down?

Speed is based on how hard you push the lever.

 

Hi all. I still have not purchased a new mower!

Here is a question that I haven't found a good answer to in searching old threads: how does the Toro Personal Pace work when you need to pull backwards? Say I'm mowing up to the house, flower bed or another object and need to do several back and forths. On my mower and on a Honda, you just disengage the self propel a couple feet before you need to reverse (just push it manually the last couple feet to allow the self propel mechanism to disengage so you can roll the wheels backward).

On the Personal Pace, you cannot disengage PP and still push the mower forward because the self propel mechanism is in the handle. So how do you get right up to an object, then reverse? Does the self propel disengage and the wheels roll backwards smoothly or does it lock up?

I am not interested in the Powereverse model. I don't like the idea of a mower coming at my feet.

 

Hi all. I still have not purchased a new mower!

Here is a question that I haven't found a good answer to in searching old threads: how does the Toro Personal Pace work when you need to pull backwards? Say I'm mowing up to the house, flower bed or another object and need to do several back and forths. On my mower and on a Honda, you just disengage the self propel a couple feet before you need to reverse (just push it manually the last couple feet to allow the self propel mechanism to disengage so you can roll the wheels backward).

On the Personal Pace, you cannot disengage PP and still push the mower forward because the self propel mechanism is in the handle. So how do you get right up to an object, then reverse? Does the self propel disengage and the wheels roll backwards smoothly or does it lock up?

I am not interested in the Powereverse model. I don't like the idea of a mower coming at my feet.

I just push down on the handle to raise the front end and back up. I also raise the front end when reversing my course. This keeps or helps to eliminate the "swirls" on my lawn since it needs leveling...

 

@CPA Nerd, I ended with a Toro, non-Personal Pace finally. Honda engine. So best of both worlds.

I can easily disengage the self propel with the standard handle, even when going forward, unlike the Personal Pace handle. With either handle, the self propel stops soon after you disengage the handle. With the personal pace, you actually have to stop pushing to do that, and let the handle go back to its default position. As it does so, the mower may roll forward a couple more inches.

Note that turning and lifting up the front wheels is tougher with a large set of reset wheels. The balance is totally different than with small wheels.

 

Personal Pace handle is above the regular handle. If you want to push forward a tiny bit in a manual mode (I need to quite often on my small lot), I just drop my thumbs to the regular handle underneath the personal pace handle and twist my wrists to pull back and disengage the PP system, allowing me to do whatever I need to do. While my explanation may seem involved.... it really isn't and becomes second nature. Once I've pushed forward or pulled back what I need to do, I just put my thumbs back up on the PP handle and start walking.

 

@CPA Nerd, I ended with a Toro, non-Personal Pace finally. Honda engine. So best of both worlds.

I can easily disengage the self propel with the standard handle, even when going forward, unlike the Personal Pace handle. With either handle, the self propel stops soon after you disengage the handle. With the personal pace, you actually have to stop pushing to do that, and let the handle go back to its default position. As it does so, the mower may roll forward a couple more inches.

Note that turning and lifting up the front wheels is tougher with a large set of reset wheels. The balance is totally different than with small wheels.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Do you prefer this to the Personal Pace? Which model Toro has a Honda engine without Personal Pace?

 

Personal Pace handle is above the regular handle. If you want to push forward a tiny bit in a manual mode (I need to quite often on my small lot), I just drop my thumbs to the regular handle underneath the personal pace handle and twist my wrists to pull back and disengage the PP system, allowing me to do whatever I need to do. While my explanation may seem involved.... it really isn't and becomes second nature. Once I've pushed forward or pulled back what I need to do, I just put my thumbs back up on the PP handle and start walking.

Thanks. So you have to essentially switch handles? With my current mower, I just release my finger from the self propel when I'm a couple feet away from where I'll need to back up. When you pull back on the PP, you do it with the regular handle, not the PP handle, correct? Doesn't that turn the mower off, though? I'm missing something. How do you keep the mower on, but disengage personal pace and use in "non-self propelled" mode?

 

The Toro PP system has a fixed handle just like any other push mower. The personal pace handle/mechanism is attached to this fixed handle and slides forwards as you walk. The retractable start lever is attached to the personal pace mechanism so you hold it and the personal pace handle while it runs. Take a look at the 360* pictures of a personal pace mower on any site that sells them and it will all make sense. Pretty much the only time I need to even touch the fixed part of the handle is when starting it.

To reverse with the mower, you simply stop walking and pull the mower backwards. The PP handle is spring loaded so if you aren't actively pushing on it (like what happens when you're moving forward) the handle returns to the neutral position and the mower stops moving. There is no additional movement of the personal pace handle in the reverse direction as you pull it back.