Here is a review of the Toro Turfmaster I have now owned for the past 8 months:
Pro's:
*I have found the 30" cut to be the perfect size for doing average sized yards up to 1000m2. It can fit through most gates and down the sides of sheds and garden beds without having to get a smaller mower off the ute to finish the
job.
*The price. At less than $400 more than a genuine honda it is a lot more mower for the price.
*Maneuverability. With two 15" cutting blades the length of the mower is the same as a rover 22" but with a 50% wider cut.
*Blade/clutch setup. Only one lever is required to activate both the forward control and blade engagement.
*Speed. The speed of this mower is faster than a Rover. I'm about 6 foot tall and have never needed it to go any faster.
*Catcher size. Approximately 40% larger than most self propelled mower catchers.
*Commercial construction. Very solidly built in all areas of the mower.
Con's:
*Pain to use on uneven ground. With the wide deck and blades mounted up inside the deck the mower will come to a complete stop if the front wheels drop into any small holes as the deck will catch on any higher ground. The rear
wheels then loose traction and can cause your nuts to smack into the stationary handlebars.
* This is not a problem if the lawn is relatively even or you are not trying to cut on the lowest setting.
*There is a 1/2 inch reinforcing bar welded to an anti wear plate mounted to either side of the deck. I have ground this off to help with the deck catching on the lowest setting.
*Poor performance in long grass. The mower struggles in long grass with the 6 hp motor if trying to catch long grass. The power is adequate in long grass if slashing with the side discharge in place.
Summary:
Even though this mower is frustrating to use in some situations it has enabled me to reduce my equipment overheads of my business while still being able to achieve a similar hourly rate on average sized lawns, compared to using a
42" walker and push mower.
I would rate this mower 6 1/2 out of 10 for overall performance in a commercial environment.