When I was driving through the stunning countryside of Pennsylvania during the summer, I couldn’t help but notice that many local landscaping companies were using Toro lawn mowers to trim yards and make them look beautiful. It’s clear that Toro is a trusted brand that both business owners and homeowners rely on for their professional and consumer-grade lawn mowers. To put Toro’s reputation to the test, Pro Tool Reviews decided to review their self-propelled lawn mowers.
Toro Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Under the Hood
The Toro 22″ Personal Pace Recycler Lawnmower (20332) and the All Wheel Drive Model 20353 are the two models we focused on. These two mowers share similar features, with the only difference being the self-propelled drive system.
The Toro 22″ Personal Pace Recycler line introduces innovative features to Toro’s range of self-propelled lawn mowers. These mowers are equipped with a powerful 163cc Briggs & Stratton engine, delivering 7.25 foot-pounds of torque. This makes them an excellent choice for small to medium-sized yards. The all-wheel-drive system ensures easy maneuverability even on moderately sloped terrain. Additionally, the 22″ deck reduces the number of passes needed to cover a large area effectively.
Guaranteed to Start?
As the name suggests, the “guaranteed start” feature lives up to its promise. Toro’s ReadyStart is an automatic choke system, eliminating the need to manually start or choke the engine. The 163cc Briggs & Stratton EXi engine consistently starts without any issues, often requiring just a single pull. In fact, I rarely had to pull the cord more than twice, with the engine typically firing up on the first pull.
Toro has also positioned the kickstart handle in a comfortable position, making it easy to use.
Personal Pace First Impressions
A few years ago, when I was in the market for a new walk-behind lawn mower, I had to choose between a standard mower and a self-propelled one. My primary concerns were weight, fuel consumption, and ease of maintenance. Without hesitation, I opted for a self-propelled mower.
On all-wheel-drive models, Toro’s Personal Pace feature offers three operating options. You can manually control the mower’s movement, use the fully automatic self-propelled handles that adjust the speed as you walk, or utilize the traction assist handle to determine the level of assistance required.
Admittedly, the fully automatic handle takes some getting used to as it’s not a static lever. When pressure is applied to the handle, it moves forward, providing more or less assistance based on the force applied. Initially, it feels like mowing the lawn with a bungee cord, as the grip handle continuously moves back and forth while you walk.
Traction Assist Handle
Once you get accustomed to it, the Personal Pace system becomes intuitive, and the mower feels like an extension of your body. I found myself utilizing the traction assist handle located in the center of the main handle to control the level of assistance. While the center position is slightly awkward, it allows for easy adjustment. However, I would prefer to see handles on the sides for a more natural pushing position.
I personally prefer mulching when mowing because it eliminates the need to empty a bag. However, some people prefer bagging, especially if there is a lot of foliage in their yard. Toro has included a quick-change lever that allows for easy switching between mulching mode (utilizing Toro’s Atomic blade lift system) and bagging mode. The best part is that you can switch modes while the mower is running.
Bagging and Cleaning
To provide a comprehensive review of Toro’s self-propelled mowers, it’s essential to evaluate their bagging capabilities. In some regions, bagging is a crucial aspect of lawn maintenance. In bag-on-demand mode, I did encounter some instances when the clippings wouldn’t go into the bag, causing jams. As a result, I had to empty the bag more frequently. However, attaching and detaching the bag is effortless, thanks to the sturdy two-point hinge system.
There were a few occasions when I had to manually empty the bag, even when dealing with newspaper clippings or hay. Additionally, after emptying the bag, there were times when the mower left a trail of clippings upon resuming mowing.
Adjusting the Height of Cut on Toro Mowers
The Toro 22″ Personal Pace Recycler offers cutting heights ranging from 1″ to 4″ with seven and a half steps in between. Each wheel can be independently adjusted using the single-lever system, preferred by professionals for its sturdiness and increased durability.
Use the Flush Port for Cleaning
Similar to many other lawn mowers, the Toro 22″ Personal Pace Recycler is equipped with a flush port that allows you to connect a hose for easy cleaning of the blades and deck. When using the flush port, make sure to hold the plastic nut securely as you attach the hose.
While the flush port does make deck cleaning easier, it doesn’t entirely solve all cleaning challenges. If you’re unable to lift the mower, you can still clean the deck by tipping it on its side and spraying downwards. Depending on how wet the grass is, you might choose to use the quick wash coupler or adjust the angle of the spray.
Toro 20353 Lawn Mower All Wheel Drive Features
Among the features of the Toro 20353 mower, the all-wheel-drive traction assist system stands out as my favorite. Unlike the rear-wheel-drive system used in the Toro 20332 Personal Pace model, the all-wheel-drive system provides superior traction, especially on uneven surfaces and steep slopes. Equipped with front and rear wheels with aggressive tread, the all-wheel-drive system allows independent spinning, ensuring optimal traction while mowing.
The Toro 20353 AWD mower outperforms the standard Personal Pace mower in this regard. Both models have similar top speeds, reaching approximately 4.8 mph, which is more than sufficient for efficient mowing.
Briggs & Stratton 7.25 ft lbs 163cc Engine
The Briggs & Stratton 163cc engine on these mowers is a beast! As someone who frequently travels for work, I often return home to an overgrown yard after being away for weeks. The exceptional cutting power of these mowers makes tackling unruly grass a breeze.
Even the non-AWD Personal Pace models deliver impressive performance. With 7.25 ft-lbs of torque at 2600 RPM, these mowers effortlessly handle dense St. Augustine grass when paired with the rear-wheel-drive system. The engine remains consistently powerful, even when operating with a full bagger.
Additionally, the engine runs smoothly and produces remarkably quiet operation. I can have conversations with my dad from a distance of 10 feet while mowing the lawn. Although hearing protection is always recommended, this mower’s noise output allows for prolonged use without violating workplace safety standards. As a musician, I’ve even found the pitch of the engine humming at F#/Gb, just in case I want to compose a great song while mowing!
Toro 22″ Personal Pace AWD Mower Specifications
- Model: 20353M
- 7.25 ft-lb gross torque Briggs & Stratton EXi 163cc w/ReadyStart
- Personal Pace all-wheel-drive self-propelled system
- 3-year starting guarantee on Briggs & Stratton engines
- Simple mulch or bagging setup
- Weight: 78 lbs.
- 2 Years Comprehensive Warranty
- Price: $399
Toro 22″ Personal Pace Mower Specifications
- Model: 20332
- 7.25 ft-lb gross torque Briggs & Stratton EXi 163cc w/ReadyStart
- Personal Pace RWD self-propulsion system
- 3-year starting guarantee on Briggs & Stratton engines
- Simple mulch or bagging setup
- Weight: 78 lbs.
- 2 Years Comprehensive Warranty
- Price: $369
In Conclusion
Once you become familiar with the Personal Pace feature, this mower operates very intuitively and possesses enough power to effortlessly handle even thick St. Augustine grass. Bagging performance may be improved, and the flush port may have limited usefulness. The foldable design of this mower makes storage easy, but assistance will be required if you need to lift it in and out of a truck bed.
Toro has ensured that all serviceable parts are easily accessible, a detail I appreciate. Whether your lawn requires a quick trim or a more substantial mow, Toro’s self-propelled mowers seem up to the challenge. If you have a yard with many slopes, opting for an AWD model is advisable. However, any of Toro’s self-propelled lawn mowers will provide you with a professional-looking yard.