Honda HRX vs Toro SR vs Timemaster (new engine)

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seiyafan
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Honda HRX vs Toro SR vs Timemaster (new engine)

Post by seiyafan » September 4th, 2017, 11:51 pm

I am looking to replace my battery operated mower, I understand either one on the list will be more powerful but I am wondering how much difference do they have in terms of cut quality and mulch. Front yard is 7k and back yard is 2-4k (some spots I mow twice a week). Price is not a concern. :yahoo:
The only thing I will lose is the free-maintenance of electric mower. (can I tilt gas mowers to its side to change blade?)

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Re: Honda HRX vs Toro SR vs Timemaster (new engine)

Post by HoosierLawnGnome » September 5th, 2017, 8:57 am

Top choices here seem to be Honda HRX and Timemaster for quality of cut.

I loved the Timemaster cut on my last lawn. The stripes were a good fit for my yard size. They've fixed the engine issues in later models, so make sure if you go that way you get one that's been manufactured in the last few years. I was cutting a few times a week with it, and it did fine mulching - but I don't think I ever had to mulch a week's worth of growth with it. I tipped it on the side all the time to change blades - just tip it with the gas tank side up to gas doesn't leak out.

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Re: Honda HRX vs Toro SR vs Timemaster (new engine)

Post by seiyafan » September 5th, 2017, 11:12 am

Thanks. When I was watching a youtube review on the new Timemaster the person mentioned the grass clippings stuck on the underside of the mower (that's why he recommended side discharge for his thick lawn). Is that something specific to powerful gas mowers? I never mow when the grass is wet and my battery mower has always had relatively clean underside.

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Re: Honda HRX vs Toro SR vs Timemaster (new engine)

Post by ENVY23 » September 5th, 2017, 11:20 am

I got a 2017 Timemaster(new engine) at the beginning of this year and I love it. 30" definitely saves some time over my old 21". Like HLG said, you can tip it on it's side, gas tank up. Also, coming from an electric mower, don't forget to pull the spark plug wire before changing the blades.

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Re: Honda HRX vs Toro SR vs Timemaster (new engine)

Post by HoosierLawnGnome » September 5th, 2017, 12:40 pm

I never used mine in side discharge mode. Always bagged or mulched. I did have to wash the underside regularly to keep it clean, but that's as simple as tipping it over again. The spray out port wasn't as effective.


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Re: Honda HRX vs Toro SR vs Timemaster (new engine)

Post by Pway » September 5th, 2017, 3:05 pm

If cost is t an issue take a look at the Exmark 30". I have one and mulch with it. Great cut and dependable. Cuts much netter than my JD 130.

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Re: Honda HRX vs Toro SR vs Timemaster (new engine)

Post by seiyafan » September 5th, 2017, 8:51 pm

Yeah that would put it outside of the budget. As for the new Timemaster, does it mulch close to 90% of the Honda?

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Re: Honda HRX vs Toro SR vs Timemaster (new engine)

Post by HoosierLawnGnome » September 6th, 2017, 9:14 am

I never owned both. I had no problems with the mulching on my Timemaster. Keep in mind, I probably never took off more than 1/3 of the blade, and I did regularly clean the underside. If not, grass would build up and then you could tell it wouldn't mulch quite as well.

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Re: Honda HRX vs Toro SR vs Timemaster (new engine)

Post by seiyafan » September 6th, 2017, 10:23 am

Thanks, I will start mulching leaves this fall, before with the battery mower it didn't have enough power to chop the leaves to tiny pieces.

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Re: Honda HRX vs Toro SR vs Timemaster (new engine)

Post by seiyafan » September 9th, 2017, 4:02 pm

How do you like the Gator blades vs. stock blades on the Timemaster?

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Re: Honda HRX vs Toro SR vs Timemaster (new engine)

Post by mitten » September 11th, 2017, 8:36 am

I bought the SR4 last year when we moved into our new house. I only have 5000 square feet but wish I had bought the Timemaster instead...just so I can complete mowing faster. I'm playing with the idea of calling the Toro dealer to see if they'll do a trade in. Think my wife will notice that I got a new mower??

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Re: Honda HRX vs Toro SR vs Timemaster (new engine)

Post by seiyafan » September 11th, 2017, 11:49 am

Not if they are the same color.

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Re: Honda HRX vs Toro SR vs Timemaster (new engine)

Post by STL » September 12th, 2017, 11:17 am

The time master is big, so she may notice. Lol

I like my timemaster a lot. It mulches well and saves a lot of time. As long as the grass isn't too wet or long, it will mulch very well into very fine pieces. Wet and long grass tends to stick to the deck and eventually clog. Starts on the first or secon pull. I previously had a troy bilt with a honda engine. The only thing I liked better about the troy bilt is that it seemed to have better suction. It really pulled things up and mulched great. The timaster won't get as much, like some wet matted down leaves, but is still acceptable.

My timemaster did have to go back to the shop once already for a busted cylinder head a few weeks after I bought it. It was fixed under the warranty. That may be an issue with some of the new engines. I'd still buy again since the cut is great an it really does save a lot of time.

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Re: Honda HRX vs Toro SR vs Timemaster (new engine)

Post by mitten » September 12th, 2017, 11:32 pm

seiyafan wrote:
September 11th, 2017, 11:49 am
Not if they are the same color.
haha. So true.

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Re: Honda HRX vs Toro SR vs Timemaster (new engine)

Post by mitten » September 13th, 2017, 8:27 am

Does anyone know what year the Timemaster engine got better? I'm looking at a used one from 2015 and want to make sure it's not one of the bad ones. At least I could tell my wife I bought it used...ha.

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Re: Honda HRX vs Toro SR vs Timemaster (new engine)

Post by Chris LI » September 14th, 2017, 9:39 am

I'm pretty sure the larger engine for the timemaster was new for 2017. It's size was approximately 223cc as opposed to the previous engines which were 190cc. The previous engines are great, but we're just a little small for the dual blade 30" deck. I have one on my Snapper 21" Hi Vac and it's a beast!

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Re: Honda HRX vs Toro SR vs Timemaster (new engine)

Post by mitten » September 14th, 2017, 11:24 am

Okay that helps. Do you think it's worth saving a few hundred and getting the smaller engine? What would you pay for a 2015 Timemaster in like new condition? Sorry, now I feel like I'm hijacking the thread...

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Re: Honda HRX vs Toro SR vs Timemaster (new engine)

Post by STL » September 15th, 2017, 7:43 am

The 233cc engine is new this year. I think it's worth getting the new engine AND the three year warranty for a few hundred more personally. Around $600 or $700 would be my cut off for considering a used one in very good condition.

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Re: Honda HRX vs Toro SR vs Timemaster (new engine)

Post by mitten » September 15th, 2017, 8:21 am

STL wrote:
September 15th, 2017, 7:43 am
The 233cc engine is new this year. I think it's worth getting the new engine AND the three year warranty for a few hundred more personally. Around $600 or $700 would be my cut off for considering a used one in very good condition.
Yeah, good point on the warranty too. With tax we're looking at around $1,166 though. My Super Recycler is in like new condition but I probably can't get much more than $300 for it. I actually called the Toro dealer and asked them how much they would give me for trade in on the Timemaster. They said $200. Yikes. So I would have at least $900 out of pocket to upgrade to a Timemaster. I guess I should have bought bigger from the start!

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Re: Honda HRX vs Toro SR vs Timemaster (new engine)

Post by STL » September 15th, 2017, 9:27 am

Ah, yeah forgot about tax and such. If you can get the used timemaster for $700, I think thats fair for a 2015. How much are they asking for it?

Edit: meant to write 223cc engine.

I can't believe I forgot to mention but mine actually had to go to the shop twice. Second one was my fault though. I was scalping for my reno and blades got grounded on a high spot. That caused the blade timing to get out of whack and they hit each other, busting a pulley. It was really dumb on my part. Scalping for a reno puts wear on a mower and the blades from the dust and hitting things. I should have just rented a single blade mower from Home Depot for the day. Fixed super fast under warranty again though, no questions asked.

They're good grass cutting machines and really the only option for a lightweight, non-commercial wide-cutting mower. They are not beastly commercial-grade mowers that can take a lot of abuse though.

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