bought a new 163cc single cylinder red beauty!

[Iahawk]

well, at least it is self propelled. My 20 year old mower (also a red Toro) is going to my elderly mother's house so I can use it to mow her lawn. New version of same mower but with Briggs ohv motor instead of the old Tecumseh flathead. The bummer is how much of this motor is plastic. Everything connected to the motor is plastic...carb, recoil starter, flywheel/fan..mower feels quite a few pounds lighter than old one.

 Old one has 500+ hours on it and is running strong. Hope the new one reaches at least half of that? Probably last gas mower I ever buy. And yes, I put 2 coats of the Turtle Wax Hybrid Ceramic coating on it..and a tach/hour meter, of course.

[Stig / Major Tom]

well, at least it is self propelled. My 20 year old mower (also a red Toro) is going to my elderly mother's house so I can use it to mow her lawn. New version of same mower but with Briggs ohv motor instead of the old Tecumseh flathead. The bummer is how much of this motor is plastic. Everything connected to the motor is plastic...carb, recoil starter, flywheel/fan..mower feels quite a few pounds lighter than old one.

 Old one has 500+ hours on it and is running strong. Hope the new one reaches at least half of that? Probably last gas mower I ever buy. And yes, I put 2 coats of the Turtle Wax Hybrid Ceramic coating on it..and a tach/hour meter, of course.

Dammit, I thought you had joined the 163cc LIKE200i ruffians!
My what-ever-it-is from Lowes has a locally made HONDA engine in it.~!
Self-propelled baby!
My late FIL had one - he hit a big root with it. Wadded that blade up like a pile of something from Olive Garden!
I put a new blade on it - held my breath..... And it ran just as smooth as always!
RED, is the correct clolor!

I tossed that squirrel catcher on the back.... I'd have to pay to get rid of clippings.
Besides - I read an report by a pro in Kansas - that clippings are mostly water. "leave 'em be!"
I did have to search a bit to find science to back up my theory.
Stig

[Ruffus]

..hawk, hope you don't exceed speed limits!😀👍

[Iahawk]

..hawk, hope you don't exceed speed limits!😀👍

Think I’ll be safe from exceeding speed limits! And Stig, no bagging for me, except late Fall with some massive tree debris(after I mulch it up, first).  New Toros don’t come with a side discharge chute..that is ordered for free after you’ve registered your purchase online with Toro.

[Iahawk]

reached 1 hour of run time on the engine on the new mower today....time for an oil change. Keep in mind this mower is marketed (in the US, at least) as 'never needs an oil change, just check the level and top it off!'

Well....the gray, soupy, sparkly metallic mess that resembled gray paint more than engine oil, with 1 hour of run time on it, shows that you still need to change the oil. It takes a whopping 15 oz (426 ml) of oil.

I'm curious if small engine manufacturers in other parts of the world market their products as never having to change the oil? Or is this just aimed at the brilliant US consumer..

[Neil955i]

Never seen that over here in the UK Hawk. 🤔

[Stig / Major Tom]

Hawk, that soupy fake-metal powder is a polishing substance in high end oils. It helps seat the rings, plus when the oil leaves via your muffler - the smoke helps you deal with the mosquitos back by the fence.
"Never needs an oil change" is like a cheeseburger to American males whose feet have....
 disappeared.
My brother gave me his old Sears mower. I used it for years.....and it never had an oil change. The drain plug was under the deck. Rusted into a round knob.
Stig

[Neil955i]

Total loss lubrication system?  Bit like old BSA's?   

[Iahawk]

update on the oil....performed oil change #3 today (1st change at 1 hour, 2nd at 4 hours and today at 7 hours run time). Oil is still very sparkly and swirly with colors! I feel sorry for the many that will never change the oil in this...only 'topping off'. But then again, it will probably run for 5-10 years or more on this soupy, sparkly mess...and that's all most consumers care about.

15 oz of used oil sure doesn't look like much when it's drained into a big oil pan.

[randyo]

my red toy is 2286cc 4 cylinders. I can run 3pt attachments, but would have to take the backhoe off

top speed 14,9 mph 2690 lb. lift capacity

[Iahawk]

my red toy is 2286cc 4 cylinders. I can run 3pt attachments, but would have to take the backhoe off

top speed 14,9 mph 2690 lb. lift capacity

wow, now that is a big boy toy!

[randyo]

wow, now that is a big boy toy!

big boy maintenance cost too, coming up on my first 50 hr service $400 in fluids, $400 in filters, gonna have a mobile diesel mechanic friend to do the work, also weld a couple hooks & install a block heater, I'm thinking another $500 to him, after the 1st @50 hrs, then every 500 hrs,

I've already set my UXV450i up for diesel transfer, have a street registration for it, so I drive it to a nearby gas station that has an offroad diesel pump

my other red toy

[Stig / Major Tom]

my red toy is 2286cc 4 cylinders. I can run 3pt attachments, but would have to take the backhoe off

top speed 14,9 mph 2690 lb. lift capacity

Randy,
I lived in Massachusetts in the late 60's and early 70's.
I was under the impression that a big chunk of your state's  population lived in the bottom 1/3rd of the state,  nearest the border with Massachusetts.
Was wondering if you lived in this lower part of New Hampshire?
I enjoyed pretty much everything during my time in New England.. Music at Tanglewood,  the Fogg art museum
at Harvard, and those at Yale and little Smith College. Friends and I taking a mental health day from the hospital and piling into Bill's ancient Saab for a run to the coast for the sunrise and Dunkin Donuts!
Good people and good times.
Stig

[randyo]

Randy,
I lived in Massachusetts in the late 60's and early 70's.
I was under the impression that a big chunk of your state's  population lived in the bottom 1/3rd of the state,  nearest the border with Massachusetts.
Was wondering if you lived in this lower part of New Hampshire?
Stig

top of the lower third/lakes region, I use Laconia weather forecast, great location, close to shopping and doctors, right at the southern edge of great riding

[Iahawk]

finally got around to putting my mower away for the winter...this is the first decent, snow cover free day since we've had a snow cover and brutal temps since late in November. It lives in a shed in the back yard and I was finally able to pull it out and get it into my garage for it's cleaning and oil change. First I ran it out of gas and then changed the oil (after completely blowing it off with compressed air..amaing how much dirt and grass gets into every part of the mower).

Oil change #4 at 17.7 hours on the machine (takes a whopping 15 ounces). Oil is still gray, soupy and sparkly..but a little less so than with previous oil changes.

Paper air filter is dirtier than expected at 17+ hours...ordered a replacement 2 pack off Amazon. Will probably run same spark plug next year.

wiped it clean with detail spray and then fogged the cylinder with some oil, tugged on the rope a few times and parked it away for the next 3 or 3 1/2 months.