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?