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One of the best comparison videos of these mowers I've seen. Really torn, the added width and lift of the Toro is really tempting but the inability to disable the personal pace seems like a major issue. Decisions!
Not only is the Toro better mower, you can get dealer support. I would pay the difference and get Super Recyler. And if you are considering a snowblower, then Toro makes the best. Their trimmers and blowers are also top notch.
One thing that should be considered is support. If the EGO breaks under warranty, it has to be shipped off to a service center and you won't have a mower for 4-6 weeks. That's hard to deal with. Toro has dealers all over the place to service them.
Actually depending where you live it might not have to be shipped off. I have 2 EGO service centers within a 15 mile radius of where I live. Now mind you, I did do my homework and made sure I had a repair center near me before I made my purchases.
The thing with the Toro is, you never have to leave go of the lever and turn a knob to go faster or slower. Mine rarely jumps when turning or manuevering because I don't push the handle forward. Just pull the handle back and down towards you to lift the front, not forward. Honestly, I never have to even think of what I'm doing, I just know I don't have to keep leaving go of a lever and pulling it again to get going. One thing I noticed, is the Toro is the 22 inch steel deck, where my gas version is the 21 inch aluminum deck (even though I've owned both). I aslo like indivual wheel adjustments even thought they are more of a pain, I can raise the front slightly when the grass gets a little taller than normal and this helps cutting it.
I chose the Toro because it was on clearance at Home Depot for $299 w/battery and charger. I could not pass that deal up. I came here to confirm my decision as guys usually do. Thank you.
LOL, that really made me laugh out loud! Seriously though, for $299 with batt and charger you got a deal that you won't regret in the Spring. Keep the battery charged though, it takes a while to go from dead to full charge with Toro, most UA-camrs fail to mention that, I have a whole video on it.
Johnny at Blades of Grass just got his hands on the commercial 60 volt Toro with the new rapid charger, auto and Max settings, and a lever controlled self propel. Just FYI. Love your content.
Nice, I actually really want that mower but for the time being I'm resisting buying new mowers for testing, they take up too much space and I don't have enough lawn space to test them all enough, lol I'll have to take a look at his stuff to learn more about this new option though.
I've owned the Toro for about a month now and I've had zero issues with the personal pace system. It's easy to maneuver. It's a dream to drive I never thought of myself as the kind of person who would need the self propelled system just to get the mower back to the garage.
For those researching Toro vs Ego in 2021... I will add Toro info I have found regarding various models in this thread... I hope this helps someone. There is definitely differences between the 21”, 22”, and the Super Recycler. Treat them as 3 separate models when you shop.
Both the red 21” models (20367 push only and 21356 regular self propelled) have smaller bags, 1 position handle, and have issues with ill fitting bags on the gas and these cordless versions according to reviews. They use a motor with part number 138-6661. Not sure what that means as no torque specs are available.
The 22” models seem to get more love for their bagger and higher grass performance online. Gas versions as well. They have 2 position handles. Models 20361 push only, 20363 (reviewed in this video) & 21466 Vortex Personal Pace. Motor part number different from 21”. PN 139-6630. Again not sure what it means other than it is different than the 21”.
Last, the black Super Recycler is 21” (Model 21388), has a removable mulch plug, 2 handle positions, and yet a third part number for the motor. Toro specifically calls this motor “MOTOR-2KW” (PN 140-4119) in their assembly drawings.
In conclusion, this may be why the 22” push mower (if you can find one) is MORE expensive than the 21” self propelled. Different deck, bag and motor. And it looks promising that the Super Recycler MAYBE has a more powerful motor than any of them !?!?
But without torque specs, and without knowing how much parasitic drivetrain loss occurs on these belt driven “slipping” transmissions, it is a guessing game on what power these motors put out at the blade on the Toros.
Hey Brian - first, thanks for all the great videos. Besides being kinda relaxing to watch and being in a great environment, the insight on different aspects of the mowers was incredibly helpful. I watched each a number of times. (Edit: That polyhedral jungle gym is classic) There was a floor model of the Select Cut at Home Depot, still on the shelf after many weeks after they "clearanced" everything. It was still $650, so I called and spoke to a manager, who said I could get it for $450. She also said another local place had them new, in-box, for the same price. Went to the new place and it was way up on a shelf. Forklift guy said there was a reconditioned one outside. It was actually new (still had EGO placards/signs on it), sheltered, in perfect condition, and an additional 25% off! All parts were there, so I grabbed it. Also got two 2.5ah batteries at $75 each, which I regularly use in my several-years-old blower and trimmer, and figured I could also use in the mower as needed. Used it with a 2.5ah battery on my front yard to try it out when I got home - easy to push, and drive worked fine. Next day, put the 7.5 ah battery in, and mowed about half my backyard - and the drive gave out completely. No... anything. Finished mowing by pushing, called the store, and the manager said bring it in and he'll exchange it for a new one in a box. Long story short: I have a new EGO select cut in the garage, unopenedwhich I got for $337, and also picked up a hedge trimmer for $119, with a 2.5ah battery. I've looked up drive issue, and found a few people here and there who had a drive fail, but it doesn't seem common. Fingers crossed. (FWIW I also have an unopened Greenworks 60V Pro & blower/trimmer combo. Hedging my bets. Pun unintended, probably.) EGO power usage (roughly, according to polygon measurement on Google Earth) Front yard, .03 acre/1480 square feet - done with 2.5ah battery, mostly pushed. Old-style battery so not sure how much was used. Back yard, .13 acre, 5680 square feet - done with 7.5ah battery, three bars remaining, mixture of push and self-propel I was surprised to only have 3 bars left on the 7.5ah battery considering how much I've read about the battery life. Also surprising, obviously, was the drive failure. Maybe the shelf unit had been dropped or something, but not sure if that would explain the apparently low battery life. One thing I noticed was the the rear wheels didn't spin freely when not in drive mode - I thought they would. I think this means there would be some resistance when using in push mode - any thoughts on this? Thanks again for all the help. @Boyo1956 Appreciate the input - here's what I found after mowing the whole yard once: 1. Tears the grass. - Didn't look at it up close, but I'm not really looking at it that closely. Not planning on entering any competitions. 2. Plastic shroud gouges easily. - Not sure this matters to me so long as it doesn't affect performance - just cosmetic? 3. Headlights are a gimmick. - Maybe, but I wasn't planning on mowing at night, either. :) Probably agree with you though. 4. Blades are flimsy. They can be flexed with 3 fingers. - Result yet to be seen, but my yard is far from perfect, and I haven't seen any real complaints about this. I didn't have any issues, and my yard is pretty bumpy. 5. The handle is too long. It is hard to maneuver in a narrow yard. - I'm fairly tall (6-1) and like to be back far from push tools, so this works for me... didn't run into any issues, and I have a few smaller tricky areas, too. (If you're tall, ever try pushing a spreader with a short handle?) 6. The rear wheels lock up when you let go of the self-propelled lever. - Released self-propel while pushing, and did not experience this 7. The rear wheels bind and tear the lawn when you turn 180 degrees. - I know what you mean, but releasing the self-propel button before turning was all I had to do. The wheels turned freely. 8. You can't wash the lawnmower. It is very tedious having to clean the lawnmower with a dry cloth. - I blew the top off with my leafblower... the underside was only marginally grassy. I don't mind wiping it down. 9. The quick charger is hard on the battery life. - Haven't used long enough to know, but I can put the battery on one of my standard EGO chargers I guess. 10. The lawnmower is too light. It floats over long grass. - Ah... not sure what to say about this one. I think it's about 60 pounds? Not sure what "floating" is, but couldn't it just be lowered a bit? 11. No proper side discharge. You have to attach the plastic side discharge on the rear. - I've never used side discharge, ever. 12. Loud for a battery unit. - Well, I'm used to pushing a 1996 Lawn Boy Medallion. I listen to music when I mow, and needed an "ear-plugging" bluetooth headset for that one, and it was still loud. With the EGO, I could use my airpods. Also, I mowed a little after dinner, and my wife & kids were still on the deck, and they carried on with their normal conversation, saying from where I was mowing (at times within 10 feet of them) it was quieter than a hairdryer. Not scientific, but they couldn't talk easily if I were pushing my gas mower in the same place.
***UPDATE: I bought the Toro 60 Volt Personal Pace system. The self-propelled not disengaging is not a problem. I just tilt the lawnmower on its rear wheels or shut it off if I have to. It starts quickly and easily. (I liked the Toro until you mentioned that you cannot shut off the self-propelled.)*** I have the EGO Select Cut and I found 11 deal breakers for me. Have you tried out the Still battery lawnmower?
I'm considering the Ego select cut. I like their full line of equipment, but the mower will get used the most. So I would like to hear what your deal breaker are.
@@androidfarmer8863 1. Tears the grass. 2. Plastic shroud gouges easily. 3. Headlights are a gimmick. 4. Blades are flimsy. They can be flexed with 3 fingers. 5. The handle is too long. It is hard to maneuver in a narrow yard. 6. The rear wheels lock up when you let go of the self-propelled lever. 7. The rear wheels bind and tear the lawn when you turn 180 degrees. 8. You can't wash the lawnmower. It is very tedious having to clean the lawnmower with a dry cloth. 9. The quick charger is hard on the battery life. 10. The lawnmower is too light. It floats over long grass. 11. No proper side discharge. You have to attach the plastic side discharge on the rear. 12. Loud for a battery unit. I sold my EGO Select Cut, but not before I bought and tried out the Toro 60 Volt 22" with Personal Pace. The Toro is night and day better than the EGO. I had never owned either brand before. There is a reason that Toro has been around for over 100 years. 1. The Toro has a steel deck. It doesn't gouge like plastic. 2. The Toro deck is 22" compared to the 21" EGO plastic deck. 3. The cut is clean. It doesn't leave torn or uncut blades of grass behind. 4. A heavier steel blade doesn't flex. 5. Quieter than the EGO. 6. You can hose the lawnmower down and connect a garden hose to the underside after use. I installed brass quick connectors to the hose and lawnmower quick and easy clean-up. 7. I love the Personal Pace system. It is so effortless to use. 8. The handle is shorter than the EGO for narrow lawns. 9. The handle on the Toro folds easier than the EGO. Storage is simple and convenient. 10. The lawnmower blade running is not a big deal. Either tip the lawnmower back on two wheels or start it up when you turn around or get to your destination. It starts easy and it is not irritating at all. 11. The rear wheels show some resistance if you let go of the self-propelled and back up right away, but they don't bind and tear the grass like the EGO. 12. I use the Personal Pace self-propelled until I get to about 12" from the end of my fence, then I let it go and push manually. That prevents any resistance of the rear wheels when I back up the lawnmower. There is a solid stationary handle just below the Personal Pace handle for pushing or pulling the lawnmower. It is so easy to get used to that it is a joy to cut the lawn. 13. Although the Toro is heavier than the EGO, I use it manually as well as it is light enough to push washout much effort, but heavy enough to cut the lawn without floating over the lawn. The Stihl lawnmower looked okay, but the handle did not fold easily. That was no good for us when it came to storing the lawnmower on its end. I can't say enough about the Toro. You can also buy it manual without self-propelled Personal Pace system. EGO has many good tools, but the lawnmowers and snowblowers are not very good. I am on an EGO owners site, and people are beginning to see the shortcomings of the EGO products.
Thanks for the video. I have the Toro Recycler. It has about 6 mows on it so far. I appreciate your honest review on both mowers. I did get my Toro from Home Depot. Actually, I had both Mowers side-by- side, deciding on which one to buy. And you’re right, it came down to personal choice. I wanted the traditional feel, and yet the advantage of having a battery powered mower. For me, I just couldn’t get into the space age design, and the plastic deck. To me, It looked like a toy. I just couldn’t get passed that. I wanted my mower to have the traditional look and feel of being solid and hefty. When it comes to corners, it does take a little maneuvering, but overall the personal pace system and the ease of switching from bagging to mulching makes up for it.
Other commenters have told me I'd get used to the personal pace... and to an extent they right. I am getting used to it as I use it but there are still some areas of my lawn that its just plain hard to use, I can't complain though about its cut quality and that valve to switch from bagging to mulching really is awesome! On a side note, im currently experimenting with the even pricier Yard Force mower, its really nice but the mulch plug is pretty bad, Toro really got things right with that trap door. Hope it works well for you for years to come!
Toro has a much better cut than that EGO. It's been in the business way longer and they have perfected the cut. Many complaints on the EGOs cut quality.
I hear the newest ego models have better cut quality and power than the one I featured in this video, haven't tried those models yet though. No doubt Toros cut quality is good though
Confused in the video you did of the Toro vs Snapper you said if you had to pick one for tall grass you'd pick the Toro .. but in the body of your video here you say you'd pick the Greenworks ... The New 2021 Ego has a 1200 watt motor now. . So I wonder if the new Ego will compare to the Toro, the Snapper in tall grass ... Also I'm wondering how the Greenworks 60 volt will compare now in tall grass..
The EGO has several interlock safety switches in series and the failure of any one of them prevents the blade motor from powering up. These are not the most robust switches and are a common failure point. Keep your warrantee information up to date and available.
Had a 22 inch recycler for 21 years. Just switched to the top of the line 10ah select cut. Takes some getting used to obviously. I am undecided but I think the ego will be fine. I am not recharging the 10ah until it dies. I have about 2500sq ft to cut flat and hilly. I want to see how many mows I get (bagging using the hi lift blade) before it runs out. I am hoping for 3 or 4. One thing I did notice is on the highest speed the Ego is a little slow for my pace.
I’ve owned the 2 gen ego 21 inch mower and the ego select cut. I’ve found that when you mow above 3 inches is leaves strips of uncut grass where the wheels are. It just didn’t have enough suction to lift the grass. I then bought the toro 60 volt and problem was solved. The cut quality with the toro was amazing... especially because I keep my grass longer.
Yeah, the Toro's blade is a full inch and a half wider than the EGO select cut 21-5/8 vs 20-1/8 so the extra tip speed helps a lot in getting those blades to stand up on the edges by the wheel line. This week I'm testing the Yard Force 120V mower which has a blade similar in width to the EGO but the RPM is higher, 3000 vs 2700 so im curious if that wheel mark cutting zone is better.
I have the same issue with my Ego as well, even with a high lift blade it tends to mat down the grass when you cut high, so its mow, rake up the matted areas, then mow over those areas again. Glad to hear the Toro is better in that regard so I will finish out the season with the Ego and next year purchase the Toro.
I totally agree. The Toro 60 Volt is night and day superior. My wife was the first to notice the grass left behind by the EGO Select Cut. I was in denial as this was touted as the best battery operated lawnmower on the market. But cut after cut, the evidence was overwhelming. The EGO kept leaving uncut strands behind. Even changing the blades did not improve the cut. As a result, I started to look at other brands of battery mowers. I looked at Stihl, but it had a handle that was not easily folded after each use. I looked at other brands until I saw the Toro 60 Volt Personal Pace system. I watched many reviews on UA-cam. I was almost convinced, but I had to try it out before I sold my EGO Select Cut. The worst case scenario would be that I sell the Toro and keep the EGO. So, after cutting my lawn with the Toro Personal Pace, I was amazed at the cut quality, the ease of the Personal Pace system, ease of cleaning, sturdiness, wider cut, and faster folding of the handle over the EGO, I quickly advertised my EGO Select Cut. I wanted to sell it before the public caught on about the poor cut quality among other things about the EGO Select Cut. Lucky for me, the EGO Select Cut sold quickly and I am relieved and no regrets. I have never owned a Toro or an EGO until now. I can now see why Toro has been around for 100 years.
I've had my Ego mower just one weekend and I am already looking to return it. The battery is only lasting 25 mins (yes the grass is overgrown due to the lawnmower guy not coming due to the Covid lock-down period - which is why I bought the mower) and it takes a full hour to recharge so the time that it is taking to mow my large yard is really blowing out. It also stalls a lot and sometimes needs some 5 mins to recover before it will start again. Something I noticed in your video was the huge open volume under the Toro deck when compared to the Ego. I found the Ego was regularly clogging up but once of grass clippings would run again. I think the Ego is a good choice for normal sized yards but once the yards get bigger and with longer grass - it really struggles. I believe a fair bit of this problem is because it can't clear the grass below the deck quick enough due to the tight volume.
Good to hear. I'm returning my ego select cut to home depot sometime before father's day. Think I'll try the Toro. My grass gets a bit long because of work effecting my mowing frequency. I too am tired of mowing twice! I really hoped the select cut was going to have greater suction than the previous ego, but it didn't. I can't help but wonder how the Ryobi would do on my lawn. I wish the Toro had lights, I've mowed at night several times.
How much battery is used up by the self propelled mechanism? The Toro has to push around 75 lbs, the Ego only 50lbs. The Toro has a weaker battery AND wastes more battery propelling it around. The Toro specs say it can cut 1/4 to 1/2 acre before recharging the battery which takes 2.5 HOURS! The Ego can cut a full acre on a single charge, or more if you turn off the separate self propel motor, something the Toro can't do. If your lot is bigger, you'll have an extra 2.5 hour wait to finish the job.
Hey Bud ,i have a tip for the toro. . drill a 10mm hole on the side discharge flap and another on the metal plate at the base of the handle bar use a 30cm rubber strap and bend the hook closed in the flate base plate you drilled and Viola, the strap will pull the disscharge shute open and then store paralell up the bar when not in use. I have this on all my mowers ,works purfect.If you would like photo's im happy to send to you:)
For the Toro, does the personal pace speed affect the bagging from your experience? I'm going to be bagging and running slower speed on 3" kbg small 2000 sq.ft lawn. I'm also considering snapper however wondering if toro is better bagger at slow speed. I have both snapper and toro dealers nearby. Thanks!
I haven't tested bagging performance based on the speed that the mower is traveling but I do know that when a mower travels slower the performance of everything improves. You can use the Toro PP slow but you have to really try to keep it slow. The EGO select cut has a high lift blade that can be bought and you can set the SP speed to be very slow when bagging. Use the high lift blade with slow speed and this will probably work really well. Alternatively the big Yard Force 120-Volt machine runs a wide blade at a very high 3000 RPM so it would also bag well if you were to find a high lift blade for it... something I haven't tried to find for it myself. My guess is the Toro will bag great compared to just about all options, I did a video on mower suction in July of 2020 I think and Toro looked to be the best but I wasn't using the high lift blade from EGO so I can't say for sure how that would compare.
I suspect the Toro is also a 56 volt battery, 15 Cells at 3.7 volts, but they are using the Maximum charge state of a lithium battery of 4.2 volts. Of course lithium cells will not output 4+ volts under load, rather they immediately drop to 3.7. So probably Bullsh*t marketing, but it's possible there really are 16 celling in there.
Another thing to consider is the entire battery platform of each brand. Compare EGO's other 56V tools to Toro's other 60V tools. The Toro 60V Snow Blower seems to be superior to The EGO from the research I've done. The EGO leaf blowers seem to be superior to the Toro. Both companies offer string trimmers and hedge trimmers which seem to be pretty comparable. EGO has a multi tool with various attachments Toro does not. EGO is coming out with a riding mower in 2021. If you plan on buying other battery tools sticking to the same battery platform may be wiser. Food for thought.
Excellent points to bring up. So far I only have the Toro 60V blower so I can't directly compare it to the others but since I live in a cold weather climate I'm planning on doing lots of comparisons to the blowers in the fall and the snow throwers in the winter. I don't have hedges but I may also throw in some trimmer comparisons if my wife lets me keep accumulating equipment. Lol
I have weedy type grass and I cut it when it’s about 5-6 inches with my Ego. It cuts great, with no problem with uneven grass cuts. My gas’s mowers will rust out before the engine goes, that’s why I went with the all plastic Ego. Toro’s model just looks like they threw on an electric motor on top of there gasoline frame.
That EGO mower is going to be the best option out there for a lot of people; it's not my favorite but I can't say it's bad - there's a lot of good things about it. Yes, the Toro is basically a battery mower sitting on a gas mower deck but that's also kind of the appeal. It's heavier so it doesn't bounce around as much, wider so it covers more ground, the blade is thicker so it won't flex like some other battery mower blades. I'm glad you are liking the EGO; all of these battery mowers are the way of the future.
Tried the Toro 60 volt recycler & hated it.......save your money........This lawn mower couldn't even handle my front yard 🤨,it isn't flat,but it's not bumpy either.........but I couldn't even get "One row cut" Save your money don't fall for the HYPE!!
@@TurfMechanic Thank you, I liked it when I saw it in the shop, but it hardly cut the grass,even though I adjusted the wheels. It would do wheelies, while trying a mow in my front yard.....🙂......💜🐾🐾
I bought the Toro and it’s great. Love the steel deck. The plastic deck on the Ego was a huge turn off for me. Think of all the support that plastic needs to provide and how it’s going to degrade over time. The Toro personal pace and wide 22” cut is also a big difference.
Have you tested battery weed eaters against gas trimmers yet? I just got a battery trimmer that blows away any gas trimmer I've ever had. Even more powerful than my gas Husqvarna 525 LST.
Honestly I've only experimented with the Ryobi 40v trimmer, ive used it and the brush cutter attachment for a couple of years and been pleased enough but now that I'm getting into all the battery lines I'll probably start testing their complimentary trimmers before long... the Ryobi I have is fine but I'm sure its not the best, doesn't feel like it at least.
aww man you didnt review or say anything about the smallest mower! Im guessing because its the best of all of them and you dont want anyone else to have one. 😂
That's the best mower I've ever owned! It holds up over the years, never needs charging, and it's whisper quiet! Kids cut the grass with it all the time and nobody every injures themselves! 😁
No problem! For those wondering and not catching it in the video, the EGO model is noticeably quieter. I tested both with a decibel meter a few days ago under idle conditions and the EGO came in around 73-74 decibels while the Toro came in around 83-84 decibles. The quietest I've tested was the 80-Volt Greenworks Pro which idled at 71-72 decibles.
Mostly this is because pricing changes all the time and each mower can be purchased in different "trim" packages that can change the price significantly. Sales also muddy the water. I try to review products that I own and not focus on pricing unless I think its highly relevant.
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Excellent insights !
One of the best comparison videos of these mowers I've seen. Really torn, the added width and lift of the Toro is really tempting but the inability to disable the personal pace seems like a major issue. Decisions!
Not only is the Toro better mower, you can get dealer support. I would pay the difference and get Super Recyler. And if you are considering a snowblower, then Toro makes the best. Their trimmers and blowers are also top notch.
One thing that should be considered is support. If the EGO breaks under warranty, it has to be shipped off to a service center and you won't have a mower for 4-6 weeks. That's hard to deal with. Toro has dealers all over the place to service them.
You are right. Reviewers never mention this part of the ownership.
Actually depending where you live it might not have to be shipped off. I have 2 EGO service centers within a 15 mile radius of where I live. Now mind you, I did do my homework and made sure I had a repair center near me before I made my purchases.
The thing with the Toro is, you never have to leave go of the lever and turn a knob to go faster or slower. Mine rarely jumps when turning or manuevering because I don't push the handle forward. Just pull the handle back and down towards you to lift the front, not forward. Honestly, I never have to even think of what I'm doing, I just know I don't have to keep leaving go of a lever and pulling it again to get going. One thing I noticed, is the Toro is the 22 inch steel deck, where my gas version is the 21 inch aluminum deck (even though I've owned both). I aslo like indivual wheel adjustments even thought they are more of a pain, I can raise the front slightly when the grass gets a little taller than normal and this helps cutting it.
My Honda HRX has the same mulching/bagging selector handle with no plug. Huge selling point!
I chose the Toro because it was on clearance at Home Depot for $299 w/battery and charger. I could not pass that deal up. I came here to confirm my decision as guys usually do. Thank you.
LOL, that really made me laugh out loud! Seriously though, for $299 with batt and charger you got a deal that you won't regret in the Spring. Keep the battery charged though, it takes a while to go from dead to full charge with Toro, most UA-camrs fail to mention that, I have a whole video on it.
Johnny at Blades of Grass just got his hands on the commercial 60 volt Toro with the new rapid charger, auto and Max settings, and a lever controlled self propel. Just FYI. Love your content.
Nice, I actually really want that mower but for the time being I'm resisting buying new mowers for testing, they take up too much space and I don't have enough lawn space to test them all enough, lol I'll have to take a look at his stuff to learn more about this new option though.
I've owned the Toro for about a month now and I've had zero issues with the personal pace system. It's easy to maneuver. It's a dream to drive I never thought of myself as the kind of person who would need the self propelled system just to get the mower back to the garage.
Disappointed that you didn't review the Mean Pink Mowing Machine on the outskirts. I'm sure it tears through a lawn.
For those researching Toro vs Ego in 2021... I will add Toro info I have found regarding various models in this thread... I hope this helps someone. There is definitely differences between the 21”, 22”, and the Super Recycler. Treat them as 3 separate models when you shop.
Both the red 21” models (20367 push only and 21356 regular self propelled) have smaller bags, 1 position handle, and have issues with ill fitting bags on the gas and these cordless versions according to reviews. They use a motor with part number 138-6661. Not sure what that means as no torque specs are available.
The 22” models seem to get more love for their bagger and higher grass performance online. Gas versions as well. They have 2 position handles. Models 20361 push only, 20363 (reviewed in this video) & 21466 Vortex Personal Pace. Motor part number different from 21”. PN 139-6630. Again not sure what it means other than it is different than the 21”.
Last, the black Super Recycler is 21” (Model 21388), has a removable mulch plug, 2 handle positions, and yet a third part number for the motor. Toro specifically calls this motor “MOTOR-2KW” (PN 140-4119) in their assembly drawings.
In conclusion, this may be why the 22” push mower (if you can find one) is MORE expensive than the 21” self propelled. Different deck, bag and motor. And it looks promising that the Super Recycler MAYBE has a more powerful motor than any of them !?!?
But without torque specs, and without knowing how much parasitic drivetrain loss occurs on these belt driven “slipping” transmissions, it is a guessing game on what power these motors put out at the blade on the Toros.
Hey Brian - first, thanks for all the great videos. Besides being kinda relaxing to watch and being in a great environment, the insight on different aspects of the mowers was incredibly helpful. I watched each a number of times. (Edit: That polyhedral jungle gym is classic)
There was a floor model of the Select Cut at Home Depot, still on the shelf after many weeks after they "clearanced" everything. It was still $650, so I called and spoke to a manager, who said I could get it for $450. She also said another local place had them new, in-box, for the same price.
Went to the new place and it was way up on a shelf. Forklift guy said there was a reconditioned one outside. It was actually new (still had EGO placards/signs on it), sheltered, in perfect condition, and an additional 25% off! All parts were there, so I grabbed it. Also got two 2.5ah batteries at $75 each, which I regularly use in my several-years-old blower and trimmer, and figured I could also use in the mower as needed.
Used it with a 2.5ah battery on my front yard to try it out when I got home - easy to push, and drive worked fine.
Next day, put the 7.5 ah battery in, and mowed about half my backyard - and the drive gave out completely. No... anything. Finished mowing by pushing, called the store, and the manager said bring it in and he'll exchange it for a new one in a box.
Long story short: I have a new EGO select cut in the garage, unopenedwhich I got for $337, and also picked up a hedge trimmer for $119, with a 2.5ah battery. I've looked up drive issue, and found a few people here and there who had a drive fail, but it doesn't seem common. Fingers crossed.
(FWIW I also have an unopened Greenworks 60V Pro & blower/trimmer combo. Hedging my bets. Pun unintended, probably.)
EGO power usage (roughly, according to polygon measurement on Google Earth)
Front yard, .03 acre/1480 square feet - done with 2.5ah battery, mostly pushed. Old-style battery so not sure how much was used.
Back yard, .13 acre, 5680 square feet - done with 7.5ah battery, three bars remaining, mixture of push and self-propel
I was surprised to only have 3 bars left on the 7.5ah battery considering how much I've read about the battery life.
Also surprising, obviously, was the drive failure. Maybe the shelf unit had been dropped or something, but not sure if that would explain the apparently low battery life.
One thing I noticed was the the rear wheels didn't spin freely when not in drive mode - I thought they would. I think this means there would be some resistance when using in push mode - any thoughts on this?
Thanks again for all the help.
@Boyo1956
Appreciate the input - here's what I found after mowing the whole yard once:
1. Tears the grass. - Didn't look at it up close, but I'm not really looking at it that closely. Not planning on entering any competitions.
2. Plastic shroud gouges easily. - Not sure this matters to me so long as it doesn't affect performance - just cosmetic?
3. Headlights are a gimmick.
- Maybe, but I wasn't planning on mowing at night, either. :) Probably agree with you though.
4. Blades are flimsy. They can be flexed with 3 fingers.
- Result yet to be seen, but my yard is far from perfect, and I haven't seen any real complaints about this. I didn't have any issues, and my yard is pretty bumpy.
5. The handle is too long. It is hard to maneuver in a narrow yard.
- I'm fairly tall (6-1) and like to be back far from push tools, so this works for me... didn't run into any issues, and I have a few smaller tricky areas, too. (If you're tall, ever try pushing a spreader with a short handle?)
6. The rear wheels lock up when you let go of the self-propelled lever.
- Released self-propel while pushing, and did not experience this
7. The rear wheels bind and tear the lawn when you turn 180 degrees.
- I know what you mean, but releasing the self-propel button before turning was all I had to do. The wheels turned freely.
8. You can't wash the lawnmower. It is very tedious having to clean the lawnmower with a dry cloth.
- I blew the top off with my leafblower... the underside was only marginally grassy. I don't mind wiping it down.
9. The quick charger is hard on the battery life.
- Haven't used long enough to know, but I can put the battery on one of my standard EGO chargers I guess.
10. The lawnmower is too light. It floats over long grass.
- Ah... not sure what to say about this one. I think it's about 60 pounds? Not sure what "floating" is, but couldn't it just be lowered a bit?
11. No proper side discharge. You have to attach the plastic side discharge on the rear.
- I've never used side discharge, ever.
12. Loud for a battery unit. - Well, I'm used to pushing a 1996 Lawn Boy Medallion. I listen to music when I mow, and needed an "ear-plugging" bluetooth headset for that one, and it was still loud. With the EGO, I could use my airpods. Also, I mowed a little after dinner, and my wife & kids were still on the deck, and they carried on with their normal conversation, saying from where I was mowing (at times within 10 feet of them) it was quieter than a hairdryer. Not scientific, but they couldn't talk easily if I were pushing my gas mower in the same place.
***UPDATE: I bought the Toro 60 Volt Personal Pace system. The self-propelled not disengaging is not a problem. I just tilt the lawnmower on its rear wheels or shut it off if I have to. It starts quickly and easily.
(I liked the Toro until you mentioned that you cannot shut off the self-propelled.)***
I have the EGO Select Cut and I found 11 deal breakers for me.
Have you tried out the Still battery lawnmower?
I'm considering the Ego select cut. I like their full line of equipment, but the mower will get used the most. So I would like to hear what your deal breaker are.
Out of curiosity, what were the deal breakers?
@@androidfarmer8863
1. Tears the grass.
2. Plastic shroud gouges easily.
3. Headlights are a gimmick.
4. Blades are flimsy. They can be flexed with 3 fingers.
5. The handle is too long. It is hard to maneuver in a narrow yard.
6. The rear wheels lock up when you let go of the self-propelled lever.
7. The rear wheels bind and tear the lawn when you turn 180 degrees.
8. You can't wash the lawnmower. It is very tedious having to clean the lawnmower with a dry cloth.
9. The quick charger is hard on the battery life.
10. The lawnmower is too light. It floats over long grass.
11. No proper side discharge. You have to attach the plastic side discharge on the rear.
12. Loud for a battery unit.
I sold my EGO Select Cut, but not before I bought and tried out the Toro 60 Volt 22" with Personal Pace.
The Toro is night and day better than the EGO.
I had never owned either brand before. There is a reason that Toro has been around for over 100 years.
1. The Toro has a steel deck. It doesn't gouge like plastic.
2. The Toro deck is 22" compared to the 21" EGO plastic deck.
3. The cut is clean. It doesn't leave torn or uncut blades of grass behind.
4. A heavier steel blade doesn't flex.
5. Quieter than the EGO.
6. You can hose the lawnmower down and connect a garden hose to the underside after use. I installed brass quick connectors to the hose and lawnmower quick and easy clean-up.
7. I love the Personal Pace system. It is so effortless to use.
8. The handle is shorter than the EGO for narrow lawns.
9. The handle on the Toro folds easier than the EGO. Storage is simple and convenient.
10. The lawnmower blade running is not a big deal. Either tip the lawnmower back on two wheels or start it up when you turn around or get to your destination. It starts easy and it is not irritating at all.
11. The rear wheels show some resistance if you let go of the self-propelled and back up right away, but they don't bind and tear the grass like the EGO.
12. I use the Personal Pace self-propelled until I get to about 12" from the end of my fence, then I let it go and push manually. That prevents any resistance of the rear wheels when I back up the lawnmower. There is a solid stationary handle just below the Personal Pace handle for pushing or pulling the lawnmower. It is so easy to get used to that it is a joy to cut the lawn.
13. Although the Toro is heavier than the EGO, I use it manually as well as it is light enough to push washout much effort, but heavy enough to cut the lawn without floating over the lawn.
The Stihl lawnmower looked okay, but the handle did not fold easily. That was no good for us when it came to storing the lawnmower on its end.
I can't say enough about the Toro. You can also buy it manual without self-propelled Personal Pace system.
EGO has many good tools, but the lawnmowers and snowblowers are not very good.
I am on an EGO owners site, and people are beginning to see the shortcomings of the EGO products.
@@Boyo1956 Awesome - thanks for the detailed reply. Really helpful.
@@Boyo1956 How long does the battery last?
Thanks for the video. I have the Toro Recycler. It has about 6 mows on it so far. I appreciate your honest review on both mowers. I did get my Toro from Home Depot. Actually, I had both Mowers side-by- side, deciding on which one to buy. And you’re right, it came down to personal choice. I wanted the traditional feel, and yet the advantage of having a battery powered mower. For me, I just couldn’t get into the space age design, and the plastic deck. To me, It looked like a toy. I just couldn’t get passed that. I wanted my mower to have the traditional look and feel of being solid and hefty. When it comes to corners, it does take a little maneuvering, but overall the personal pace system and the ease of switching from bagging to mulching makes up for it.
Other commenters have told me I'd get used to the personal pace... and to an extent they right. I am getting used to it as I use it but there are still some areas of my lawn that its just plain hard to use, I can't complain though about its cut quality and that valve to switch from bagging to mulching really is awesome! On a side note, im currently experimenting with the even pricier Yard Force mower, its really nice but the mulch plug is pretty bad, Toro really got things right with that trap door. Hope it works well for you for years to come!
How long does the battery last?
Toro has a much better cut than that EGO. It's been in the business way longer and they have perfected the cut. Many complaints on the EGOs cut quality.
I hear the newest ego models have better cut quality and power than the one I featured in this video, haven't tried those models yet though. No doubt Toros cut quality is good though
Confused in the video you did of the Toro vs Snapper you said if you had to pick one for tall grass you'd pick the Toro .. but in the body of your video here you say you'd pick the Greenworks ...
The New 2021 Ego has a 1200 watt motor now. .
So I wonder if the new Ego will compare to the Toro, the Snapper in tall grass ...
Also I'm wondering how the Greenworks 60 volt will compare now in tall grass..
The EGO has several interlock safety switches in series and the failure of any one of them prevents the blade motor from powering up. These are not the most robust switches and are a common failure point. Keep your warrantee information up to date and available.
Thanks for the tips Clarence!
Had a 22 inch recycler for 21 years. Just switched to the top of the line 10ah select cut. Takes some getting used to obviously. I am undecided but I think the ego will be fine. I am not recharging the 10ah until it dies. I have about 2500sq ft to cut flat and hilly. I want to see how many mows I get (bagging using the hi lift blade) before it runs out. I am hoping for 3 or 4.
One thing I did notice is on the highest speed the Ego is a little slow for my pace.
Been a personal pace fan since like 1997. Can't get down with the fixed speed control. Great video though!
I’ve owned the 2 gen ego 21 inch mower and the ego select cut. I’ve found that when you mow above 3 inches is leaves strips of uncut grass where the wheels are. It just didn’t have enough suction to lift the grass. I then bought the toro 60 volt and problem was solved. The cut quality with the toro was amazing... especially because I keep my grass longer.
Yeah, the Toro's blade is a full inch and a half wider than the EGO select cut 21-5/8 vs 20-1/8 so the extra tip speed helps a lot in getting those blades to stand up on the edges by the wheel line. This week I'm testing the Yard Force 120V mower which has a blade similar in width to the EGO but the RPM is higher, 3000 vs 2700 so im curious if that wheel mark cutting zone is better.
I have the same issue with my Ego as well, even with a high lift blade it tends to mat down the grass when you cut high, so its mow, rake up the matted areas, then mow over those areas again. Glad to hear the Toro is better in that regard so I will finish out the season with the Ego and next year purchase the Toro.
I totally agree. The Toro 60 Volt is night and day superior.
My wife was the first to notice the grass left behind by the EGO Select Cut. I was in denial as this was touted as the best battery operated lawnmower on the market.
But cut after cut, the evidence was overwhelming. The EGO kept leaving uncut strands behind. Even changing the blades did not improve the cut.
As a result, I started to look at other brands of battery mowers.
I looked at Stihl, but it had a handle that was not easily folded after each use.
I looked at other brands until I saw the Toro 60 Volt Personal Pace system. I watched many reviews on UA-cam.
I was almost convinced, but I had to try it out before I sold my EGO Select Cut. The worst case scenario would be that I sell the Toro and keep the EGO.
So, after cutting my lawn with the Toro Personal Pace, I was amazed at the cut quality, the ease of the Personal Pace system, ease of cleaning, sturdiness, wider cut, and faster folding of the handle over the EGO, I quickly advertised my EGO Select Cut.
I wanted to sell it before the public caught on about the poor cut quality among other things about the EGO Select Cut.
Lucky for me, the EGO Select Cut sold quickly and I am relieved and no regrets.
I have never owned a Toro or an EGO until now. I can now see why Toro has been around for 100 years.
I've had my Ego mower just one weekend and I am already looking to return it. The battery is only lasting 25 mins (yes the grass is overgrown due to the lawnmower guy not coming due to the Covid lock-down period - which is why I bought the mower) and it takes a full hour to recharge so the time that it is taking to mow my large yard is really blowing out. It also stalls a lot and sometimes needs some 5 mins to recover before it will start again. Something I noticed in your video was the huge open volume under the Toro deck when compared to the Ego. I found the Ego was regularly clogging up but once of grass clippings would run again. I think the Ego is a good choice for normal sized yards but once the yards get bigger and with longer grass - it really struggles. I believe a fair bit of this problem is because it can't clear the grass below the deck quick enough due to the tight volume.
Good to hear. I'm returning my ego select cut to home depot sometime before father's day. Think I'll try the Toro. My grass gets a bit long because of work effecting my mowing frequency. I too am tired of mowing twice! I really hoped the select cut was going to have greater suction than the previous ego, but it didn't. I can't help but wonder how the Ryobi would do on my lawn. I wish the Toro had lights, I've mowed at night several times.
See my Comparison of All The Strongest Cordless Mowers: turfmechanic.com/strongest-battery-powered-lawn-mower/
How much battery is used up by the self propelled mechanism? The Toro has to push around 75 lbs, the Ego only 50lbs. The Toro has a weaker battery AND wastes more battery propelling it around. The Toro specs say it can cut 1/4 to 1/2 acre before recharging the battery which takes 2.5 HOURS! The Ego can cut a full acre on a single charge, or more if you turn off the separate self propel motor, something the Toro can't do. If your lot is bigger, you'll have an extra 2.5 hour wait to finish the job.
Hey Bud ,i have a tip for the toro. . drill a 10mm hole on the side discharge flap and another on the metal plate at the base of the handle bar use a 30cm rubber strap and bend the hook closed in the flate base plate you drilled and Viola, the strap will pull the disscharge shute open and then store paralell up the bar when not in use. I have this on all my mowers ,works purfect.If you would like photo's im happy to send to you:)
For the Toro, does the personal pace speed affect the bagging from your experience? I'm going to be bagging and running slower speed on 3" kbg small 2000 sq.ft lawn. I'm also considering snapper however wondering if toro is better bagger at slow speed. I have both snapper and toro dealers nearby. Thanks!
I haven't tested bagging performance based on the speed that the mower is traveling but I do know that when a mower travels slower the performance of everything improves. You can use the Toro PP slow but you have to really try to keep it slow. The EGO select cut has a high lift blade that can be bought and you can set the SP speed to be very slow when bagging. Use the high lift blade with slow speed and this will probably work really well. Alternatively the big Yard Force 120-Volt machine runs a wide blade at a very high 3000 RPM so it would also bag well if you were to find a high lift blade for it... something I haven't tried to find for it myself. My guess is the Toro will bag great compared to just about all options, I did a video on mower suction in July of 2020 I think and Toro looked to be the best but I wasn't using the high lift blade from EGO so I can't say for sure how that would compare.
@@TurfMechanic Love your videos and thank you for the response. I will check out those options. Cheers
I suspect the Toro is also a 56 volt battery, 15 Cells at 3.7 volts, but they are using the Maximum charge state of a lithium battery of 4.2 volts. Of course lithium cells will not output 4+ volts under load, rather they immediately drop to 3.7. So probably Bullsh*t marketing, but it's possible there really are 16 celling in there.
Another thing to consider is the entire battery platform of each brand. Compare EGO's other 56V tools to Toro's other 60V tools. The Toro 60V Snow Blower seems to be superior to The EGO from the research I've done. The EGO leaf blowers seem to be superior to the Toro. Both companies offer string trimmers and hedge trimmers which seem to be pretty comparable. EGO has a multi tool with various attachments Toro does not. EGO is coming out with a riding mower in 2021. If you plan on buying other battery tools sticking to the same battery platform may be wiser. Food for thought.
Excellent points to bring up. So far I only have the Toro 60V blower so I can't directly compare it to the others but since I live in a cold weather climate I'm planning on doing lots of comparisons to the blowers in the fall and the snow throwers in the winter. I don't have hedges but I may also throw in some trimmer comparisons if my wife lets me keep accumulating equipment. Lol
I have weedy type grass and I cut it when it’s about 5-6 inches with my Ego. It cuts great, with no problem with uneven grass cuts. My gas’s mowers will rust out before the engine goes, that’s why I went with the all plastic Ego. Toro’s model just looks like they threw on an electric motor on top of there gasoline frame.
That EGO mower is going to be the best option out there for a lot of people; it's not my favorite but I can't say it's bad - there's a lot of good things about it. Yes, the Toro is basically a battery mower sitting on a gas mower deck but that's also kind of the appeal. It's heavier so it doesn't bounce around as much, wider so it covers more ground, the blade is thicker so it won't flex like some other battery mower blades. I'm glad you are liking the EGO; all of these battery mowers are the way of the future.
Tried the Toro 60 volt recycler & hated it.......save your money........This lawn mower couldn't even handle my front yard 🤨,it isn't flat,but it's not bumpy either.........but I couldn't even get "One row cut" Save your money don't fall for the HYPE!!
Hmmm, not my favorite mower but it's not that bad. You should just contact their customer service, maybe you got a dud. It's not a weak mower.
@@TurfMechanic Thank you, I liked it when I saw it in the shop, but it hardly cut the grass,even though I adjusted the wheels. It would do wheelies, while trying a mow in my front yard.....🙂......💜🐾🐾
Both. Both are good.
That could have been the whole video... both are good. Lol 😆
I bought the Toro and it’s great. Love the steel deck. The plastic deck on the Ego was a huge turn off for me. Think of all the support that plastic needs to provide and how it’s going to degrade over time. The Toro personal pace and wide 22” cut is also a big difference.
That wide deck and blade really are some my favorite features of it. Makes cutting my big open spaces a lot faster
My Honda doesn't have a plug to mulch, you just flip a lever
I prefer the Toro, which I own the Toro 22” vortex recycler. I’m sure EGO performs well, but damn, very expensive for an ugly plastic mower.
I would love to get my hands on the newest Toro and newest EGO to compare again...maybe next year.
Have you tested battery weed eaters against gas trimmers yet? I just got a battery trimmer that blows away any gas trimmer I've ever had. Even more powerful than my gas Husqvarna 525 LST.
Honestly I've only experimented with the Ryobi 40v trimmer, ive used it and the brush cutter attachment for a couple of years and been pleased enough but now that I'm getting into all the battery lines I'll probably start testing their complimentary trimmers before long... the Ryobi I have is fine but I'm sure its not the best, doesn't feel like it at least.
aww man you didnt review or say anything about the smallest mower! Im guessing because its the best of all of them and you dont want anyone else to have one. 😂
That's the best mower I've ever owned! It holds up over the years, never needs charging, and it's whisper quiet! Kids cut the grass with it all the time and nobody every injures themselves! 😁
@@TurfMechanic see that's what I thought. I'm going with that one 😜
Toro is close to the gas the Toro is better cutting and last longer which means last ability and Cuts more per pass
Which model/brand is quieter?
Looking to service some properties early so sound level is a factor
Kept watching....answered my question. Thanks!
No problem! For those wondering and not catching it in the video, the EGO model is noticeably quieter. I tested both with a decibel meter a few days ago under idle conditions and the EGO came in around 73-74 decibels while the Toro came in around 83-84 decibles. The quietest I've tested was the 80-Volt Greenworks Pro which idled at 71-72 decibles.
You should never rush the mow
Slow mowing is always best, cant argue against that... unless you are cutting my lower hill. That's a job I want done as fast as possible!
Get a microphone with a wind block
Could have used your wisdom a year ago 🤣
One thing I don't see in most of these reviews is how much these mowers cost to purchase.
Mostly this is because pricing changes all the time and each mower can be purchased in different "trim" packages that can change the price significantly. Sales also muddy the water. I try to review products that I own and not focus on pricing unless I think its highly relevant.
You have no idea how volts, amps and power are related. Better just not talk about that.
Man all this damn talking and the only thing people want to really know is which mower gives the best cut and battery life.
Toro Personal Pace 60 volt is the best cut and battery life. I had both. I sold the EGO Select Cut. It is inferior to the Toro.
@@skatpk9196 does the charge time not annoy you?