I have a brand new exmark 30 inch with a koehler motor.. the mower has less than 120 hours on it have lost two motor bolts the bolts keep coming loose I've lost a belt and I lost a bushing for the PTO engagement all this is gone wrong within one season this is the second one I've had.. the last one from about 7 years ago was terrible the only thing I can say about these mowers they do a great job of cutting grass but the machine itself does not hold up at all.
@@travisstruble2143 I find that hard to believe. All I can say is maybe you got a bad unit for some reason. The one I have from this video is now coming to the end of its third season and still running exactly the same as the day I got it. Use it everyday in my lawn business. In fact it’s the mower I use the most, and it’s still even on original belts and pulleys. Only oil changes and blade sharpening done. Thanks for watching.
@@LawnCareBusinessSuccess I have the same experience as you. I use mine daily in my lawn business as well. I mulch mostly but the bagging works great as well. It's not perfect but it's plenty good and has made me plenty of money. I'm 61yrs old and have been mowing lawns since I was 13 years old.
@@LawnCareBusinessSuccess I JUST BOUGHT THE 30 INCH MOWER IT MOWES EXELLENT ITS JUST HEAVY TO BACK UP AND TURN AND NOT FIGURED OUT HOW TO SLOW THROTTLE DOWN IF U AND SOME INFO FOR ME TO MAKE THIS EASIER PLEASE LET ME NO THANKS KEEP UP GOOD VIDEOS
Loved your honest review is spot on, I have a 10,000 Sq ft yard and have the same mower, bought new with the Kohler engine, always ran perfect for the first 45 minutes, then would start surging the throttle back and forth once the engine was fully warmed up, did it from day one once it was fully warmed up. I saw online some people suggested it was gas tank vapor lock, so I loosened the gas cap for the entire move to allow air in to prevent vapor lock but was not the problem. The exmark dealer figured it out, the problem was the fuel filter is to small and restricts fuel, he put a larger filter on and has been totally flawless the last 35 mows, or the last year and a half, I love this mower does a great job bagging or mulching and is so much faster. Great mower!!!
Have one for my solo lawn care. Love it! Also have a Ferris Evolution 36 inch and a toro 21 inch. Last summer I hardly used the 36 inch. Found it was easier to tow the exmark over the Ferris. Lighter and more fuel efficient on my truck. Not to mention loading and unloading the 30 inch to be much more efficient over the Ferris 36. I've been tinkering with the idea of selling the Ferris and making the exmark my main mower!
The commercial 30 is the main mower in my business. The larger mowers I have are for a select few larger properties. The commercial 30 does the bulk of my properties though. Love it. Thanks for watching.
I use a van lol. It beats a pickup truck. I can just load and unload easily without a trailer. I love the 30 inch and the 36 walk behinds i could go all day with them and not get tired.
By far the best review I have seen of a mower in a long while. I just got a used one with the Kawasaki engine and it seems completely capable, A lot of boneheads try to take on bi-weekly properties and go at the same pace to cut grass twice as high. Great Job
Excellent review. Your statement pertaining to belt issues being possibly operator malfunction is spot on. When employees deal with equipment they don't pay for, they handle it much differently. Many people who do own the equipment they use, handle it roughly as well. I'm a semi-pro. I have a career but also have a "legit" solo lawn business. Handling the equipment is paramount to longevity. As an example. When I started it amazed me the wear and tear from just loading and unloading daily. It became apparent why commercial mowers handles do not fold. I started with a Timemaster and love this mower(will never sell it and it runs wonderfully). The commercial use of this mower started to tear it up. I had to modify the way I handled it. Blade engagement was one, and how I loaded and unloaded it was another. However, my main push mower now is a YBravo Gen II 25. Full blown commercial. It has the Kawasaki FJ 180. Its a beast at only 127 pounds. Its only 25" but it only cost $1400, compared to commercial 30" at twice the price it just made sense for my level of business. Excellent job, Sir
Thanks for watching. I agree on your points. I started out by buying a lawn care franchise originally that came with an equipment package of all commercial equipment. So I was forced to use commercial from the start and immediately saw the value of why you want commercial grade equipment where possible. I have a commercial bluebird aerator that has a folding handle. Only took me a few months before I welded it in place to not fold as it would constantly fold if I hit a bump or rut even if it was tightened down as much as possible. Thanks for watching.
@@jeremyg7975 I believe in the YBravo and have had no issues mechanically with the FJ180 or the build quality. My mower is 1 year old. This mower is a true commercial grade mower. The mulching quality is good. The bagging is unmatched with any mower I have used(Timemaster,HRX) and with the rear discharge chute the cut quality is awesome. I'm over 60 so I like 1st gear because its slow, 2nd drags me around. It has a neutral which i like when moving it when not running(protects tranny) I was introduced to YBravo from WildCardMMA channel. He has both the 21" & 25" he is on year 5 with the same 25". Watch his vids, he is honest about the draw backs and assets. Bad Boy brands this mower with their colors. Personally I think the Black n Silver makes this a beautiful mower that many folks have commented on.
Awesome video! Came across your videos this summer when money was tight lack of work due to covid in my factory job you totally inspired me to get into the lawncare business best thing I ever did love it. I started late in the season but it went well can't wait for spring 2022 bought my first exmark commercial 30 x this fall just in time to help out with fall cleanups it's a beast just wanted to thank you and let you know you helped out a lot have a great Christmas.
I think you just solidified my decision to buy this mower as my main machine. I have wanted this mower for a few years but others have discouraged me from doing so. Thanks!
It’s an awesome mower. Mine that is featured in this video is still going strong. I just did a video about doing a belt replacement for the first time after 3 seasons. It’s funny I’ve been raving about this mower for so long my brother in law who also does lawn care was always skeptical because of the size and weight vs his 21. He finally broke down and bought one to try and loves it. Now he is always telling me how awesome it is. 😂 Thanks for watching.
I don't have this particular model but what I have is 2 30 inch mowers. One is a Toro time master I modded with Kohler engine, turf master transmission swap and the 30 inch commercial grade pulleys and it's been a beast. I also have a turf master 30 inch mower with the Kawasaki engine it's been great. I've had both great luck with them
I have a 21 inch Honda self propelled mower I have used for the past 8 years and it seems to be the best mower I have ever used. The only thing I have ever done was to add gas and install one spark plug.
I’ve used the honda commercial mowers for over 12 years. If you like it then take care of it because honda is stopping production of all gas mowers this year. Check out the long term review video I did on the honda mowers where I point out some of the issues with them. Here’s a link. Thanks for watching. Honda HRC 216 Long Term Use Review ua-cam.com/video/TsgjwC76oCA/v-deo.html
Bought one late last summer. One of the best investments I've ever made for my business! I had a choice between Kawasaki and Kohler($100 more) at my Dealer on Vancouver Island and opted for Kawasaki since EVERY small engine mechanic I talked to advised against Kohler. I've actually had Customers request I use this mower instead of my Ride-On(Exmark Quest) and pay me more for the quality of cut.
I just bought this mower. It’s very heavy compared to my time master 30 inch but it has a lot more power so it won’t bog down under as much. I still think the time is the better mower if the grass is short and light for sure
Great review, very thorough and most appreciated. Just looking to replace a couple of our mowers for our charity landscaping business and these Exmarks are the ones I considered for replacing our Ybravo 25''s. Thank you for covering the most important points for us: reliability, strength and ease of maintenance. Cheers, Dave
Glad you found value in the review. I love this mower and have recommended it to others including a family member who also runs a lawn care business. Can’t get a better endorsement than that. Thanks for watching.
To correct that vacuum lock in the gas tank, I would replace the seal and use a very small drill (0.050") bit and drill a hole on the top of the cap, unless Exmark fixed the cap problem.
The 30" is a gamechanger over a 21". I used an original 2013 unit for 7 seasons. No bag handle breaking nor a cracked fuel cap seal...instead I had issues with transmission, spindles and belts. Although it's costly in maintenance I wouldn't want to switch back to a 21". The 30" deck is horrible in wet conditions as it clogs up very quickly. On a side note...a mower that excels in all kinds of different scenarios, low in maintenance and easy to operate is yet to be engineered ;)
Yes I agree on it being a game changer over a 21 for sure. I don’t think I could ever go back using a 21 full time. The early versions of this mower did have the issues that you experienced. Like with most products though they are constantly improving them year after year. This one I have is the 2020 model so it looks like those past known issues have been resolved. The deck does get grass build up in wet conditions but so does every mower. It has not been anything that has slowed the mower down in my experience. I usually will clean the deck out in the morning and will then mow with it all day long in the rain. Sometimes if I see it leaving clumps when I am transporting it back to the truck I will lift the front of the mower and kinda let it drop to the ground and that will drop the excess grass build up enough to prevent clumps from falling, but never had enough build up to slow the engine down. Thanks for watching.
Used a commercial 30 for a half a season. It flat wore me out, no reverse, constant tranny problems, belt problems, idler pulley problems, lack of power. Sold it when the fw15 came out. Not even on the same league as the ferris. Gladly spent the 30%extra. And after two years, still glad I did. To each his own. Carry on, still watching.
Yes there is...the Toro Commercial 21"......fantastic mulcher in all conditions, good bagger, and very durable. There isn't one condition it doesn't do well on. The 30 inch turfmaster/timemaster are just a bad design. Regardless of the motor, the deck is too short and too low in height. The clippings do not have enough time to get cut properly. Look at the larger 32-36 walk behinds. They all have long decks giving the clippngs more than enough time to be circulated and cut properly especially with the larger 15-20 hp motors.
@joeraptor1 Which 32 - 36 would you recommend? Almost no belt drive mowers made any more. What do you think of the World Lawn or the 33 in Cub ? Or any other suggestions would be very much appreciated ! Thanks Paul
No problem. I noticed when I got it the amount of torque that would happen when I would engage the blades quickly. Sometimes it would stall the engine especially if it was cold. Then I remembered that on bigger mowers with a manual PTO like the turf tracer or my old Walker or Even John Deere tractor that it would say to engage the blades slowly and with the engine at half throttle. Made sense to me so I started doing it with the Commercial 30 and never had it stall the engine and just felt like a more gentle engagement overall. Thanks for watching.
The vents are in the gas cap on alot of machines, the little holes can plugged with dirt and dust. Use a paper clip and compressed air to clean them out.
Yes that’s why I stopped using the Honda commercial mower. I’m in the pacific north west and have to mow in the rain often. The Honda vents in the cap would clog with water and stall the motor. The Exmark has a vent tube coming off the gas tank. It never has any issues with clogging. Thanks for watching.
I bought one because of your channel. It works good, but man it’s heavy and harder to turn around. The next 30 inch I get will be a lighter one. I do love the 30 inch width though! Makes it much quicker
Hey do you have a way of talking to Echo next time you go to a show? I saw the new blower PB-265LN. This got me thinking that if they would add a 2 gallon tank on top of the motor they could sell this as a mist blower for around $400. Plenty of DIY and commercial applications for such a product and there is definitely a market for it. Just a suggestion to mention to Echo.
I bought one a few days ago. I asked the dealer if they had them with the Kohler engine, but he said there’s a shortage of Kohler engines. Mine has the Kawasaki engine, & it took a while to get used to. If anyone can handle a Honda HRC 216, then this shouldn’t be a problem. I had to adjust the speed cable to slow it down, but I like it so far.
Thanks. I designed it and use to sell them as well as t-shirts on Amazon. Then Brian’s Lawn Maintenance also started using the Lawntrepreneur name on his shirts and academy about 6 months after me And having a much bigger audience then me I got tired of people saying I was copying him. So I stopped selling them.
I appreciate the feedback. It’s a great mower in my honest opinion, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a reliable and durable machine to increase productivity over a 21” mower. Thanks for watching.
Could you elaborate on the pulling ability of the trans. I have heard many stories of weak trans. I have a few sloped lawns here in Alabama and was hesitant to make the purchase.
No issues on hills with this mower. I live in a very hilly area. Lots of my client lawns are hills. At least from the 2020 model year and newer. They had updated the transmission. Now that this s-series is discontinued, all the new 2021 x-series models all have an even bigger and heavy duty transmission than this one had. So it’s even better. Thanks for watching.
Indeed, they climb hills just fine--might even spin the wheels a little, that's the strength it has. It's just a workout turning her on steeper hills, though. And if you're walking downhill for some reason, you'd better have sure footing, because there's no brake, and she'll pull you if you're not ready and steady 😂
I have the same mower it’s a great mower! I find it doesn’t work that great in wet grass. I’ve had to replace my rear tire and gear the bearings seized. I did have some surging happening too it was a dirt carb that they fixed under warranty. Yes my customers love they way it strips!
I keep hearing people say it does not perform in wet grass. I’m like what? That’s all I do all day long, all season long here in the PNW. Long, wet, lush grass. Except in the fall when it’s also mixed with leaves. 😂 Curious what year your mower is from? They’ve made lots of updates over the years. Thanks for watching.
@@LawnCareBusinessSuccess mines 2020 model maybe here in Ontario it’s different grass type and I’m saying mulching wet grass doesn’t work well bagging it’s fine
Oh ok. That makes sense. Mulching wet grass is a different animal altogether. I’ve never had a mower do a good job mulching wet grass. Not without leaving a bunch of clumps that need to be blown after. So much easier to just bag and leave a clean cut in one pass in my opinion. I have an advantage that I don’t have to take clippings away with me though. Thanks for watching.
They discontinued this s-series model and going forward they have two different x-series models. Basically you can choose the x-series with either the Kawasaki FJ180 or the bigger Kohler engine. The rest of the mower is the same. New beefer transmission, parking brake etc. the only difference besides engines is the Kohler engine also comes with the oil drain hose making oil changes simple and mess free.
I have not really looked closely at the Toro version. My dealer sells toro as a brand but I only ever see the Exmark 21 and 30 in the showroom on the commercial side but they always have the toro time master on the residential side. So from my understanding, I think they are very similar if comparing the commercial versions together. They have some differences in aesthetics like the engine guards and also the way the wheel height adjustment works. Thanks for watching.
Hey! I'm not trying to get you to change brands, but i would like to see if you could demo a sfc30 from skag. Just to give some of your viewers that don't have a exmark dealer near by. Just something to think about. Your opinion matters and thank you for all that you do for us.
Hey thanks for watching, and I’m glad you find value in the type of content I create. The scag is an interesting mower. I do like so of the design choices they made. Unfortunately I don’t even know of any Scag dealers around me although I have seen a handful of scags other mowers here. One guy I talked to that had a scag V-ride here said he had to get his dealer to contact scag and make arrangements to bring it in specifically for him. But he could not even see it in person before he committed to buy it. You see mainly all toro, Exmark and John Deere here.
Did you put the better pulleys on that or did they come with it ..my Toro Timemaster went through 3 pulleys on last 2 years and broke the tension plate bolt too. That might have been a flaw in the bolt itself though . I took it back to Home Depot and spent 8 months between there and the warranty company and then when I got it back from a local repair shop that they had it sent to they told me they didn't think it would last much longer ..home Depot wouldn't give me a replacement because they were all gone & wouldn't give me my money back I even got the extended warranty for it. After 3rd time on Same problem they were supposed to give me a new mower or my money back and they wouldn't. Grrr
The mower is the way it comes from factory. Although the time master looks very similar it is considered a residential use unit not commercial. So it’s possible the pulleys are different quality. Thanks for watching.
No I have only used the mulch plug that came with it. The mower also came with what looks like gator style mulching blades on it. I don’t do much if any mulching. Every property is bagged and it bags awesome. Thanks for watching.
Good review and nice job on the gasket. You can get more life out of that bag handle with a coupla stainless bolts, locknuts and washers. I loathed my dirty30 from day one. She broke after 3 yards. And was pretty much useless for 2 or 3 weeks. After the 3rd visit to the dealer ( and I had to leave her there that time so they could wait for parts.....and that dealet is not close but they were the only ones who had ONE 30 in stock last year ), she finally straightened out....they had to swap the whole tank ( wow, yours got sorted with just the new gasket?? ) then add some slightly larger fuel line to the carb and maybe a larger fuel filter 🤷♂️ Beyond that, the drive bar has a big learning curve because it's unstable ( I'm used to it now, but I might see about adjustingthe cable, but then again, I don't want to lose transport speed because I cross streets with that thingfor a coupla properties because of parking issues.....or maybe I'll try my moveable stop block idea that ai never got around to doing ), ....she was heavy and awkward on hills, even at a medium pace she leaves a few more stragglers than I'd like to see ( sometimes after double cutting 🤯...other than that, the cut is pretty nice ), I'm not crazy about those timed blades, and the parking brake was a problem and slight operation hinderance until it finally dropped out and I threw it away. That being said, I don't hate it now, and will probably run it until the wheels fall off, but my next mower of that class/size will either be the Ferris 15, or the Scag. Oh, and I took off those extra bars for weight reduction, but she's still heavy 😂 a little less cumbersome, though.
Why are you Bagging clippings? I just sold my Toro Timemaster probably 12 years old never really used bag always mulched ,leaves went over 2 xs blow to pile not much left
It’s a west coast thing. Everyone predominantly bags here. On my podcast I’ve interviewed business owners from all over and bagging is done from BC in Canada to Washington state , Oregon and California in the USA on small lawns. I also find it much quicker than mulching or side discharging and also a much cleaner looking cut. No need to double cut or adjust speed slower or spend a bunch of time blowing grass clippings or clumps. Every house here has a large green waste bin that gets picked up by the city each week so I don’t need to take clippings away. Thanks for watching.
Not bad for most of the year. But will clog in heavy lush growth or wet conditions like any mower. I recently did a video on this and a tip someone shared with me. Check it out. Here’s the link and thanks for watching. Exmark Commercial 30 Mowing Performance Improvement ua-cam.com/video/M1qAsk8RASw/v-deo.html
I bought a Toro Commercial 21" with the Kohler CV173 engine last spring....total piece of junk.....has no power, was consuming oil, starter rope broke at 80 hours, and it would not start once temperatures fell to 10 degrees celsisu (50 farenheit) or less. My Kawasaki powered Toro is much stronger and durable even though it has similar ccs as the Kohler.
That’s hard to say because I have not seen or used the scag in person. I do like like some of the design choices they made with it but the commercial 30 has been around for many years now and is a proven performer. I’d recommend it to anyone. I always say that mowing here in the PNW with the constant rain is probably the most challenging mowing environment. If a piece of equipment does good here it will do good anywhere else. Thanks for watching.
No. The handle does not fold on any commercial mower that I know of. There is however a cheaper residential version of this mower sold under the toro timemaster name that the handle folds. Thanks for watching.
@@LawnCareBusinessSuccess I’m looking to start my business but I don’t have a truck so I’m trying to find something that folds into my big SUV or I was thinking about unscrewing the arms and putting it in my SUV and then putting it back after I finish each grass which will suck thank you
Just find one of those mobility scooter type racks with the ramp that go in the tow hitch and put the mower back there. Strap it down and put a lock on it when trimming. That’s how I carry a large 2 stage snowblower in the winter so I don’t need to use a trailer.
Nope. It’s still going strong. Awesome mower and my absolute favourite gas push style mower. I used as the main mower in my business from when I got it in 2020 until august of 2023. The only reason I stopped using it was I’ve had a couple of different battery mowers sent to me that I needed to start testing full time. So this 30 still has tons of life in it. In the 3 and a half seasons I used it full time, I only ever needed to replace the one belt at the start of the 2023 season that goes from the motor to the pulley that runs the blades. Did I mention how much I love this mower. 😂 saves so much time. That’s my biggest issue with the battery mowers I’ve started testing is that they are all 21” mowers. So much slower than this beast. Thanks for watching.
@@LawnCareBusinessSuccess any experience with turfmaster? I think i am leaning more towards the turfmaster because of the adjustment mechanism is simpler. I have been using the honda hrx217 which i have owned probably 7 of them or so the last few years
Bought commercial 30 11 months ago and used to for the 2021 season. Just got it going this week for the 2022 season and first week day 3 transmission loses power to the left rear wheel. Right wheel only turning and forcing a left turn constantly. If this thing needs a trans after only 11 months I’ll never buy an xmark again
It should be under warranty still. There is always the possibility of something going wrong with mass production items. That’s what warranty is for. Mine has had no real issues yet except for the broken fabric handle on the bag. Its on its third season so far. Still original belts as well and I use it everyday on most of my lawns. Thanks for watching.
@@LemonySnicket-EUC luckily I had 6 days left on the warranty. Took it back to the dealer I bought it from and they confirmed somehow something had broke internally in the trans. Estimated me 6-8 weeks which was nuts because it was the start of the maintenance season. Luckily they got the part in early and I had it back after 2 weeks
Finished the year today with the mower, running good. Since spring the Ebrake broke to the point it was locked up and wouldn’t let go so I completely removed it. Draw string broke, I replaced it, 2 weeks later the spring in the starter recoil somehow went out so I ordered a whole new assembly.
Except the time master is not a commercial mower. It may seem similar but there is a reason the commercial 30 is twice the price. I had a person comment on my picture of this mower I posted on Instagram this morning claiming he has two of these and they don’t hold up to daily use. I was Confused because this mower has been awesome for me in my business. So I checked his photos and saw he is using the time master models. Lots of people have said the same as well. The time master is just not the same unit. Thanks for watching.
Mine must have not got that memo because it’s awesome. Use it everyday on the majority of my lawns. On its 4th season now with no major issues. Only had to just replace the blade drive belt this season for first time. Here in the very wet PNW those rubber tires evenly disperse the weight and do less damage then the hard wheels of a 21” Honda HRC216 that I use for many years previously. It is a heavier mower when compared to a 21 but I don’t find it difficult to use, it’s self propelled and turning it is as easy as a 21. I would not be without this mower. Saves way too much valuable time over a 21.
I disagree. The wheels are wider and softer than those on a traditional 21. I’ve experienced less tracks and rutting even in wet conditions compared to my old commercial Honda 21.
Only on super wet grass for me does it leave some tracks. Easily fixed with the blower in a jam. It is heavier so that may be the culprit. I think the wider wheels are fine myself. No real issues.
Good review however I need to offer some friendly critiquing. It was very distracting to listen to when you were saying “uh” and “um” every third word. Over good quality content though.
Let me know in the comments below what you think of the Exmark Commercial 30.
I have a brand new exmark 30 inch with a koehler motor.. the mower has less than 120 hours on it have lost two motor bolts the bolts keep coming loose I've lost a belt and I lost a bushing for the PTO engagement all this is gone wrong within one season this is the second one I've had.. the last one from about 7 years ago was terrible the only thing I can say about these mowers they do a great job of cutting grass but the machine itself does not hold up at all.
@@travisstruble2143 I find that hard to believe. All I can say is maybe you got a bad unit for some reason. The one I have from this video is now coming to the end of its third season and still running exactly the same as the day I got it. Use it everyday in my lawn business. In fact it’s the mower I use the most, and it’s still even on original belts and pulleys. Only oil changes and blade sharpening done. Thanks for watching.
@@LawnCareBusinessSuccess I have the same experience as you. I use mine daily in my lawn business as well. I mulch mostly but the bagging works great as well. It's not perfect but it's plenty good and has made me plenty of money. I'm 61yrs old and have been mowing lawns since I was 13 years old.
I am surprised because of the weight of this 30" it doesn't have castor wheels in front! It would make it soo much easier to turn!!
@@LawnCareBusinessSuccess I JUST BOUGHT THE 30 INCH MOWER IT MOWES EXELLENT ITS JUST HEAVY TO BACK UP AND TURN AND NOT FIGURED OUT HOW TO SLOW THROTTLE DOWN IF U AND SOME INFO FOR ME TO MAKE THIS EASIER PLEASE LET ME NO THANKS KEEP UP GOOD VIDEOS
Loved your honest review is spot on, I have a 10,000 Sq ft yard and have the same mower, bought new with the Kohler engine, always ran perfect for the first 45 minutes, then would start surging the throttle back and forth once the engine was fully warmed up, did it from day one once it was fully warmed up. I saw online some people suggested it was gas tank vapor lock, so I loosened the gas cap for the entire move to allow air in to prevent vapor lock but was not the problem. The exmark dealer figured it out, the problem was the fuel filter is to small and restricts fuel, he put a larger filter on and has been totally flawless the last 35 mows, or the last year and a half, I love this mower does a great job bagging or mulching and is so much faster. Great mower!!!
Yes great mowers for sure. Thanks for sharing the fuel filter tip and for watching.
Have one for my solo lawn care. Love it! Also have a Ferris Evolution 36 inch and a toro 21 inch. Last summer I hardly used the 36 inch. Found it was easier to tow the exmark over the Ferris. Lighter and more fuel efficient on my truck. Not to mention loading and unloading the 30 inch to be much more efficient over the Ferris 36. I've been tinkering with the idea of selling the Ferris and making the exmark my main mower!
The commercial 30 is the main mower in my business. The larger mowers I have are for a select few larger properties. The commercial 30 does the bulk of my properties though. Love it. Thanks for watching.
I use a van lol. It beats a pickup truck. I can just load and unload easily without a trailer.
I love the 30 inch and the 36 walk behinds i could go all day with them and not get tired.
By far the best review I have seen of a mower in a long while. I just got a used one with the Kawasaki engine and it seems completely capable, A lot of boneheads try to take on bi-weekly properties and go at the same pace to cut grass twice as high. Great Job
Glad you found value in the video. Thanks for watching.
I agree.
I bought a Toro Timemaster 30 this spring. Best mower I’ve ever owned. Nothing but riders the last 35 years too
Excellent review. Your statement pertaining to belt issues being possibly operator malfunction is spot on. When employees deal with equipment they don't pay for, they handle it much differently. Many people who do own the equipment they use, handle it roughly as well. I'm a semi-pro. I have a career but also have a "legit" solo lawn business. Handling the equipment is paramount to longevity. As an example. When I started it amazed me the wear and tear from just loading and unloading daily. It became apparent why commercial mowers handles do not fold. I started with a Timemaster and love this mower(will never sell it and it runs wonderfully). The commercial use of this mower started to tear it up. I had to modify the way I handled it. Blade engagement was one, and how I loaded and unloaded it was another. However, my main push mower now is a YBravo Gen II 25. Full blown commercial. It has the Kawasaki FJ 180. Its a beast at only 127 pounds. Its only 25" but it only cost $1400, compared to commercial 30" at twice the price it just made sense for my level of business. Excellent job, Sir
Thanks for watching. I agree on your points. I started out by buying a lawn care franchise originally that came with an equipment package of all commercial equipment. So I was forced to use commercial from the start and immediately saw the value of why you want commercial grade equipment where possible. I have a commercial bluebird aerator that has a folding handle. Only took me a few months before I welded it in place to not fold as it would constantly fold if I hit a bump or rut even if it was tightened down as much as possible. Thanks for watching.
Gerald lawn service how do you like that 25"
@@jeremyg7975 I believe in the YBravo and have had no issues mechanically with the FJ180 or the build quality. My mower is 1 year old. This mower is a true commercial grade mower. The mulching quality is good. The bagging is unmatched with any mower I have used(Timemaster,HRX) and with the rear discharge chute the cut quality is awesome. I'm over 60 so I like 1st gear because its slow, 2nd drags me around. It has a neutral which i like when moving it when not running(protects tranny) I was introduced to YBravo from WildCardMMA channel. He has both the 21" & 25" he is on year 5 with the same 25". Watch his vids, he is honest about the draw backs and assets. Bad Boy brands this mower with their colors. Personally I think the Black n Silver makes this a beautiful mower that many folks have commented on.
Awesome video! Came across your videos this summer when money was tight lack of work due to covid in my factory job you totally inspired me to get into the lawncare business best thing I ever did love it. I started late in the season but it went well can't wait for spring 2022 bought my first exmark commercial 30 x this fall just in time to help out with fall cleanups it's a beast just wanted to thank you and let you know you helped out a lot have a great Christmas.
That’s awesome. So glad my content has made an impactful difference in your life. Best of luck in 2022. Thanks for watching.
Thank you for your honesty. I wish it could turn a little better.
Glad you found value in the video. Thanks for watching.
I think you just solidified my decision to buy this mower as my main machine. I have wanted this mower for a few years but others have discouraged me from doing so. Thanks!
It’s an awesome mower. Mine that is featured in this video is still going strong. I just did a video about doing a belt replacement for the first time after 3 seasons. It’s funny I’ve been raving about this mower for so long my brother in law who also does lawn care was always skeptical because of the size and weight vs his 21. He finally broke down and bought one to try and loves it. Now he is always telling me how awesome it is. 😂 Thanks for watching.
Don't waste your money. I hate the mower.
@@boycebutler7191 I actually just went with a stand on. Too hot in Florida to be push mowing lol
I don't have this particular model but what I have is 2 30 inch mowers.
One is a Toro time master I modded with Kohler engine, turf master transmission swap and the 30 inch commercial grade pulleys and it's been a beast. I also have a turf master 30 inch mower with the Kawasaki engine it's been great. I've had both great luck with them
Nice 👍 The Toro versions are very similar. Overall all great machines. Thanks for watching.
I have a 21 inch Honda self propelled mower I have used for the past 8 years and it seems to be the best mower I have ever used. The only thing I have ever done was to add gas and install one spark plug.
I’ve used the honda commercial mowers for over 12 years. If you like it then take care of it because honda is stopping production of all gas mowers this year. Check out the long term review video I did on the honda mowers where I point out some of the issues with them. Here’s a link. Thanks for watching. Honda HRC 216 Long Term Use Review
ua-cam.com/video/TsgjwC76oCA/v-deo.html
Nice video Julio! My first eXmark mower was way back in 2002. Great machines!
Yes I love it. Great machines as you said. Thanks for watching.
Just started my lawn care business about a month ago. I got the 21 inch yesterday, love it!
Great choice and congratulations on your lawn care business. Thanks for watching.
Bought one late last summer. One of the best investments I've ever made for my business! I had a choice between Kawasaki and Kohler($100 more) at my Dealer on Vancouver Island and opted for Kawasaki since EVERY small engine mechanic I talked to advised against Kohler. I've actually had Customers request I use this mower instead of my Ride-On(Exmark Quest) and pay me more for the quality of cut.
Yes I agree. Great mower. I also have clients that always compliment the quality of cut from this mower. Thanks for watching.
I just bought this mower. It’s very heavy compared to my time master 30 inch but it has a lot more power so it won’t bog down under as much. I still think the time is the better mower if the grass is short and light for sure
Great review, very thorough and most appreciated. Just looking to replace a couple of our mowers for our charity landscaping business and these Exmarks are the ones I considered for replacing our Ybravo 25''s. Thank you for covering the most important points for us: reliability, strength and ease of maintenance. Cheers, Dave
Glad you found value in the review. I love this mower and have recommended it to others including a family member who also runs a lawn care business. Can’t get a better endorsement than that. Thanks for watching.
I have not heard the name Ybravo in a long time. I demoed one but it did not have positive drive axle so I passed.
To correct that vacuum lock in the gas tank, I would replace the seal and use a very small drill (0.050") bit and drill a hole on the top of the cap, unless Exmark fixed the cap problem.
The 30" is a gamechanger over a 21". I used an original 2013 unit for 7 seasons. No bag handle breaking nor a cracked fuel cap seal...instead I had issues with transmission, spindles and belts. Although it's costly in maintenance I wouldn't want to switch back to a 21". The 30" deck is horrible in wet conditions as it clogs up very quickly. On a side note...a mower that excels in all kinds of different scenarios, low in maintenance and easy to operate is yet to be engineered ;)
Yes I agree on it being a game changer over a 21 for sure. I don’t think I could ever go back using a 21 full time. The early versions of this mower did have the issues that you experienced. Like with most products though they are constantly improving them year after year. This one I have is the 2020 model so it looks like those past known issues have been resolved. The deck does get grass build up in wet conditions but so does every mower. It has not been anything that has slowed the mower down in my experience. I usually will clean the deck out in the morning and will then mow with it all day long in the rain. Sometimes if I see it leaving clumps when I am transporting it back to the truck I will lift the front of the mower and kinda let it drop to the ground and that will drop the excess grass build up enough to prevent clumps from falling, but never had enough build up to slow the engine down. Thanks for watching.
Used a commercial 30 for a half a season. It flat wore me out, no reverse, constant tranny problems, belt problems, idler pulley problems, lack of power. Sold it when the fw15 came out. Not even on the same league as the ferris. Gladly spent the 30%extra. And after two years, still glad I did. To each his own. Carry on, still watching.
Yes there is...the Toro Commercial 21"......fantastic mulcher in all conditions, good bagger, and very durable. There isn't one condition it doesn't do well on. The 30 inch turfmaster/timemaster are just a bad design. Regardless of the motor, the deck is too short and too low in height. The clippings do not have enough time to get cut properly. Look at the larger 32-36 walk behinds. They all have long decks giving the clippngs more than enough time to be circulated and cut properly especially with the larger 15-20 hp motors.
@joeraptor1 Which 32 - 36 would you recommend? Almost no belt drive mowers made any more. What do you think of the World Lawn or the 33 in Cub ? Or any other suggestions would be very much appreciated ! Thanks Paul
I have the turfmaster. I find it a awesome mower. I have been using them for 4 yrs. Love the machine
Nice 👍 Thanks for watching.
Thanks for the informative video.
Glad you found value in the video. Thanks for watching.
Good tip about engaging the blades slowly. That is probably why my Timemaster started tearing through belts and pulleys so often.
No problem. I noticed when I got it the amount of torque that would happen when I would engage the blades quickly. Sometimes it would stall the engine especially if it was cold. Then I remembered that on bigger mowers with a manual PTO like the turf tracer or my old Walker or Even John Deere tractor that it would say to engage the blades slowly and with the engine at half throttle. Made sense to me so I started doing it with the Commercial 30 and never had it stall the engine and just felt like a more gentle engagement overall. Thanks for watching.
Definitely saves on parts wear doing it that way.
That has been my experience and I have not broken a belt since. I also added the commercial pulleys to mine.
The vents are in the gas cap on alot of machines, the little holes can plugged with dirt and dust. Use a paper clip and compressed air to clean them out.
Yes that’s why I stopped using the Honda commercial mower. I’m in the pacific north west and have to mow in the rain often. The Honda vents in the cap would clog with water and stall the motor. The Exmark has a vent tube coming off the gas tank. It never has any issues with clogging. Thanks for watching.
I bought one because of your channel. It works good, but man it’s heavy and harder to turn around. The next 30 inch I get will be a lighter one. I do love the 30 inch width though! Makes it much quicker
Check out YBravo Gen II 25
Girly man
Thinking of getting the X series with the kholer engine
Nice 👍 thanks for watching
I have one and using as residential use. Its a great mower
Hey do you have a way of talking to Echo next time you go to a show? I saw the new blower PB-265LN. This got me thinking that if they would add a 2 gallon tank on top of the motor they could sell this as a mist blower for around $400. Plenty of DIY and commercial applications for such a product and there is definitely a market for it. Just a suggestion to mention to Echo.
Contact a rep by phone or email, or better yet, figure out how to patent and profit from your idea.
I bought one a few days ago. I asked the dealer if they had them with the Kohler engine, but he said there’s a shortage of Kohler engines. Mine has the Kawasaki engine, & it took a while to get used to. If anyone can handle a Honda HRC 216, then this shouldn’t be a problem. I had to adjust the speed cable to slow it down, but I like it so far.
The Kawasaki is great and has plenty of power. Thanks for watching.
I just came to say congratulations on the weight loss!
Thanks 🙏 I appreciate that. I guess that means you probably heard me talk about it on the podcast then.
@@LawnCareBusinessSuccess you look like a different dude 😂
where did you buy that sweater? really awesome! Lawntreprenuer
Thanks. I designed it and use to sell them as well as t-shirts on Amazon. Then Brian’s Lawn Maintenance also started using the Lawntrepreneur name on his shirts and academy about 6 months after me And having a much bigger audience then me I got tired of people saying I was copying him. So I stopped selling them.
@@LawnCareBusinessSuccess wow sorry to hear that should've just kept with it, don't let others get in the way, but either way really cool tho
Good review with very good comments.
Thanks for watching.
Very good review looking into getting one myself
I appreciate the feedback. It’s a great mower in my honest opinion, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a reliable and durable machine to increase productivity over a 21” mower. Thanks for watching.
Is the Toro turfmaster 30” basically the same thing?
Yes basically. The only difference is the engine guard and the wheel height adjustment. Thanks for watching.
Toro owns eXmark.
Yes it is. I have 2 Turfmasters both with Kawasaki engines and they have no problems. Been usung them for 4 seasons now and they're great
Yes it is. I have 2 Turfmasters both with Kawasaki engines and they have no problems. Been using them for 4 seasons now and they're great
Great video! Thank you
Thanks for watching
Could you elaborate on the pulling ability of the trans. I have heard many stories of weak trans. I have a few sloped lawns here in Alabama and was hesitant to make the purchase.
No issues on hills with this mower. I live in a very hilly area. Lots of my client lawns are hills. At least from the 2020 model year and newer. They had updated the transmission. Now that this s-series is discontinued, all the new 2021 x-series models all have an even bigger and heavy duty transmission than this one had. So it’s even better. Thanks for watching.
Indeed, they climb hills just fine--might even spin the wheels a little, that's the strength it has. It's just a workout turning her on steeper hills, though. And if you're walking downhill for some reason, you'd better have sure footing, because there's no brake, and she'll pull you if you're not ready and steady 😂
@@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power thanks for the info I will take it under consideration.
Really awesome video thanx
Glad you found value in it. Thanks for watching.
I have the same mower it’s a great mower! I find it doesn’t work that great in wet grass. I’ve had to replace my rear tire and gear the bearings seized. I did have some surging happening too it was a dirt carb that they fixed under warranty.
Yes my customers love they way it strips!
I keep hearing people say it does not perform in wet grass. I’m like what? That’s all I do all day long, all season long here in the PNW. Long, wet, lush grass. Except in the fall when it’s also mixed with leaves. 😂 Curious what year your mower is from? They’ve made lots of updates over the years. Thanks for watching.
@@LawnCareBusinessSuccess mines 2020 model maybe here in Ontario it’s different grass type and I’m saying mulching wet grass doesn’t work well bagging it’s fine
Oh ok. That makes sense. Mulching wet grass is a different animal altogether. I’ve never had a mower do a good job mulching wet grass. Not without leaving a bunch of clumps that need to be blown after. So much easier to just bag and leave a clean cut in one pass in my opinion. I have an advantage that I don’t have to take clippings away with me though. Thanks for watching.
@@LawnCareBusinessSuccess oh okay I want to get the newer one with the Koehler on it. They’ve going to relaunch it next spring
They discontinued this s-series model and going forward they have two different x-series models. Basically you can choose the x-series with either the Kawasaki FJ180 or the bigger Kohler engine. The rest of the mower is the same. New beefer transmission, parking brake etc. the only difference besides engines is the Kohler engine also comes with the oil drain hose making oil changes simple and mess free.
Great review. How would you compare the EXMark to the Toro commercial Turfmaster30”?
I have not really looked closely at the Toro version. My dealer sells toro as a brand but I only ever see the Exmark 21 and 30 in the showroom on the commercial side but they always have the toro time master on the residential side. So from my understanding, I think they are very similar if comparing the commercial versions together. They have some differences in aesthetics like the engine guards and also the way the wheel height adjustment works. Thanks for watching.
Do you have your gasket on thingaverse so we can print it or do you sell it?
Hey! I'm not trying to get you to change brands, but i would like to see if you could demo a sfc30 from skag. Just to give some of your viewers that don't have a exmark dealer near by. Just something to think about. Your opinion matters and thank you for all that you do for us.
Hey thanks for watching, and I’m glad you find value in the type of content I create. The scag is an interesting mower. I do like so of the design choices they made. Unfortunately I don’t even know of any Scag dealers around me although I have seen a handful of scags other mowers here. One guy I talked to that had a scag V-ride here said he had to get his dealer to contact scag and make arrangements to bring it in specifically for him. But he could not even see it in person before he committed to buy it. You see mainly all toro, Exmark and John Deere here.
Did you put the better pulleys on that or did they come with it ..my Toro Timemaster went through 3 pulleys on last 2 years and broke the tension plate bolt too. That might have been a flaw in the bolt itself though . I took it back to Home Depot and spent 8 months between there and the warranty company and then when I got it back from a local repair shop that they had it sent to they told me they didn't think it would last much longer ..home Depot wouldn't give me a replacement because they were all gone & wouldn't give me my money back I even got the extended warranty for it. After 3rd time on Same problem they were supposed to give me a new mower or my money back and they wouldn't. Grrr
The mower is the way it comes from factory. Although the time master looks very similar it is considered a residential use unit not commercial. So it’s possible the pulleys are different quality. Thanks for watching.
Did you buy the $240.00 mulching kit?
No I have only used the mulch plug that came with it. The mower also came with what looks like gator style mulching blades on it. I don’t do much if any mulching. Every property is bagged and it bags awesome. Thanks for watching.
Good review and nice job on the gasket.
You can get more life out of that bag handle with a coupla stainless bolts, locknuts and washers.
I loathed my dirty30 from day one. She broke after 3 yards. And was pretty much useless for 2 or 3 weeks. After the 3rd visit to the dealer ( and I had to leave her there that time so they could wait for parts.....and that dealet is not close but they were the only ones who had ONE 30 in stock last year ), she finally straightened out....they had to swap the whole tank ( wow, yours got sorted with just the new gasket?? ) then add some slightly larger fuel line to the carb and maybe a larger fuel filter 🤷♂️ Beyond that, the drive bar has a big learning curve because it's unstable ( I'm used to it now, but I might see about adjustingthe cable, but then again, I don't want to lose transport speed because I cross streets with that thingfor a coupla properties because of parking issues.....or maybe I'll try my moveable stop block idea that ai never got around to doing ), ....she was heavy and awkward on hills, even at a medium pace she leaves a few more stragglers than I'd like to see ( sometimes after double cutting 🤯...other than that, the cut is pretty nice ), I'm not crazy about those timed blades, and the parking brake was a problem and slight operation hinderance until it finally dropped out and I threw it away.
That being said, I don't hate it now, and will probably run it until the wheels fall off, but my next mower of that class/size will either be the Ferris 15, or the Scag.
Oh, and I took off those extra bars for weight reduction, but she's still heavy 😂 a little less cumbersome, though.
Great idea on the bag handle. I’ll have to give it a try. Thanks for watching.
Interesting I had a 26 inch exmark that I struggled with for 2 or 3 seasons. Never would consider e-marketing ever again
Why are you Bagging clippings? I just sold my Toro Timemaster probably 12 years old never really used bag always mulched ,leaves went over 2 xs blow to pile not much left
It’s a west coast thing. Everyone predominantly bags here. On my podcast I’ve interviewed business owners from all over and bagging is done from BC in Canada to Washington state , Oregon and California in the USA on small lawns. I also find it much quicker than mulching or side discharging and also a much cleaner looking cut. No need to double cut or adjust speed slower or spend a bunch of time blowing grass clippings or clumps. Every house here has a large green waste bin that gets picked up by the city each week so I don’t need to take clippings away. Thanks for watching.
Excelente vídeo 👍🏼
Thanks for watching.
On tall grass n weeds does it doe
How bad does the deck clog
Not bad for most of the year. But will clog in heavy lush growth or wet conditions like any mower. I recently did a video on this and a tip someone shared with me. Check it out. Here’s the link and thanks for watching.
Exmark Commercial 30 Mowing Performance Improvement
ua-cam.com/video/M1qAsk8RASw/v-deo.html
Wish I would have gone with this model instead of the newer one with the Koehler engine. I’ve had nothing but problems with it 😡
Really? What’s been going on with it? Thanks for watching.
I bought a Toro Commercial 21" with the Kohler CV173 engine last spring....total piece of junk.....has no power, was consuming oil, starter rope broke at 80 hours, and it would not start once temperatures fell to 10 degrees celsisu (50 farenheit) or less. My Kawasaki powered Toro is much stronger and durable even though it has similar ccs as the Kohler.
Oh man I was going to get the X model, your saying it’s no good?
This looks like a toro time master in some ways
Which would you say is a better option for my first commercial mower? This exmark or the scag sf30?
That’s hard to say because I have not seen or used the scag in person. I do like like some of the design choices they made with it but the commercial 30 has been around for many years now and is a proven performer. I’d recommend it to anyone. I always say that mowing here in the PNW with the constant rain is probably the most challenging mowing environment. If a piece of equipment does good here it will do good anywhere else. Thanks for watching.
Does the arms fold in?
No. The handle does not fold on any commercial mower that I know of. There is however a cheaper residential version of this mower sold under the toro timemaster name that the handle folds. Thanks for watching.
@@LawnCareBusinessSuccess I’m looking to start my business but I don’t have a truck so I’m trying to find something that folds into my big SUV or I was thinking about unscrewing the arms and putting it in my SUV and then putting it back after I finish each grass which will suck thank you
Just find one of those mobility scooter type racks with the ramp that go in the tow hitch and put the mower back there. Strap it down and put a lock on it when trimming. That’s how I carry a large 2 stage snowblower in the winter so I don’t need to use a trailer.
@@LawnCareBusinessSuccess wow great idea I’ll definitely look in to it thank you!
so is this mower out of commission already?
Nope. It’s still going strong. Awesome mower and my absolute favourite gas push style mower. I used as the main mower in my business from when I got it in 2020 until august of 2023. The only reason I stopped using it was I’ve had a couple of different battery mowers sent to me that I needed to start testing full time. So this 30 still has tons of life in it. In the 3 and a half seasons I used it full time, I only ever needed to replace the one belt at the start of the 2023 season that goes from the motor to the pulley that runs the blades. Did I mention how much I love this mower. 😂 saves so much time. That’s my biggest issue with the battery mowers I’ve started testing is that they are all 21” mowers. So much slower than this beast. Thanks for watching.
@@LawnCareBusinessSuccess any experience with turfmaster? I think i am leaning more towards the turfmaster because of the adjustment mechanism is simpler. I have been using the honda hrx217 which i have owned probably 7 of them or so the last few years
Dang he printed his own gasket
I know I’m a geek! 😂 Thanks for watching.
Bought commercial 30 11 months ago and used to for the 2021 season. Just got it going this week for the 2022 season and first week day 3 transmission loses power to the left rear wheel. Right wheel only turning and forcing a left turn constantly. If this thing needs a trans after only 11 months I’ll
never buy an xmark again
It should be under warranty still. There is always the possibility of something going wrong with mass production items. That’s what warranty is for. Mine has had no real issues yet except for the broken fabric handle on the bag. Its on its third season so far. Still original belts as well and I use it everyday on most of my lawns. Thanks for watching.
Any follow-up? Did you get it sorted out ? What was your experience?
@@LemonySnicket-EUC luckily I had 6 days left on the warranty. Took it back to the dealer I bought it from and they confirmed somehow something had broke internally in the trans. Estimated me 6-8 weeks which was nuts because it was the start of the maintenance season. Luckily they got the part in early and I had it back after 2 weeks
Finished the year today with the mower, running good. Since spring the Ebrake broke to the point it was locked up and wouldn’t let go so I completely removed it. Draw string broke, I replaced it, 2 weeks later the spring in the starter recoil somehow went out so I ordered a whole new assembly.
Timemaster would have been cheaper and is pretty much the exact same mower. You can buy 2 for the price of the turfmaster.
Except the time master is not a commercial mower. It may seem similar but there is a reason the commercial 30 is twice the price. I had a person comment on my picture of this mower I posted on Instagram this morning claiming he has two of these and they don’t hold up to daily use. I was Confused because this mower has been awesome for me in my business. So I checked his photos and saw he is using the time master models. Lots of people have said the same as well. The time master is just not the same unit. Thanks for watching.
@@LawnCareBusinessSuccess exactly 💯.
What size fuel tank
It’s a 1 gallon fuel tank. Thanks for watching.
I have a lot of complaints about this mower. One it's to heavy, two The rubber wheels tear up turf. Three. It's JUNK.
Mine must have not got that memo because it’s awesome. Use it everyday on the majority of my lawns. On its 4th season now with no major issues. Only had to just replace the blade drive belt this season for first time. Here in the very wet PNW those rubber tires evenly disperse the weight and do less damage then the hard wheels of a 21” Honda HRC216 that I use for many years previously. It is a heavier mower when compared to a 21 but I don’t find it difficult to use, it’s self propelled and turning it is as easy as a 21. I would not be without this mower. Saves way too much valuable time over a 21.
Horrible wheels. Track marks every where.
I disagree. The wheels are wider and softer than those on a traditional 21. I’ve experienced less tracks and rutting even in wet conditions compared to my old commercial Honda 21.
Only on super wet grass for me does it leave some tracks. Easily fixed with the blower in a jam. It is heavier so that may be the culprit. I think the wider wheels are fine myself. No real issues.
Good review however I need to offer some friendly critiquing. It was very distracting to listen to when you were saying “uh” and “um” every third word. Over good quality content though.