Toro My-Ride Riding Mower: Problems, Durability, and Specs

A riding mower- also called a Zero-turn or Zero-turning radius is a lawnmower built with drive wheels designed to rotate in opposite directions. The riding mowers are small (unlike the conventional lawn tractors) and do not have any other function other than mowing. Due to their ease of maneuverability, the riding mowers are especially suited for lawns with various garden features, obstacles, and other landscaping features.

Toro Zero turn mowers are built for performance and durability. These mowers are designed to maximize efficiency, mowing speed, and lawn appearance after mowing while maintaining operator comfort. The Toro My-Ride Zero-turn mower provides operator comfort, limitless capabilities, convenience, and longevity that exceed the competition.

Durability

Toro ranks among the leading lawnmower brands in the world. A well-maintained and correctly stored Toro My-Ride Riding mower can last up to 20 years. To realize this kind of longevity, the mower must have regular maintenance and have to be stored indoors when not in use.

If not well maintained, the mower will gradually deteriorate until it becomes un-operational. The mower will generally have no issues at all in the first year of operation even with little or no maintenance.

However, as the years' progress, the mower has to be kept up and running through regular maintenance and checks to optimize its operations. The most critical areas requiring attention include regular oil changes (at least after every 10 hours of operation), all filters, spark plugs, drive belts, blades, and the cutting deck. Thus, the durability of the Tor My-Ride lawnmower depends on its use and maintenance. 

Specs

The Toro My-Ride Zero-Turn mower comes with a strong steel frame (10-gauge), a large fuel tank, a 24.5 HP commercial-grade engine, a mower deck reinforced with forged metal, and a well-thought-out comfort and convenience.

The mower has various smart operational conveniences that complement its engine's powerful performance. It is equipped with smart speed controls, a toolless oil change, a grass clippings' mulch recycler kit, a grass-stripper kit, and tow-behind tools that take care of the lawn as you mow. These add-ons make the Toro My-Ride mower comfortably easy to learn and operate, efficient, and reliable.

Toro My-Ride mower has a comfortable 18-inch operator seat complete with armrests and adjustable shock absorbers which place the operator platform above the mower frame. The seat comes with an independent three-inch cushioned movement. The shock absorbers ensure the operator enjoys an amazingly smooth ride regardless of the nature of the terrain. 

The raised operator deck gives the rider excellent visibility which is complemented by the position of the control deck. The smart speed control system enables the operator to drive the mower at speed when mowing straight sections while moving slowly around obstacles such as trees and landscape beds. A foot-operated lift lever raises the deck when necessary to move over low obstacles and rocks while still on the move. It also has an automatic parking brake control which holds or releases depending on the position of the driving handles. 

Engine

The mower is equipped with a 708 cc Toro V-Twin engine producing about 25 Horsepower. The brand has both a single-cylinder and a twin-cylinder engine with a majority opting for the twin-cylinder one. The engine's cylinder liners are made of cast iron and the full-pressure lubrication system produces an optimum mowing and movement performance. With these specs, the Toro y-Ride engine has a mowing speed of 7MPH, meaning it takes about 20 minutes to mow an acre into a nice clean finish.

Frame

The Toro My-Ride has a reinforced frame built to handle any form of work while ensuring maximum comfort and reduced strain for the operator. The frame and the deck are thick reinforced steel with wear protection.

The deck is iron-forged with 10-gauge fabricated steel. The front part of the leading edge is reinforced while the spindles and belts are equally reinforced for longevity. Additionally, the rear towing hitch can tow up to 442 pounds of weight mainly consisting of lawn-care add-ons such as fertilization and aeration projects. These specs allow the Toro My-Ride mower to have both precision and durability.

The other specs of the Toro My-Ride mower include:

• Heavily cushioned high-back seat complete with sun shade and comfortable armrests.
• Foot-adjustable deck-height
• 18-inch rear tires
• Strong suspensions for stability and comfort
• Towing hitch
• 1.5- 4.5 inches mowing height
• 10 liters fuel capacity tank
• Easy-to-do maintenance procedures and features

Problems

Toro mowers are known for quality service and come with exceptional product support from the manufacturer. But regardless of this, the mower is likely to develop problems from time to time. Below, we will highlight some of the most common problems that Toro mower owners are likely to experience along the way. 

• Failure to start
• Producing too much smoke
• Shaking and vibrating
• Failure to steer or drive correctly
• Stalling while in motion
• Failing to move

1) Failure to start

Sometimes, restrictions on air or fuel flow into the combustion chamber may prevent the Toro My-Ride mower from starting. This may be caused by a clogged fuel system or air filters which deprive the engine of air and fuel needed to kick it into life. Electrical problems such as faulty switches, dead batteries, or a problematic spark plug can also prevent your mower from starting. 

2) Starting and stalling 

Related to failure to start, the mower engine may start, run for a short period and then die soon afterward. The problem could be an extension of the same problems that may prevent the mower from starting. Alternatively, overheating may shut down the engine instantly. Overheating may result from a faulty cooling system, dysfunctional cooling fins, or a clogged mower deck which may strain the engine forcing it to shut down.  

3) Failure to Move

When the hydraulic pump system fails, your Toro My-Ride mower may fail to move, or if it does, it does so at a very slow pace. A failed hydraulic system can be caused by over-used or very low hydraulic oil in the mower system which slows down the hydraulic pumps that move the mower.

On the other hand, failure to release the drive levers in the required position will cause the mower to remain static. Likewise, missing, damaged, or worn-out driving components can lead to a stall for your mower. 

4) Too much smoke

A mower that smokes excessively indicates an internal engine problem. Too much smoke can result from several engine-related problems which may include:

Blocked or clogged air filters reduce the amount of air flowing into the engine for optimum combustion. As such, the fuel in the combustion chamber fails to burn properly leading to too much smoke.

5) Insufficient engine oil 

A faulty spark plug does not produce a strong electric spark to ignite the air-fuel mixture. This may lead to a misfire that ends up releasing excessive smoke.

Other internal problems in the engine such as a worn cylinder gasket that allows oil leakage into the engine.

6) Not steering correctly

Another problem that may arise is when the mower fails to steer correctly and instead starts pulling stubbornly onto one side. It becomes quite frustrating and tiresome as the incorrect steering forces the operator to adjust to new unconventional techniques to complete the mowing jobs. 

7) Shaking and Vibrating

The Toro mower can have too many vibrations that make it uncomfortable to operate. The vibrations in the mower can be caused by misplaced, missing, or lose hardware and components within the mower. On the other hand, vibrations can emanate from:

Unbalanced grass-cutting blades which move irregularly or clash with each other causing vibrations. Apart from shaking/vibrating, blunt and irregular blades are less efficient, tear the grass, and are likely to damage your lawn

Bad bearings in the moving parts of the mower cause friction and un-coordinated movement that bring about vibrations

A bad clutch impacts the way the gear cogs engage, leading to some engine vibrations.

8) Uneven/Unattractive cut

You may realize that the Toro My-Ride mower produces a bad, low-quality, uneven, or unattractive cut on your lawn. Although this can be a result of operator errors, other issues such as unlevelled decks, bad/blunt/unbalanced blades, or low tires. 

Final thoughts

Despite the reliability and power packed in this mower, the Toro My-Ride Zero-turn mower is susceptible to various hitches which reduce its operational abilities. It requires proper diagnosis as well as thorough troubleshooting to identify and rectify the problem. It is important to remember the basic safety precautions before attempting any diagnosis, troubleshooting, or repairs.

Always ensure the mower is securely at a standstill, the spark plug is disconnected, and the ignition is removed before carrying out the activities highlighted above.

Keeping regular maintenance on the Toro My-Ride mower will maintain its optimum operations, efficiency, and durability.