Toro 30" Timemaster - A Homeowners Perspective After 2 Seasons 

Let me first say I could watch you mow your lawn all day with enough refreshments. The other thing, back about 10 years ago on Mothers Day I went out and got a Honda mower. When I got back from the store the wife ask where I was. I told her that I got her a nice silver and red Honda rear wheel drive. Then when I told her that it starts with one pull of the cord, well lets just say the look on her face changed a lot. Still got the mower and after almost five years of not being used it started with just two pulls. By the way, she still hasn't tried it out yet.

That diagonal cut is the move. Looks gangster af.

The mower wash was just the best… the blower and tire shine… great video for me,

Great video. I service many of these Timemasters, both the 8.75/ 20199, 8.75/ 20200, and the new 10.00/ 21199,21200. I have been working on a bunch of them over the years, no matter which one you get. The biggest problems with them, from being a small engine mechanic, is they like to blow their head gaskets a lot, they only have 4 small head bolts that's why, and I mean all of them, 8.75 series, and the new 10.00 series, also another issue is the pulleys, cheap bearings, you can do the exmarks upgrade on the bearings/pulley, but that is quite expensive, 200 dollars, and finally the muffler likes to loosen, and or the bolts strip out, only way to fix it is buy a 1/4-20 helicoil kit, and rethread the holes. I own the 21200 keystart version, with the 10.00 series briggs, I have a few videos on my channel, about the timemaster, and how to replace the head gasket, and other goodies on the mower. Again great video, and keep up on the mower, and it will last you quite a few years, if you take good care of it.

I bought the first year model 20200 and still use it today. A couple of years ago I removed the 190cc Briggs and put the Kohler CV224 engine on. Major power improvement and it's nice having an adjustable throttle to turn down while emptying the bag, etc. I also replaced all the pulleys with the heavy duty Exmark parts and put the Exmark's blade brake arm assembly on too (much more solid). The timemaster blade brake arm assembly is poorly engineered. I Heli-coiled all the aluminum threads in the deck, and made custom bolts for the belt cover that are easier to remove. I removed all the useless blue plastic at the top of the handle and modified the handle position assembly by creating a position between the high handle setting and the low handle setting that works perfect for my height (5'10"). I put an oil drain hose on the engine, and recently replaced my spindle bearings with higher quality SKF C3 bearings. Replaced wheels once, transmission once, tranny belt once, blade drive belt 4 times, plastic grass flap that drags on the ground once, and a broken spring. I did not waste my time painting my deck black or plasti-dipping my wheels or any useless bull$hit like that. I've tried many blades and have determined that for me on northern grass (TTTF), I run the low lift Atomic blades in the spring and mulch with them until about mid-late May. Then I switch to the High lift Atomics (mulching all the time unless over grown, wet, etc.) In fall I need to bag up my leaves as they are the little Honey Locust leaves which get matted down in the lawn so I use the Ballard Hi-Lift blades for bagging (fantastic). I've tried Gator G5 & G3 blades but G5 is really too big and heavy for that mower and causes too much blowout from under the deck. G3 did not cut as clean or mulch as good as the Toro atomic high lift, but I ran them without sharpening first. I will try them again after grinding the rounded powder coat off the blade edge first. They also left a few more stragglers. Oh well enough of my novel about this mower. I still like it...tried 2 battery mowers (Ryobi 40V crosscut and Toro 60V recycler) and neither have the power to cut my very thick lawn without leaving grass on the top of the lawn. I actually find the bigger Timemaster easier to use anyway...really!

Now that's how you take care of a lawn mower!! Good job!!

Love how you care for your equipment!!!

I'm 42 years old, and have been mowing since I was 10 years old. Have always used a Toro 22 inch or smaller (can't remember how wide they were back in the day) Just ordered a Timemaster last week, and I'm pretty excited to start using it. I suspect it will save me a lot of time (no pun intended) on the yards I do. Thanks for the video

I've owned a 30" Timemaster for 9 years. I paid just under $1,200 for it, and I have paid just OVER $1,200 in repairs during that time. When it works it's great, but it's in the shop a lot, and it's not cheap to repair.

Blue handle is for pushing up hills so you can keep a more consistent speed and nut push the personal pace bar all the way to fast.

The Toro Timemaster is a great mower. I had mine for 10 years and it’s still going strong.

I bought a Timemaster 6 months ago. Hands down the best mower I ever owned and I have been cutting grass for nearly 60 years. Saves 1/3 of time vs. The old 21" super recycler.

This is the best video for the Timemaster I have seen. You’ve covered everything I needed to know. Thank you! 👍🏽

I ran one pro for a season. I liked it. Fast, light, but not built for lawn butchers who abuse their machines. Takes a gentle touch.

I painted my wheels black and it looks sweet!

I remember when these were $999 at HD a few years ago. Now they want almost $1500. That's nuts for this mower. You can buy THREE ( $479 each in May 2022) of the 22 inch Personal Pace for the same money. I have a TORO 22 inch PP mower (also pulls a stripping roller) that's now on year seven and works great. I would recommend anyone with that mower buy a inline fuel filter and install it.

Quick tip. Tape off small section around the rubbing areas then use a few coats of Plasti Dip spray in that area it’s flexible and will help prevent wear.

My new stehl mower works great. Brand new to the us market

Bought one Sunday at HD for $1700 (minus 10% off coupon.) Mowed once. Did a good job. It is a lot faster. Weighs 135 lbs. Feels heavy . Cannot manhandle it like a 22" . FYI: 233cc= 6 HP. Wish it were an 8 HP.

Relaxed and in-depth review 👍

I am a Toro guy, the thing about them is the cut they give. Honda is close, but Toro gives the best cut.

Interesting note about the blue foam. I have the same mower and have had it for many years. I don’t have blue foam in my tank. I love this mower. I can let it sit all winter, pull the cord and it starts. The only thing I don’t like is that it doesn’t “pull” when I’m walking up a grade. I find myself having to push the mower.

Those Time Masters wear out the drive belt quickly because they are so heavy.That was according to a mechanic at a Toro dealership.I have the Toro 60 volt ‘Recycler’ and it isn’t as wide as the TM,but it is much lighter.

That's a beautiful mower. Been tempted to replace my recyclers with a Timemaster, would cut my mowing time down and larger stripes would be a plus. Also like that you keep the mower clean, still looks new!

Mine: top crank seal leak, eats belts, paint peeling, too heavy, rear wheel adjuster too flimsy, trans will not grab enough on a hill. Thanks, good video!

The Timemaster is the mower that one day I want to own, but for now, I can't justify for my lawn size.

I just got my hands on a timemaster for this season (used commercially) and so far I definitely love it, I definitely put it through hell lol

Put some foam pipe insulation on your flap so it doesn't tear your bag

Wow! My old mower has never had that kind of shampoo and conditioning! I'm now wondering if he is going to wax and polish it!

You should use the washout and keep it clean. It does work.

Amazing video. Thank you

As a business owner. Locked it to the curb on marketplace and went straight to the FW15

That level of grass sticking to the underside of the deck is a deal breaker for me. Unless using the washing port right after use improved that issue this seems like a total PIA to have to keep clean. At that price, its a bad flaw.

Dang, you'd think it was a new C8 the way he details it. It's just a lawn mower.

Where did you find that cool no-spill gas can? I've never seen one of those. Thanks for the video!

Get foam or rubber padded tape and put it inside the flap, this way it won't cut into the bag.

I don't have issues with clogging on my timemaster 30.

I just bought my Toro, and it is a 3 year old, used commercial for sure. It does not shine anymore. I see the clutch cable is damaged., Looks like a tough job to replace it.

The Super Recycler is a completely different animal from the regular stamped steel recycler. The SR4 is built to commercial standards with a thick aluminum deck, a heavy duty gearbox and an axle with Zerk fittings to keep the wheel ratchet pawls greased among other things. I agree with you about the Time Master, I’ve got an older one with the smaller engine and it’s never given me a lick of trouble (except the gas cap kept coming loose but I found a way to fix that). On mine I removed that stupid blue handle, rotated the recoil starter so it was sideways instead of pointing towards the handlebars (re-clocked the Briggs sticker so it was straight) and replaced that annoying push button stop switch with an on-off switch on the blower housing like a generator uses. Great mower worth every bit of $1000 IMO. I hear you can’t get them now because they’re back ordered, like everything else!

blue handles is for going up and down slopes

Bruce's bagger for lawn mower

Let us know about the gas sponge when you remove it! Does it increase gas capacity!

The mulch plug isn't even needed. The area will fill with grass so fast, The grass will become the mulch plug.

add rubbing molding over the bagger flap

Great video Don, very helpful. I'm picking up a used three year old model tomorrow. One question: Does that mulch plug need to be installed when you are side discharging?

I only have 10000sq ft of lawn but it is very hilly, >30 degrees in a couple spots - would this unit make it easier than my cheapo 21” snapper with front drive? I’m imagining the power of this unit will help pull me up the hills

Side-discharge is the way to go on this mower, it's not good at mulching at all.

Hello sir, what setting do you like for scalping? Thanks for your time 👍🏻

You can wash the whole mower? Won’t damage the motor or any components by spraying it with a hose?

Mine is only 2 years old and never starts before 30 pulls wonder if mine is a lemon and toro is no help, looks like I'm out 1,800 bucks. done with toro

Please tell me Toro has made it easy drain and change oil

Doesn't owners manual say what blue foam is For

I've never seen anyone detail their mower. Can you say how easy it is to turn?

Does the side discharge have a latch it connects to? Because when I just slide it under the side it always ends up coming off.

How Long does fuel tank last?

Lightweight is good and what did I use it for it’s a lawnmower ru-vid.comUgkxTPN04aT-Qdjr_KS3ql7ng8wnU3wwsCqk also recommend Yes it is lightweight so hence not as robust as our old one. But if you take care it does the job really well.

What exactly is that foam inside the gas tank for? I don't think I'd leave it in there. My guess it's to catch debris or particles. I have the super recycler and the 22 inch and they don't have the torque the time cutter has especially the hp. I don't cut my grass wet, all that does is ruin blades and clogs the deck.

For the price of these mowers the front end shouldn’t be plastic.

Any issues with the flapper? Mine got destroy after only 2 mows

I want to buy that mower

What type of grass do you show in this video? It's nice.

He says he never uses the personal pace? The mower will not even move forward without using it. He cannot be not using it! He is really getting a nice cut with this Toro mower.

Bring lawn mower bagger to Bruce

6.17 what fuel tank is that? really cool design

How big is your lawn, and how long does it take to cut?

Agree those wheels are pizza cutters.

Use a heat gun and bend up the tabs that are digging into the bag. Problem solved.

I’ve never seen anyone wash a push mower!!! Water is the enemy

Bagger for lawn mower

Toro put a roller on the back and I'll buy one

Does it have an hour.meter?

I use the 30” TimeMaster Commercial and happy to have spent the $600 more for better parts and engine!😊

You did not Just tire shine your lawnmower tires…..

What the hell did I just watch this man literally put tire shine on his mower and scrubbed it

mostly everyone on the net is a liar. that mower is $1500 with tax over $1600

Really , cleaning your push mower . Must be retired. 🤯

All in all, I don't think the Timemaster is a good machine. It will not hold up. Bought mine in 2015 and have had it in the shop 4 times for a cable replacement, a spindle replacement, the transmission went out which was an expensive repair, and the idler pully disintegrated. Now I have to replace the blade drive belt but that can be expected at this time. My Timemaster was a $1000 machine back in 2015 and now it's like $1500. I would not buy another one. They are severely underpowered for the size and weight of the machine. I never has a problem with Toro products before except this one. My advice, go buy something else.

Had Timemasters for years now. First thing you do is toss that stupid blue sponge in the tank...don't need it

I have the Timemaster with electric start. I bought mine used. Was in very good condition. I mow my house, and a few neighbors homes with it. Nothing huge. After 1 summer though the Briggs 10.00 died. I replaced it with a new Briggs. I am not impressed with the Briggs or it's electric start. "Cheap" It's underwhelming at best. I end up using the the pull cord more often than the starter. And the gas tank is way too small for this mower. Constantly stopping to fill it up. Despite all this, when running, the mower cuts smoothly and the bagger collects a lot but, will leak a clump of grass out occassionaly when you hit a bump in the lawn easily. The handle bounces a lot and the blue handle which one would use to pull the bar towards it to drive the mower forward isn't designed very well. Not wide enough. My hands get pretty sore from how much the handle bounces. But the good thing about the handle is it's position adjustment. Lower for folks who are shorter in height, and upright for storage and easy bagger removal. As I said before, the bagger holds a lot of grass. So much so as the mower itself is very heavy, between a full bagger and the mower the front wheels will easily leave the ground. If you own a standard 21", the 30" is a huge difference in time spent mowing. The quick connect on the deck to wash out with is great. Really like that feature. I've had it 3 summers now. Would I buy this again? Probably not, I think Toro could build a better product than this. I would opt for a better engine.