My 1984 Toro 21" Rear Bagger

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kirbyclassiciii

kirbyclassiciii

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Milwaukie, Oregon


Here is my 1984 Toro model 20672 21" rear bagger 3-speed Deluxe Pow-R-Drive (rear drive) self-propelled walk-behind mower with BBC (blade brake clutch).

I had such fond memories not only of this but also my Dad's 1973 Sears Craftsman Eager-1 9026 walk-behind, as well as my next-door neighbor's 1962 Toro Whirlwind Pow-R-Drive 20122 mower (which he had until 1988; the side bag I saw on it was a mid 1970s replacement) and circa 1964 Sunbeam RE-18S electric twin blade mower, and my other neighbor's circa 1972 Snapper V210 and circa 1975 Jacobsen Turbo-Vent mowers.

However, regarding rear baggers like mine, this one uses the Toro TNT100 (by Tecumseh) 4-cycle engine, whereas the Suzuki-built GTS120 2-cycle engine had an edge over the TNT100 in reliability as well as having a unique sound.

~Ben
 
Love my old Honda mowers.

I still use my parents old 1983 HR194, 19" also with the BBC and rear wheel drive self-propel. It has the cast aluminum deck which I think you have as well? I tune it up every year and it can still pull me up a hill, and it gives my 17 yr old a real workout trying to keep up with it if he puts it in rabbit speed.

Have another Honda HR214 that's about the same age and the same as the first except it is a 21". I rescued it for $25 because it needed tires and a tune up.

The third HR214 (same as #2) is basically now on donor status because it has become a quite a smoker (it led a rough life and was pretty heavily abused when I bought it for parts for $35).
 
My Mothers neighbor had a Toro Mower just like the one shown.Used it once while my Moms Jacobsen Turbo Vent mower was in the shop for repair.Loved that Toro!!!That 1984 Toro mower is sure BETTER than the ones Toro makes now.
 
Still can't beat a good 2 cycle Lawn Boy. One of the most reliable mowers out there. I now have a Honda (top of the line) plastic deck, hydrostatic drive and electric start. It mows like a dream and is probably the best mulching mower on the market.

Would love to find a Jacobsen 2 cycle with the pie plate blade. Now they were a good mower.

Morgan
 
Really doesn't get better than a Honda. My whole family has and continues to use them since the 90"s. I convinced my mom to give me the HR 215 I grew up with and also have a TOL 217 for better mulching. My mom bought the last HR 215 with electric start for the pool area and still uses her Honda 48" Commercial walk behind for everything else. She's one of the few women I've ever seen behind a commercial walk behind mower haha. But she has to do it herself because no one else would keep a straight line like her.
 
Mine

was from 1988. I liked it's magnesium deck. very light to push. Only negative was it would snap wheel axles every few years. $6.50 a piece, and no, generic axles did not fit.
It's 3.5 horse Tecumseh began leaking oil like a seive two years ago, so I got a new mower. I could have bought a replacement engine, but it's nice to have a mulcher and power drive if the lawn gets a bit tall.
 
I remember the Jacobsen "Pie plate" mowers.The wheel or plate was a flywheel that served as a carrier for 4 small blades that bolted onto the wheel.Safety regs killed these-the "bladelets" could get thrown if they weren't mounted properly.The regs demanded one peice blades for walk behind mowers.Those Jacobsen pie plates did do wonderful job-esp if you configured the mower for mulching.4 edges instead of two were best!I used to have a 2 cycle Lawn Boy-it was hard to start-but once it got going was unstoppable unless you turned it off!Traded that in to a Kee mower.Wished I kept the Lawn Boy!Would have it with the KEE!
 
tolivac

Interestingly, most Australian mowers also have the "pie plate" four-blade system, including Rover and Victa.

Also, Honda devised a similar multi-cut blade system called the "Quadra Cut" for its mowers, which takes the form of two straight blades mounted crosswise.

~Ben
 
I would like to see the quad blade system come back-it would have to be a one peice system of sort-to meet US safety standards.There is only one I have seen-called the Heliblade.It is a one peice cross shaped blade that can fit most walk mowers-and think they make ones for multiblade rider decks.those can use the replaceable blade systems.IE-the cutting part of the blade can be a bolt on type thing.The US rule only applies to walk mowers.Also tractor mowers-decks drawn by the tractor can have the multipeice blades-IE brush mowers,flail mowers and "batwing" type tractor drawn mowerrs can use the multipeice blades.I haven't tried a Heliblade-would be interesting if they made one in 19 in or 20 in sizes-then I could try it on my cordless mowers.Fear it might put too much drag on the motor-overheating it or running down the battery quickly.I did put a GatorBlade on my Homelite mower-and it cuts and mulches like a DEMON!The blade has been in that mower for about 3 yrs--hasn't needed to be sharpened-and in the sandy soil here-that says a lot!So if I can't use a quad type blade-a Gatorblade is the best next thing.They are made by Oregon outdoor products.They make chainsaws,chains,bars,and such.They have been making mower blades for years-just haven't publicized that until recently.They make many Orig equipment blades for many brands of mowers.Their factory is near St Louis Mo.Blount Products-its a "robotic" blade factory-robots do the work!!!TGhere is a video of this on YouTube-neat to watch.
 
Bad Toro Mower

I bought a new Toro bagger-Multcher self propel electric start mower what a piece of junk. It is 4 years old now and it doesn't run. It is supposed to start on the first pull everytime. It ran the first year I had it and it hasn't started or ran since. Even the first year everytime I would start it it would take up to four or five pulls to start it. It had fresh gas and everything just wont start. A friend of mine put a new spark plug in it thinking that was it's problem. Nope didn't help it looks like it isn't getting any spark. Well I guess I am going to take it to a shop to get it fixed. My new Husquarvarna that my mom bought me when I moved into this house 11 years ago and it still runs and I haven't done anything to it other than changing the oil in the engine once or twice and it starts right up even when it has sat all winter. I really like the Husqurvarna but it is hard to push even with the selfpropel on It is just to heavy for me. The toro is a lot lighter too bad it wont run. Well we will see what the Doctor says about it if it can be fixed or should I shoot it to put it out of it's misery... LOL
 
Good to see someone else is having bad times with a new Toro mower.Glad to be rid of mine!So miss the one that got stolen!That one was a GREAT mower.Hope the person that stole it is enjoying it at least-he did forget to take the grass catcher!
 
I hear a lot of people complain about the new Toro's.

I also have a Sears Craftsman Eager-1 self-propelled sitting next to the Honda in the shed.

I think it's late 80's early 90's, definitely an older one, just not that old yet.

Someone threw it out for trash. It looked like it had spent the last 10 years sitting in back of the shed and was covered in dust and cobwebs, and I picked it up to scrap. It was in surprisingly good shape when I took a better look at it and started right up when I dumped a little gas in. Changed the oil and plug, sharpened the blade, threw a new oil filler seal (.30 o-ring) and air cleaner on it and have kept it since it runs so good, starts on the first pull every single time.

Neighbor has a newer Craftsman, and it sounds horrible. LOL
 
I got a DR Trimmer Mower & it powers thru 3 football fields of cirsium vulgare thistle that ruined my old Massey-Fergusen tractor & Lawn Boy mower
 
1965 Jacobsen Reel type lawn mower "Lawn Prince 18&#34

Original decals ,and paint,like new,has grass catcher as well,use it occasionally ,for fun...starts first pull (hand choke),standard Briggs engine

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1956 Gravely Lawn Tractor

In family since new, just rebuilt/restored thru out,has the Gravely wood cart w/original tires as well...should be good for another 50 years,lol...starts on first pull of the belt. Air cooled 'T' head engine design,Wico external magneto...This one has the first series mowing attachment,top spindle is not covered...and blade rotation is opposite direction than the later series. (not interchangeable with later models)

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An older Gravely-legendary machines-the one shown has the brush bustin single blade mower-with this its a walk behind bushhog!The great thing about these machines--they last FOREVER!!!And they work!!!And like that Jacobsen reel mower!! Very nice mower!!!
 
The Gravely plant

Was a few miles down the road in Clemmons NC for many years.Gravely was for a while a division of Studebaker, as well as Clark co which made vacuums and floor polishers.
 

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