Customer Reviews for Toro TimeCutter SW4200 42 in. 22 HP V-Twin Zero-Turn Riding Mower with Smart Park - CARB

Really like this mower which we use on 3 acres of hilly terrain. The PROs on this vehicle far outweigh the Con: PROS: - The zero turn and speed are phenomenal compared to our old craftsman. It's cut our mowing time in half. Cuts are as straight or curvy as I want them to be. The only time I get ruts/tear is if I do a zero turn too fast. - The low height and 50" width makes it very steady even on a couple steeper slopes compared to our old lawn tractor. - The steering wheel is a breeze to operate for my spouse and me (I am 5'5" and I enjoy driving the Toro). It frees up one hand to do other things (grab a drink, spray a ground hornets nest, wave) those lap bar mowers can't do. Also, it actually turns the front wheels as opposed to the lap bar mowers where front wheels generally just swing around aimlessly on casters because you are operating the rear wheels. - Changing the oil is almost too easy! We had the hour meter installed to help track service points. - Installed mulching blades. While it takes more work to clear out the grass bunched up underneath its nice not having to clean up clippings. - Good at hauling stuff like seeders, etc. CONS: - Right after we received it one of the wheels wouldn't hold air and after a few mows, the starter gear got stuck and needed to be replaced. Took it to a local Toro dealer who said it looked like the mower had been sitting on the lot for a while before we purchased it (the stickers were curling up - you could tell it was out in the elements). On the bright side, the warranty seems pretty good as long as you live near a Toro Dealer. Bottom Line: I would highly recommend this to anyone looking to cut down their mowing time, feel a little safer on hills, and enjoy the ride.

I bought this mower about 2 years ago and, for the most part, I love it. The only problem I've been having is the grass clippings build up and get clogged between the wheels and the piece that looks like a little mud flap. When I mowed yesterday I was having a hard time turning and thought it was a build up of clippings again and then I noticed one tire had come off the rim. My husband took it off, put it back on the rim, and filled it with air again. This morning, however, we found that the seal didn't hold so we had to take the tire back to the dealer and they're putting a tube in the tire. It definitely looks like some kind of a design flaw. It looks like their needs to be more room between the tire and the guard that looks like a small mud flap.

Mower is wonderful.

This is my review of the TORO SW-5000 riding mower. I have one acre of St. Augustine grass. My yard has a lot of landscaping and trees, and it is relatively smooth except for a drainage ditch in the front yard out by the main road and a small peninsula of grass between my driveway and my neighbor’s driveway. The peninsula is Bermuda grass The peninsula is approximately 25 feet wide by 120 feet long and it slopes modestly from both sides to the middle for drainage. I had a John Deere SST-18 with 48” deck that I purchased new 15 years ago. The SST-18 was the first riding lawn mower to have a zero-turn radius with a steering wheel rather than the hand bars. The SST-18 didn't sell well, probably because it was expensive at the time. I paid $5000 for mine in 2001, but I've always been a believer in “you get what you pay for”. I learned my lesson about going cheap on riding mowers a long time ago. The John Deere was a great mower. Until recently, the only issue I ever had with it was the mower deck drive belt broke after 10 years. I put a new belt on it and it’s still going strong today. However, the engine was beginning to leak oil, and having the local dealer pick it up and return it, plus the parts/labor for repairs was going to cost more than it was worth. So, I decided it was time to get a new mower. My John Deere had 800 hours on the engine. I sold it a few days ago to someone who was aware of the oil leak. Unfortunately, John Deere discontinued the SST-18 after a few years due to poor sales, or I would have purchased another one in a heartbeat. After a lot of research, I finally decided on the TORO SW-5000 zero turn with steering wheel, as that was the closest I could get to the John Deere. Another reason that I chose the TORO is that there is a TORO dealer nearby, and the area where I live doesn't have a lot of dealers. My dealer was really great to work with although they didn't have the SW-5000 in stock; they ordered one for me and promptly delivered it. I probably made a mistake ordering the mower without taking it for a test drive, although I’m not sure a test drive at the dealers would have made a difference. Until you get the mower on your yard, it is difficult to tell whether you made a good choice or not. Here are my impressions after 5 hours of use… Pros: It makes a fine cut on open flat areas of the yard. It disperses the clipping very well and the clippings come out of the deflector like powder, probably due to the high-lift deck and blades. This is a good thing except when it’s windy. Then, the fine clippings will blow back all over you and the mower. The mower seems to be well built, but only time will tell on reliability. The engine starts easily and appears to have easy access for maintenance. There are a lot of nice features on the mower that I won’t go into detail here, but you can read about them elsewhere. Cons: The steering is very stiff, especially compared to my old JD. I am 6’ 2” tall and weigh 185 lbs. My wife would not be able to use the TORO. It is just too hard to steer around objects and landscaping. It needs power steering to make it useful as a zero-turn mower. I could turn the steering wheel of my JD with one hand with very little effort. The JD was much more nimble around obstacles. The ride is extremely harsh. I have adjusted the seat for my size, but I am just not comfortable after 15 minutes on the mower. My yard is not that bumpy, but the mower rides like an old buckboard. And my lower back takes a beating. After the last use, I put a 2” piece of foam under the seat and I will see if that helps cushion the ride. I originally inflated the tires to the recommended pressures, but I think I will let some air out of the rear tires to see if that helps to soften the ride. The deck position lever also takes some muscle to raise and lower the mowing deck. And, you can’t see the mowing height position from the seat. This is extremely annoying since I need to change the mowing height in several areas of my yard. I either have to guess where to put the lever, or get off of the machine, and bend down to see where to set the deck. What a pain! My JD had a dial that you turned to set the mower height which was easy to adjust, even on the fly. John Deere still uses that feature. The TORO runs very loud and requires hearing protection. My JD was much quieter probably because the engine was in the front and under a cowling. The TORO engine is right behind the driver and not covered. The TORO does not do well cutting un-even areas(see photos). I set the mowing height at 3-1/2 inches for my St. Augustine and Bermuda grass. It scalps the grass when making tight turns on slopes and the yard just doesn't look good in those areas. My JD didn't do that. I've adjusted the anti-scalp wheels to the lowest setting per the manual based on the mowing height, so that isn't the problem. The deck itself appears to be level. I mow the grass on a regular basis and I never let it get too tall. I usually only take about one inch off the top and I was disappointed that the TORO struggles to get through the grass unless I go very slowly. The deck belt sounds like it is oscillating or slipping and I’m afraid that it’s going to jump off of the pulleys. The TORO is rated at 24.5 HP. My JD was only rated at 18 HP and it plowed right through the grass with no problem. I’m going to install G5 Gator blades on the TORO to see if that helps. In conclusion, if you have a large, open and relatively smooth area to mow, then you would probably be happy with the TORO. But then, why would you need a zero-turn mower? I just can’t recommend the SW-5000 based on my experience. So why didn't I get another John Deere. Basically, because they don’t make the SST-18 anymore and I don’t want a zero-turn with the hand bars. At this point, I may just try to sell the TORO, accept my loss and try something else. Where I live, we mow year-around, so I have to have something that is easy and comfortable to use. The TORO is not that machine.

I had always been impressed with the job my neighbour's "green machine" would do on his lawn - awesome mulching on even 6" grass, whereas my old crapper always left grass lumps. So was stoked to take delivery of a SW4200 recently, anticipating a reliable zero turn unit with the power and performance to do a thorough mulching job. I'm disappointed to report (after installing mulching kit) it does a fair to poor job of mulching grass that is not long (have been cutting every 6 days) which makes me wonder whether my unit is deficient/defective in some way as I'm not reading these complaints elsewhere on this page. Given my investment, I would really appreciate a visit from a regional Toro rep to assess the unit's performance, and look forward to reporting back post-assessment.

I've only been able to mow once since purchase, but it was an amazing experience (if mowing can be?). I live on a drainage creek, so my entire yard is one big slope with a retaining wall and several more large slopes. I'll attach a picture and hope it does some justice. I had just bought a Cub Cadet lawn tractor from the Depot and mowed my yard a couple times with it. I loved the tractor, but it just wasn't cutting it (get it?) for my yard. I felt like I was about to fall over/off of it at any moment. Plus, it was taking FOREVER to cut my little more than an acre yard, and I had some scalping issues as well. I had some concerns as to whether or not Home Depot was going to let me exchange it, since it already had over 4 hours on it. I called them up and to my surprise, they said bring it up! They didn't have this one in store, so I took my store credit and called and ordered it. They even price matched for me! I opted for the FREE "white glove delivery" and it was brought to my house ready to go! Awesome! As soon as I hoped on this thing and started cutting I realized just how much of a beast it is. It cut like a champ and felt a million times more stable than the Cub, and didn't feel as much like I was riding a bucking bronco. It probably cut my mow time close to in half and I had very little scalping. My only complaint about this machine is, why would they not put an hour meter on it? All the services are based off of hours so how are you supposed to know when to perform said services? Anyway, so far so good. Great machine, lets see how well it holds up!

After in depth research this is the mower I chose. Love the zero turn front steer. I have owned Toro products before and very satisfied with quality and performance. Easy to use even on slopes (one of the reasons I wanted the front steer model). Very stable.

I was very happy at first with my Toro SW4200. After 3 years I began having problems with the mower not starting. And occasionally the PTO would not engage. Something electrical was going on. After numerous trips to the dealer and a new battery and other parts replaced, I traded it in on a different brand mower.

This is my first zero-turn machine which makes me no authority on the machine. Cons: There is no speed control setting (set speed lever). I got stuck once and want grippier rear tires. I have longer legs and want more seat-to-pedal distance. Pros: This baby has plenty of power. Can finish a line and do an about face without using reverse! Head lights on mowers have always been a waste of money to me; no headlights. Adjustable steering wheel for ingress/egress is awesome! Cutting speed high. Am pleased all in all with the machine.

it is to bad that Toro ended it's production of TimeCutter units. I found it to be very easy to handle. I Do have arthritis in my hands and it is easier to handle a steering wheel then the other type of steering units.

I bought this mower to cut down on time mowing a 2 acre yard, but little did I know that my wife would take it over and mow the yard once to twice a week. I've only be able to mow it once. We can mow the whole yard in about 45 minutes. She absolutely loves it.

I've had this model for two years now. Comparing it to a regular mower, this thing is so fast it needs a seatbelt! Steering works great but it is a super harsh bumpy ride, so much so I wear a back brace belt. Maybe my hard is just too unrefined for it, but you can tell the difference in regular tractor mower with the larger tires. But still, small complaint for a great mower!

I've had this mower for just over 3 years. 2 service trips last year due to steering problems. Twice the the gear that contacts the steering wheel gear spun all the way out leaving me completely unable to steer. That dealer obviously didn't fix it properly so I took it to another early this Spring and got it fixed before the warranty expired. The steering is out of adjustment again. I noticed last weekend it didn't feel correct. Today it turns properly for left turns, wheels counter-rotating. However, when turning right the right wheel is stationary, digging into the turf even at full lock. It appears another trip to the dealer will be in order, most likely at my expense. I wanted the steering wheel due to a corner lot with a ditch and berm to mow. I'm becoming very frustrated and wishing I'd opted for a traditional zero turn. The mowing quality is excellent and the mulch kit works great. Too bad the steering is not working well for me.

I need a picture of the throttle mechanism connecting the carburetor to the governor. I replaced the carburetor and forgot to take a picture of the carburetor control and the the spring loaded rod connected to the governor. My lawnmower is a TORO model 20016 serial number 250133101 with a Tecumseh engine LV195EA serial number 3620036.

Major issue with this model is it consistently burns holes in the lawn when stopped or idling. In the time it takes to get off the unit to pick up a stick from the lawn, the exhaust burns a hole in the lawn...and there is no heat shield offered for the exhaust. Blade controls and on/off switch are located too far to the rear for easy access. Engine cooling intake is an open cowling with no filter. Under trees and bushes its constantly sucking in debris. Some interlocks are flakey I'm finding. May just be adjustment. Zero turn traction is good to the point where on soft lawns it digs traction marks into the lawn. Ride comfort is low on rough ground due to the smaller tires in front. On the positive side, its a solidly built unit, which should last for long service.

Had this mower for 14 months. Was mowing today and accelerator pedal stuck to the floor. I was heading to the end of the yard on a busy road and could not get it to stop. Finally slammed my foot down on the reverse and got it free. Sitting in the middle of the road the left rear drive wheel will not turn, can't release transmission to push it out of the road. Finally, two guys got out of their cars and helped me drag it to the side of the road. I've been moving for 30 years and this is the first time a mower has ever tried to kill me!!! And I still have 12 more payments.

Currently I have not been able to test it out on cutting but as far as the ride, Not bad may come back and adjust rating later when mowing season starts.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Purchased this mower with the grass collection system. Toro made is so simple to go from collecting clippings to removing the collection system and just cutting grass. Mower handles the small hills I have like a dream. Easy to operate and its a breeze changing the height of cut.

I've had this mower for 2 years now and have 179 hours on the hour meter. I mow year round, and am very satisfied!

I've been very happy with this lawn mower so far. I've had it several weeks. The steering wheel makes using this zero turn very easy. I like the gas tank design that enables the fuel level to be seen. The dual key reverse system took some getting use to. I like the easily adjustable steering wheel for ease of entry and exit. I have a slight incline to my yard and the mower handled very well. I wish I had known that the mower did not come mulching blades at the time of purchase (I could have had them installed prior to delivery).

You cannot stop this mower on the grass with out it scorching the grass underneath the engine and muffler. It burns the grass to the ground. It needs a shield and/or a muffler redesign.

This is a very fine machine. A bit of a learning curve, but otherwise an excellent Toro product. I would rate this a 10.

The timecutter sw4200 inch is very powerful and does a great job on my lawn

I only had two cuts with the mower. Performance was excellent and results were good. The only issue is don't let it stop on the grass it will burn the grass under the engine. It has been almost two 2 weeks since the first cut and the grass is still brown were I stopped.

I have had my toro sw5000 less than a year, had it the shop three times running issues, now the hydra static brake is actting up, i have paid to much money for this machine to be this much trouble i had my last riding lawnmower for over 9 years and didn't have these problems. On the other hand my son in law has had is for three years with no problem. maybe i have a lemon!!

We have owned the TimeCutter for 3 truly miserable years. It's a piece of junk. After one month, it was in the repair shop. The second season it accrued more hours in the shop than it did actually cutting grass. This year we bought a wonderful & cheap big box store mower and left the Toro garaged after 2 more visits for repairs. The biggest issue is with the starter and the traction pedal. The pedal has to be in the exact correct position or it won't start. One of us has to lay underneath and move the pedal back and forth while the other tries to start the machine. The mowing deck detaches easily while mowing. The mower must run for at least 15 minutes so the battery can recharge. Forget something in the house less than 15 minutes after starting? Don't bother! The battery won't start! This machine has been in for repairs more than 6 times, not counting the on-site repair calls. I will NEVER buy a Toro again and neither should you. Don't waste your hard earned money!

When we finally tracked it down and then told the assembler where it went and it was finally delvered, I love it.

While I've only mowed 6 times with this mower, there isn't a bad thing I can say about it. From literally almost no learning curve with being brand new to a zero turn mower, to the speed and ease this mower makes of my yard. This is a great machine so far! I'm really happy I made the investment in this particular model.

I have had my SW5000 for about 2 years and I have had a chronic problem with the deck. When you slightly bump a fence or a tree with the deck, the cutting height adjustment lift mechanism pops out of the pivot block and the deck drops down and drags on the ground. It is a terrible design. The quality of the cut also leaves a lot to be desired. It leaves lots of whiskers and the chute clogs very easily. The reason I bought the zero turn with the steering wheel is the ability to control it at low speeds for trimming and it does not walk like other zero turns on uneven ground. For this I was very satisfied but I would not recommend the Toro because of the poor deck design.

My lot has a very steep grade, similar to that of a ski hill. This mower attacks it head on or on a slant. I was skeptical about zero turn lawn mowers but have found that it is much more safer than my old conventional mower. Although a bit pricey, it is well worth the cost if you've got a challenging lawn to cut.