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Toro 20330 Review

Toro 20330 Review

The Toro 20330 is one of the lower end models in their Recycler range. You can pick this model up for a very good price which is a nice surprise when you consider the features it brings to the lawn. Ok, so these features aren’t anything special but they do make sure mowing your lawn is not an ordeal. You’ve got solid components all the way through this one, from its Briggs & Stratton engine to its 22 inch cutting deck. This mower has generally been designed well. There are a couple of little faults which we picked up on and if you read a little further down the page you’ll see. But first we will start off with the key features which make up this model.

Toro 20330 Review - Specifications

ManufacturerToro
Model20330
Engine190 cc Briggs & Stratton (ReadyStart Technology)
Deck Size22 inches
Cutting Modes3-in-1: Bag, Discharge or Mulch
Cutting Heights1 - 4 inches
Weight80 lbs
Extra FeaturesVariable Speed Front Wheel Drive
No Longer Available - Check Similar Models

Toro 20330 Review – Key Features

  • Briggs & Stratton Engine – Always a good sign when a mower has one of these. Strong, powerful, reliable and smooth is what you get from this engine. It also comes with ReadyStart technology which makes starting up so much easier. You don’t prime the engine and there’s no choke. Just pull the cord and mow!
  • 22 inch cutting deck – This is a decent size. It allows you to get your lawn cut a bit quicker than models with a smaller deck because you cut more grass on each pass. So you make less passes. You get the picture.
  • Variable speed self propel – If you’ve never used one of these systems then it does take a while to get used to but once you do its real convenient. The speeds range from a slow walk to a slow jog which should be a big enough range to suit practically anyone. It is front wheel drive on this mower and it doesn’t work too well on hills, particularly steep ones. The front wheels tend to naturally lift up so you are left pushing a fairly heavy mower uphill.
  • Cutting heights – You get a nice range of cutting heights with the mower (1 – 4 inches) but the heights are somewhat difficult to adjust.
  • Washout Port – Great little innovation from Toro here. You don’t need to risk turning your mower over in order to clean it (which can be tricky with a gas mower as you have got the gas & oil to think about, you wouldn’t want that leaking everywhere!). With this feature you can attach your garden hose to the deck to clean any stray clippings off. It’s definitely best to do this straight after you finish mowing, otherwise the clippings will dry and stick on.
  • Easy on-off bag – That’s right, the grass bag on this one is really easy to take off and put back on. So you won’t be wasting any time when you need to empty it. This is helped by the fact that you have a one piece handle on this model. Although it fills up too quickly and it gets a bit annoying having to empty it so often.

Toro 20330 Review – Assembly

Most mowers are easy to set up these days but it’s still important to point out. Standard assembly with this one really – attach handle, add oil and gas and your ready to go.

Toro 20330 Review – Performance

Performs well in all conditions really. Cuts and mulches well. Deals with both longer and wet grass well. Can’t ask for much more really. The powerful engine allows it to do this.

The Bo​​​​​ttom Line

Is the Toro 20330 the right choice for you? Below we've listed both the pros and cons to help you decide.

Pros

  • Powerful engine
  • Easy to start up
  • Easy to clean with washout port
  • Cut and mulches really well
  • Good size cutting deck
  • Self propel makes the job easier
  • Easy to set up
  • Grass bag easy to take off and re-attach
  • Good range of cutting heights

Cons

  • Cutting heights are tricky to adjust
  • Rear deflector sometimes gets pulled into the blade area
  • Front wheel drive doesn't work too well on hills
  • Bag is on the small side

Conclusion:

This is one of the cheaper options in Toro’s Recycler series. It’s the bog standard self propel package but that might suit you just fine. It’s more than capable of maintaining any regular sized family yard with no questions asked. You’ve also got enough power to play with should you go away on vacation or get a bit lazy and let your yard overgrow a little. On top of that you’ve got self propel which can seriously cut down your mowing time once you learn to use it right. It is front wheel drive as we have already mentioned and tends to be more suitable for flatter surfaces. If you’ve got hills look for a rear wheel drive mower.

Our Rating

No Longer Available - Check Similar Models
Tom Greene Author Lawnmowerguru

About Tom Greene

I've always had a keen interest in lawn care as long as I can remember. Friends used to call me the "lawn mower guru" (hence the site name), but I'm anything but. I just enjoy cutting my lawn and spending time outdoors. I also love the well-deserved doughnuts and coffee afterward!

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