Reader's Responses:

1. Aero Curtis says:

   May 13, 2010 at 3:42 am

   Review by Aero Curtis for Toro 20360 e-Cycler 20-Inch 36-Volt Cordless Electric Bagging/Mulching Lawn Mower
   Rating:
   I grew up learning on my Dad’s Toro mower that lasted forever, so I thought I’d check their webpage to see if they make a rechargeable mower. It turns out Toro has just introduced their first battery-powered mower. I expected the Toro to be more expensive than the Black & Decker units I’ve seen, but it is competitively priced.

   I went to a local Toro dealer and was pleasantly surprised to find a mom and pop shop doing maintenance on other customer’s Toro mowers and sharpening blades in the back. Compared to the other Toro mowers on display, this was the smallest with a relatively small bag. I’m 6′4″ and was concerned about the handle height but found it just tall enough and comfortable.

   When I got home with the mower, I set it to the middle 4/7 height, plugged in the safety key and started mowing. I had read online that the battery was charged at the factory, though reading the manual afterwards I found that Toro suggests charging the battery fully first. After I finished mowing the yard, I decided to lower the deck height to the 2/7 setting and went over a small section of the back just to see how it did. It did a good job at both cutting heights, only needing to go over some really tall weeds twice. In total, I mowed for over 45 minutes and didn’t run out of the factory charge. After bringing the mower inside, I plugged in the charger for the recommended overnight charging.

   Overall, I’m happy with the purchase and recommend you check out Toro as an alternative to the Black & Decker models sold at the big-box stores. This model is assembled in Mexico. The fit and finish is what you’d expect from Toro.

   PROS
   
   + Metal construction with adjustable height on all four wheels. The salesman advised staying away from mowers that only adjust height on one side.
   
   + Quiet and odor-free. I wouldn’t feel bad using this mower at 7 AM and didn’t smell like a gas station afterwards.
   
   + Toro quality, local service.

   CONS
   
   –The mower is 77 lbs. and is not self-propelled. On hills, it takes some effort – not too hard for an adult, but pre-teens might not be up to the task.
   
   –Enough power for cutting grass but not excessively powerful. It doesn’t feel like it will rip right through large fallen branches like some gas mowers can (not that you should).
   
   –Battery is not quickly removable. This isn’t the mower for you if you’ll need two batteries to mow your lawn. The Black & Decker CM1936 has a quick release battery pack if you need that feature.
2. James Ellison Shepherd says:

   May 13, 2010 at 4:06 am

   Review by James Ellison Shepherd for Toro 20360 e-Cycler 20-Inch 36-Volt Cordless Electric Bagging/Mulching Lawn Mower
   Rating:
   The Toro 20360 e-Cycler is a very competent cordless mower for mulching lawns under 10,000sqft. I have owned a Neuton CE 6.2 mower since it came out two years ago. I loved the ease and convenience of a cordless/battery powered mower (easy start, no trips to get gas, no exhaust smell, quieter), but its mulching performance was poor on our
3. Y. R. Wu says:

   May 13, 2010 at 4:08 am

   Review by Y. R. Wu for Toro 20360 e-Cycler 20-Inch 36-Volt Cordless Electric Bagging/Mulching Lawn Mower
   Rating:
   In a crowded field, this mower compares well primarily due to the voltage and cutting path – it cuts and mulches better & faster. If I had to do it again, I’d take a closer look at the B&D CM1936 due to some nicer features. Both of these mowers were the top picks in the March 2010 Consumer Reports. I would rate this as 4 stars overall but ding them more than half a star for customer service.

   I’ve had this machine for three weeks now and have tested it back to back with our B&D CMM1000 24V 19″ cordless mower. To make things fair I sharpened the B&D blade and cleaned the underside of the deck. The Toro was substantially quieter and slightly easier to maneuver (It’s lighter and the weight is biased towards the rear wheels. The B&D is still an impressive machine after 12 years but in tall wet grass it simply couldn’t keep up in tall wet grass. I had to re-mow with the B&D while the Toro gave a good cut with a single pass.

   The improved performance isn’t surprising given the extra voltage. I’d note that when we bought the Black & Decker CMM1000, ~11 years ago, the only other cordless mower was the Neuton 14″ via mail order. Now there are more than you can shake a stick at (SEE CHART)

   Fit and finish is good but some items do not inspire confidence. The plastic motor cover is flimsy though it’s hard to judge as two of the plastic bosses were broken (more on that later) Where the charger plugs in wobbles a lot and the locknut holding the circuit breaker in place was half off with no Loctite applied. This would have been lost within the first hour of use. Finally, the first time I tried to attach the grass catcher I had to wrestle with a wire which interfered with the grass door.

   The handle folds but it’s the same others – you have a large plastic wingnut you have to turn…and turn…and turn… Hasn’t anyone come up with a better quick release for this?

   The metal deck makes a big difference – it’s deeper and seems to mulch more efficiently. It also makes for a smaller overall mower – despite this, our old B&D CMM1000 feels more solid and better built. The B&D had a proper “mulch Plug” while the Toro mulch cover allows grass to collect in a hollow area behind the mulch door – despite this, I never noticed the grass clumping.

   Also the Toro’s metal deck allows the blade to get much closer to fences and trees. With the B&D, the 2 layer plastic deck was much thicker so the blade was at least 3″ away. This is more like 1″ It’s the wheel placement. If you lay a straight edge across the outside of the wheels, there’s 1/2″ to the Toro blade but 1-1/2 inches on the Black and Decker. Unfortunately the Toro seems to waste this advantage on one side as the handle sticks out so that it rubs if you mow with a fence on your right.

   Toro says “Lighter than most other cordless mowers” but I’m not so sure (SEE CHART)

   I have mixed feelings about the on/off switch. I preferred the dead mans bar on the B&D rather than this lever, which forces you to keep your right hand on the handle at all times. On the other hand, you can power off when crossing a sidewalk or driveway just by relaxing your grip.

   Overall, it appears that this is Toro’s first cordless mower and it shows. It mows well but doesn’t get a lot of the other features / details right. For the price, I think the B&DCM1936 offers a lot more.

   I might be biased towards B&D given our 10+ trouble free years with their CMM1000, but you could say that I might also have a favorable bias towards the Toro since I received it through Amazon Vine.

   I received this item with some minor damage. There are 4 screws which hold the top plastic cover on. Two of the screw bosses were broken. When I removed the cover, I saw that the two zip ties holding the batteries down were also broken. Finally, one of the rear wheel adjusters was bent. I called Toro up and after a Looooong time on hold they told me to either pay to have it repaired myself or to go through Amazon and return it. Not really worth the hassle and rather frustrating.

   + 36 volts gives LOTS of power – mulches effortlessly
   
   + 20 inch cutting path (really 19-5/8″, but our 19″ B&D was only 18-1/2)
   
   + Tall metal deck gives more complete mulching
   
   + Wheel placement BIG plus for cutting next to fences, trees

   - Toro Customer Service
   
   - Does not store vertically like the B&D
   
   - Wheels adjust individually
   
   - No dead man bar
   
   - Grass catcher very small (perhaps 1/2 the volume of the B&D)
   
   - Charger plug wobbles
   
   - Bar not as ergonomic, also rubs against fence when mowing alongside.

   I’ve put a quick guide of the most popular models on Amazon. All info reported by manufacturer. Amazon won’t let me put prices in my review, sorry!

   MOWER…………Path/Volt/Watt-hr……WT…………COMMENTS

   Neuton CE5.3…………14″/24V/240……48#….Plastic deck, Removable batt.
   
   B&D CM1836…………..18″/36V/NA…….64#….Plastic deck
   
   Greenworks 25092……18″/24V/480……95#….Self Propel, Removable Batt
   
   Worx ECO WG780…….19″/24V/408……80#….Removable Battery
   
   Haussmann CLM46NU…19″/24V/NA……..94#….Haussmann who?? Metal deck
   
   B&D CMM1200………….19″/24V/432……76#….Update to our old CM1000
   
   B&D CM1936……………19″/36V/360…….72#….Plastic deck, Removable Batt
   
   Neuton CE6…………….19″/36V/360…….88#….Plastic deck, Removable Batt
   
   Earthwise 60120……….20″/24V/480……92#….Metal deck, Removable Batt
   
   Toro 20360……………..20″/36V/432……77#….Metal deck

   >>Why SHOULD I get a cordless electric mower? They are super quiet, clean, and convenient. They aren’t necessarily cheaper than a gas mower since they cost more up front but there is almost NO maintenance. (We spent $80 over 10 years for a set of replacement batteries.) Corded electric mowers are a lot cheaper but then you have a cord. Also, certain models like the B&D can be stored vertically since there is no oil or gas to leak out

   >>Why SHOULDN’T I get a cordless mower? Up front cost (Typically $150 more) Also, They weigh significantly more than gas mowers so if you have a hilly lot or have difficulty with physical exertion, forget it. They don’t have as much power as gas (even the 36V ones) and re-fueling means charging for a few hours so if your lot is over ½ acre you may want to reconsider.

   >>Why do they all come with mulching PLUS bagging? Electric powered mowers have come a long ways but mulching still takes a LOT more power than discharging, so bagging is pretty much a standard feature for when you let your grass get too long.

   >>What is a watt-hour? It’s basically how big your gas tank is – the more watt-hours, the longer you can mow before you have to recharge.

   >>Is the cutting path a big deal? It can be – 1) The first thing manufacturers do when power is marginal is reduce the blade size, so I tend to see the smaller mowers as more likely to be underpowered. Second, when you consider a ~3″ overlap on each pass, a 20″ blade effectively cuts 13% more than an 18″ (especially since manufacturers generally inflate their blade lengths by about 1/2″) If you have a larger yard, you definitely do NOT want anything under 18″

   >>Why might I want a removable battery? If you have a large yard, you can swap out for more run time (Note that a second battery typically costs $100-$150). Also, You WILL need to replace the batteries eventually, and a this makes it easier (Note that I replaced the CMM1000 batteries by myself, about a 20 minute job requiring only a screwdriver and pliers) Finally, if you keep the mower in a shed that doesn’t have power, a removable battery will let you bring it in for charging.

   >>Why should I care about higher voltage? Higher voltage = more power, PLUS you can recharge the mower faster. With the same chemistry and current, a 36V mower will charge 50% faster than a 24V mower.

   >>Metal deck or plastic? Metal rusts but with minimal care it’s not an issue. Plastic does get scratched up, and since it isn’t as strong, it makes for a larger mower.

   If you’ve found this review helpful or have questions/comments, please let me know!
4. Jack says:

   May 13, 2010 at 4:33 am

   Review by Jack for Toro 20360 e-Cycler 20-Inch 36-Volt Cordless Electric Bagging/Mulching Lawn Mower
   Rating:
   I’ve long been wanting to replace my gas-powered mower with one that runs on a battery. Such products have been available for several years but, for me, all had disadvantages (high cost, narrow cutting width, longevity questions, etc.) that kept me from buying them. Toro has long had a reputation for well-designed lawn maintenance products so when they introduced the e-Cycler I decided that the time had come to make the switch.

   I have approximately 4500 sq. ft. of lawn and here are my observations after using the e-Cycler in its mulching mode:

   The Good:
   
   *Delivers a very even cut and the grass particles are finely cut, which should make for efficient mulching.
   
   *The sound of the mower is like that of a large fan and is considerably quieter than a gas model.
   
   *The wheels are inset into the deck, which allows the mower to cut very close to bushes, trees, etc.
   
   *Although the machine weighs approximately 75 pounds, it is well-balanced and easy to maneuver.
   
   *The handle is covered with a thick, foam-type rubber and is the most comfortable I’ve ever used.
   
   *The handle-mounted on-off switch requires a minimum effort to hold in the “On” position. Releasing it stops the motor within a second or two.
   
   *I’ve found that after mowing my moderately-sized lawn, the battery completely recharges in only 2-3 hours. The 10-16 hours that Toro recommends must be for severe service.
   
   *The handle easily folds, making it possible to store the mower in a relatively small space.

   The Not-So-Good
   
   *Each wheel must be separately adjusted to set the cutting height. The levers with which you do this are made of spring steel and even though they have rubber grips, quite a bit of effort is required to move them.
   
   *If you intend to bag rather than mulch, be aware that the well-designed grass catcher is quite small, with a capacity of less than one cubic foot, so be ready to have to empty it often.

   One other point: The mower has a “key” (it looks like a large spade fuse) which must be inserted into the side of the machine before the motor will start. This is a good security feature and can keep unauthorized people from operating the mower. However, it isn’t very big and is a dull red color so it could be hard to find if dropped or mislaid. It does have a small hole for hanging; however, I’d suggest instead that you get or make a key tag in a bright color and attach it to the key. I made a tag by cutting out a 2″ x 2″ piece of yellow Lexan plastic and attached it to the key with a loop of sturdy cord. The bright yellow makes the key hard to miss and the looped cord makes it easy to hang on a nail.
   
   Summing up, I am very much pleased with the performance of the e-Cycler. The “fit and finish” seem to follow in the tradition of other Toro products and the unit appears to be well-built and sturdy, suggesting a long service life. Toro mowers have long been noted for their effective deck design and this was demonstrated to me after I’d finished mowing my lawn for the first time. I was pushing the mower toward my garden shed when I noticed that I was still holding the switch in the “On” position. The machine is so much quieter than my old gas mower that I hadn’t noticed at first. As soon as I released the switch and the motor stopped I noticed that the mower was a bit easier to push. Apparently, the deck and blade design creates a lot of suction, which pulls the grass blades up for efficient cutting. So you could say that this mower really sucks. But in a good way.
   
5. P. Mason says:

   May 13, 2010 at 5:05 am

   Review by P. Mason for Toro 20360 e-Cycler 20-Inch 36-Volt Cordless Electric Bagging/Mulching Lawn Mower
   Rating:
   The first four reviewers have done a great job of summarizing this product, and I just wanted to chip in and provide my support with another 5/5 rating based upon an excellent first experience using it.

   I weighed several different options in cordless mowers before buying the Toro based upon past experiences with their lawn products during an old landscaping job, and I truly believe in their quality, especially when compared to other big box brands. Someone on the Amazon.com boards put it this way, comparing the Toro e-cycler to the 36V B&D mower, “if it was a toaster oven, I’d go B&D, but for the same price, I’m a little torn.” Well, consider me convinced in the e-Cycler’s place among excellent Toro lawn products.

   Pros are the 36-volts, great mulching capability and deep 20″ metal deck, all of which contributed to me being able to knock down a tall, overgrown (albeit small) lawn with ease. Despite having lots of grass and weeds to chop through, I never felt the mower to be underpowered or ineffective. The deck especially gave the mower a great feel – I couldn’t imagine taking a plastic-topped mower through the same experience. And, I found the mower just as easy to push as the gas counterparts that I’ve owned. Maybe the only difference was in the quality of the wheels, which are a hard coated plastic with deep treds. The only time I even noticed them was when I clacked over a couple concrete steps. While on grass the mower functioned just fine, but it struck me that these wheels weren’t made of a seemingly more durable rubber compound.

   Commenting on the noise – or overall lackthereof – it was a little lounder than I expected. Much like you’d hear from a very fast fan. It’s much more a WHIIIIIZZZZZ, than the deeper, louder chug of a gas mower. I’m sure it’s MUCH harder a noise for the neighbors to pick out, but it’s certainly not silent.

   I did use the bag to collect clippings – it was very easy to attach and it caught everything i needed it to for my small, very overgrown lawn. But, as others have said, I imagine that it might struggle to contain longs clippings from a medium/large lawn. Anyhow, mulching is a healthier option for promoting lawn growth, and since I primarily intend to use this mower for that, I’m glad that it excels in this area. I had intended to purchase a new mulching blade to replace the Toro’s, but after great first-time results, I expect to put that purchase on hold and see if this works well enough alone.

   I was happy that the supplied power cord reached far enough to allow me to charge the mower while in a convenient location within my garage. From that position, I could just leave it plugged in overnight without making a hassle of it. The included key is a fine enough safety feature, although I do agree that I’m afraid that I will misplace it some day, since you need to remove the key to charge. Though, it could be an easy fix with a Carabiner or something.

   Bottom line, I was actually very relieved that this product performed to such satisfaction. I purchased it mostly based upon my experience with older Toro products, and I’m happy to say that the e-Cycler met all expectations. I don’t see any reason to go back to a gas mower again.