Homeowners and professionals alike are drawn to innovation. Selecting the best battery-powered lawnmower might work for smaller yards. For larger properties or significant time savings, however, a larger gas-powered mower provides a better experience. From my first riding mower to my first reel mower, one question was always the same, does the innovation make good on its claim? Having already reviewed the Toro 22″ Personal Pace Recycler Lawnmower, we wanted to see what could be done with the new 30-inch model. Toro certainly seems to have improved in several areas with its newest Toro 30 in Lawn Mower. Branded as the Toro TimeMaster (21199), the new model makes the claim that it will save you time. I made it my goal to deliver on that claim.
The Toro TimeMaster rear-wheel-drive self-propelled 30” push mower offers a wider mowing alternative. A powerful engine that supports the wide deck and ergonomic controls make it easy to use. Toro seems to have designed all aspects of the TimeMaster mower, so it can live up to its name.
Toro 30″ TimeMaster Features
The Toro TimeMaster mower is powered by a massive 223cc Briggs and Stratton overhead valve engine. Delivering 10 ft-lb of torque, this engine gives the boost needed to cut almost 50% more grass per pass than traditional push mowers.
For mowing grass over any terrain, the Toro TimeMaster delivers power to a pair of 10-inch diameter rear wheels. These larger wheels provide wider-than-average traction, giving them greater grip and a smoother driving area.
This combination of power and secure drivetrain yields up to a 40% faster mow time.
Of course, that forward movement would be useless without the wide Dual-Force twin-blade cutting system. Toro employs two mulching blades to span the 30-inches of the mowing deck.
Mulching
With the included rear discharge plug, the Toro TimeMaster lawn mower makes a very fine mulch. With the plug out and the grass bag on, the TimeMaster is a beast. It vacuums any and all clippings and leaves that it passes over.
When vacuuming more, you end up dumping the bag more. This is where the Blade Stop system comes in especially useful. Use it, and you don’t need to turn off and restart the engine. To engage the blade after starting, you simply press down the simple blade control bar lock and then pull down the blade control bar. Upon engaging the blade, the power of the engine roars to meet the need. When you have a full bag, or you need to stop the blade for any reason whatsoever, just release the bar to disengage it.
Toro Personal Pace Self-Propel System
The Personal Pace Self-Propel system and Traction-Assist handle on the Toro TimeMaster work together to give the operator constant control over the drive of the mower. Push down a little on the handle, and the mower moves a little. Push down all the way, and you up to 4.5 mph of propelled speed. The Traction-Assist handle works well for tight corners where only one hand is available. It gives you something to squeeze the “go” handle towards when you can’t be behind it pushing.
I found the Quick Stow lever of the Toro TimeMaster lawn mower to be a definite winner. This feature allows for two different operating handle heights. More importantly, the lever enables the handle to be at a fixed 90-degree angle to the mower. This cuts the square footage needed to store it in half.
Testing the Toro 30 in Lawn Mower
For my first pass with the Toro 30 in lawn mower, I used the mulch setting at the E height which is 2.25”. The 2-point height-of-cut allows for quick adjusting of deck height from a low of 1.25” at the G setting up to a high of 4.25” at the A setting (with all letters between as options).
This first pass with the Toro 30 in lawn mower was a breeze. My small and compartmented patches of Zoysia grass that normally takes 40 minutes to mow only took 25 minutes. The mower delivered a uniform cut across the lawn with fine clippings. I found the Personal Pace Self-Propel system easy, even natural, to use. The Traction-Assist handle was an ergonomic and naturally useful feature, but the name didn’t help me know what it did! I guess “perfectly placed fixed handle to use with the Personal Pace system” didn’t fit! Combined, they increased the ability to make tight turns without substantially slowing down.
Testing for Power
Then the Toro 30 in lawn mower showed its true colors when I dropped the deck to the F setting for a 1.75” mow height. Every season I scalp my Zoysia. After a good amount of rain and, even with bagging, a fair amount of clippings, the lawn is too thick. I took the rear discharge plug out and put the grass bag in its place. The TimeMaster took the challenge like a champ, only bogging down in the slightest when the bag was completely full. And fill the bag it did! Where other mowers would struggle to fill the bag with all of that material, the TimeMaster did not fail to collect.
I was genuinely impressed at the vacuum-like action of the mower with the grass bag attached. Even the clippings normally just kicked around on the driveway or sidewalk were sucked up with ease. Even with the “scalping”, I did all of my Zoysia lawn with a clean and even cut. Despite the uneven terrain, the Toro 30-inch lawn TimeMaster lawn mower gave me a smooth and level finish.
The Good
The 30” wide deck coupled with a power train that can propel it as fast as you can walk is awesome! The Quick Stow lever really does make storage quick and much more efficient use of space in the garage.
The Bad
The weight. Here again, it earns the “Beast” moniker. With the engine off, you’ve got no help moving those 132 pounds around. Also, this power comes at a cost: thirst. That 223cc engine is thirsty. Toro’s own spec is a tank lasts about an hour, and my experience was a little less.
Toro TimeMaster Lawn Mower Specifications
- Engine: Briggs & Stratton 1000 Series, 223cc
- Engine type: Carbureted
- Starter: Recoil (Electric model available)
- Fuel: Gas (0.3 gallon capacity)
- Run-time: Up to 1 hour
- Drive: Personal Pace rear-wheel
- Speed: Up to 4.5 mph
- Weight: 132 lbs
- Cutting deck: 30 in.
- Wheel height: 8 in (front), 10 in. (rear)
- Deck construction: Steel w/cast-aluminum frame
- Cutting height: 1.25 – 4.25 in. (0.5 in. increments)
- Blades: 2 x 15.4 in.
- Price: $1199.00
Summary
How much is your time worth? The Toro 30 in lawn mower, the TimeMaster, really does save time (and space). It also does so in an easy-to-use package. The Personal Pace Self-Propel system, 2 point height-of-cut adjustment, Quick Stow lever, and washout port add up to time-saving goodness. The features that win the day, though? The 30” wide deck, an engine that can support it, and the safety of the blade stop system make the Toro 30 in lawn mower worth it. Get more information, and locate a dealer here.
