Toro or Honda OHV engine?

[pugaltitude]

The toro engine is just a chinese manufactured engine but branded toro.
I think its made in the loncin factory which sells to a lot of OEMs.
It even comes with ready start do no choke or primer required.
Starts and runs well bit its not a briggs!!!

[Rivets]

To clear up a couple of things. Toro does not make an engine. The engine that is on the 2012 morers is a Chinese built to Toro specs engine. Differences are it has a castbiron sleeve, bearings not bushings on the crank, quieter exhaust, better cooling than previous models. Is it better, only time will tell, for now majority like it if they can get past where it is made. Myself, I love the engine, but the carb is driving me nuts.

[stygz]

Sounds like it is a quality made engine. Cast Iron sleeve and bearings. Is this what the Honda engine is built like? Better building specs than my 6.75 torque B+S engine?

[stygz]

To clear up a couple of things. Toro does not make an engine. The engine that is on the 2012 morers is a Chinese built to Toro specs engine. Differences are it has a castbiron sleeve, bearings not bushings on the crank, quieter exhaust, better cooling than previous models. Is it better, only time will tell, for now majority like it if they can get past where it is made. Myself, I love the engine, but the carb is driving me nuts.

This sounds like the specs of the Honda engine on their commercial $1200 mower. Possibly better built than Honda?

[jwbu11ock]

Based on engine model numbers from the Toro site here are the available specs on the two engines:

Toro (model 1P65FA): see UK JENSENPOWER Hot Selling 1P65FA 159cc 5.5hp vertical shaft gasoline engine products, buy UK JENSENPOWER Hot Selling 1P65FA 159cc 5.5hp vertical shaft gasoline engine products from alibaba.com

Honda (model GCV160LA0 S3T): see Honda Engines - GCV160 4-Stroke Engine

I'm also stuck on which one to buy so please give opinions. Are the choices so bad I should be looking somewhere other than Toro or are the differences more minor biases?

[Rivets]

The choices are not bad, it's just you are getting brain freeze trying to understand what everyone is saying about their favorite. We all push the limit to make ours look better and many times we don't compare apples to apples. This makes it hard for individuals to understand. You have $$$ to spend and just like buying a car, at the end you have to go with your gut and hope you did the right thing. Everything we say is just our BIAS OPINION. Good luck.

[pugaltitude]

The choices are not bad, it's just you are getting brain freeze trying to understand what everyone is saying about their favorite. We all push the limit to make ours look better and many times we don't compare apples to apples. This makes it hard for individuals to understand. You have $$$ to spend and just like buying a car, at the end you have to go with your gut and hope you did the right thing. Everything we say is just our BIAS OPINION. Good luck.

But dont buy a Toro or Honda engine

[Rivets]

Sorry pug, normally you ANSI agree, but not this time.

[Larry R]

Stay away (a long way) from the Honda & kohler engines. If you can find a unit with a B & S engine hat would be the best way to go. Lots on engine changes with the 2012 models. Try to find a model that has a serial # starting with 311. If you do you will have a keeper for a long time. Good luck!

I'm new to the forum and totally agree on the Honda. I bought a Hustler 48" with the Honda GVX530 and it is junk. Nothing but trouble from the start, o-ring gaskets not installed in the grooves and leaking when brand new, then 4 times to the shop for total valve compnent replacement. Waited 2 months the 1st time for the factory to make replacement parts and get them to the dealer. In the shop now (3 weeks and counting)(was sent to the nearest distributor this time) for the 4th valve parts replacements in 2 years and weather was dry so only cut a few times. Wet this year and need it but has had the problem twice. Carb trouble as well and I use Stabil, ethanol treatment and Stabil. Didn't know about the Kohler but can't believe it could be worse. I'll stick to Kawasaki or Industrial Briggs from now on. Asked dealer to knock some off for the bad motor and replace with Kawasaki and let me pay the difference but they don't want to because of the different wiring.

[Drinyth]

New guy here. Sorry to revive an old thread, but I'm in the same boat and looking for opinions. I was thinking maybe now that it's later in the year, folks may have had more of a chance to use the Toro's with the newer motor and give an opinion on what they think.

Toro with cast-iron sleeve and ball bearing, but unknown in its longevity since it's new? Or Honda with aluminum bore and bushings, but longer track record?

I've heard that initially the Toro motors that were built had some carb issues, but that they've been fixed now? Rivets mentioned something about hating the carb on the Toro so maybe he could elaborate here?

The 20381 is on sale at my local dealer so it actually ends up saving me $80 instead of $50 if I go that route. I just don't want to kick myself later wishing I had gone with the Honda...