<SUMMARY> In a crowded field the Toro compares well based on it's performance - it cuts and mulches *very* well. Where it falls short is on features and to a lesser extent, construction. If I had to do it again, I'd take a closer look at the B&D CM1936. 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 half a star for customer service. The redesigned packaging should resolve the numerous issues people seem to have had with shipping damage.
I've had this machine for a whole season and was able to test it back to back with our B&D CMM1000 24V 19" cordless mower before I sold it some months back. To make things fair I sharpened the B&D and cleaned the deck. The Toro was substantially quieter and easier to maneuver (It's lighter and the weight is biased towards the rear wheels. After 12 years the B&D is still an impressive machine but in tall or wet grass it simply couldn't keep up. I had to re-mow with the B&D while the Toro gave a good cut with a single pass - even when walking quickly! You could hear the motor slow down but it still gave an excellent cut and mulched effectively.
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 mulches more efficiently, and makes for a smaller overall mower - despite this, our old B&D CMM1000 feels slightly more solid. Also, 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. The one annoyance is that you have to tilt the mower to dump this out or you are going to be dragging it into your garage.
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" <UPDATE> 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, this mower performs well but doesn't of the other features / details right. For the price, I think the B&DCM1936 offers a lot more, but if flat out mowing performance is your criteria, this is the one for you.
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.
<TORO CUSTOMER SERVICE>
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.
<LIKES>
+ 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
<DISLIKES>
- 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.
<COMPARO>
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.......69#....Plastic deck, Removable Batt
Earthwise 60120..........20"/24V/480......92#....Metal deck, Removable Batt
Toro 20360.................20"/36V/432......77#....Metal deck
<FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS>
>>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 [...] 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 [...] 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 [...]). 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! Toro 20360 e-Cycler 20-Inch 36-Volt Cordless Electric Lawn Mower'
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