iFixit - Answers With Device "Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower"

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: White smoke and spitting oil?

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 09:30:23 -0700

I shouldn't be allowed to operate power tools anymore, but whatever... I was mowing my yard when I hit a piece of hidden wood. A piece of wood jammed against the side of the lawnmower and the blade, which required me to flip it on its side and dislodge the chunk of wood. After I removed the wood, I put the mower back into its right position and took a break (It's hot out..). After my 45-minute break, I went to start it to finish cutting and it was belching out white smoke, and leaking and spitting oil out of the muffler. My father and I took a look at it finding nothing, but I took off the air filter cover and there was also an oily residue in there, more than normal. What could be wrong with it?

P.S: Comment if you want pictures.

⟐ Commented July 07, 2025 at 9:30 MST

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: Engine starts, won't go forward or reverse.

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 05:09:21 -0700

I have a Toro Wheel Horse riding mower - engine starts, mower deck will engage, but it will not go forward or reverse. It will roll, however. What is the fix? Thanks.

⟐ Commented June 14, 2023 at 5:09 MST

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: Why does it stop running after 15-20 seconds

Sat, 17 Jun 2023 11:17:46 -0700

Replaced a worn fuel line. Ran great for about 20 minutes, then stopped. Will re-start but only run for 15-20 seconds. I replaced spark plug and air filter as well, but same problem. Engine keeps stopping after 15-20 seconds.

⟐ Commented June 17, 2023 at 11:17 MST

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: smoke and oil coming from Toro variable speed propelled mower exhaust

Tue, 17 Dec 2013 12:52:53 -0700

I bought a new (customer returned) mower from a salvage dealer. It has never cut grass as below the deck is pristine. I added oil and gas and it started on the second pull. It pours smoke from the exhaust as well as spits oil (maybe oil vapor) that gets the deck and wheel oily. I saw one expert said oil in the cyllinder can cause this. Even with a new mower?

One other said to let it run for 15 min to burn it off, safe?

Any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks Tim G

⟐ Edited December 17, 2013 at 12:52 MST

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: Cable to blade engagement is loose or broken

Thu, 31 Mar 2016 12:45:44 -0700

The cable to engage the blade is loose and can be pulled by hand inside housing

⟐ Answered March 31, 2016 at 12:45 MST

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: White smoke out of muffler once warmed up

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 08:24:30 -0700

My Honda engine on a Toro motor suddenly started billowing white oily smelling smoke out of the muffler. I shut it down, and let it sit for a while. it starts on the first pull, runs fine for about 20 minutes and then starts billowing out white smoke again.

Head Gasket?

⟐ Commented August 14, 2023 at 8:24 MST

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: How do I replace pull starter cord

Fri, 26 Jan 2018 08:52:43 -0700

The cord that you pull to start the mower is broke need to know how to put new one on

⟐ Answer accepted January 26, 2018 at 8:52 MST

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: Time cutter 4200 blades will not stay engaged

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 20:40:50 -0700

My time cutter zero turn will run fine. However, the blades will not stay engaged. I will be mowing and the blades will just shut off. I push the switch button down and pull it back up and they engage again. The engine does not stall or react.

I am assuming the switch is bad, but before I start chucking money, I figured I’d ask.

Some days are worse than others. Some days, I can mow for hours without any issues. Today, I could mow for about 5 minutes at a time.

⟐ Commented July 05, 2021 at 20:40 MST

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: Howto install Blade engage cable on Toro TimeMaster 30in Mower

Sat, 15 Aug 2015 10:17:11 -0700

How to install Blade engage cable on a 30in Toro TimeMaster mower

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: How to remove top cover on 22" Recycler?

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 18:00:54 -0700

Need to replace rope start. 3 nuts holding rope start are not releasing and bolts are turning with nuts. Model PH-XT675-2011

⟐ Commented June 01, 2025 at 18:00 MST

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: engine will not start

Sat, 16 May 2020 15:32:04 -0700

How do you get gas into the carb to check if that is why the mower won't start after sitting for the winter?

⟐ Answered May 16, 2020 at 15:32 MST

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: How to replace cord

Sun, 20 May 2018 12:35:18 -0700

What size of wrench/socket is needed to remove cover?

⟐ Commented May 20, 2018 at 12:35 MST

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: Why does the pto switch blow

Sat, 30 May 2020 02:58:30 -0700

PTO switch blows. Warner electric mag stop # 5218-76 tests OK with 2.2 resistance and the AMP draw is 5.53 at beginning of test then drops down to 5.40 +- 8 . I can jump the plug at the switch ( switch removed) and the PTO clutch works and jumper wire does not get hot. I do not see any damage inside the clutch and bearings are very good.

TORO 62" Z MASTER Z256 Model 74225 - 210001451

I can not find anything wrong with wiring, and all safety switches are in working order.

Very well kept machine I bought new 1082 hrs KOHLER 23 hp gas

THANK YOU

GREGORY B. NOWLIN GREGNOWLIN@FRONTIER.COM

⟐ Answer edited May 30, 2020 at 2:58 MST

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: Why is the engine over revving?

Sun, 29 Jul 2018 08:00:47 -0700

With the engine running the governor doesn't seem to be controlling the engine rpm's and over-speeding. Throttle control cable doesn't seem to be controlling the engine

speed whatsoever.

Thanks, Tom of Indy.

⟐ Commented July 29, 2018 at 8:00 MST

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: How to install torsion spring on grass deflector on pesonal pace mower

Sat, 06 Apr 2024 10:11:50 -0700

cannot get front side of spring in place

⟐ Commented April 06, 2024 at 10:11 MST

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: Why is mower leaking oil

Sun, 21 Mar 2021 09:56:39 -0700

Mower (toro 22" recycler lawn mower) worked fine two weeks ago. Starts right up. Black smoke blowing out of engine area by muffler shield, dripping oil onto mower under muffler shield. Sounds a little rough when running, but very slight sound. The oil level is fine, I have not tilted the mower.

⟐ Commented March 21, 2021 at 9:56 MST

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: Toro AWD - 22' Recycler - idles high?

Mon, 17 Aug 2020 12:28:32 -0700

Hello,

My Toro AWD personal pace recycler 22’ 168cc. Sounds like it idles higher then it should its like its off to the races or something.

I pulled off the decorative cover and took a look at the governor tension springs(I think that is what it is) located above the carburetor and no matter what I do loosen, tighten jiggle with the springs it does not change the idle speed at all, sounds the same no matter what I do.

Is there a way to adjust the idle on this lawn mower?

It runs good and starts right up just the idle sounds so dang high is this normal? This is a new to me mower - its used a couple years old and the person I bought if from said he thought it idled high also but did not know how to adjust it either.

Thank you so much. I’m baffled!

Hi- i figured it out yesterday. It’s a fixed throttle so there is no carb adjustment screws on the carbs. I did find the governor on it though and kind of rigged it to pull back a little farther on the carb by adding some wire so I did get it to idle down lower by doing this.

It works .. the way I did it (even though maybe not the correct way) I guess that is all that matters. :-)

Thank you for your suggestion.. very much appreciated.

⟐ Edited by author August 17, 2020 at 12:28 MST

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: Why is gas pouring out of the air filter?

Sat, 30 May 2020 02:19:25 -0700

We started to use the lawn mower, which was fine last time we used it the beginning of summer. We started pouring gasoline into the gas tank and then gasoline started to pour out through the air filter. We did not spill any gasoline onto the mower. What could be causing this to happen?

⟐ Answered May 30, 2020 at 2:19 MST

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: How to replace pull cord?

Fri, 07 Jun 2019 18:04:57 -0700

How can I replce pull cord

⟐ Answered June 07, 2019 at 18:04 MST

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: Self Propelled Mower wont propel

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 07:53:39 -0700

I have a Toro self propelled mower (rear wheel drive) that when I engage the transmission i hear grinding and the wheels wont propel. I removed the rear wheels and when i engaged the transmission both drive gears turned. The plastic gears on the wheels have rounded or beveled gear teeth. Should i try replacing the wheels or is there an adjustment i should try?

⟐ Answer edited April 26, 2024 at 7:53 MST