any toro groundsmaster fans on here?

TSmith2670 · Apr 30, 2016

I didn't see this thread before. I use a 4WD Toro 455D weekly (almost daily) on our farm. We mow 20 acres out of 100 weekly. Love that mower but the 4WD sucks. If I get in a bit of mud and I'm calling for the tractor to pull me out. They are really made for golf courses. Ours has a Peugeot diesel and a 10 ft. cutting width. The Hershey Co. down the road from our farm has a larger one with a cab. Great mowers but a lot of maintenance with 3 decks all going at once.

Cord · May 1, 2016

I'm not sure about that machine, but some ran an automatic over running clutch to engage the 4wd. If you dig through the parts manuals you might find a different year that was full time 4wd. It might be a simple clutch swap.

Xfaxman · May 1, 2016

TSmith2670 said:
I didn't see this thread before. I use a 4WD Toro 455D weekly (almost daily) on our farm. We mow 20 acres out of 100 weekly. Love that mower but the 4WD sucks. If I get in a bit of mud and I'm calling for the tractor to pull me out. They are really made for golf courses. Ours has a Peugeot diesel and a 10 ft. cutting width. The Hershey Co. down the road from our farm has a larger one with a cab. Great mowers but a lot of maintenance with 3 decks all going at once.

A few years ago we considered a 455D, looks like a real good machine. :thumbsup:

I am sure it is very heavy for its size, that helps to get it stuck. Also turf tires don't do well in mud.

Pictures are welcome and encouraged.

TSmith2670 · May 1, 2016

Whenever is stops raining I'll get some pictures when we dig it out of the equipment building. Looks like I'll be on it for a few days solid at this point. I'm way behind in mowing.

hunt4570 · May 1, 2016

I'm way behind also, finally amassed all the stuff for the rear tires, took the wheels off to change the tires and a couple of the bearings came out in pieces. Got the bearings, cups, seals, tires and stems all ready to go.. now to find the time to do it!

TSmith2670 · May 2, 2016

Here's the promised pixs. I had some of the fleet out to put the grapple away and fit limit chains to the BX's brush hog. The Groundsmaster has a 10' cut and the 4wd is hydraulic powered on all 4 corners. Works great except for all the maintenance. It must take an hour to grease all the fittings once a week.

Creamer · May 2, 2016

How many lawnmowers do you need? Is that what you farm?

Xfaxman · May 2, 2016

Wow, the beast from the east! :thumbsup:

I sure like the front deck design, there are a lot of companies making them. I wonder who was the first?

I have seen some Groundsmaster 72 models for sale, from the early 1970's

Creamer · May 2, 2016

I don't know who was the first but front decks are the best for mowing around things.

I know I have seen early 70's Jacobsens with front decks. I think front decks were more the way they started as I think of the old Yazoo which was basically a deck with drive wheels on it and a seat behind it.
Used Farm Tractors for Sale: Old Yazoo Lawn Mower (2006-01-10) - TractorShed.com

Xfaxman · May 4, 2016

Xfaxman said:
Wow, the beast from the east! :thumbsup:

I sure like the front deck design, there are a lot of companies making them. I wonder who was the first?

I have seen some Groundsmaster 72 models for sale, from the early 1970's

For those that don't know what a Groundsmaster 72 is, pictures from an image search: