LawnBoy (10685) vs. Toro (20017) vs. John Deere (JS70)

18 years ago

I've searched through the forum on this topic and found some posts, but all are over a year old. Since last year was the first to introduce this new type of LawnBoy (I know, still made by Toro) I thought I would as it again. I've have a standard suburbia 1/4 acre lot with a bit of landscaping. There is no grade to speak of, and I bag 90% of the time (at least for now)

I have about 80% bermuda and 20% St. Augustine. I sodded some areas of my backyard with St. Augustine because my bermuda wouldn't grow with the goal of it taking over my entire backyard in a few seasons. It is well on its way.

Now on to my question. I've decided against the Toro Super Recyclers and settled on a mower from HD or Lowes. I've narrowed it down to the following:

LawnBoy (100685) - $328 after taxes and discount

Toro (20017) - $289 after taxes, discount and $30 rebate

John Deere (JS40) - $432 after taxes and discount

I've got a coupon I can use for a % off at either Lowes or HD, so that makes up the discount.

The LB and Toro both have Tecumseh 6.5s and the John Deere has a B&S 6.75. The Deere also has caster wheels and what looks to be the Snapper Hi-Vac (at least that's what they call it) deck.

The LB has a very easy to use bagging function. The Toro's isn't that bad, just not as easy to remove. I am not sure about the Deere because they didn't have a model on the floor to inspect. It is a side discharge system though.

Any help in this decision given the above prices would be greatly appreciated.

Comments (10)

tnj4uga
18 years ago
Well, this sure sounds familiar - I just purchased the Lawnboy about an hour ago!

I'm replacing an 11 year old Honda and actually bought the HRX yesterday. Tried it out but I didn't like the layout of the 'grab bars' so I retruned it today. (I'm sure going to miss that smooth, quite motor though!!)

Why I chose the LawnBoy:
- Price
- It's lightweight
- I like the Sensa-speed better than the Toro's Personal Pace (I know they're the same, but the tube within a tube design seemed better than the sliding plastic on the Toro - it just gave me a bad feeling)
- Wheels are more inset
- Bagging design (I do not like the Deere bagging design)
- HD is closer to my house than Lowes (at least 2 miles lol)

I was concerned about the ease of use of the SensaSpeed, but it works quite well - much better than I expected. The LB started on the second pull (I really didn't try that hard on the first one as I was goofing around with the kids) and on the first pull after that. I've had that Hondaa for so long (and I have a Honda in my lawn tractor) that I forgot what other engines sounded like! I considered the Gold series, but HD doesn't sell it and I personally do not place any additional value in a lower HP GC Honda motor vs the Tecumseh (GX is another story though).

I hope my $.02 help - I've been reading all of the same old threads as you!
okiebo
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks! So you were taking into account the $40 price difference between the Toro and LB when you made your decision?

I do love that LB bagging mechanism. Can't believe Toro didn't use it on their own mower.

Have you noticed any leaking of grass out of the bag when mowing?
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tnj4uga
18 years ago
I only owed for 10 minutes or so and didn't notice any grass escaping.

I simply didn't care for the Toro. I also didn't like the deck with the filler where a front-drive mechanism could have gone. The price difference was as compared to the Honda.
1saxman
18 years ago
"Have you noticed any leaking of grass out of the bag when mowing?"

A little. There is no catch for the bag at the bottom, so it can bounce and some grass/leaves fall out when it's less than half full. When the bag gets heavier, weight holds it shut. I still like the LB rear-discharge system with no spring door, although it's true the spring door on the Honda and others with that system holds the bag down better. All rear-discharge mowers share a potential problem of some klutz using the mower without the bag or mulch plug installed - except the LB, which has a magnetic sensor that kills the ignition if the bag or mulch plug is not in place.
magnu001
17 years ago
Anybody got a Deere JS40 they care to talk about? I like the looks of it, but the salesman at lowes told the quality was low. He said a high percentage of those he sells require repairs or are returned.
uproar90
17 years ago
I bought the 10685 last season b/c I had to have a Lawnboy and couldn't find a new 2 cycle close to home. I've since found a few, but still use my 10685 quite often. For mulching its great, side discharge is about as good as any I guess (never really heard of anyone proclaiming the discharge quality of their mower), and it bags well too, but... In my opinion the bag is a bit small. If you stay on top of your grass cutting, and don't let it get too high, then you should be OK. I was accustomed to a snapper hi-vac with a much larger bag and could go so much further before needing to empty the bag, however the LB does a nicer job of bagging than the snapper did.

The tec6.5 has tremendous power also. There are many here that knock the newer lawnboys, and I can understand that with the cult following the 2 cycle LB's have... They are purists and thats cool. I wouldn't trade my 10323's or 10550 for anything, but I also don't mind having the 10685 around at all.

**Personal experience story - following hurricane Katrina, we were cut off from returning to our homes for weeks. I had been way behind on cutting my grass (almost 3 weeks since last cut when the storm hit) and it was at least 3-4 weeks until I got home after the storm. The house had been flooded due to the local govt. deciding to not run the drainage pumps and we had an extreme amount of work to do. After a full day of removing furniture, drywall, etc. I felt the need to actually see an improvement in the house so I went out to the shed (raised 18" off the ground so didn't flood) and pulled out the 10685. The lawn was hideous to say the least, but I needed to get this done. I setup for side-discharge, jacked the wheels all the way up (4") and just walked through the lawn. The mower slowed/bogged down maybe 3 times throughout the whole cut. You can only imagine the windrows that were left behind... I made a 2nd pass with the wheels set a bit lower (3.5") and concentrated on running over all the piles of grass, and then made a 3rd run mulching with the wheels set just at my normal cut height (3") and finished up for the day. While my finished product was not a 'beautiful' manicured lawn, it was 100x's better than it was before. It at least made me feel like something was getting done and I actually got comments on how nice the mower cut over the next few days from neighbors. It's funny how something like a lawnmower can change a situation and attitude so drastically.

Good luck with your purchase.
-mike s.
blaise70
17 years ago
mike s.,

Nice story and thanks for sharing it.

Though I prefer 2-cycles, if I absolutely HAD to buy a new 4-cycle mower I'd go with a L-B too, only I'd get the 10684 because I druther have the bail control SP over SensaSpeed.
1saxman
17 years ago
okiebo; Get the 10684 or 10685.
"I'd get the 10684 because I druther have the bail control SP (Variable Speed) over SensaSpeed." I agree. The mower is simply more usable with the bail control. As for function, the new round Lawn-Boy deck and rear-discharge set-up is second to none. The discharge box forms the handle brackets and is solidly welded to the deck - you will not have problems with handle brackets. I haven't discharged with mine, just bag and mulch, and overall I prefer it to my LB 10550 and previous Honda. The Tecumseh always starts and has plenty of power. The mower comes with the Toro 'Atomic' blade which does the best job I've seen with making the clippings go away. I like the wide wheels and maneuverability of this mower. I have a son in Austin and I talked him into getting a 10684 when they got their first house - they love the mower, and are cutting mainly St. Augustine. I cut a thick, lush stand of Watersaver rtf. Yesterday I had my first chance to cut after a rainy period, and the 4" to 5" grass was loaded with moisture. I set the 10684 at 3" and started mulching, but cutting that much grass I was leaving some clippings in the wheel tracks. I went up to 3.5" and finished with no problem, coming back later in the day and re-cutting at 3". Even cutting 2" of thick, wet grass, there was no question of power - the LV195 just ate it up, and there were no excess deposits under the deck.
bosun2
16 years ago
I might be late to the party, but HD just reduced the 685 to $300, which makes it a pretty fair deal on a mid-line mower. Sure, the Honda engine might be nice, as would a alloy deck, but you are looking at $550 for all of that, which is a lot of dough. I got mine with a coupon, so $270 is hard to complain about.
dbogey
16 years ago
I'm going to purchase the LawnBoy 10685 today from Home D. and I'm looking for the best price out there right now so HD can match it.

LawnBoy (10685) vs. Toro (20017) vs. John Deere (JS70)

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tnj4uga

okiebo
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LawnBoy (10685) vs. Toro (20017) vs. John Deere (JS70)

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okieboOriginal Author

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okiebo
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