any toro groundsmaster fans on here?

[TSmith2670]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[Xfaxman]

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]

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]

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: