| Glossary of terms used on this web-site: | |
|---|---|
| BBC: (Blade brake clutch) BCS: (Blade Control System) BOS: (Blade Override System) ROTO-STOP: |
BBC, BCS, BOS and Roto-Stop are safety systems in which the blade stops upon releasing the control bail, while allowing the engine to stay running. They also allow self-propelled models to propel without the blade turning. Makes it nice to "drive" the mower to the curb to empty the bag, and not mow a stripe across the lawn. These "clutch" models are recommended over zone-restart models only if you mainly bag your clippings, since you must frequently release the handle to empty clippings. Mulching models eliminate the need for these clutch systems, providing a more reliable, lighter weight and simpler machine. |
| Control Bail: | On a walk behind mower, a lever or bar which must be held down by the operator in order for the mower blade to rotate. CPSC regulations require all lawnmowers with a steel blade to stop the rotating blade when the operator leaves the operator's position (lets go of the bail). |
| Convertible: | A mower deck design that allows conversion between side discharge, mulching, and bagging. |
| Counterweight: | A weight which is added to the front of a riding mower to offset the added weight of a rear-mounted grass catcher. Adds stability on hillsides. |
| CPSC: | Consumer Product Safety Commission, a federal regulatory agency. For more information, visit http://www.cpsc.gov |
| Curved shaft: | String trimmer design which uses a flexible drive cable running from the engine down to the cutter head through a curved tube. Lighter weight and easier to use than straight-shaft commercial trimmers, although they will not accept rigid brush-cutting blades. |
| Dual action blade: | Type of hedge trimmer blade in which two blades move in opposite directions from each other. Less vibration than single action blades, but higher cost. |
| Fail-Safe Extended Protection Plan: | Extends manufacturer's factory warranty to 5 years (non-commercial use). Administered by "Fail-Safe" Product Protection. Call 1-888-KCMOWER to receive a faxed copy of coverage, terms and conditions. Complete warranty details and manufacturer's warranty statements are available on the respective manufacturer's web sites. |
| ft-lbs: | Foot/pounds torque laboratory rated by the engine manufacturer in accordance with SAE J1940. A more accurate measurement than the older ambiguous horsepower ratings. For full details, go to www.toro.com |
| Gear drive: | A manual transmission using a clutch pedal and shift lever. Operates similar to a car with a stick shift. |
| GTS: | TORO "Guaranteed To Start" in 1 or 2 pulls or we'll fix it...FREE. Available in 2-year, 3-year, or 5-year versions. |
| Hydrostatic: | Variable speed fluid drive transmission. Eliminates clutching and shifting. No gears to grind and fewer moving parts provide more durability than other transmission designs. Similar to driving a car with an automatic transmission. |
| Lawn Tractor: | Type of riding lawn mower with the engine in front of the operator. Handles jobs up to 2 acres. Larger tires provide a smoother ride than smaller rear engine machines, but are not as maneuverable. |
| LH | Left-hand side, as viewed from the operator's position |
| MSRP: | Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price |
| Mulching: | Mowing grass clippings into fine particles to be deposited back down into the turf, where they quickly decompose into valuable nutrients. |
| OHV: (Overhead Valve) |
Engine design incorporating automotive technology, having greater efficiency, more power, better fuel economy, and increased durability over conventional side-valve (flat-head) engines. |
| OHC: (Overhead Cam) |
OHV engine with the valves directly operated by the camshaft. Fewer moving parts and lighter weight than standard OHV engines. |
| Personal Pace: | Toro patented self propel system which eliminates gear changes, clutches, control levers, etc., while adding automatic variable speed convenience. Actually senses and adjusts to your walking pace, and stops when you stop. Simpler IS better !!! |
| PTO: | Power Take-Off, usually referring to a mower deck. |
| Quantum: | Briggs & Stratton's "Best" side-valve engine |
| Rapid Loader: | Tired of the frustration from winding trimmer line? With Rapid-Loader there's no more fuss. Just insert precut sections of standard trimmer line into the slots, and you're ready to go. Rapid-Loader makes line changes lightning fast. Optional tap-feed heads are also available on Rapid-Loader models. |
| Ready Start: | Exclusive system that eliminates priming and manual choking. Automatically senses temperature and eliminates guessing: Hot engine, cold engine, Winter, Summer...makes no difference, just pull the rope and go. |
| RH | Right-hand side, as viewed from the operator's position |
| Super Recycler: | Toro's patented mulching system incorporating "kickers" to deflect the grass back through the blade, and the "accelerator" to speed clipping circulation. |
| Side chute: | An option that provides side discharge capability to a mower. Standard on some models. |
| Side discharge: | Type of mower deck that allows clippings to be discharged out the side instead of mulching or bagging. |
| Single Action blade: | Type of hedge trimmer blade with one stationary blade and one moving blade. More vibration than dual action blades, but lower cost. |
| Single stage: | Type of snowthrower design in which the snow is collected and thrown by a single rotating impellar. Will not handle deep snow (over 10") as well as a two stage, but they don't tend to clog in wet snow like a two-stage. They work extremely well in 3"-6" snow. This is the recommended type of snowthrower for the wet, slushy snows here in the midwest. |
| Straight shaft: | String trimmer design using a straight drive shaft running from the engine down to an angled gear-box at the cutter head. Commercial grade trimmers use a solid shaft supported by bearings, which allows steel blades to be used, unlike curved-shaft trimmers. Many lower cost straight-shaft trimmers use a flexible cable like the homeowner curved-shaft trimmers and cannot withstand heavy cutting loads. |
| Tire sealer: | A chemical compound injected into the tire to provide self-sealing action in the event of a puncture. Great insurance against thorn bushes, stray roofing nails, etc. Costs less than the price of one service call !!! |
| Transaxle: | Drive system which combines the transmission, differential and rear axle in one unit. |
| Two stage: | Type of snowthrower design in which an auger is used to collect the snow and funnel it to a separate impellar that throws the snow. These machines will generally handle much deeper snows that a single stage, but they can tend to clog in wet snow. They tend to be less effective in snows less than 4" deep. |
| Variator Drive: | Foot operated speed control is infinitely variable to precisely match mowing conditions. |
| Warranty: (homeowner) | Homeowner factory warranty included in the purchase price of the product. Normally defined as products used by a homeowner for personal use at a single residence. The product must be registered to the homeowner. All other applications are considered commercial use. Complete warranty details and manufacturer's warranty statements available. Full warranty details are available on the respective manufacturer's web sites. |
| Warranty: (commercial) |
Commercial factory warranty included in the purchase price of the product. Defined as products used for rental purposes, monetary gain, or for use on non-residential properties (business premesis, apartment buildings, schools, churches, farms, etc.). Also includes products used on residential properties by someone other than the owner, or any products used on more than one residential property. Complete warranty details and manufacturer's warranty statements are available on the respective manufacturer's web sites. |
| Zone restart: | Safety system in which both the blade and the engine stop upon releasing the control bail. Engine can be re-started from the operator's position behind the handle (safe zone). Offers lower cost, less weight, and fewer mechanical parts. Zone restart models are recommended if you mainly mulch the clippings back into the lawn. The direct drive blades eliminate the possibility of slippage under heavy mulching loads that may occur with clutch models. Also, eliminating the clutch from below the deck provides more volume inside the mower housing for better mulching performance. |
| Zero-Turning-Radius (ZTR): | Riding mower design which does not use conventional steering wheel. Each rear wheel is independently driven to provide motion, steering, and braking control all in one. Steering is accomplished by varying the
speeds of the two rear drive wheels, while the front caster wheels are allowed to swivel. In addition, one wheel can be driven forward while the other wheel is driven in reverse, giving the mower the capability to spin on it's own axis. Sound's
complicated, but is actually a very simple design, and very easy to drive. No pedals, shifters, brakes, etc... Similar to steering a grocery cart ! Click here for Virtual Demo |