News

Everyone finally got to see the future lineup of Toro greensmowers. Unveiling their newest greens triplex and walker, Toro is embracing new technologies available to equipment manufacturers.

Triplex

On the GR 3320 Hybrid, besides using electric motors to power the reels; everything from the seat forward is new and completely different. This isn’t your grandfather’s Toro triplex. The triplex shown in San Diego has hydraulic drive motors, but I expect that to change in the future as they have experimented with electric drive motors in the past such as those on the hydrogen-powered “concept” triplex shown at previous shows.

The reel pull frames are gone! The integral part that was standard for the past 40 years has become history, giving way to evolution. The new lift arm/yoke assemblies are cast aluminum and swivel easily for any ground contours. Some guys say these are way overbuilt; I guess Toro wanted to make sure they were bulletproof.

The reel is attached by tabs on each end of the yoke; just flip the tabs and the reel is free.

 The electric reel motors are easily removed (no nuts or bolts) and they even remembered to put a spot in the center of the yoke to place it when removed.

 The floor is all cast aluminum and swings up out of the way to access the center unit. The cutting units are 5 inches off the ground, making it easy to check the height and cut without using a jack or rubbing the side of your head into the ground. There are no grease zerks on the machine.

 It comes standard with DPA cutting units, 14 blade reels and EdgeMax greens bedknives. They are cautiously optimistic it will be rolling out early next year.

 Walker

When it comes to the eFlex, the engineers surely deserve an all expense paid vacation to wherever they want. In the space of 1 year, they completely redid everything above the rear drum and behind the cutting unit. The model previewed in San Diego is the 21” version.

 First, back to last year’s show in New Orleans. In this photo you can clearly see the lead-acid battery pack with the drive configuration on the left-hand side. At that time they gave it longevity of 6 greens before charging.

 Here in the pic from San Diego, a new industry first lithium-ion pack has been installed and the drive configuration has been moved to the right-hand side. They say the new battery will go 9 greens before charging; a 50% increase. No price is set yet but I expect it will compete with the all-electric Eclipse walker from Jacobsen.

 It comes standard with the 14 blade reel and EdgeMax greens bedknife. They are hopeful to release it around June.

  Odds and Ends

The bunker pumper on the SandPro has been moved from the back to the front; now you don’t have to look behind you to see what’s going on.

 All wheel disk brakes are now standard on the full size Workman, as well as single piece, double lip sealed wheel bearings and 5mph crash rated front bumper. The Groundsmaster 4300, which was previewed in New Orleans last year, is now in full production. The Reelmaster 3100, better known as the “Sidewinder” with reels, now has DPA reels in both 27” and 32” sizes. This is now the replacement for the RM2000 Series which has been retired. There’s a new venting system on the gas tank of the Kawasaki engine on the walkers.

 The TY-CROP line of topdressers that was acquired last fall has been repainted; but the model numbers remain the same. For ordering parts on the TY-CROP equipment you may currently have, including the QuickPass and TD460, just call your Toro dealer and give them the number, adding a “T” to the front of it. Parts have now been moved to Worldwide Parts Distribution in Plymouth, Wi. In a few months Toro will be ramping up to full production of the ProPass, MH400 and DirtCub at the Tomah Assembly facility.