We are currently in the process of purchasing a new fairway and greens mower.We have narrowed it down to a Toro 5510 reelmaster or a J Deere 7700. I would be grateful of any opinions on either.
The same on a Deere 2500 vs Toro.
Hi Paul
Went through this last year. My main requirement was with the 4wd/awd systems as I have some very steep hills. The new Deere is superior to the older 3235Cs I have but over all the Toro (I bought a 5410 with the 5"reels) was better in every way to the 7700. The awd system on the 7700 was better than the 3235C but it still slipped slightly on my steepest hill whereas the Toro doesn't slip at all.
The 5410 operator area is slightly more comfortable than the 7700 but then again I'm 6'4 so I usually find most machines tight! It's been a while since the 7700 demo was here but I believe the Toro was the easier for maintenance. Another consideration was weight and I believe the Toro is slightly lighter or at least it is 'lighter' on the turf. The other consideration for me was cutting quality, I was a little worried about the Toros more agressive front rollers but I needn't have worried. The Deere still uses their old units (which is nice for interchangeability with the older machines) but the Toro cutting units are better and easier to adjust. The Toro also produces a better cut than the Deere.
Overall John Deere has made huge improvements with the 7700 over the old 3235Cs but imo the Toro 5410 is better again than the 7700. Don't take this as Deere bashing, it is a great machine it's just in my experience the 5410 was the better machine.
As for the 2500 over the 3150. I have both (admittitly my 2500 was used when I bought it for grow-in) but the 3150 is the superior machine for most of the same reasons above.
Alan FitzGerald, LedgeRock Golf Club
Thanks for that, I was leaning towards the Toro. Were all JD at present with no reason for complaint but agree with that Toro do seem to have the edge on the cutting units(scuse the pun) I hope to get a few more responses to get a bigger picture of what others think.
Hello Paul,
I presume you are talking about the Toro 3250? At my last place I was on JD2500 for four years when I moved to my current place a year ago they had a Toro 3250 for greens and I have been using it since, I have also demoed a JD2500B basically the same.
Overall although I prefer to operate the JD because I think it is much more user friendly; fuel gauge, storage for radios, scissors etc, separate forward reverse pedals (my preference) one touch lift and lower, much more logical interlocks, automatically reduced forward speed when cutting, comfier, arm rest (Toro take note on all these things!) if I had a fire or something I'd get another 3250.
The two reasons being; the cut, I'm sure it is better... and the cutting units; so much easier to set up, easier to take off and on, they stay on cut better. Other plus points would seem to be resale value and a lower centre of gravity bcause of where the engine sits behind rather than above the middle unit as on the JD.
If I could get get the Toro units on the JD tractor... definitely check out the JD USA website though, they are bringing their new QA5 unit out here (already available in the states I believe) this autumn, it is meant to be quick adjusting, but if infact it's actually better we'd have to find out.
I wish I was in the process of buying a new anything...pair of scissors, dew brush, set of spanners. Hurrumph.
The new JD QA5 7 QA7 cutting units are available now. They are superior to the Toro DPA'a for numerous reasons and put the Green machines a full step ahead of the red.
GOGGA
Has the machinery available to us developed to the point where there are no 'bad' machines, just small differences in technology, design and colour? How much does personal preference and brand loyalty play in selecting equipment? Increased knowledge of soils and grasses, combined with the ease and use of fertilisers and products, have also helped, but the basics of turf nutrition haven't changed - just gone round in cycles. In my mind it is the machinery manufacturers that have driven the increase in the quality of playing surface presentation.
Best regards
Andy Turnbull
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