Customers generally have two concerns about reel motors. Number one: if a motor runs slow and intermittently, the cutter will suddenly stall and not immediately come up to speed. Customers tell us when motors pulse or vibrate or throb it leads them to believe the cutting will be uneven and unacceptable.
The second problem is oil leaks. Oil leaks out of the motor because the seal between the case halves has failed or because the aluminum casting components of the motor are porous. Also, shaft seals made from inconsistent quality materials may also cause the motor to leak. And as you know, oil on turf is an operator's worst nightmare.
The good news is that we know why both of these problems occur.
Field experience shows stalling problems typically happen within the first couple hundred hours of operation. Over the past few years we've done extensive testing (over 15,000 total hours) to eliminate stalled motor problems and oil leaks so you can have confidence our new Genuine Toro reel motors will give you the trouble-free operation that they expect from Toro.
Reel motors have been in transition at Toro. We have been replacing the old motors with a new motor on the Greensmaster® 3150 Riding Greensmower from our supplier Sauer-Danfoss. Today, replacement motor orders will be filled with the new improved motor whenever possible.
Oil Leakage The new reel motors are virtually leak free. Here's why. We're using a new European-engineered bushing in block design versus the old needle bearing design. This new bushing and block design is becoming the industry standard with most manufacturers of small gear motors now using it. The new Toro reel motor has better sealing characteristics because the seals are simpler and more durable than the old motors.
Side Plate Design and Thickness: The design includes pressure-loaded side plates that hold the seals against the gears so oil can't by-pass and leak. Some reel motors on the market are cheap hydraulic gear motors that use a fixed-clearance design which does not have a pressure-loaded side plate. The performance of the motor depends entirely on the tight tolerance of the motor to keep the oil from bypassing the gears.
The old motor featured thinner pressure-loaded side plates (0.243" thick) which were more prone to stick in the motor housing. As a result, oil would start leaking past the gears and the motor would not retain its proper operating speed.
The new motor side plates are much thicker (0.551" thick). With thicker plates, there is less chance for the plates to "cock." As a result, the thicker side plate prevents oil from leaking and the new motor will not have the stalling/slow running problems that have been troublesome in the past.
Another advantage of pressure-balanced plates is that they keep compensating (adjusting) to retain the motor's high-efficiency capabilities throughout the life of the motor.
High efficiency: The new reel motor features a high-efficiency, pressure-balanced design, long-life material bushings, quiet operation and proven reliability and performance. What exactly does high efficiency design mean in reel motors?
Gear Teeth:The old reel motor incorporated 10 gear teeth. The new Sauer-Danfoss motor features 11 teeth for a smoother operation.
Power:The new 0.73 cu-in motor will replace the current 0.73 motor and in the future a new 0.43 motor will replace the current 0.43 motor.
Material The bushings in the new Toro reel motors are made from harder alloys that are more durable for longer life.
Installation Most will-fit competitors basically buy their reel motors from Sauer-Danfoss which are similar to the current Toro motors, but not exact. Will-fit motors don't include our mounting flange that make installing a Toro reel motor much faster and easier.