How reliable and durable are Simplicity Lawn tractors?

[canlis]

I will be buying a new lawn tractor to replace my 8hp Snapper RER which is 28 years old and just went bad on me. I guess I should not complain . My price range is $1500-$2000. My lawn is 3/4 acre and basically flat. Up to this point, I have not considered Simplicity because I didn't know much about them basically. Could you guys talk about the reliability and durability of these products? What suggestions/input can anyone give me on this matter? Has anyone experienced any reliability/durability problems with this brand as a whole? How has anyone found Simplicity manufacturer/retail support in the event of a problem? Does anyone know anything about Columbia lawn tractors? Thanks for your help!

 

[mostly_gas]

I had an Agco Allis 1616H 528+ hours no problems

 

[LBrown59]

I will be buying a new lawn tractor to replace my 8hp Snapper RER which is 28 years old and just went bad on me. I guess I should not complain . My price range is $1500-$2000. My lawn is 3/4 acre and basically flat. Up to this point, I have not considered Simplicity because I didn't know much about them basically. Could you guys talk about the reliability and durability of these products? What suggestions/input can anyone give me on this matter? Has anyone experienced any reliability/durability problems with this brand as a whole? How has anyone found Simplicity manufacturer/retail support in the event of a problem? Does anyone know anything about Columbia lawn tractors? Thanks for your help!

Simplicity : Now you are talking about a fine tractor. 1 of the best.
In case you didn't know it Snapper is or was the parent company of Simplicity so both brands were exactly the same tractor under the brand labels.

 

[murphy1244]

I don't think you will find any model Simplicity for 1500.00 to 2000.00 dollars.
They are owned by Briggs and statton. brands are simiplicity,massey ferguson, ago and snapper.

 

[familyman]

My 15 year old Broadmoor has 600 hours on it and is still cutting pretty well.

 

[AndyM]

I don't think you will find any model Simplicity for 1500.00 to 2000.00 dollars.
They are owned by Briggs and statton. brands are simiplicity,massey ferguson, ago and snapper.

Actually, they brought back the Allis Chalmers brand name back a couple years ago and positioned it at that price point ($1800-$2200). It is essentially a low end Simplicity Regent model without the high end roller deck. I looked at one a couple of months ago at my local Simplicity dealer, but ended up with a used John Deere. Other than being stubborn and not wanting to spend a couple hundred dollars more than I had budgeted, I would have bought the Allis Chalmers.

Here's the website: Allis-Chalmers by Briggs & Stratton
The "new" Allis Chalmers models are sold at Simplicity dealers. Kind of strange seeing that old logo on a brand new mower though!

 

[murphy1244]

Actually, they brought back the Allis Chalmers brand name back a couple years ago and positioned it at that price point ($1800-$2200). It is essentially a low end Simplicity Regent model without the high end roller deck. I looked at one a couple of months ago at my local Simplicity dealer, but ended up with a used John Deere. Other than being stubborn and not wanting to spend a couple hundred dollars more than I had budgeted, I would have bought the Allis Chalmers.

Here's the website: Allis-Chalmers by Briggs & Stratton
The "new" Allis Chalmers models are sold at Simplicity dealers. Kind of strange seeing that old logo on a brand new mower though!

Well now thats not a Simplicity is it. I bought a 2011 Conquest that I put over a 100 hours in 1 season, If we get snow I expect to do 135 hours a year. Nothing, I mean Nothing cuts like a Simplicity....

 

[lost in wisconsin]

My 15 year old Broadmoor has 600 hours on it and is still cutting pretty well.

X 2 :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[polo1665]

I own a early 90's model SunStar. The clock stopped at 703 hrs, that was about 1 1/2 years ago. Still going strong:thumbsup:

 

[Gator6x4]

I don't think you will find any model Simplicity for 1500.00 to 2000.00 dollars.
They are owned by Briggs and statton. brands are simiplicity,massey ferguson, ago and snapper.

You forgot Ferris. At a demostration I drove a Simplicity Zero Turn with the independent suspension on each corner and a suspension seat. I then drove a zero turn without the suspension seat or suspension running gear and the ride difference was very noticeable. A Simplicity or Ferris with the suspension system would in my opinion allow for a more smoother ride and less back pain from jarring when mowing fast with a zero turn.

 

[stevem5215]

I 2nd that opinion above. I did the same thing. Cut with two ZTR's a Snapper Pro model and a Ferris IS2000 on the same bumpy terrain. The Ferris is the better machine especially on bumps. And there really is an advantage being able to go almost 10mph when cutting the grass on a big area.

Steve

 

[Baucom]

Simplicity lawn and garden tractors are very solidly built, and their decks are second to none. My only issue with Simplicity, and it's an issue that goes for any make, is to check out your local dealer support. The most stable dealerships around here are JD; dealers for other brands of lawn and garden equipment seem to come and go every few years. The MF dealer that I bought my mower from went out of business a couple years ago and when I needed a dealer to fix the power steering on my MF 2823 (Simplicity Prestige in a red dress) I had to call 3 different dealers to find one that was even willing to look at the problem and try to fix it. One of those dealers even went so far as to say that they sell the mowers, and would order a new one if I wanted it, but they don't repair them.

In spite of this, if I were buying a new mower today, Simplicity would be at the top of my list because of their decks.

 

[droptop]

I have a 48 year old Allis Chalmers B-10 garden tractor that was built by Simplicity that my father bought new and is still going strong:thumbsup:, but I doubt today that any $2000 tractor will last, 'cause they just don't build them like they used to, if they did you couldn't afford to buy it....

Just a point of reference, he paid over $1000 for the tractor, mower deck, snowthrower and 10" plow in '64, quite a sum of money back then for a lawn mower, but time has proven it was a good investment.

 

[canlis]

Simplicity lawn and garden tractors are very solidly built, and their decks are second to none. My only issue with Simplicity, and it's an issue that goes for any make, is to check out your local dealer support. The most stable dealerships around here are JD; dealers for other brands of lawn and garden equipment seem to come and go every few years. The MF dealer that I bought my mower from went out of business a couple years ago and when I needed a dealer to fix the power steering on my MF 2823 (Simplicity Prestige in a red dress) I had to call 3 different dealers to find one that was even willing to look at the problem and try to fix it. One of those dealers even went so far as to say that they sell the mowers, and would order a new one if I wanted it, but they don't repair them.
In spite of this, if I were buying a new mower today, Simplicity would be at the top of my list because of their decks.

Thanks for your input! Is a Simplicity and a Snapper lawn tractor basically the same mower? Snapper appears to be a little cheaper.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I have a 48 year old Allis Chalmers B-10 garden tractor that was built by Simplicity that my father bought new and is still going strong:thumbsup:, but I doubt today that any $2000 tractor will last, 'cause they just don't build them like they used to, if they did you couldn't afford to buy it....

Just a point of reference, he paid over $1000 for the tractor, mower deck, snowthrower and 10" plow in '64, quite a sum of money back then for a lawn mower, but time has proven it was a good investment.

My dad sold those units back in the 60's and 70's...
They were one of the first units to my recollection that had rollers on the back of the deck to facilitate grooming the grass...
They were expensive units...
At $1000K 40 years ago would equate to over $5K or $6K today...
At best a $2K lawnmower will give you adequate service if you keep it up...
Simplicity makes a very good unit...

 

[Baucom]

The Snapper LT, YT, and GT series are made by Simplicity and the tractors are almost identical to a Simplicity. The Snapper decks are a bit different than the Simplicity decks I believe. I don't think the Snapper decks have the full width roller on the back like Simplicity, MF, and AGCO.

 

[honest]

You forgot Ferris. At a demostration I drove a Simplicity Zero Turn with the independent suspension on each corner and a suspension seat. I then drove a zero turn without the suspension seat or suspension running gear and the ride difference was very noticeable. A Simplicity or Ferris with the suspension system would in my opinion allow for a more smoother ride and less back pain from jarring when mowing fast with a zero turn.

Used the ferris full suspension at work 11 acres heavy couch grass rough paddocks.
Exellent mower ,we clocked it cutting at almost 20 kph side by side a truck in the driveway .
It cut beautifully with sharp blades at full speed and the faster you go the smoother the ride .
very impressive unit but high pressure wash will blow the stickers off ,the adhesive is chewy.
I bought works old 7112 ish simplicity 3 blade 18 hp machine for $800 aus and i just blew the diff pulling a full sized tandem trailer up the gravel driveway.the wheelspin killed it.will fix it because its well worth it
If the new simplicity is as good a working machine as a ferris it will be an awesome unit.

 

[mmtd]

my dad had a 1968 wards garden mark made by simplicity .with 16hp repower with 36"tiller an 48"mower and 36" dozer blade. it all is still running today. it was used commercially year round . im buying a second gen sunstar 20 gth now. that should speak how well the garden tractors are made and last.

 

[mmtd]

I have a sunstar 20 gth its 21 yr old . has 60 inch deck. 48inch two stage blower. its going strong orige motor . you can view video on you tube of it. under simplicity sunstar 20 gth blowing snow. there are many more on their to. 20 -30 an 40 yr old simplicitys. that will give you a good idea of the life of them.hope this helps you ?

 

[Simplicity Sunstar]

I have 2 Sunstars and if I could buy a new Sunstar I would do it. Unfortunately my Sunstars both are lawn tractors without the 3 pt hitch. I would be totally happy if someone was scrapping a Sunstar that had a good 3 pt hitch for sale at a reasonable cost. Then I would be toally happy! Simplicity is the best, mind you for some reason green paint must be expensive!