tractor shopping again

[leonz]

Made trip to the simplicity dealer today on the way back from the car dealers for parts and I was not impressed.

I asked about the drive train for the low end simplicity mules and apparently they are like the JD junk- held in place with e-clips.

SO I then asked about the 42 inch single stage snow blower for the low end simplicity and the young woman said we do not recommend them for the smallest model;.

SO the 23 horsepower V twin with the Belt drive is not recommended for this tractor?, I said, She said no we do not recommend it; I said that is strange as I used 12 horse simplicity tractors from 1973 with single stage snow blowers that were belt driven and I do not understand that; I was not going to spend $5,000.00 on a new mule with that kind of an answer.


I would love to hear from simplicity owners with the 42 inch single stage snow blowers.

 

[Thomas]

They don't make things like they use to. :confused3:

 

[Tomtint]

Back when my wife and I bought our first house I bought what at the time was the biggest baddest Craftsman tractor they had. This is 1997 era. ...The thing was a complete piece of crap and I returned it about a week after mowing once with it. I can't imagine the box store "tractors" have gotten any better today.

 

[Diggin It]

Made trip to the simplicity dealer today on the way back from the car dealers for parts and I was not impressed.

I asked about the drive train for the low end simplicity mules.

Are you asking about lawn mowers, garden tractors, ATV/4Wheelers, SCUTs or something else? The model number of what you looked at might help.

 

[RandyT]

Back when my wife and I bought our first house I bought what at the time was the biggest baddest Craftsman tractor they had. This is 1997 era. ...The thing was a complete piece of crap and I returned it about a week after mowing once with it. I can't imagine the box store "tractors" have gotten any better today.

What you are seeing is the result of consumers saying I want a new mower and I won't pay more for it the I did for my last, and don't worry because I will replace it in less than 5 years anyway with another mower for the same price that I purchases this one. Which may be part of the reason that Husqvarna left the consumer box store market last year. And that mower market must not be that profitable since Briggs is selling off their power products lines. So they are selling Simplicity which included Snapper and Ferris, and will keep the portable generator market but selling off the pressure washer market.

And MTD has a large part of the mower market since they own Cub Cadet and Troybilt and are building the Murray, Snapper by Walmart, Toro consumer, Ariens consumer, and Craftsman products.

 

[leonz]

Thanks for the responses;

I also asked about the BCS 2 wheel mule's that day and the BERTA and RESCIANO single stage snow blowers that they can be supplied with(from earth tools and BCS);
key in the start trek theme, they did not know what I was talking about.

I guess its time to find a used JD318 and a snow blower-there is one up the road a piece.

 

[Tomtint]

What you are seeing is the result of consumers saying I want a new mower and I won't pay more for it the I did for my last, and don't worry because I will replace it in less than 5 years anyway with another mower for the same price that I purchases this one. Which may be part of the reason that Husqvarna left the consumer box store market last year. And that mower market must not be that profitable since Briggs is selling off their power products lines. So they are selling Simplicity which included Snapper and Ferris, and will keep the portable generator market but selling off the pressure washer market.

And MTD has a large part of the mower market since they own Cub Cadet and Troybilt and are building the Murray, Snapper by Walmart, Toro consumer, Ariens consumer, and Craftsman products.

Once I returned the Craftsman, I resurrected my fathers old Ariens GT17 mower from the scrap pile. I had mowed his lawn with it as a kid and knew it was a solid machine at the time. I think I put 5K into it during the rebuild ( got the tractor for free ) new motor, pro clutch, seat, paint, misc other parts here and there. Ran it for another 5-6 years and gave it back to my father when I bought my first Kubota ..BX22. Years and years ago my grandfather once told me to never buy cheap tools because you will just end up buying them over and over again. He was not a wealthy man but always had solid quality tools that lasted him a very long time..I still have some of them today... Quality does not cost..it pays.

 

[Hay Dude]

Once I returned the Craftsman, I resurrected my fathers old Ariens GT17 mower from the scrap pile. I had mowed his lawn with it as a kid and knew it was a solid machine at the time. I think I put 5K into it during the rebuild ( got the tractor for free ) new motor, pro clutch, seat, paint, misc other parts here and there. Ran it for another 5-6 years and gave it back to my father when I bought my first Kubota ..BX22. Years and years ago my grandfather once told me to never buy cheap tools because you will just end up buying them over and over again. He was not a wealthy man but always had solid quality tools that lasted him a very long time..I still have some of them today... Quality does not cost..it pays.

Very smart man, your grandfather.
One of the big things I see that has changed for 40 years ago are the stores that we go to. I MY area, there was NO HD, Lowes, Harbor Freight, etc. Everything for lawn and garden was bought at smaller stores where the owner was usually present and HE would get an earful if he sold cheap quality junk. Now its a HD manager or a Lowes employees at the “ Pro “ desk.
Id say in my 30 years of business ownership, quality or at least middle grade level tools or better are the only ones worth buying. Cheap tools are tools copied from quality tools, but built with inferior quality materials, so they dont last as long. Its that simple.

 

[Trillium Farm]

The BCS Berta is a 2 stage blower and the Rescia Giuiano is a single stage. I seriously doubt that an american made machine will accomodate an italian made attachment, so the young lady may have given you the correct answer.

 

[Trillium Farm]

What you are seeing is the result of consumers saying I want a new mower and I won't pay more for it the I did for my last, and don't worry because I will replace it in less than 5 years anyway with another mower for the same price that I purchases this one. Which may be part of the reason that Husqvarna left the consumer box store market last year. And that mower market must not be that profitable since Briggs is selling off their power products lines.

I'm in complete agreement with this statement! I see it daily where people don't want to spend $10 on an item, buy the $2 one and expect the same performance and longevity of the $10. Same for labour. These are the times when price is king and value nowhere insight.