deere or simplicity

[Dutch445]

IMHO,
the larger 24" tires on the GT235 will help with traction, and you may not need the diff lock. Also, the Kawi is quite a nice motor, not that the Vangard is bad.
On the simplicity, I believe the deck rides on rollers.... which becomes a maintenance issue down the road. Deere hangs their deck from the tractor, and used 4 gage wheels to catch the deck and keep it from scalping if the tractor wheel drops into an indent in the lawn.
I do beleive the trans is Heavier on the Deere also. (K71 vs K66?)
It may not matter to many, but Deere is Deere is Deere...
so many other companies are being bought and sold that it's tough to know who is going to have parts available down the road for some of these smaller companies.
Have you had a chance to drive both units? Have you had a chance to find and drive a 5yr old model of each?
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Dutch445]

One more point,
you haven't mentioned the dealers for both machines... have you been able to compare the dealership as far as service/parts etc? Are they close... do they have good reputations? Good service staff?

it does make a difference,,, when it's June and they tell you
it'll be 3 weeks before they can get you in when you are broke down..
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[KentT]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( On the simplicity, I believe the deck rides on rollers.... which becomes a maintenance issue down the road. Deere hangs their deck from the tractor, and used 4 gage wheels to catch the deck and keep it from scalping if the tractor wheel drops into an indent in the lawn. )</font>

Well, just to counter that concern about maintenance issues, here's some shots of my 1969 Simplicity Soveriegn 3112V with its original deck rollers. It's been mowing now for over 35 years, and does a beautiful job....

Front shot

Side shot

Parked

Those full-width deck rollers and front-axle mounting points on their free-floating deck is what earned their reputation as the "best cut in the business"....

 

[Dutch445]

Nice machine,,

and I wasn't knocking the mower by any means, just trying to be objective, as I have owned both styles...

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[LBrown59]

www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?p=1143235#post1143235

for more views on the subject.

 

[HRS]

Now that's a cool looking mower you've got there. Love those headlights. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[beenthere]

I have not read the responses, but today my neighbor who has a Simplicity called me to ask about my Deere. I told him I liked the All wheel steer (he was under the impression I didn't).
He said he was finally fed up with his, and was getting a good deal on a trade. Tomorrow morning he picks up his new Deere.
He said he has spent the last four years either without a tractor (bad engine) or always fixing the deck.
I thought it did a great job of mowing, and at least as good if not a bit better than mine. However he repaired his many times mowing just his 1.5 acres compared to my 8 acres of mowing.
I expect you can be happy with either.
But, you deserve green, IMO, and someday you may get what you deserve. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[aesanders]

I've seen Simplicities older than any deere lawn tractors still running fine. Not sure what your neighbors probelem was, but maybe he was abusing the machine. Just because one person has problems does not make them unreliable. All makes will have issues if not taken care of properly, and all have an occasional lemon.

 

[KentT]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I've seen Simplicities older than any deere lawn tractors still running fine. Not sure what your neighbors probelem was, but maybe he was abusing the machine. Just because one person has problems does not make them unreliable. All makes will have issues if not taken care of properly, and all have an occasional lemon. )</font>

Not only that, but the engines for all the tractors being discussed here are made by other manufacturers (Kohler, Kawasaki, Honda, Briggs&Stratton, etc.) and warrantied separately by those other manufacturers. The engines are not made by either Deere or Simplicity... however, they are serviced by the tractor dealer.

Bottom line -- "blame" the engine manufacturer for engine problems, not the tractor manufacturer....