Comparison JD X738 vs Simplicity Legacy XL

[markedman1132]

I'm in the market to purchase a new tractor to replace my aging and underpowered JD L130. The L130 has done an adequate job with mowing my 1.5 acres of hilly property, but I have decided to purchase a more robust tractor to plow/blow snow and possibly other property maintenance tasks.

I have narrowed down my choices to a John Deere X738 and a Simplicity Legacy XL. Both units I am looking at are 4WD machines powered by Kawasaki gas engines. I will be getting a 54" deck with either tractor.

The Simplicity machine comes standard with the the rear PTO and quick point hitch. These are options for the Deere that are not included in my quote. However, the Deere comes standard with EFI and the Simplicity does not offer it. The Deere dealer also included the auto connect feature in my quote.

The prices quoted after all rebates are very close. The one advantage of the Deere is the current financing will save me $1300 in interest over 5 years. The Deere also has a 4 year warranty, the Simplicity warranty is 3 years.

Since I don't currently have a need for any rear attachments such as a tiller, I'm not sure I would use the rear PTO or hitch.

Does any one know of a reason why I should choose Simplicity?

 

[murphy1244]

How is the Simplicity Dealer? is he better than the Deere dealer? I think the Simplicity will give you a better cut.

 

[jaydee325]

How is the Simplicity Dealer? is he better than the Deere dealer? I think the Simplicity will give you a better cut.

Interesting comment Murph. Back in the late 60's my dad was shopping for a garden tractor. Everyone said Simplicity had the best cut then too!

 

[arlen4720]

I'm in the market to purchase a new tractor to replace my aging and underpowered JD L130. The L130 has done an adequate job with mowing my 1.5 acres of hilly property, but I have decided to purchase a more robust tractor to plow/blow snow and possibly other property maintenance tasks.

I have narrowed down my choices to a John Deere X738 and a Simplicity Legacy XL. Both units I am looking at are 4WD machines powered by Kawasaki gas engines. I will be getting a 54" deck with either tractor.
The Simplicity machine comes standard with the the rear PTO and quick point hitch. These are options for the Deere that are not included in my quote. However, the Deere comes standard with EFI and the Simplicity does not offer it. The Deere dealer also included the auto connect feature in my quote.

The prices quoted after all rebates are very close. The one advantage of the Deere is the current financing will save me $1300 in interest over 5 years. The Deere also has a 4 year warranty, the Simplicity warranty is 3 years.

Since I don't currently have a need for any rear attachments such as a tiller, I'm not sure I would use the rear PTO or hitch.

Does any one know of a reason why I should choose Simplicity?

There is a post in the JD garden tractor section where the OP says his X738 makes a whining noise because of, he suspects, the hydraulic 4WD. Might want to check that out closely.
I've put 1100 hours on my x748 mowing 7 acres, snowblowing and tilling. It's a fine machine. I had an older Duetz Allis branded simplicity that was a fine machine too, but not as fine as the JD, and the JD dealers seem to be better equipped with parts and competent mechanics. The 4 year warranty is nice.

 

[markedman1132]

Murph - Thanks for the info.

I think I like the Simplicity dealer better even though he is a little farther away (he spent a lot of time with me explaining the features of the machine). I also like the Rear PTO and 3 point hitch included with the Simplicity but not sure if I would actually use them.

I'm leaning towards the Deere mostly because the financing will save me money and also I would prefer EFI over the Carburetor on the Simplicity. It also looks like the Deere is a little easier to add/remove the deck and attachments. Anyone have any feedback on this?

 

[markedman1132]

There is a post in the JD garden tractor section where the OP says his X738 makes a whining noise because of, he suspects, the hydraulic 4WD. Might want to check that out closely.
I've put 1100 hours on my x748 mowing 7 acres, snowblowing and tilling. It's a fine machine. I had an older Duetz Allis branded simplicity that was a fine machine too, but not as fine as the JD, and the JD dealers seem to be better equipped with parts and competent mechanics. The 4 year warranty is nice.

I will look into that post. The Simplicity does have the ability to run as 2WD or 4WD, the Deere is 4WD all the time.

 

[Tractorrr]

I don't know much about these but I would think you couldn't go too wrong with the deere. I didn't know simplicity sold expensive tractors until reading this thread. I think I would go with the deere if the prices are similar just based on their reputation, parts, and lots of forums/youtube videos about them.

 

[robstaples]

Markedman, Interesting situation. I currently have a Simplicity Sunstar and has been a great machine for the last 25 years. Cuts great and great support for parts. Before that had Simp..Landlord 10 hp that was great as well. Currently switching to a Kubota b series because I want a cab and 4 wheel drive. Just got it- last week, don't know if it cuts as well as the Sunstar. Sunstar is Kohler powered with carburation...No issues for me. Concern. 4 wheel drive all the time may tear up the yard. I have a L series 7000 lb with turf tires and if it's in 4 wheel drive the sod pays the price. It's a heavy machine for lawn, so take that with a grain.. I need 4 wd for a hill that the sun star does great with 2 wd except on occasion. And the damage is there for me to see for months. Hoping the Kubota B series (2000lb) will do as well as my Simplicity. If not , my lawn will just look worst that it did!!

 

[markedman1132]

Markedman, Interesting situation. I currently have a Simplicity Sunstar and has been a great machine for the last 25 years. Cuts great and great support for parts. Before that had Simp..Landlord 10 hp that was great as well. Currently switching to a Kubota b series because I want a cab and 4 wheel drive. Just got it- last week, don't know if it cuts as well as the Sunstar. Sunstar is Kohler powered with carburation...No issues for me. Concern. 4 wheel drive all the time may tear up the yard. I have a L series 7000 lb with turf tires and if it's in 4 wheel drive the sod pays the price. It's a heavy machine for lawn, so take that with a grain.. I need 4 wd for a hill that the sun star does great with 2 wd except on occasion. And the damage is there for me to see for months. Hoping the Kubota B series (2000lb) will do as well as my Simplicity. If not , my lawn will just look worst that it did!!

robstaples, The reviews I have read showed many of them had the same concerns about the 4WD on the X738, but they all said it was not an issue. I was curious why you didn't buy the Legacy XL. The model I looked at had 4WD (that you can turn off) and shows a soft snow cab as an option.

 

[eagle628]

robstaples, The reviews I have read showed many of them had the same concerns about the 4WD on the X738, but they all said it was not an issue.

It's because those tractors have hydraulically driven front wheels, rather than a shaft drive, so they vary speeds independently when turning, rather than locking together.

 

[eagle628]

robstaples, The reviews I have read showed many of them had the same concerns about the 4WD on the X738, but they all said it was not an issue.

It's because those tractors have hydraulically driven front wheels, rather than a shaft drive, so they vary speeds independently when turning, rather than locking together.

 

[murphy1244]

It's because those tractors have hydraulically driven front wheels, rather than a shaft drive, so they vary speeds independently when turning, rather than locking together.

And make a lot of noise. I traded in my Conquest cause I needed something that I could change implements easier and the Ventrac was it. Go from lawn cutter to Snow Blower in 2 minutes.

 

[Gittyup]

And make a lot of noise.

My X739 isn't noisy, neither in transmission nor engine. No whine except under very heavy load. The AWD with AWS is simply awesome. Outstanding traction, maneuverability, and won't tear your grass. Nothing like it by any manufacturer. There is no garden tractor with the sophistication or features of these X700's. The Simplicities are nice, but they don't have the engineering that JD does when it comes to the range of attachments, ease of use, and performance. IMHO John Deere has no competition in this class. No one is close. If spending the kind of money that can purchase an X738, it would be a mistake to buy anything else in the same class.

This is one area where I do bleed JD green. 19+ years on my 425 (a predecessor to the X-series) and I still love that old girl; runs like the day I bought her. Selling her this spring and it will be an emotional separation when she goes.

 

[murphy1244]

My X739 isn't noisy, neither in transmission nor engine. No whine except under very heavy load. The AWD with AWS is simply awesome. Outstanding traction, maneuverability, and won't tear your grass. Nothing like it by any manufacturer. There is no garden tractor with the sophistication or features of these X700's. The Simplicities are nice, but they don't have the engineering that JD does when it comes to the range of attachments, ease of use, and performance. IMHO John Deere has no competition in this class. No one is close. If spending the kind of money that can purchase an X738, it would be a mistake to buy anything else in the same class.

.
This is one area where I do bleed JD green. 19+ years on my 425 (a predecessor to the X-series) and I still love that old girl; runs like the day I bought her. Selling her this spring and it will be an emotional separation when she goes.

You won't take to a hill like a Ventrac nor cut like it.IMHO

 

[Gittyup]

A Ventrac is not the same class machine. A unique animal in it's own right. But, can hardly be classified as a garden tractor.

 

[murphy1244]

A Ventrac is not the same class machine. A unique animal in it's own right. But, can hardly be classified as a garden tractor.

Then what?

 

[jenkinsph]

There was a thread on here several months ago with a member who had a Simplicity 4wd garden tractor working a steep hill. He found out the front wheels would free wheel in 4wd going down hill, where a Deere x7xx 4wd does not. If you look at the Deere hydraulic front axle you will see that the front wheels have linkage to a valve which varies the speed of the wheels so that the outside front wheel turns faster in a turn than the inside wheel. Works very well and I have less scuffing using the 4wd than the previous L130 mower. Moving up from the L130 to an x749 was a real improvement.

I purchased the x749 with the rear pto and 3ph in 2010 and have to say I use the hitch about 50% of the time. While it won't take the place of my larger tractors it really helps with reducing labor in close quarters work. When building landscapes I can smooth out under the trees with my 4' landplane where the larger tractors can't fit. If you need 3ph attachments for your lawn maintenance it seems to fill the bill for this work. You can add the hitch and pto at a later date easily if you find a need for it.

About choosing a new mower, if you have a limited amount of work to do you might wan't to consider a less costly x500 series without the hitch and rear pto too.

 

[robstaples]

Markedman, To answer your question, why not the Legacy, I was after one machine that could do it all and I love the lift capacity of my L39--(over one ton) and am just about done for the need of a backhoe. So I got the biggest machine with a Mid mount mower and catcher and with as big of lift on the front end and hard cab. B3350 -- 33 hp and 2450 lbs. Will be selling my Sunstar (240 hours) and MAYBE my L39. From the above, the JD sounds really good.
rob

 

[markedman1132]

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

Sounds like I will go with the Deere. I'm tempted to pay another $800 for the X758 to get the diesel. I would like for the tractor to last 20 years if possible. I think either the gas or diesel will be powerful enough for my duties, but I understand their is a lot more torque with the diesel. Everything else I have now is gas powered, but if the diesel will last longer it might be worth the extra $800. With the financing plan Deere currently has it's only an extra $15 a month for the 60 months of financing.

I know there are many threads out there for gas vs diesel. Anyone have the X758 or X738 for comparison? Any other thoughts are also greatly appreciated.

 

[Gittyup]

You will easily get 20 years out of the gasser. Probably a few more out of a diesel, assuming nothing else major fails first. The diesel will give you more torque. You have to ask yourself will you ever use that torque? For most situations, the answer is not likely. Some users might, but most won't. I personally don't think the diesel is worth it. I'd spend the money on 3PH, and rear PTO, or implements and attachments. And for me, where I have many many obstacles to mow around and tight corners to fit, the all wheel steer is far more useful than the macho of a diesel. A diesel takes too long to warm up for my GT needs too. Diesels give you much longer run times per tank of fuel. But, you'll never recoup the cost difference in fuel savings. If diesel were a must, why not a 1-series or a BX or other SCUT?