Look what I just picked up today

jinman · Jun 10, 2012

KentT said:
Jim,

It's limited by being 2WD, but otherwise more comparable to the small Kubota than you acknowledge. I've owned both a Simpliicty with loader and a small Kubota with loader, so I can speak from first hand experience ...

Kent, I just don't see the comparison. The Kubota BX series all have water cooled 3-cyl diesel engines and the Simplicity has a air cooled Kohler. The Kubota has a hydraulic pump capacity of 6.3 gpm and the Simplicity uses the HST pump for power steering and adds a gear pump for the optional loader. The Kubotas weigh in at approximately 1200-1600 lb and the Simplicities are around 800-1200 lb. The Kubota has an implement lift that can lift 600 lb, I couldn't even find the spec for the Simplicity or the spec for it's add-on hydraulic pump. Add the 4wd and the two range HST transmission of the Kubotas and that puts them a class above the Simplicities. The BX also has rear 540 and mid-2500 rpm PTOs.

I don't mean to say anything bad about the Simplicity. I just say its not designed to compete with the Kubota BX in all aspects. It's a GREAT mower and garden tractor with it's 3PH. It doesn't need to be compared to anything. BTW: Was the photo you posted your Simplicity with loader? The wide aggressive tread tires with huge weights and the lightweight loader in that photo tend to bear out what I'm saying. The photo posted by the OP seems to show a homebrew loader that is much heavier and will set the Simplicity on its nose with much more than a bale of hay in the bucket, especially if the operator forgets and gets off to unload that bale while the loader is in the air.

I just think the OP has a great little tractor even without knowing what he paid for it. Trying to get an old loader or retrofit a newer loader to that machine will take a lot of time and expense that could be used enjoying a great piece of equipment. I just think it should be used for what it does best. It's no skin off my nose either way, but I can't let somebody go down a path without raising a red flag. If he chooses to go ahead, of course I wish him the best and hope that I'm full of prunes and he'll be very happy with the loader.

wwmw · Jun 10, 2012

jinman said:
Kent, I just don't see the comparison. The Kubota BX series all have water cooled 3-cyl diesel engines and the Simplicity has a air cooled Kohler. The Kubota has a hydraulic pump capacity of 6.3 gpm and the Simplicity uses the HST pump for power steering and adds a gear pump for the optional loader. The Kubotas weigh in at approximately 1200-1600 lb and the Simplicities are around 800-1200 lb. The Kubota has an implement lift that can lift 600 lb, I couldn't even find the spec for the Simplicity or the spec for it's add-on hydraulic pump. Add the 4wd and the two range HST transmission of the Kubotas and that puts them a class above the Simplicities. The BX also has rear 540 and mid-2500 rpm PTOs.

I don't mean to say anything bad about the Simplicity. I just say its not designed to compete with the Kubota BX in all aspects. It's a GREAT mower and garden tractor with it's 3PH. It doesn't need to be compared to anything. BTW: Was the photo you posted your Simplicity with loader? The wide aggressive tread tires with huge weights and the lightweight loader in that photo tend to bear out what I'm saying. The photo posted by the OP seems to show a homebrew loader that is much heavier and will set the Simplicity on its nose with much more than a bale of hay in the bucket, especially if the operator forgets and gets off to unload that bale while the loader is in the air.

I just think the OP has a great little tractor even without knowing what he paid for it. Trying to get an old loader or retrofit a newer loader to that machine will take a lot of time and expense that could be used enjoying a great piece of equipment. I just think it should be used for what it does best. It's no skin off my nose either way, but I can't let somebody go down a path without raising a red flag. If he chooses to go ahead, of course I wish him the best and hope that I'm full of prunes and he'll be very happy with the loader.

Hey! jim, I just paid $600 for the Sunstar, I though that was a pretty good deal since I looked everywhere for something for about 3 weeks, and I am only using the loader around the house doing landscaping and such, I have no large farm, business or anything like that, just a cuople acers thats all. thanks for my concern though.

a johnny bucket probally would have worked for me but, didn't want to pay $1200+

William

JoeBuyer · Jun 10, 2012

I suppose it all depends on what is intended to be lifted in the loader. If it is sawdust, powder snow, a small bale of hay or just tools to take out to repair a fence or something, it would be handy. Anything beyond that the front axle alone would have to be adequate to hold the weight of the tractor+loader+load+operator+fuel etc. Imagine a teeter totter with equal loads and both sides in the air. The front axle is the center of the teeter totter and everything is supported by it.

wwmw · Jun 10, 2012

JoeBuyer said:
I suppose it all depends on what is intended to be lifted in the loader. If it is sawdust, powder snow, a small bale of hay or just tools to take out to repair a fence or something, it would be handy. Anything beyond that the front axle alone would have to be adequate to hold the weight of the tractor+loader+load+operator+fuel etc. Imagine a teeter totter with equal loads and both sides in the air. The front axle is the center of the teeter totter and everything is supported by it.

Yep! you're exactly right joe, I just need it for light duty landscaping around the house, I entend to have tires filled, weights on rear wheels, and maybe on the rear also

Plus, Simplicity, came out with a 36 and 48" FEL for this tractor as an optional attachment when it was first manufactured.

William

KentT · Jun 10, 2012

jinman said:
Kent, I just don't see the comparison. The Kubota BX series all have water cooled 3-cyl diesel engines and the Simplicity has a air cooled Kohler. The Kubota has a hydraulic pump capacity of 6.3 gpm and the Simplicity uses the HST pump for power steering and adds a gear pump for the optional loader. The Kubotas weigh in at approximately 1200-1600 lb and the Simplicities are around 800-1200 lb. The Kubota has an implement lift that can lift 600 lb, I couldn't even find the spec for the Simplicity or the spec for it's add-on hydraulic pump. Add the 4wd and the two range HST transmission of the Kubotas and that puts them a class above the Simplicities. The BX also has rear 540 and mid-2500 rpm PTOs.

I don't mean to say anything bad about the Simplicity. I just say its not designed to compete with the Kubota BX in all aspects. It's a GREAT mower and garden tractor with it's 3PH. It doesn't need to be compared to anything. BTW: Was the photo you posted your Simplicity with loader? The wide aggressive tread tires with huge weights and the lightweight loader in that photo tend to bear out what I'm saying. The photo posted by the OP seems to show a homebrew loader that is much heavier and will set the Simplicity on its nose with much more than a bale of hay in the bucket, especially if the operator forgets and gets off to unload that bale while the loader is in the air.

I just think the OP has a great little tractor even without knowing what he paid for it. Trying to get an old loader or retrofit a newer loader to that machine will take a lot of time and expense that could be used enjoying a great piece of equipment. I just think it should be used for what it does best. It's no skin off my nose either way, but I can't let somebody go down a path without raising a red flag. If he chooses to go ahead, of course I wish him the best and hope that I'm full of prunes and he'll be very happy with the loader.

Jim,

Let's go back to my quote that seems to have raised the hair on everyone's necks...

Simplicity approved a couple different loaders for use on the Sunstars, both with 500-600 lb lift capaciity, as I recall.... One was the Kwik-Way I think, but I don't remember if the other was a Brantley, Henry, or what...

I guess someone should go on the Kubota forums and tell the BX guys that their tractors with similar capacity are worthless also...

The Simplicity loader for that Sunstar has similar specs to the Kubota loader for the BX...

We can talk any other detail you'd like -- but my original point still stands...

BTW, that Simplicity has front, center and rear (2000 RPM) PTO. It's 60" belly mower is shaft driven, just like the BX. It's rear PTO is Cat 0, instead of the "almost Cat 1" of the BX, but it too is shaft driven. It's hydrostat also has High/Low Range, etc., etc.

No, it is not directly comparable to the BX -- but it's closer than you're giving it credit for, much like some of the JD 400/500 series garden tractors. And its loader matches the BX specs pretty closely -- which was my original point... before everyone went off on tangents...

JoeBuyer · Jun 10, 2012

wwmw said:
Yep! you're exactly right joe, I just need it for light duty landscaping around the house, I entend to have tires filled, weights on rear wheels, and maybe on the rear also Plus, Simplicity, came out with a 36 and 48" FEL for this tractor as an optional attachment when it was first manufactured.

William

Sounds like you have an ideal setup then that matches your needs. I am also a fan of keeping the old iron running rather than line the importer's pockets. Good luck and keep us posted.

wwmw · Jun 11, 2012

Ok! I will thanks KentT, and Joe.

William

chad22 · Jun 11, 2012

Nice tractor. I had thought about putting a loader on my sears lawn tractor. But have since decided not too. As the cost would be too much, and then it would need to be modded and a subframe added. Weights etc. I figured I'd just save the money and one day buy me a good TLB (Tractor loader backhoe).

I think that would be money better spent. I might add a little blade in the front to push dirt back in trenches though.

I figured out what I spent building my excavator. Cost came dang near close to $2,000.00

The hydraulics is what got me on that one. Hydraulics are not cheap. But well worth it. Keeps me from having to dig by hand. What would take me 2 months with a pick and shovel. Takes me about 2 hours with my excavator.

It's already more than paid for itself. And I'm fixing to lay some wire out to my well with it probably next week.

Then I'm gonna replace some water line from my parents water meter to their house.

So building the excavator was money well spent.

Chad

wwmw · Jun 11, 2012

Hello; Chad, yes sometimes I wish I had waited and found a garden tractor with the FEL already on it but, wife'y said I could only use $2500 and believe me I searched and searched for one for about 3 weeks couldn't find anything in my area for that kind of money I kinda figured I wouldn't. So I found this Sunstar just minutes from my house and grabbed it up for $600. Now I'm having a time trying to get the loader. BTW your excavator looks great good job. better than shovel and wheelbarrow for sure... You know what I have this sunstar and 2 more lawn tractors cub cadets and probally would throw in some boot, I would trade for a good tractor with scoop already attached if I could find it.

William

wwmw · Jun 11, 2012

KentT said:
Jim,

It's limited by being 2WD, but otherwise more comparable to the small Kubota than you acknowledge. I've owned both a Simpliicty with loader and a small Kubota with loader, so I can speak from first hand experience ...

BTW, his Sunstar has 3-pt hitch, already.... like shown in the pic I posted. The 18HP version did not, the 20HP version like his did, in addition to Hi/Low range on the hydrostat, independent rear brakes, diff lock, power steering, etc.

It's more than a lawnmower -- it's a very good little garden tractor.

Simplicity even approved and sold loaders for the model series smaller than the one he has, which had 350 lb lift capacity.