Buying Advice Replace a Wheel Horse 314-8

[Gee Ray]

have you checked out simplicity? there stuff is still highly regarded, you just don't see them around much though.

i will replace my 1995 CC with a zero turn if it ever dies. the cub xt2 and xt3 are really pretty good machines, you have to go to a cub cadet dealer to get them. 500 and up series of the deere are also nice, but will be as much or more than kubota. lightly used is good.

Simplicity does seam like a good tractor still but there are very few dealers in Fl. I ask for better information about the construction of the machines from the dealer. I was looking to see if there was a frame or was it stamped steel unibody type that comes with the box store brands. The dealer did not know. He is over 1 1/2 hours away so I need to plan to get there but my work does not always travel during the week.

Easywheels1@gmail.com (easywheels1@gmail.com)
To:you Details
Stan, there is really nothing in the Snapper lineup that would spec out with a cast iron transmission, wheel bearing in the front or a gear drive. I am not sure that any brand would even think of building a tractor with a gear drive transmission as there is no demand based on how hydro transmissions have improved over the years. We own the Simplicity brand that still builds a 300 to 400 hour tractor with high end Tuff Torq transmissions, HD frames and wheel bearing in the front wheels. The issue in Florida is the SImplicity tractor does not have a frame hung deck. The tractor actually "drags" the deck and the rear deck rollers actually follow the contour of the ground. That's where you actually get the stripped look you see advertised on the website and works great in cool weather grasses like bluegrass and fescue. This may be too much detail, but SImplicity units are not normally a good fit in hot weather grasses where cutting heights are normally lower. Deere is still building an upscale tract orand the customer may need to research there. As you know the market has shifted to zero turns and tractors are still viable, but pricing is forefront as most manufacturers have raced to the bottom on pricing to get placement in the mass stores. There are a lot of customers that still want your service and are willing to pay for it. We still do fairly well with high end SImplicity tractors in a number of markets but the business is at a flat but sustainable level. Take a look at the SImplicity website and you can see what I am talking about. Thanks

I don’t know if this helps you with your decision
Stan

 

[stevem5215]

I have two Simplicity ZTR's. A Citation XL 61" with the 27hp and a ZT2500 48" with a 24hp. Both use Hydro Gear Hydro trannies with spin on filters and reservoirs. ONe is a 3400 trans and the other is a 2800 trans. The Citation is low end commercial and a very heavy duty well built machine. The fab deck is extremely heavy duty and the whole thing weighs around 1000lbs. The ZT2500 is less heavy duty and more consumer oriented like at the Big box stores. But it has a fab deck and a 2800 hydro. Both very good for consumer models.

As for what you should buy, Buy the best you think you will need and consider shopping for transmission first. That's the failure you find in a ZTR first.

Steve