Simplicity Legacy Tractor

yooperdave · Aug 22, 2005

How does the Simplicity Legacy Tractor compare to a John Deere Garden Tractor? Which model would it compare to?

Is the Legacy higher quality than a Cub Cadet?

Thanks

Yooper Dave

Phoenix1 · Aug 22, 2005

Just purchased the Legacy XL. 4WD, 3 cyl. diesel, 3-pt hitch. 60" MMM is heavy duty. Compared it to JD, Kubota, NH and Cub. Liked this better. More bells and whistles, but solidly built. Also less money, which I suspect might be due to name recognition. Simplicty was purchased by Briggs & Stratton and they beefed up the equipment. Everything I've read from other forums puts this tractor right up there. Haven't had mine long enough (past weekend to be exact) to tell you any more but so far I'm extremely happy. FEL is slick.

JohnSinVA · Aug 22, 2005

The new Legacy XL would be considered a subcompact tractor and would compare most directly to the JD2210 and its 2305 replacement.

Is it higher quality than the JD or a 5xxx Cub Cadet? That's for you to decide /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

PhilNH5 · Aug 23, 2005

( Simplicty was purchased by Briggs & Stratton and they beefed up the equipment )

Where did you hear this. I checked the Simplicity website and they say that the stock is held in an Employee Stock Ownership Trust with an investment firm being the major holder but employees holding a lot as well.

 "The ESOT, in 1994, sold a majority of shares to an affiliate of Kohlberg & Co., a private investment firm headquartered in Mount Kisco, New York. Employees continue to have substantial ownership of the company through the ESOT. "


In fact Simplicity has been on a buying spree and now owns Ferris industries and most recently Snapper.

Phil

KentT · Aug 23, 2005

Briggs & Stratton bought Simplicity a little over a year ago.

To date, they've seem to have stayed pretty much "hands off" and let Simplicity execs run it.

This purchase had NOTHING to do with the redesign of the Legacy to make it 4WD, i.e. the Legacy XL....

PhilNH5 · Aug 23, 2005

I stand corrected. I posted the above info from Simplicity's webpage on owner ship. After your post I checked with B&S and they did acquire Simplicity last year.

Phil

yooperdave · Aug 23, 2005

I was specifically wondering about the Legacy (not the XL model) and how it compared to the other garden tractors out there.

I did not want to compare the XL as a SCUT to a Kubota or similar. Does it compare with a Deere 425?

Thanks

Yooper Dave

Phoenix1 · Aug 23, 2005

I think the Legacy was 2WD whereas the XL is 4WD. When I looked at JD, I was comparing the XL to the X4** and X5** series.

Phoenix1 · Aug 27, 2005

Here it is. A really excellent machine. Have been digging all day and the 4WD makes a big difference. Pretty simple to get the FEL on and off, although it took me a few tries the first time. Manuals are written for tractor nerds, not weekend golfers.

I wondered whether I would like the 60" deck because I have a ton of trees and lots of manuevering. This thing drives better than my car. Power steering is to die for and the turning radius runs circles (literally) around my 22 yr old 14HP.

I had grass that was knee in some places. This baby didn't even burp where my old one would have been totally choked out.

If I have one complaint (really felt I MUST have one) it's that you can't see the edge of the bucket when down. Probably a common trait for tractors this size and the more I practice the better the feel for it.

LBrown59 · Aug 29, 2005

If I have one complaint (really felt I MUST have one) it's that you can't see the edge of the bucket when down. * Probably a common trait for tractors this size.


========

 *No it's a common characteristic of buckets. 
Something I like better about the front blade on my Bolens tractor is you can see where the cutting edge of the blade is better than you can see where the cutting edge of a feel bucket is.

JohnSinVA · Aug 29, 2005

I would compare the non-XL Legacy to the 400 series John Deere's. They are pretty similar in size and spec.

LBrown59 · Aug 30, 2005

( I would compare the non-XL Legacy to the 400 series John Deere's. )
==========
I have the brochure on the simplicity tractors.
The only legacy in it is the XL.
Where do I find anything on a Non XL legacy?

Phoenix1 · Aug 30, 2005

( ( I would compare the non-XL Legacy to the 400 series John Deere's. )
==========
I have the brochure on the simplicity tractors.
The only legacy in it is the XL.
Where do I find anything on a Non XL legacy?
)

Not sure what information you are looking for but this may help. Go to the Simplicity website and under manuals enter model 1692872. The operator's manual is for an older Legacy. New ones (XL) would be model 1694413 for example.

LBrown59 · Aug 30, 2005

Apparently the XL replaced the LEGACY or Simplicity discontinued the plain LEGACY

I have the brochure I got from the Simplicity dealer last
summer and the only Legacy in there is the XL.
There hain't any other legacy models in there.

( ( ( I would compare the non-XL Legacy to the 400 series John Deere's. )
==========
I have the brochure on the simplicity tractors.
The only legacy in it is the XL.
Where do I find anything on a Non XL legacy?
)

Not sure what information you are looking for but this may help. Go to the Simplicity website and under manuals enter model 1692872. The operator's manual is for an older Legacy. New ones (XL) would be model 1694413 for example. )

KentT · Aug 30, 2005

The Legacy XL replaced the Legacy...

Tinmantylr · May 21, 2008

I've had mine for 9 months (118hrs) and I love it. 60 inch deck, FEL, york rake and front snow plow. Absolutely no complaints at all.

Tinmantylr · May 21, 2008

Forgot to mention rear PTO and 3 point hitch and I only paid $11950.00 for it

hemiguy · May 29, 2008

Don't know much about past models of the Legacy, but I just took a good look at a brand new diesel 4x4 Legacy at a dealer over the holiday weekend. It had the loader, 3PT hitch, weight box, and 540 rear PTO. Looked real sturdy, well made, and had a price tag of around $14500.

I would say other than no ROPS this tractor is essentially more subcompact utility tractor than L&G tractor. And as an owner of both a Deere 455 L&G tractor (with 540 PTO and 3PT but no loader) and a 2520 compact tractor here is what I see as the two big differences. The Legacy has a joystick loader control which is indepenent from the 3PT lift control. The Deere 4x5's and I suspect the newest X700's do NOT have independent control. If I put a loader on my 455, I cannot use the 3PT at the same time as the loader. I have to install a lockout valve to switch between the two. Also the Simplicity salesman said you can put a backhoe on the Legacy. Not so for the 4X5's or X700's.

If I was to compare the Legacy to Deere models, I would say apples to apples is to the 2210 or current the 2305.

LBrown59 · May 29, 2008

hemiguy said:
.
*The Deere 4x5's and I suspect the newest X700's do NOT have independent control. If I put a loader on my 455, I cannot use the 3PT at the same time as the loader
I would say other than no ROPS this tractor.

The ROPS is an extra cost option on the Simplicity Legacy xl Tractor.
*This would steer me away from a JD x series

jdgreg · May 30, 2008

yooperdave said:
I was specifically wondering about the Legacy (not the XL model) and how it compared to the other garden tractors out there.

I did not want to compare the XL as a SCUT to a Kubota or similar. Does it compare with a Deere 425?

Thanks

Yooper Dave

Dave, I cant help with the comparision, but I've had my Legacy since I bought it new in '99. I dont baby it and use it for a lot more than I should, it's tought as nails.

There's a few things I dont like about it, but they're really minor. If I had to buy one again, I'd have no problem getting another Legacy.