Simplicity Legacy XL

randyny · Aug 15, 2005

I do have a 3-pt ballast box on the back of the tractor with 3 80 lb bags of cement in it. It's stable when moving - the only time the back comes up is when the bucket is stuck on a big root, I lift the bucket, and drive in reverse.

LBrown59 · Aug 15, 2005

( (
I was first looking at the Massey, i believe GC2300. That was a sweet machine, but I decided it was too big, plus I thought the design of the Simplicity mower was superior.
)Conquests, Broadmoors, and Regents respecitvely. )
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The only thing keeping the Legacy XL un competitive with the Kubota and M-F sub compacts is the price of it's back hoe, which is nearly twice that of competitors.
----- ''''''''''' --------------
 The Kubota BX23 and The MF 2310 are the only Sub compacts offering a Backhoe.
Before I bought my BX23 for $15500 I checked out the Legacy Xl thinking surely it would beat the $15500 quote I had on the Kubota.
I figured Since the Kubota was $15500 the Simplicity would probably be somewhere around 12 to 14K.
You can imagine the sicker shock I got when I was quoted $20500 for a Legacy Xl equipped like the BX23!----
---------BTW the Legacy Xl is the only small tractor you can buy without a back hoe then order the back hoe later.
Those looking into adding a BH some time after purchasing a BX 2230 MF2300 or JD 2210 ought to look into the Simplicity XL.
The Legacy XL is the only one to offer an OEM BackHoe that can be added after purchasing the tractor.

LBrown59 · Aug 15, 2005

( I do have a 3-pt ballast box on the back of the tractor with 3 80 lb bags of cement in it. [ the only time the back comes up is when the bucket is stuck on a big root . ] 
)

 * Looks like the 240 pounds isn't enough weight back there then. *
I can't lift my back wheels off the ground like this.

jim_wilson · Aug 22, 2005

There are a number of tractors out there on the market that I would classify as "SubCUT sized" tractors. Some of which get little or no mention on this website. I say "SubCUT sized" tractors because I believe if somebody is looking for a tractor in this size range they should get the complete list of what is available out there - not just the standard Kubota BX, Deere 2210, Massey GC list that typically gets given out here. There is another thread going on right now here on TBN about brand loyalty vs. brand non-loyalty, so in the issue of fairness I believe that the following list is what should be given out to anybody looking at a "SubCUT sized" tractor:

Kubota BX series
Massey GC series
New Holland TZ series
Deere 2210 (now 2305)
Simplicity Legacy XL
Deere X series
Ingersoll 6000 & 7000 series

Not all of the above compare directly to each other but given the general availability of 3pt, HP, attachments, FEL, etc. I believe they should be listed together. If one was looking for a tractor in this size range purely for mowing every model range listed except for the Ingersoll would be a candidate for instance, if one was looking for a tractor of this size the BX23, GC2310, Simplicy XL, and the Ingersoll would be candidates to look at.

EquipmentJunkie · Aug 22, 2005

Thanks for the feedback on the Legacy XL. I have been a closet Legacy XL fan ever since Deere introduced the current X-series.

I had the impression that Simplicity did their homework on the Legacy XL. It is nice to know that indeed they did.

67Bird · Sep 10, 2005

This is an interesting thread...
I have owned the Legacy XL for 10 months and wouldn't think of trading it for a BX series. I owned a B7100 prior and when I started looking I was ready to buy another Kubota until I found the Simplicity. Kubota is a great tractor... But my work is 75% mowing 3 acres and 25% light excavating. Kubota can't come close to the cut of the Simplicity mower. I have a woods box blade, scraper blade, and stone rake. The Simplicity pulls this equipment just as good as my old B7100 and with power steering to boot! I will say I ordered the ROPS with mine and believe this is a big mistake from Simplicity... This should be standard equipment with the loader install.
The Simplicity for some reason doesn't get the credit it deserves... Not sure why.
In a perfect world I'd have a B2910 with a loader and backhoe to play with too... This isn't a perfect world so I chose the best option for my daily needs.

Tom

LBrown59 · Sep 10, 2005

************
1*I like the Simplicity too,but what I don't like is every time I price them out against Kubota they have always came out to a lot more money than the Kubota.
I'm looking to spend less than the cost of a Kubota not more.
2*My idea is a B 2410 Bx23 and a good Lawn and garden
tractor with a front blade and rear tiller If could only beat the price of a BX1500 with it.
 3*I'm not worried about the cut because I don't need a mower.
 All I want is a tiller and front blade.

This is an interesting thread...
1*I have owned the Legacy XL for 10 months and wouldn't think of trading it for a BX series.
2*In a perfect world I'd have a B2910 with a loader and backhoe to play with too... This isn't a perfect world so I chose the best option for my daily needs.[color]
3* Kubota can't come close to the cut of the Simplicity mower. 
===Tom===

LBrown59 · Sep 10, 2005

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

LBrown59 · Mar 3, 2006

I will say I ordered the ROPS with mine and believe this is a big mistake from Simplicity...
*This should be standard equipment with the loader install.
67Bird

====
*It is standard on kubota BX tractors with or without a loader.
This is one of the things that tells me the legacy is not a S-Cut.
Sub Cuts are required by law to have a ROPS.
Since Legacy isn't required to have a ROPS then it must not be A S-Cut.

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MY FIRST CAR http://chevy.tocmp.com/chevyscrapbook/files/kamp50.jpg
OUR FIRST CAR http://www.hubcapcafe.com/ocs/pages01/chev6003.htm
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goneandbrokeit · Mar 3, 2006

If I hadn't seen him sign "Randy from Long Island" I would have guessed Long Island from looking at the soil in the hole. Some people call that soil sand!
Not knocking the XL at all, but I am curious if it could do the same in clay/rock.

depasseg · Mar 3, 2006

I'm curious what hole you were referring to. I couldn't find a picture. I've put mine to work and it's handled everything I needed. Of course I don't have any thing to compare it to.

I'm also curious about this "Law of ROPS". Since I added a ROPS to my Legacy XL, does that mean it IS a sub-CUT by law? Is there really a law that describes the naming classifications of tractors? I'd like to know more.

Thanks,
Greg

weesa20 · Mar 3, 2006

I looked long and hard at the simplicity legacy XL before I bought my GC. The thing that really pushed me to the GC was the price. I got my GC with the FEL for what the simplicity dealers wanted for the XL only. The other thing was that everything was extra: three point hitch, ROPS, etc. When I need a great mower, I will buy the the XL.

I was very impressed by the 27 HP deisel but I felt like it is actually too much power for the size of the tractor and the amount of traction available. I tend to spin before I run out of power with bucket work and more HP would only make that worse I think (at least in the clay of NC)

Although I came very close to purchasing the XL, I still don't consider it a SCUT. After looking at the specs, I am not really sure why, it just looked smaller, chassis was less heavy duty. The only spec that is different is the overall length which allows it to turn more tightly for mowing. I also don't consider the JD X series to be SCUTs, although this is likely semantics since my father considers his JD 2210 to be a compact and in a different class than my GC. (i think JD also calls it a compact)

weesa

jdgreg · Mar 4, 2006

I've had the Simplicity Legacy (not the XL) 25hp 60" deck, for several years now, and it has been a very solid machine. I mow about 2-3 acres, and have been very pleased with it's reliability and performance.

LBrown59 · Mar 6, 2006

I'm also curious about this "Law of ROPS".
1*Is there really a law that describes the naming classifications of tractors?
2*Since I added a ROPS to my Legacy XL, does that mean it IS a sub-CUT by law?
===== 
1*Not that I know of but how do you explain the ROPS requirement on some tractors but it isn't required on others??? Case in Point Simplicity Legacy V S Kubota BX , John DEER 2000 series and MF GS !
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2*I put an air horn on my Toyota pick up does that make it a Mack Truck?

www.hubcapcafe.com/ocs/pages01/chev6003.htm
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goneandbrokeit · Mar 6, 2006

I was refering to the picture attached to post #714200. I was actually quite impressed with what it accomplished. Parts of LI are quite sandy, I was wondering how it would do in clay/rock.

aesanders · Mar 6, 2006

I believe the main reason the Legacy XL does not come standard with a ROPS is because first and formeost it is sold as a premier mowing machine. There are many people that would shy away from it or think it was "TOO BIG" if it came with a rops as standard. This is the main reason why I believe it is marketed as a "SUBCOMPACT GARDEN TRACTOR" Simplicity has always been a lawn and garden company. This is the largest machine they make. Don't scare a potential buyer away thinking it is an ag tractor. I do agree with the fact that the loader option should come standard with a rops. Other than that, the Legacy XL is in everyway comparable to the subcompact class of tractors such as the BX, TZ etc. Their are different sizes of subcompacts as well and the Simplicity is definately on the small end of these but still similar in weight and size.

depasseg · Mar 6, 2006

LBrown59 - my "Law of ROPS" was referring to what you said a couple posts ago:

"Sub Cuts are required by law to have a ROPS."

I was asking what law that is. Is that a federal law, or a state law? A law of physics and common sense sounds more like it.

As for the actual ROPS being required by common sense/safety, well yes, I can see how all tractors would fit into the same category of needing a ROPS for safe operation. I agree with what another poster mentioned about the primary market of the Legacy XL being a premier mower with the ability to do a whole lot more. What I don't understand is why the ROPS doesn't automatically come packaged with the FEL. It does seem strange (and almost a liability).

As for you air horn-Mack Truck question. My answer would be "yes" if your Toyota had the same hauling capacity and power as a Mack Truck and was just lacking an Air-horn. Of course, it couldn't actually be called a Mack truck, because Mack is a brand name, and we aren't debating brand names. But I would say that they could certainly be considered in the same group if someone were looking for a dump truck.

My point was about the arbitrary naming of categories of tractors. There is no single definition of a sub-CUT, so rather than look at what the marketing department is calling it, look at what it can do. If there is a difference, then make decision on that piece of information, not what arbitrary label gets applied.

It would be great if we had a way here to directly compare the specs of other tractors that people consider a sub-CUT to see really what the differences are. For instance these are the specs of the Legacy XL. Feel free to add your "sub-CUT" specs to the list:
- Tractor 27 HP diesel, 4WD, 540 PTO, mid-PTO, Cat 1 3-pt hitch
-A 48" FEL that is rated to lift 500 lbs 75.5" in 5 seconds. A breakout force of 900 lbs.
-A backhoe with a choice of 9"/12"/16" bucket, a 10' reach, a 6' digging depth, and 151 degree swing. I don't have the specs on the breakout or digging force, but I can speak from experience of digging in the granite state of New Hampshire, that this thing has no problem digging. I know that's hard to quantify for comparision sake so I'll try to get some pictures posted.
-An amazing 60" MMM deck that makes a lawn look like a baseball field (google lawn-striping for some samples of what I mean).

I had a chance to use a friend's Kubota (not sure of the model, but it was close in size to the Legacy) a couple years ago, and I can say that there is nothing that it could do that my machine now couldn't do. However, I will say that there are definitely differences between the Legacy and other more tractor-ey tractors. For instance:
- The Cat I 3 Pt hitch is called modified because it doesn't have as high a ground clearance as some other tractors. This can be an issue for people looking for PHDs.
- The PTO speed is driven by engine speed, unlike some other tractors I've seen that have an independent control for the speed of the PTO's.
- There is only 1 brake pedal - you can't independently brake the left and right wheels.
- There are probably differences in wheel base, tire size, overall weight, but I can't imagine they are that big of a difference.

I guess my bottom line is for those folks looking for a very capable small tractor that has a backhoe, a FEL, a 3pt hitch with a 540 PTO you should consider the Legacy XL. (and if you do but it, make sure you order it with a ROPS) /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

depasseg · Mar 6, 2006

goneandbrokeit - Thanks for the reference. And thanks for the picture. I can't tell the width of the trench, but the soil composition and the rocks don't look like they would be a problem for my backhoe. I took a couple pictures of some smaller trenching I've done. I've done some other work, but didn't have the camera handy. There are a couple of of photos of the backhoe subframe and the controls, in case anyone is interested:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/depasse/tags/legacyxl/