Simplicity

[Anonymous Poster]

How about some feedback from anyone with experience owning a Simplicity lawn tractor?

Thanks !

 

[TonyR]

That's a pretty general inquiry, but here goes:

My dad owned a 1972 Simplicity Landlord 3410. He bought it brand new (with snowthrower, mower deck, tiller, and grader blade) and it served him well for 25 years or so. It then sat for a couple years, then I bought if off of him. I used it to prepare our yard for grass, but kept having trouble that I (a novice) could not fix. I sold it a few months ago. He paid around $2k for it new (with attachments) and I received around $650 when all was said and done. It depreciated 67.5% in 28 years (that 2.4% per year; operating cost = $48/year + general maintenance). Not bad for preparing soil, cutting grass, tilling a garden, and throwing snow on a yearly basis...

I recently purchased a 1999 Simplicity Legacy, partly based on the merits of my dad's older machine and how well it served him. I am 31 now. I plan on still sitting on it well into my 50s.

There are lemons and gems in all brands. Hope you don't put mine in iced-tea.

 

[Gomez]

My Dad bought a 7114 in 1984 to cut his 1.3 acres, and some snow plowing. Never had any major problems, just replaced a belt once in a while, a new battery a couple of years ago. Very well built, maybe not as good as a Graveley but certainly above the standard issue stuff out there. Now that my Dad's gone , I still use it to cut the lawn for my mother, who is afraid of the little tractor. Compared to my B2400, it feels like it's very slow. And the shuttle lever is a little stiff, other than that, a nice machine. Good luck.

 

[bpence]

This goes back awile, but may help.

I bought a used 13hp Simplicity in 1980 with a 42" mower and a front blade. It was probably 10 years old when I bought it. I ran it hard for 7 years and used it for things that I'm sure it wasn't designed to do. No bush hog at the time so the Simplicity had to cut open a lot of old pasture land, haul logs (not real large, but logs) out of the woods, and keep up on mowing as 1 acre of yard expanded to 5 or so. I sold it in 1987 and replaced it with a JD316. The guy who bought it from me still has it. He's had to replace the clutch on the shuttle drive and all the arbors in the mower deck, but other than that it's still running pretty good.

Bob Pence

 

[Blu21]

Mine is a 7117 model,early 80's I think,bought it used about 8 years ago.It had a 17h.p.Koehler originally,it blew a rod and I swapped it out with a 16h.p.Briggs. Have a 48" deck,and snow blade.No complaints with it,it's built real well,they still make a similar model,same frame different model#.I think price is in the upper 5k range.Tom

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I picked up an Allis Chalmers 712S (AC and Simplicity are one and the same) this summer. It had been abused and neglected but with a little TLC (reset the points, changed the starter bushings, cut the grass balls off the driveshaft, welded up the mower deck and replaced the blade shaft bearings) it was back in action. Runs great and feels like a rugged machine! The driveline feels like it just came out of the plant and the shuttle shift is smooth as silk - I'm impressed, to say the least.

 

[JimBinMI]

Wiz,

Before I bought my NHTC18, I had a 1978 Allis Chalmers 716H made by Simplicity (I bought it used in 1990). It was a 16 hp Kohler Hydro with 48" mowing deck and 47" dozer/snow blade, had chains and rear wheel weights too.

It did a great job mowing 2-3 acres for 9 years and plowing a 120' gravel driveway during Michigan winters...some mild some heavier.

I had to have some hydro work done on it once at a cost of about $250. I paid $1100 and sold it for $850 last summer. Well built garden tractor.

Good Luck, JimBinMI

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

I have an AC model B210 that I purchased at a yard sale 5 years ago. $450.00. It ran and pulled fine. I rebuilt the transaxle (straight shift) the first winter. Very heavy automotive style gears. Total cost $200.00. Last year, I rebuilt the mower deck and converted from the older double V pully to the newer single V style for the mid PTO. Total Cost $150.00. This tractor originally carried a 10 hp briggs engine. The previous owner had worn that out, and installed a 16hp Tecumseh cast iron pump motor (electric start). Because it is a pump motor, it has been installed backwards, with the flywheel bolted directly to the shaft. (slight elding appears to have been required.) This 30 years old gadget still works great. Only 2 problems. First, the Tecumseh is a little heavy on the front end, which can make steering difficult. Second, if the deck clogs up you've got a smoked belt immediately. But, Little Allis will plow snow almost as high as any pickup, cuz I can climb right up the banks.

Simplicity is a solid brand, with parts available even for 30 year old equipment. (If a might expensive). Replacement parts seem well machined and fit snug to tight.

A history of the Chalmers L/G tractors is online at SimpleTractors. Am new to this, so I will try to find the link and post it later. There are a lot of pictures, including attachments for these old girls. (Trenchers, Post hole screws, etc.)

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Between the JD 300 series and the simplicity 7000 series probably the BEST lawn and garden tractors EVER built.(PERIOD) Can't emphasize that enough...........Plug in the Kubota G series and any one of these machines is worth owning . They just don't build 'em like that any more and i'ts a shame...............

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

Kubmech,

Probably the best way to explain it is that 30 year old Dynamarks are scrap. 30 year old Simplicitys still have belts on the shelf and parts in the bin. These things are TANKS.

SHF