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rsmith335 · 05-05-2011, 11:33 AM

I bought a 1951 Ford 8N w/ 1500 hours on it and I never owed a dime on it, other than trading cash for the key. I hate payments. I now have $ 3,700.00 in it and equipment ( Tractor, 5 foot finish mower turf tires and new rear rims )

Carl in CT · 05-05-2011, 02:08 PM

This is going to be a long review but I hope it helps others looking for a new tractor.

I purchased a Toro/Wheelhorse 267-H back in 1997 and regretted it often. It is actually a very nice tractor, mows well but the problem is the Kohler Command motor, nothing but trouble as soon as it was out of warranty. My dad had a mid 1980's Cub Cadet (early MTD) which was bad overall and also had trouble with the Kohler Command motor. Both were maintained well, they are just not high quality motors. Most dealers and mechanics I speak with now agree that Kohler has more problems than any other major motor manufacturer, even with it's top of the line Command series. I'm going to fix it one more time then sell the tractor.

So, after 14 years with the Toro I decided to get a new tractor. Cub Cadets were out because I have heard bad things about their shaft drive using gears with rubber parts instead of old school u-joints, causing expensive repairs, better off with a belt drive in a hydro transmission. Also, Cubs use Kohler motors almost exclusively and I am done wiith Kohler. Box store tractors won't cut it for me because I am a big guy with a big, hilly yard and I need a very rugged tractor. I used an almost new box store mower I was given when my Toro's Kohler motor was down and I had no money to fix it. I was grateful but it lasted only two years before the transmission was completely shot and the deck was falling apart. Two years out of a $1,800 tractor is not a good return at $900 per year. I'm not bashing the less expensive tractors, they just won't work for me and my yard. My dad has a Home Depot John Deere now and it's perfect for him, average size guy with smaller lawn and no hills.

That left me with new or used John Deere and Simplicity. I found a couple of good used Simplicities but they were snapped up before I even got a chance to see them. With the used Deeres people were asking almost new prices for tractors with 500-1000 hours on them so that didn't make sense. The new John Deeres run the Kawasaki motors in everything above the box store "D" models and I know from past experience that the Kawasakis are almost bullet proof. I was looking at the X320 but there is a lot of plastic on the Deere's and they seemed good but not great for the money they are asking. I decided on a Simplicity Broadmoor with 52" deck and 22hp B&S Vangaurd commercial quality motor.

Before I ordered the Broadmoor I found another dealer that had two new 2010 Simplicity Conquests leftover, both with 50" decks and 23hp Vangaurd motors. One was 4wd with power steering but I went with the 2wd regular steering for budget sake ($1,200 less). It has traction control and differential lock which is great on my hills and I like the all metal hood, very heavy duty, well built tractor. It was a few hundred more than the 2011 Broadmoor would have been but it's worth it for the step up. It was also more than the Deere x320 but Simplicity had 1.9% financing for 60 months where Deere had 4.9 for 48 months so my savings in finance charges makes the Simplicity a few dollars cheaper in the long run. The 2011 Conquests are not offered with the Vangaurd motor anymore. They have either the Kohler Courage (no thanks, even worse then the Command) or the Briggs Pro with electronic fuel management. Not sure about the Briggs pro, not willing to be the guinea pig with that. I am very impressed with the Simplicity so far, I look forward to mowing my lawn again! Here is a pic with the new Simplicity Conquest on the flat part of my yard.

**jhngardner367** · 07-30-2011, 03:21 PM

Clarification: Briggs engines are NOT made overseas. They are cast,milled and built in the USA. Some replacement PARTS are foreign-made(Canada/Mexico),but I was factory-trained in MILWAUKEE,and watched them being built,from small,to large.

Thomas · 07-30-2011, 03:33 PM

My wife.

**farmertim** · 07-31-2011, 05:42 PM

Requiremnets-----wheels, motor that ran and a deck that cut.

When I bought it I knew nothing about mowers, I still need to discover more about mine. it seems like i know all about all of you guys toys than I know about my own mower.

I hope only time will fix that and not necessity to repair!!!
Cheers

Mickey · 07-31-2011, 09:29 PM

Hope your Simplicity gives you many yrs of good service. Sorry about the Kohlers. If I understand your concern over the trans connection on the Cubs, if these are the type coupling I think you are describing, they are very common coupling and intended to address minor alignment issues and not for large angle misalignments or changing angles under use. Neither of these items come into play in this application. Corvettes use a rubber coupling in their drive line.

I've had my Cub for 8 yrs with no real problems. Did need to replace the starter solenoid this spring and have never given any thought to the shaft coupling between the engine and trans. I admit to being biased but I've never had and will never have a belt coupled GT.

This was the kind of coupling I was thinking about.

http://www.directindustry.com/prod/challenge-power-transmission-plc/flexible-couplings-shaft-couplings-69450-559265.htm

tcreeley · 01-08-2012, 06:17 PM

I used to have a 12 hp bolens that I beat on with work. The differential went and I replaced it. When that went (motor still running) I bought a Craftsman GT 25 hp manual. All was good until I hung up or something and the easy drain oil hose they had on it dripped all of the oil out. I lost the engine and ordered another new one. Works great year round- but with arthritis in my hip I can't sit on it unless I do it side-saddle style. The lawn looks terrible now and I am always late with maintenance because it is painful to use. Last winter I bought my NH TC 30 and I can drive that w/o any pain, shift and everything. I spent more time bush hogging than cutting my lawn. Thinking of a used zero turn for this summer. My wife likes the Craftsman for pulling the little trailer filled with manure from the stalls.

546cowboy · 01-22-2012, 07:11 AM

Well the reason I have 4 Simplicity's is the deals I got on them. I am a Wheel Horse guy by choice for many reasons. They are easiest to work on and built tough. The Simplicity's were deals too good to pass on. I have a 1999 Landlord DLX that has everthing you could want but a 3 point. I have three more that cost me nothing to get but the gas money to go get them. They are good mowers but they are more complicated to work on and the drive systems are tougher to repair on the older ones. Parts are not a problem execpt for prices from dealers. There are a lot of collectors out there though.

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