Simplicities Slow?

[Wink42]

I am in the market for an older (70's / 80's) used Simplicity riding mower. One of the guys I work with Heard this and mentioned that they were notoriously slower (presumably when compared to similar models of other brands), although the hydrostatic trans weren't as slow as the geared. I've looked around online and can't find anything to support or refute this. Does anyone have any experience with this one way or the other? It won't really affect my purchasing decision as speed is not a large concern for me, but now I'm really curious. What do you guys think on this subject?

 

[mostly_gas]

I have a mid 90's Agco 1616H and it is as fast as any non-ztr mower I have seen, and cuts grass better at a given speed better than anything I've seen.

 

[LBrown59]

I am in the market for an older (70's / 80's) used Simplicity riding mower. One of the guys I work with Heard this and mentioned that they were notoriously slower (presumably when compared to similar models of other brands), although the hydrostatic trans weren't as slow as the geared. I've looked around online and can't find anything to support or refute this. Does anyone have any experience with this one way or the other? It won't really affect my purchasing decision as speed is not a large concern for me, but now I'm really curious. What do you guys think on this subject?

First I've ever heard about this
rumor
.

 

[KentT]

The Landlord and Sovereign class machines with the horizontal engines will go between 6 and 7 MPH, depending on the specific engine/transmission setup.

As stated, not as fast as a ZTR but about as fast as you'd want to go on a tractor-style machine....

 

[Wolfy]

I have several vintage Simplicitys. 1st and 2nd gears are geared low. Don't plan on mowing much in 3rd gear unless you have a flat lawn. They are built like tanks, but when you do work on them, they can be somewhat complicated. While equally rugged, I can tell you models from the 1960's are less user friendly and somewhat redundant compared to 1970's models. The belt driven 4 speed shuttles are nice, they kind of lurch at times, not a super smooth transmission. I do not have any Hydos or 1980's models. Simplicitys will leave your grass looking like green velvet. Dealer support has been excellent, and I would buy another one in a heartbeat. Awesome machines.

 

[Wink42]

Thanks for the replies. Hopefully one of the prospects will come through soon and I'll be enjoying a simplicity of my own.

 

[RacinJason]

Hi, I just joined up so I could enter this thread. I have a Simplicity 6216 which seems quite slow, compared to my old JD 112. The Vari-speed pulley is stuck on both of them. Have you chacked that? (If yours has such a pulley.)

 

[RacinJason]

Hi, just joined soo I could reply to this thread. My Simplicity 6216 seems pretty slow. The Vari-speed pulley is stuck in the slow position. Maybe yours has such a pulley.

 

[whistlepig]

Years ago I had a friend start a mowing business using Simplicity SunStar's. These were premium riding tractors and state of the art at this time. In fact riding tractors of this quality are almost gone today.

 

[landlord]

The older simplicity tractors are somewhat slower that some other tractors I have seen/owned but they are built for power and dependability my friend's 725 is a good bit slower that my landlord but will still do like 5mph plus they had limited slip differential

 

[KentT]

The older simplicity tractors are somewhat slower that some other tractors I have seen/owned but they are built for power and dependability my friend's 725 is a good bit slower that my landlord but will still do like 5mph plus they had limited slip differential

And that 725 is about to celebrate it's 50th birthday, if it hasn't already. The last ones were made in 1963. In 1964, they went to the Landlord name, with a whopping 9 HP ...

 

[RacinJason]

Hi, Didn't think I would get a comment on "Slow ...". For mowing, I kind of like that speed. I haven't gotten around to actually check to see what position the vari-pulley is stuck in. My JD 112 is frozen in the "fast" position. I guess I need to squirt some penetrating oil as I don't have time to take them apart. My Simplicty is residing in Maine right now, while I live in Massachusetts. Have a Happy New Year.

 

[lawnslayer6211]

I have a 6211 with the tracomatic drive. 3 speed. Mine defiantly sticks when I move the veri drive up and down. But its also 20 some odd years old. I need to rip it out and rebuild it but I'm not sure about the parts availability. Other than that this beast rules. Is rather throw a ton of cash at mine than buy a new machine.if I had to it would be another simplicity...

 

[Wink42]

I did end up with a Simplicity, although it is much newer than I expected. It's an early 90's Regent, hydro transmission. I have not noticed it to be too slow, although as others have mentioned, how fast does it really need to be...it's a mower.