Simplicity?

DmansPadge · Oct 6, 2004

I have been asking suggestions for a new garden tractor and someone mentioned Simplicity. I looked at their website and was very impressed with what I saw. Does anyone have any experience with Simplicity? Any comments would be appreciated.

Thank you.

ThistleKop · Oct 6, 2004

Don't know much about Simplicity mowers. Briggs & Stratton recently bought the company. I don't know how the final deal will shake-out but I'm told that the parent company of Simplicity also owns Snapper and Ferris.
TK

MarkLeininger · Oct 7, 2004

Consumer reports did an eval of garden tractors back in June I think. I believe Simplicity was listed as having a larger share of problems than most, but they pointed out that garden tractors in general have always had one of the worst customer satisfaction levels of all purchases. I was surprised at the brands they listed as being in the not too good camp, including Cub Cadet and others I've thought were pretty good brands. You can read it online if you join:
www.consumerreports.org

Gomez · Oct 7, 2004

I use one that's about 20 years old at my mother's place. It's a 7114 model w/42" deck. Other than normal wear items, never had to do much to it. Use it about 60 hrs./year, fabricated a mounting plate to fit a blade on the front, too.

The Kohler (cast iron) engine in it has been very reliable.

Oh wait, the idler spring on the deck rusted off where it clips into the deck a month ago. Nothing the torch and a vice couldn't fix. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I'm not sure about the current lineup, I know they look somewhat smaller than they did a while ago. But they all seem to have shrunk.

Good Luck!

bontai_Joe · Oct 7, 2004

I'd rank Simplicity as a premium brand, and certainly worth consideration. If your friend does not like the orange color, Simplicity also builds the same tractors with different paint for Agco (formerly Allis Chalmers) and Massey Ferguson. These other dealers are also worth checking out if they are closer and/or offer a better service department.

bczoom · Oct 7, 2004

I have a Simplicity Soverign (Garden Tractor). It's about a 1996. Has a 48" deck, front blade and snowblower. A 20hp 2 cyl Kohler.

As a whole, a very good tractor. I really like the hydraulic lift for the attachments. The hydro tranny works well but can't get up to speed on steep hills.

The only problem I've ever had was the key on the rear differential sheared 1 time. Had it fixed in an hour or so.

It's my 2nd Simplicity (the previous was about a 1970 and to my knowledge it's still running).

MossRoad · Oct 8, 2004

I have a 1967 Simplicity that still cuts great. The motor died after 30 years so I put in a new one. Expect it to last at least another 25. Good, tough lawn tractors that give a great cut. They have a roller system on the rear of the deck that gives a nice ballbark striping effect. Good products that I would recommend. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

DmansPadge · Oct 8, 2004

Thanks for the info! Good to hear from someone that has experience with one.

LBrown59 · Dec 5, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Don't know much about Simplicity mowers. I'm told that the parent company of Simplicity also owns Snapper and Ferris.
TK )</font>
*********************
A dealer told me that
snapper bought Simplicity.
This dealer used to sell troy built but when they became owned by MTD he dropped them and took on the snapper line.He don't believe in handling junk.
When I priced the Simplicity legacy from him I asked him how he was able to come by getting this line and he said it was easy because he was already a snapper dealer when they purchased Simplicity so that line was automaticaly added to his inventory.

I know this dealer well It's where I bought A real Quality Bolens Huskey 38 years ago, Not a cheap MTD with a huskey label on it like you find on the market today.

To bad He isn't the local Kubota dealer or I would have gotten my BX23 from him.

DmansPadge · Dec 5, 2004

Hey MTDFan, (I'm gonna start calling you that just to give you a hard time!) yeah, I guess they are all related now. If you look at the Snapper website it lists Simplicity, AGCO, Massey, and Ferris as sister companies.