[Uncle Jaque]

Have used a push mower on our half acre lawn for several years but my feet are giving out so need to graduate to a rider. Bought a new JD D-100 last week and it went back to Lowe's on Sunday.

Now I'm looking into a rebuilt klunker that will probably mow my lawn more than once before going belly up on me like the Deere did.

A local guy has a 1995 Simplicity Regent hydro with a blown engine in it that's in decent shape otherwise that he will put a KOHLER 16 hp single into out of a SCOTT tractor that has a blown transaxle (and isn't worth putting a new one in).
That and fixing it up as needed with parts cannibalized out of his extensive collection (junk yard) will cost an estimated $750.

It looks as though it was a top of the line mower in it's day, and might be worth salvaging.

Is that a decent price for a junkyard resurrection cobbled together from parts?

This Simplicity has an electric deck clutch on it - are those reliable?

 

[expfcwintergreen]

$750 seems like a lot of money for a rider cobbled together from junkyard parts.

If I were going to buy used, I would check with the local dealers with a good reputation who sell and service mowers and see if they have any trade-ins that they have refurbished and guarantee. Failing that, Craig's List in my area have mowers that look to be in good condition for much less money than that.

Also, the big box stores and possibly your local dealers have new riders starting at around $1,000; not pro quality, but with good maintenance, should last a long time cutting a half acre.

What was wrong with the John Deere?

 

[Uncle Jaque]

A Bit Much....

$750 seems like a lot of money for a rider cobbled together from junkyard parts.

I'm sort of getting that sense as well. Sitting outside for 10 years or so does not do a machine any good, does it? How long is a transaxle, even if it was servicable the last time it was used, going to last after sitting un-turned for a decade?

What was wrong with the John Deere?

...In a word:

http://www.mylawnmowerforum.com/for...ing-lgp-p-d-100-little-green-putt-putt-3.html

 

[expfcwintergreen]

You had quite an adventure with the JD; I guess I wouldn't want to deal with Lowes, JD or the dealer again either.
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Do you know and trust the guy with the Simplicity? Would buying a new engine for it be an option? I have been looking in to buying a Honda engine for my old John Deere Sabre because the parts for the Sabre are very hard to find locally, but I have a Honda dealer less than rwo miles away. I also saw while looking that Tractor Supply has a new Briggs and Stratton 12 hp engine for about $400. I want the Honda because I really like the Honda self propelled lawn mower I bought from my dealer in April, and while they don't keep the engine in stock, they can order it along with any parts I need. Also, the Honda is a commercial grade engine which I hope may out live me. It is just easier to deal with someone close by who doesn't have the turnover in staff that a Lowes or Home Depot does and is owned by someone you can actually talk to in person, not some hired man on the phone who was working somewhere else last year and doesn't really care if you buy from them or are happy with your purchase or not.

I think I read in your other thread that your closest dealer is 21 miles away; that makes it tough.

Someone in the other thread recommended a rear engine mower; one I can tell you to stay away from is the Weedeater One. They have a very cheap brake cable and transmission problems after very little use. I was hoping with two riders that I could always have one running, but the Weedeater one is so bad that I hate to spend money on it. I actually prefer walking behind the Honda self propelled mower than riding on the Weedeater One. Strangely enough, they both have 190 cc engines; that will give you an idea how underpowered the Weedeater rider is.

 

[Uncle Jaque]

Old Simp Iron....

Taking a little safari up the road I went to visit a local Simplicity Dealer who had a few lawn tractors on the lot.

What immediately caught my attention was not the snazzy new units, but this rusty old iron "Landlord" 7012 parked out front. It looks like it's been kept outside most if not all of it's life and it is NOT pretty... but what a TANK!

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When the owner came out to chat, he told me that it's got a newly rebuilt Kohler engine that's been bored and stroked .010", and the deck has been re built.

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The "Suntran" industrial transmission is good to go he said, although I noticed that one side was a little oily.

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What's all this stuff on the hitch? Is that for some special attachment?

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He also has a similar looking green tractor sitting out back than they haven't gotten around to refurbishing yet, but would sell to anyone who wants it as is to restore.

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I wish I had the equipment and expertise to do it - I love restoring old stuff.... but I need the lawn mowed this week!

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[Hooks]

Deutz

Deutz is one of the best tractors made over here in Germany. They have a reputation for being indestructible. If the engine is in good shape this might be a good choice. Maybe use it this Summer and freshen it up in Winter.

 

[expfcwintergreen]

The orange and white Simplicity looks a lot like a Craftsman garden tractor my Dad bought in a Sears outlet store in 1970. I wish we had kept it; even though it was only 12 hp, it pulled trailers better than any lawn tractor we have had since and would do some light plowing. It would have been a great tractor with a new engine.

Does the dealer offer a warranty on it?

 

[Uncle Jaque]

Old Simp Iron....

The orange and white Simplicity looks a lot like a Craftsman garden tractor my Dad bought in a Sears outlet store in 1970.

Simp might have made them for Sears for all I know. (?)

I wish we had kept it; even though it was only 12 hp, it pulled trailers better than any lawn tractor we have had since and would do some light plowing.

Despite a low HP rating a lot of the older tractors had a lot of torque I'm told. The Dlr. said this one has 34 foot-pounds per axle with a limited slip feature. Its heavy enough so would probably get pretty good traction.

I love that big honkin' deck lift lever on the side!

It would have been a great tractor with a new engine.

I don't knowe why the guy didn't just re motor this one when the previous owner blewit. Maybe there is a reason he rebuilt it instead.
I'd love to shoehorn a nice Honda 20-something HP in there... if they didn't cost about $2K!
Compatability issues???

Does the dealer offer a warranty on it?

Hardly - although he is local and will service it.

Asking $1100 delivered. What think ye? He's obviously got a lot of work into it although he didn't waste any time making it pretty.

I get the impression that these Landlords have a reputation for being leaky - as in they bleed oil a lot. Can anyone address that from experience??

He claims that those Suntrain (?) hydro transmission will run about forever.... really????

There seems to be oil flinging off of a clutch wheel of some sort on the left forward side of the tranny (see pic) - is that something to be concerned about?

The parking brake belt is missing and he's "getting around" to replacing it... eventually. Everything is rusty.

I really like that old Deutz but don't think it's running right now and I'm not a good enough mechanic to restore it properly. The lawn needs to be mowed THIS week!

 

[Austen]

Those are nice heavy duty machines that were designed to last a very long time, but, be prepared that with any vintage machine you get that it's without a doubt going to have its little quirks and issues every now and then that will need to be addressed, it's definitely not going to be perfect. That's NOT to say they are bad machines in any way, it's simply just the fact that a machine of that vintage be it a car or a tractor is going to need more attention down the line due to its age which is something that one has to accept when going into it. I just don't want to see you get one of these machines only to later on (whenever that may be) to realize that it needs lots of little attention which is something that you may or may not appreciate. But, if you love the idea of owning a real GT that was designed to last and can accept the fact that it will have little issues like any machine of its vintage, then by all means.

Not trying to necessarily steer you in one direction or another, but just some food for thought...

P.S., If you would like to find out more about these machines specifically such as if the rear ends are prone to having leaky gaskets and other things to expect or look for in particular on these, I would suggest asking here: Simplicity/Allis/Duetz section on MTF

 

[expfcwintergreen]

Asking $1100 delivered. What think ye? He's obviously got a lot of work into it although he didn't waste any time making it pretty.

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$1100 seems like a lot of money for possibly a forty year old garden tractor.

Have you checked Craig's List? In my part of the country, southwest Tennessee, you can get fairly recent lawn tractors for about $400. If I did that, I would take a gallon of gasoline with me and ask to let it run for half an hour and at least let the mower run on the driveway if he didn't want you to run over his grass. Any problems probably will show up in half an hour. Also, if someone says all it needs is ________, I would walk away, because if that is all it needs, why didn't he do it instead of buying a new one? I also don't give a lot of creedence to people who just rebuilt the engine or transmission and are now selling it.

You can buy new riders for less than what this guy is asking. I was thinking $200-300 when I saw it.

 

[old.iron]

I still use my 7012. I am trying to get a simplicity Sunstar to stop leaking oil after I finally got it running like clock work. My 7012 still keeps going and going. The motor keeps the mosquitoes at bay while running but it just won't quit. Sure I add oil a lot but it just keeps running. I have steep hills that I mow that doesn't help. I also have a steep big driveway. We can park 3 cars wide for over 100 feet before it turns where we can park 4 wide by the house. The 7012 with a dozer blade plows it. it takes a long time to do but it hasn't quit yet. The manual lift is getting to hard for me so that's why I got the Sunstar with power steering and hydraulic lift. My tractors sit outside all year round unprotected. The 7012 looks rougher than the one in your pic but it still is running. I have had it almost 20 years and I got it after it spent 20 years on a farm. I'll keep the old iron Made in the USA!