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Simplicity reliability?

#1

Irish guy

Irish guy

Hi All newbie here in Ireland. I am looking to buy a Simplicity Regent 110 or 210 side discharge or Snapper equivalent to replace a JD LR135 having replacef the deck/welding the frame/swapping the engine the last over 17 yrs. Like me it is not getting any younger. I mow a flat 3/4 of an acre. I am wondering if the Regent is a reliable mower - what are the common problems & will it pull a dump cart with a 300lbs load? All feedback would be much appreciated. Thanks.


#2

M

mechanic mark

Broadmoor™ Lawn Tractor

The Broadmoor lawn tractor has what it takes to create the best looking lawn on the block. By marrying performance features with comfort features, we've created a masterpiece that is more like a luxury experience than a chore.
www.simplicitymfg.com
I purchased a Broadmoor new in June of 2010. My younger son & I perform maintenance & repairs on my Broadmoor & he & his older brothers 2010 Conquest mowers. All three have B&S Vanguard Engines but different transaxles. I have a Tuff Torque K57, younger son has a K61L Tuff Torque, older son has a K664C in rear & KXH10NC up front, 4x4 full time tractor with 136 hrs. on meter, younger son has 180 hrs. on his Conquest. Stay away from Regent, my opinion.


#3

Hammermechanicman

Hammermechanicman

I have serviced a few of the older broadmoor mowers. Seem a little higher quality than the box store mowers. I hate the deck with the rollers that ride on the ground. Waited a month for a sector gear and pinion shaft for one. Simplicity branded and bagged parts came in Briggs and stratton boxes. Not a big fan of the hydro lever on the dash either but that is a personal preferance. $0.02


#4

M

mechanic mark

Hammermechanicman said:
I have serviced a few of the older broadmoor mowers. Seem a little higher quality than the box store mowers. I hate the deck with the rollers that ride on the ground. Waited a month for a sector gear and pinion shaft for one. Simplicity branded and bagged parts came in Briggs and stratton boxes. Not a big fan of the hydro lever on the dash either but that is a personal preferance. $0.02
Click to expand...
B&S owned Simplicity in the past, maybe they still do. Simplicity tractors have been around for a number of years. They were once considered a top of the line lawn & garden tractor to own. New Simplicity tractors are sold at Dealers etc.


#5

B

bertsmobile1

Simplicity are a much better mower than any Snapper will ever be.
That is why they went broke, product was too well make thus ended up being too expensive for cheap skate buyers.
However they are anything but Simple to maintain so download the owners manual and read it carefully.
Few owners actually do maintain them properly so used ones often require a lot of fetteling to get them back to perfect working order.


#6

7394

7394

Neighbor has a Simplicity Courier 42/23 w/ Briggs on it. I service it for him. That Briggs has oil weeping from about everywhere there is a gasket. That started before 8 hours on it. I told him to take it in for Warranty. But he didn't.

Simplicity has been around since I believe about 1939. Briggs did buy them, so they had another place for their engines.
After the B&S bankruptcy not sure if the New Briggs still holds the rights to Simplicity tho,


#7

Irish guy

Irish guy

mechanic mark said:

Broadmoor™ Lawn Tractor

The Broadmoor lawn tractor has what it takes to create the best looking lawn on the block. By marrying performance features with comfort features, we've created a masterpiece that is more like a luxury experience than a chore.
www.simplicitymfg.com
I purchased a Broadmoor new in June of 2010. My younger son & I perform maintenance & repairs on my Broadmoor & he & his older brothers 2010 Conquest mowers. All three have B&S Vanguard Engines but different transaxles. I have a Tuff Torque K57, younger son has a K61L Tuff Torque, older son has a K664C in rear & KXH10NC up front, 4x4 full time tractor with 136 hrs. on meter, younger son has 180 hrs. on his Conquest. Stay away from Regent, my opinion.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply much appreciated
Hammermechanicman said:
I have serviced a few of the older broadmoor mowers. Seem a little higher quality than the box store mowers. I hate the deck with the rollers that ride on the ground. Waited a month for a sector gear and pinion shaft for one. Simplicity branded and bagged parts came in Briggs and stratton boxes. Not a big fan of the hydro lever on the dash either but that is a personal preferance. $0.02
Click to expand...
thanks for your reply - do you mean the pressed steel deck or the fabricated? The fab looks good but I reckon would be pricey to replace but should last longer or am I deluded? Cheers


#8

Irish guy

Irish guy

bertsmobile1 said:
Simplicity are a much better mower than any Snapper will ever be.
That is why they went broke, product was too well make thus ended up being too expensive for cheap skate buyers.
However they are anything but Simple to maintain so download the owners manual and read it carefully.
Few owners actually do maintain them properly so used ones often require a lot of fetteling to get them back to perfect working order.
Click to expand...
Thanks - maybe it’s just in Europe but the simplicity & snapper are almost identical. I know older Simplicity models have a great reputation- it’s hard to find meaningful long term reviews on current models. I guess us cheap skates will have to just do the best with what we’ve got btw the regent 110 costs the equivalent of $3500 ! It’s considered high end over here. Thanks for the reply


#9

Irish guy

Irish guy

7394 said:
Neighbor has a Simplicity Courier 42/23 w/ Briggs on it. I service it for him. That Briggs has oil weeping from about everywhere there is a gasket. That started before 8 hours on it. I told him to take it in for Warranty. But he didn't.

Simplicity has been around since I believe about 1939. Briggs did buy them, so they had another place for their engines.
After the B&S bankruptcy not sure if the New Briggs still holds the rights to Simplicity tho,
Click to expand...
B&s still own Simp & Snapper - looks like they purchased their route to market. I see a lot of negative comment re b&s - I’m not crazy about them but my intel 13.5hp lasted 16yrs & then I paid €200 for a second hand one - mower runs better than when new! I like the idea of a Kawi as you guys call them - we call them Kwacker over here btw - are any of the current engines branded b&s but Kawi made like the older vanguard? Looks like I’d have to go Cubby to get a Kawi? Thanks for your reply.


#10

Irish guy

Irish guy

7394 said:
Neighbor has a Simplicity Courier 42/23 w/ Briggs on it. I service it for him. That Briggs has oil weeping from about everywhere there is a gasket. That started before 8 hours on it. I told him to take it in for Warranty. But he didn't.

Simplicity has been around since I believe about 1939. Briggs did buy them, so they had another place for their engines.
After the B&S bankruptcy not sure if the New Briggs still holds the rights to Simplicity tho,
Click to expand...
I like a warranty - shame to waste it!


#11

7394

7394

Agree about warranty. I still have a old Flathead Briggs on the 22" push mower. It still runs fine, it is beginning to show it's age tho, but still doing the job.

Many here say the new Briggs are from china & have lots off issues with them.. If I have to get replacement, I would want a Honda engine.

Kawasaki makes their own engines, & would not brand a B&S with their name.


#12

W

wekjo

Irish guy said:
Hi All newbie here in Ireland. I am looking to buy a Simplicity Regent 110 or 210 side discharge or Snapper equivalent to replace a JD LR135 having replacef the deck/welding the frame/swapping the engine the last over 17 yrs. Like me it is not getting any younger. I mow a flat 3/4 of an acre. I am wondering if the Regent is a reliable mower - what are the common problems & will it pull a dump cart with a 300lbs load? All feedback would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Click to expand...
I have a 2009 Conquest, one model up from the Prestige. I went thru 2 of the B&S 23HP vanguards. They both lost same connecting rod (right side) at about 900 hours, Replaced with a Kohler 6000 series, which replaced the ill-fated Kohler Courage line. I put a 12v fan from ebay in the cowling, blowing on the engine this time; and tho it has but one carb it runs stronger than either of the B&S engines did and is most likely well past 1000 hours now. Root around on youtube there is a video of it. Also replaced the transmission with the second engine change, just as it had so many hours not that it seemed to be failing. Actually the roller at the back of the deck is what makes the Simplicity distinct, no scalping and even cut, I know a Simplicity cut yard when I drive by one. Note you have to know what you are doing to adjust the darn thing and it does wear down and out so it too must be serviced. The roller equipped deck is heavy and does not hang from the mower as do other decks. It hangs in the front but the rear rolls on the ground.


#13

I

Ineedhelp2021

If I were you I would definitely go simplicity if you can, everything on simplicity tractors are built like an absolute tank (yes even the new ones). The only thing would be is that you might not get the cut quality you are looking for compared to Snapper. The only thing with the engines on those after a lot of hours, use, and abuse is going to be probably a bad fuel pump or since its a v-twin, only having spark on one side. All in all though, I would buy a Simplicity if you can.


#14

B

Born2Mow

Irish guy said:
Hi All newbie here in Ireland.
Click to expand...
While we got you on the line...
Understood for the longest that Leprechauns kept a "pot of gold" at the end of the rainbow. Latest rumor is that they changed with the times and simply keep "pot".

Care to comment ? :ROFLMAO:


#15

Irish guy

Irish guy

I met a guy once who swore he saw a leprechaun - he was known for being fond of a smoke so anything is possible - I met him in a bar & we were all the worse for wear - but that’s Ireland for you


#16

Irish guy

Irish guy

Ineedhelp2021 said:
If I were you I would definitely go simplicity if you can, everything on simplicity tractors are built like an absolute tank (yes even the new ones). The only thing would be is that you might not get the cut quality you are looking for compared to Snapper. The only thing with the engines on those after a lot of hours, use, and abuse is going to be probably a bad fuel pump or since its a v-twin, only having spark on one side. All in all though, I would buy a Simplicity if you can.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your reply


#17

Irish guy

Irish guy

wekjo said:
I have a 2009 Conquest, one model up from the Prestige. I went thru 2 of the B&S 23HP vanguards. They both lost same connecting rod (right side) at about 900 hours, Replaced with a Kohler 6000 series, which replaced the ill-fated Kohler Courage line. I put a 12v fan from ebay in the cowling, blowing on the engine this time; and tho it has but one carb it runs stronger than either of the B&S engines did and is most likely well past 1000 hours now. Root around on youtube there is a video of it. Also replaced the transmission with the second engine change, just as it had so many hours not that it seemed to be failing. Actually the roller at the back of the deck is what makes the Simplicity distinct, no scalping and even cut, I know a Simplicity cut yard when I drive by one. Note you have to know what you are doing to adjust the darn thing and it does wear down and out so it too must be serviced. The roller equipped deck is heavy and does not hang from the mower as do other decks. It hangs in the front but the rear rolls on the ground.
Click to expand...
That’s the bit I’m not sure of - my garden doesn’t have a lot of straight lines so the stripes might cross a lot & look messy. I want to pull a dump cart so I m wondering if the roller will snag & generally because nuisance? Thanks for your response.


#18

D

d2wing

I have a Simplicity Prestige. It is a great mower. Simplicity mowers are top quality. Over the years they have built tractors for other brands such as Allis Chalmers, Agsco, and others like some models of Snapper and Craftsman. I don't know about the Regent. I think the Regent uses the same transmission as most cheaper mowers, the Tuff torque K46. I wouldn't do any heavy pulling with one.


#19

M

mechanic mark

Thanks for all comments regarding Simplicity Lawn Tractors. I believe the Operator/ Maintenance Tech of any tractor has the possibility of making their tractor last as long as they wish. Competency, wisdom, & knowledge play a major part of the owners reliability.


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