I originally wanted a IH cub cadet but lately a couple simplicity's have caught my eye and im wondering in, your guys opinion which to get....
The two models im considering are the "wonderboy 700" and the early 70s (i believe) soverigns with the dual round headlights...
I seen the 700 only runs a 7hp engine with a 3sp trans, with the lack of low range are these really even useable? Im wouldnt use it hard but maybe plow (snow) once in a while or putz around the yard, or mow it if i found a deck...i seen they are shaft drive, i like the more farm tractor look of them over the sovereigns...
But the sovereigna seem to be more plentiful and have double the power, and look to be built pretty stout....
In your guys opinions which would be better for a resto canidate (as far as availabilty of parts, etc)?
I have both plus 8 others. I recomend that you visit www.simpletractors.net to see the history and sales brochures for the early Allis Chalmers and Simplicities. Then, if you are still interested, visit Zippo Varga on youtube. He has a series of videos on how to evaluate the condition of these old tractors. He also shows the use of some of them. My son used to have a good time plowing snow with his 725 and his AC Big Ten. These tractors have alot of attachments available and are fun to operate. Shop around so that you don't over pay. I picked up a 3410 with a rotten mower deck for free earlier this year and a AC B1 for $40 acouple of years ago. Look at my Zagray thread for the deal of the day. Good Luck, Rick
Parts are readily available for the AC/Simplicities and they are generally less expensive than CCs to restore.
I have both plus 8 others. I recomend that you visit www.simpletractors.net to see the history and sales brochures for the early Allis Chalmers and Simplicities. Then, if you are still interested, visit Zippo Varga on youtube. He has a series of videos on how to evaluate the condition of these old tractors. He also shows the use of some of them. My son used to have a good time plowing snow with his 725 and his AC Big Ten. These tractors have alot of attachments available and are fun to operate. Shop around so that you don't over pay. I picked up a 3410 with a rotten mower deck for free earlier this year and a AC B1 for $40 acouple of years ago. Look at my Zagray thread for the deal of the day. Good Luck, Rick
Parts are readily available for the AC/Simplicities and they are generally less expensive than CCs to restore.
Great info man, thank you! The whole attachment availabilty and buy in cost is why ive been shying away from the cadets. Ill check out that site...
Theres a sovereign on CL right now about 1.5 hrs away that says it needs a wheelbearing and carb, but looks in good shape with a deck and i think plow, id have to recheck, for 300 bucks.
Both are great choices. The Wonderboy will do anything with ease. A hi/low range option was made available for these, and usually runs about $200. The only thing I would consider needing that for is tilling, however. Speed/momentum helps with moving snow.
You are in the sweet spot for anything Simplicity/Allis. Michigan, Indiana and Ohio are hotbeds for good deals on tractors, implements and parts. They are great machines, and don't break the wallet.
Both are great choices. The Wonderboy will do anything with ease. A hi/low range option was made available for these, and usually runs about $200. The only thing I would consider needing that for is tilling, however. Speed/momentum helps with moving snow.
You are in the sweet spot for anything Simplicity/Allis. Michigan, Indiana and Ohio are hotbeds for good deals on tractors, implements and parts. They are great machines, and don't break the wallet.
I might get yelled at, but an old Cub Cadet hydro is hard to beat. I have both Allis/Simplicity and a couple of Cub Cadet 147 tractors. I like the look and feel of the Allis/Simplicity tractors more than the Cubs, but the drivetrain is much stronger in the Cub. I broke an axle tube in an Allis Big Ten working it hard, so I kind of lost faith in those intricate transaxles. There are no roller bearings for the axle or axle tube on the Allis, just bronze bushings. In my opinion, an axle should spin on roller bearings and not bushings. There are also a lot of keyed shafts that tend to wear in the transaxles and bevels gear box. The intricate external differential unit and bevels gear box can also be a source of other problems. After breaking the axle tube in the Allis, I put the plow on the Cub and finished plowing the snow. My other Cub 147 has a Johnson loader on it and I've worked that tractor hard. I can't kill either of these cubs no matter how hard I work them. The hydro's are tough as nails and you can pick any speed that you want with the Cub. As far as parts go, having a couple of parts tractors is best. New parts are not cheap for the Simplicity or the Cub, but if you get one in decent shape, you won't be replacing parts left and right. Cub mower deck spindles are easy to rebuild and use Timkin tapered roller bearings. Try to find a package deal with a tractor and attachments, and it's worth holding out for a good deal on a tractor that isn't worn out. I would go for an Allis/Simplicity tractor since you don't plan on working the heck out of it. I like the old Landlord and B10 round hoods best. They have a great look and feel to them and are easy to work on.
Oh the late model sovereign is definitely more refined. Same basic design with several decades of improvements. The price range you see is exactly what I would expect from fair priced sellers.
No doubt a Cub tranny is better built, but I would certainly not call the 'Simplicity' intricate. The axle tube is the weak point, but they made so many of these, that the occasional broken tube among the thousands and thousands of users still working 50 year old tractors, should not really be reason to lose faith in them. I think it's more of a testament to their longevity and reliability. I have had well over 100 Simplicity built tractors, and 2 have had a cracked tube. One was rewelded several times before it could no longer be remedied, while the other had a hairline crack for a good portion of it's life, and a muffler clamp was all that was needed to prevent failure. An entire tranny swap costs a guy about 50 bucks in a worst case scenario.
They are generally so much less expensive than a Cub too, and implements are very easy to find use and are relatively cheap. However...I do like Cubs as well. :thumbs: I also highly agree with the idea of a package deal, even if it's equipment you don't want. The excess can be sold to retrieve some of your investment.
Whats kinda been sellin me on them is the fact they look easy as hell to service, and are very well designed tractors.
Plus my dads got an old sunrunner (yes i know, not quite the same as a sovereign) but hes run it now for pry 10 years and its only needed minor stuff.
I also like the cast iron briggs better then the K kohlers, so thats another selling point. As bad as i want to just go jump into one im gonna take my time and find the right one
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