Anyone here have any experience with the Simplicity Sunstar tractors? A co-worker of mine is selling one with only about 300 hours on it. It has the Briggs Vanguard 18 HP v-twin, hydrostatic, 48" deck, power steering, split brakes.
My current mower is an older John Deere 265. 17 horse Kawasaki, 48", hydrostatic. THe Simplicity is a heavier unit (cast iron throughout, whereas the John Deere has an aluminum transaxle, for example) shaft drive (all belts in the Deere) and My 265 has around 1000 hours on it. Net cost (buy the Simplicity/ sell the Deere) would be about $400 for me.
Thoughts? Any big issues with these Simplicities?
Aren't those sun stars way overbuilt? They have the ability to take a loader and have a three point iirc.
In reply to Fueled by Caffeine:
Yep. Loader, grader, snowblower, tiller, etc. He doesn't have any of that, just the belly mower.
I would now own a deere if you gave it to me. Not with there "you really don't own it" mentality in regards to repairs and replacement parts
IndyJoe
HalfDork
3/17/16 11:35 a.m.
The Briggs V-Twin is prone to break connecting rods. Be aware.
IndyJoe wrote:
The Briggs V-Twin is prone to break connecting rods. Be aware.
Is that the Vanguard Commercial that has that issue, or all Briggs?
I'd do the sunstar and start buying accessories...
In reply to volvoclearinghouse:
I believe it is all their V-twins, check the List of Craigs for the large number of riding mowers with a Briggs V-twin being sold with "needs engine" I have one (parts tractor) in my back yard.
Do your own research and come to your own conclusion. I have NO CLUE about the simplicity tractor itself.
I don't know that particular model of Simplicity, but I've never met a Simplicity tractor that I didn't like. I have no personal experience with Deere's smaller equipment.
Sunstar 18 has a Peerless 2600 transaxle, which is aluminum. In fact, isn't it the same unit as under your Deere?
Personally, I don't see a reason to jump to the Sunstar 18 with a Briggs Vangard engine over a Deere 265 with a Kawasaki engine. Especially if you finally got that Deere squared away and running reliably.
Personally I don't want any Briggs engines any more.
Clearly the only possible solution is SunStar with LSx swap! 
You know, I nearly bought a 265 a while ago. It was a solid machine.
foxtrapper wrote:
Sunstar 18 has a Peerless 2600 transaxle, which is aluminum. In fact, isn't it the same unit as under your Deere?
Personally, I don't see a reason to jump to the Sunstar 18 with a Briggs Vangard engine over a Deere 265 with a Kawasaki engine. Especially if you finally got that Deere squared away and running reliably.
Interesting...the owner claims it's cast iron. I don't know what the 265 has under it.
The Deere continues to be somewhat problematic. A few times last year I've had it just die on me. I replaced the coil, which helped a lot, and overhauled the carburetor. But it still occasionally just decides it's done for the day. It does have a few hours on it (over 1000) So it may just be getting tired. I'm not sure. The Simplicity seems like a heavier-duty unit.
Looking into the Briggs rod-throwing issue, it appears most of the problem engines turned out to be oil-starved from negligent owners.
OK, Tractor Data shows the Sunstar uses a Peerless 2600, which is aluminum, however most consider it to be relatively bulletproof (it has a Dana gearset!). My 265 uses a Sundstrand BDU-21 trans, which is a lighter duty unit.
Deere used the Peerless 2600 on the 300 series on up.
In reply to volvoclearinghouse:
That's a good endorsement. Do it.
my FIL only uses simplicity mowers. i borrowed the one from 1971 and it cut my grass for 2 years. he has a mid 2000's model and it's like comparing a cadillac to a cavalier compared to my dad's john deere.
Going to pick the Simplicity up today. Pics will be forthcoming.
You know about the Howard County equipment auction Saturday morning? It's a big one, with usually about 60 riding mowers there. A few will be very good, many will be operable, and quite a few are scrap metal. As well all kinds of other things. It's a big auction. http://howardcountyfair.com/calendar
I don't know about the Vangards throwing rods, I do know them as being unable to run right because the carburetor just won't dial in correctly. I've seen this on probably every one of them. It's a different reason to not really like them.
Don't confuse the transmission with the transaxle. This does get confusing with riding mowers.
In reply to foxtrapper:
Yeah, I know about the auction...don't have the time to deal with that, and this is a known unit from a trusted co-worker. He's selling it because they downsized and the new house has a postage stamp lot. It runs and works 100%, no issues.
volvoclearinghouse wrote:
foxtrapper wrote:
Sunstar 18 has a Peerless 2600 transaxle, which is aluminum. In fact, isn't it the same unit as under your Deere?
Personally, I don't see a reason to jump to the Sunstar 18 with a Briggs Vangard engine over a Deere 265 with a Kawasaki engine. Especially if you finally got that Deere squared away and running reliably.
Interesting...the owner claims it's cast iron. I don't know what the 265 has under it.
The Deere continues to be somewhat problematic. A few times last year I've had it just die on me. I replaced the coil, which helped a lot, and overhauled the carburetor. But it still occasionally just decides it's done for the day. It does have a few hours on it (over 1000) So it may just be getting tired. I'm not sure. The Simplicity seems like a heavier-duty unit.
Bet the rings/cylinder are worn and loses compression when hot. Seen it on various l/g engines. Air cooling not even.
Could be vapor lock, could be worn rings/ low compression, could be all of the above. It seems to lose power after running it for 2 or 3 hours at a time, and bogs in moderate grass. I check the oil every time I run it, and it doesn't seem to use much- I think I added on average maybe 1/4 cup of oil each time I used it last year. We mow about 2 acres, which takes me usually 3 hours (lots of trees and crap).
Mrs VCH will probably appreciate the power steering. She likes to go out in a tank top and shorts, jam with the headphones, and get a tan. 
