It certainly sounds like it. Ariens did make machines for J.D. but I am not sure what years. Post a pic and we will be able to tell you for sure. - Kris

Nice find, daddymack! I do recall looking at Agco tractors once, but this is Simplicity country and there are no dealers within 200 miles of me. You are correct, the Agco 1800 series is a mirror image of a Prestige, even down to the front bumper. The Kohler Command is one of best engines out there I've heard. One thing that the JD and the Kubota don't do that the Agco will do is stripe your lawn if you chose to do so. You can have that baseball field look and even make unusual patterns with some practice. For me, it makes mowing a little more fun. The power of the Kohler and K71 transaxle will knock out any job you can throw at it. Power steering and good ground speed are nice features too. Sounds like a winner! That's a lot of tractor for the price and I wouldn't hesitate if I were you. I would LOVE to have a power lift deck on my Simplicity. The dealer is nearby and it sounds like you are comfortable with them. I would hook up a blower, not a snow blade if it's in your budget. You mentioned you may want 4wd. I wouldn't spend the extra money on that if I were you. You give up maneuverability with 4wd and it doesn't sound like your terrain requires its use. If you get bogged down, get some weights and chains. Also, the locking differential will get you through just about every traction related problem. I wish my current property required the use of that tractor, I'd buy it for sure. The entire product line (Simplicity, Agco, Massey Ferguson, Snapper, etc.) has a lot of history and integrity. Yeah, I think Briggs owns all of it, but they seem to be maintaining the standards that these companies were based on for decades. Good luck and let us know which way you go.

Hey folks, so I'm posting this follow up in my original thread because I think I have a related problem. Last year, I replaced the PTO drive belt and the mower blade drive belts on my inherited JD STX 38 Yellow Deck. Today I took the mower out (NOT the first time this season) and had some serious issues. First of all, the grass is tall - 18-24 inches. I had the mower height set to the tallest height. The grass may have also been slightly damp - although not wet. I was able to cut basically one path, then I realized that although the PTO was engaged, the blades weren't cutting the grass. I was going at the slowest speed (first gear) and even tried cutting using only 1/2 of the mower deck width at a time - no help. I took the mower back to my driveway, cleared out lots of old clumped grass from the blades, and started the mower and the PTO. The blades were definitely turning. I turned off the mower again, and noticed that the PTO drive belt is looking terrible - it's all pitted and slack - it's not tight around the PTO shaft! So, my theory is this: the PTO drive belt is shot again (Although not broken yet) - so the blade spin when I'm not trying to cut anything, but when I come in contact with any sort of grass of substance, the slack belt is "slipping" and resulting in the blades not cutting? Does this make sense? Solution: replace the belt AGAIN???? A few more things to note: 1) I tried cutting shorter grass and drier grass and had very little luck. 2) why would my PTO drive belt, just replaced a year ago, be so shredded already? That's worrisome... any advice would be appreciated. thanks.

Here's a VAC with Woods belly mower. If you can find a Woods you can get a kit to work with most any vintage tractor. They come in 42-in., 48-in., 60-in. and 72-in. widths. Don't know if they still sell them knew though.