Simplicity vs. JD LT 160 Scalping of Yard

16 years ago

Hey all,

I currently have a 2 yr old JD LT 160 with about 100 hours on it. I really like the short (10 inch) turning radius however am dissappointed with the cut of my yard over smaller bumps, sprinkler lines, water runnoff areas, etc.

I have been reading about the simplicity and the free floating deck. Will this really and truly help to prevent the scalps I mention above.

I have a one acre flat yard with a modest amount of trees. I had a snapper ZT but got rid of that for the Deere a few years ago because of the rough ride of the ZT. The yard is 100% bermuda and fully watered and fertilized so it grows really thick.

All, I will do with it is mow, mulch mainly, bag occassionaly and maybe pull small attachments (dethatcher, spreader, etc.).

I am looking again. Not because I need to but I just like new things and am getting the bug to buy something new. Money is not really a deciding factor in my purchases so price is not an issue (within reason, I don't need a 10k mower for 1 acre).

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Comments (5)

lkbum_gw
16 years ago
I don't know, but my simplicty broadmoor was an order of magnitude better than my old Murray (basically the same size decks, tires and wheelbase). My Broadmoor leaves NO scalps or gouges where as the Murray had these throughout the yard. THAT SAID HOWEVER, most of my problems came from the mower pitching as the front tires encounter dips or fecue clumps. My yard is reclaimed pasture and although it looks relatively smooth, the high and low spots between fecue "clumps" is significant. If I happened to track where one front tire was "high" and the other was in a low spot, a big scalp mark would result and no amount of adjusting the anti-scalp wheels seemed to help.
bogey123
16 years ago
I have a Conquest, have only scalped a spot in the yard once. The full length roller along the backside of the deck seems to play a big role in why the deck doesn't scalp much.
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sdeg3stannic
16 years ago
I just purchased a new Simplicty Regent. I have not mowed yet up here in CT, but have pulled my sweeper & dump cart around. So far I love this machine.

I had a 41 yr old Simplicty broadmower that served me well for 7 seasons. It had the floating deck and never scalped my relatively flat...but very bumpy yard. I was so impressed by the cut that I ultimately went back to Simplicyt for my new tractor...as I knew it would do a nice job.

If cut quality is important, definately check out a Simplicty. The floating deck is unique, and striping lawn is cool too.
swimjim
16 years ago
Using my Regent (new to me) on test runs it seems impossible to scalp any place in my lawn. In 2 spots the deck rollers dig into the ground and the tractor won't move. This is where anything else would have scalped. I can remedy the deck rollers digging in to the ground by taking a different angle into the areas. Also, I had the deck setting at 4 inches, going to 3.5 may prevent the rollers from digging in as well. My lawn is very hilly and undulating so I was VERY pleased that I will not scalp. I can't speak for your lawn, but I'm sure anything else out there would ruin parts of my lawn.

Money no object? Holy cow, just get a Conquest then. You'll find yourself doing a lot more than what you described with a beefy tractor like a Conquest ($5000 and change). Honestly I don't know why people buy a Broadmoor at 4k when they can get huge upgrades for a thousand or so more in a Conquest.
lkbum_gw
16 years ago
Swimjim,
I bought my Broadmoor 2244 last year for $3500 including 7% sales tax (just under $3300). I originaly was looking at the Regent, But Simplicity had a $500 rebate on Broadmoors and the dealer was looking to move some merchandise. I recently looked at the updated Simplicity site and they are listing the Boradmoor at $4100 or so with only financing incentives. If you haven't done so already, go to the simplicty site, they have some pretty nice videos of all their models.

Simplicity vs. JD LT 160 Scalping of Yard

Comments (5)

lkbum_gw

bogey123

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sdeg3stannic

swimjim

lkbum_gw

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