Any Model 627 Yeoman issues to know about?

[Bountyhunter]

I may have found a mdl. 627 Simplicity Yeoman to buy. Are common wear items still available new from Simplicity? If I buy it, I would like to add at least 1" additional ground clearance for taller grass cutting to it. The front end is not a big concern for modifying, but I would like to know if adding rear tires 2" larger in diameter will cause rubbing on the mower deck and/or the fenders. Thanks for any help or insight you fellas can offer. Bountyhunter

[shanhamm]

If you have a smaller yard, go for it. I have a 637 and a half acre lot. She does good for me in all chores, cutting grass, plowing/blowing snow. http://simpletractors.com/simplicity/new_in_1969/yeoman_627.htm http://simpletractors.com/simplicity/new_in_1969/627_features.htm http://simpletractors.com/simplicity/new_in_1969/627_specs.htm

[tracktor312]

havent tried mine yet need to make some adjustments put the deck on but wouldn't run right and haven't had a chance to look at it yet.

[SimpleTom]

Here are a couple pics of my 616 Yeoman. I put Broadmoor size tires on it. They don't hit the fenders or anything else but the deck adjustment handle hits when you turn it but it will turn.

Tom

[Bountyhunter]

Thanks for the feedback so far guys! Shanhamm: Thanks for the links, but I have been digging up information on what is all out there for about 1+ years. I have printed out reams of information off the net as well as information about several Simplicity models off the SimpleTractors website. I have finally decided on the Yeoman because of its size, versatility and my relatively small City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin yard. The things I still need help on are: Cost of spindles and bearings from Simplicity. Availability & cost of lawn slitter from Simplicity Availability & cost of snow thrower from Simplicity Availability & cost of tiller from Simplicity Availability & cost of tranny or rebuild kits from Simplicity How easily & what cost for propriety normal wear items My reasons for wanting availability from Simplicity is the time frames I am working under. I have bad legs and do not want to go to a lot of shows or private sellers. The price of gas being what it is, my time constraints, and my bad legs might make the additional cost of buying new components worthwhile. It would be nice to find one with a lawn slitter, snowthrower, tiller, and blades all together, but the items wanted posting I placed on here did not give me any leads at all. Whatever I eventually purchase is going to be used for major lawn reseeding on my city lot. I also plan to do some minor landscaping using the tiller and a "Johnny" bucket if I can convince him to modify his design for higher ground clearances than he has on his stock buckets. Are parts and repair manuals available for free downloading from Simplicity. I have been to their web site and found information available if you know a part number you want, but when I type in just the Model 627 for the tractor in question, I get an error message. Simple John: That is a sharp looking tractor! How much additional ground clearance did you gain with that setup? Have you considered welding up a new slightly extended wheel axle to eliminate the rubbing on turns? If anyone can help with the questions I have listed above, please do. Thanks again! Bountyhunter

[SimpleTom]

Peter, I just noticed your profile. I see you are a retired HVAC/R technician. Did you just get quotes last year for replacing your furnace???? I used to work for Hartlaub PLumbing and Heating and gave a quote to someone matching your description. About the Yeoman, I didn't measure the clearances before and after. I added the tires because I had the extra set and I thought the orig. tires looked to small. Also, the front tires do not rub at all when turning. I was speaking about the deck height adjustment handle rubbing when you turn/adjust it. I just barely hits the rear tires and if you leave the handle perpendicular to the frame you don't have any problems when driving. As far as answering your questions about availability of parts and attachments I can tell you this. Call a Simplicity dealer for prices on the spindles and bearings. I haven't heard of a lawn slitter, new to me. The snow blower,and tiller can be found on ebay from time to time. I've never checked with the dealers for trans parts. I have found that it is probably easier and cheaper to find a parts tractor for a trans if you ever break one. Hope that helps. Tom

[Bountyhunter]

Tom: Yeah, that was me getting the furnace quote. Being on disability, I figured I could get my current 15 year old 90+ furnace changed out under some of the power companys programs for low income individuals. I would have loved to have one of those modulating furnaces because of their even temperature distribution as the slightly higher efficiency doesn't really matter. The program ran out of money so I didn't follow through. Your company is really expensive compared to what I would have charged. When I was still active, I used to work with about a $600.00 gross front on installations. If I recall correctly, your bid had about a $3,200.00 front. That's a he** of a profit for a one day installation. The lawn slitter can be found on the simple tractors site under attachments for several different Simplicity models. It is a dethatcher that uses rear pto powered spinning blades and can be set to cut a little deeper for reseeding and superior fertilizer penetration. The reason I ask about the spindles and repair parts is to get a better idea if the 627 I am interested in is a $125.00 "deal" that may cost me a lot more than a new unit to set up the way I want it. My knees are shot so running around looking at used is not in my game plan and I don't like dealing for things I can't see or test which eliminates Ebay unless the advertiser is close enough to me to check out the parts. I have heard the statements about how Simplicity seems to have parts for even the oldest of its products, but quite simply the law of supply and demand would make me suspect that a new attachment for an older tractor might cost more than the same attachment for a newer tractor. The people on this board would have more honest insight and input to my questions than I would get from any dealer, new or used. I may pass on this current tractor in order to get one that might have more of the attachments as part of the deal. Someone who is selling their entire package of Yeoman tractor and attachments would probably end up costing me less than buying the base unit and trying to piecemeal the rest of the items I want. Thanks for the help to date, and if you come up with anything else you think may help me, please pass it on. Bountyhunter

[SimpleTom]

Peter, Glad I could be of some help. By the way, you are correct about the price being high from that company I used to work for. When I gave you that quote they decided to change from a time and material pricing to flate rate pricing. Kind of like Blau Sudden Service. I was against this pricing idea so when I got a chance I got out of there. Tom

[goatfarmer]

I don't know how many 40 year old attachments you're going to get from a dealer, or Simplicity itself. EBay, or swap meets or members here are going to be your best bet. Spindles, bearings and transmission parts "may" still be available from Simplicity.

[Bountyhunter]

One of the fellows on the "My Tractor Forum" gave me all the part numbers for the items I am trying to find. I went to the Simplicity site and entered the numbers to view the various PDF files. They all come up on any one of the three web browsers I use, but I am not able to print them out. Does anyone know if Simplicity is locking the printing feature and if there is a work around that will allow me to print out the manuals? By the way, that lawn slitter is supposed to be called a "Lawn Revitalizer"; my bad. Thanks for any help you guys can offer! Bountyhunter

[Bountyhunter]

I figured it out. Turns out I have to wait for the download to complete before I try to print out the manuals. One of the disadvantages of dial-up. Thanks! Bountyhunter