New Member/Owner, with Year/Model Questions

[Kent 436]

A couple of minor things to add to Herb's excellent reply: 1) Unless you're a stickler for authenticity, a slightly later single-belt snowblower is much better than the original three-belt. On the original 3-belt ones (shown below), you had to get off the tractor and go to the front to engage or disengage the snowblower's clutch... You can see both these illustrated in the operators manuals at the link below. 2) You can easily find "stud" type Carlisle tires that look quite close to the 4.80x8 original front tires. But, as far as I know, there's no source for original-looking rear tires. I could be wrong... 3) I doubt you'll find a battery application listing that goes back far enough to show this tractor -- I'd ask some of the owners here... It may be the commonly-used (for Simplicity) 22NF (see the thread below re: 7117 battery). 4) CAUTION: Once you mow with the Simplicity, I don't think you'll ever want to go back to the MTD... [A href='http://simpletractors.com/operation/snowthrowers.htm'][img src='http://simpletractors.com/images/snow_ops/990175_clr.jpg'][/a]

[BigSix 0]

Hello everyone--what a great site! I have enjoyed reading everything I've found on it so far. I apologize in advance for the length of this email, but am still learning that "less is more." I have been rather casually angling to buy a Simplicity tractor which belonged to the girlfriend's coworker, ever since I heard about it six months ago, and yesterday I got lucky, drove the 180 miles round trip, and bought it! I'll tell you what I think it is, but I'd like to ask for some help in confirming what I think is the year and model, so I can then obtain manuals, etc.... I can tell you it looks exactly like the Simplicity 700's and 725's on this website. From my review of the Model and Engine Reference guides on this website, I believe it is a 1960 Wonderboy 700, as the Mfr. on the back fender is # is 990168. However, it has apparently been retrofitted with an 8hp. Briggs & Stratton. It has a 42" mower deck in solid condition, and a 46" sickle bar mower, in good to excellent condition, IMHO, as well as a very small, generic garden tractor cart. The tractor has not run in years, allegedly needs "carburetor work" (no surprise there), has been badly repainted in an incorrect red, has some dents, and is missing the grill mesh, but is not rusty. The tires have great tread, appear correct, and hold air, but suffer some dryrot. Compression feels good. I paid $200.00 for the above--any comments on this price would be appreciated. Any help with the following would also be most appreciated: 1) DOES Mfr. # 990168 MEAN IT IS A 1960 Wonderboy 700 MODEL? (I notice that the 1959 Wonderboy 700 seems to have come w/ a 36" mower, if I'm inferring this correctlly from their relative locations in the Model Cross Reference on this club's site, and my mower is 42", which does not appear in the cross ref. until after 1960.) 2) WILL THE BATTERY CATALOGUES AT THE DEPT./AUTO STORES LIST THE BATTERY I NEED, ONCE I LEARN THE CORRECT YEAR AND MODEL? If not, what are the dimensions of the battery, and its capacity? 3) WAS THE INTERNAL HYDRAULIC HITCH LIFT AVAILABLE ON THIS MODEL (if it IS the 1960 WONDERBOY 700,) AND HOW CAN I TELL IF THIS TRACTOR HAS IT? All I see is the left side push-button-locking lever to raise/lower impliments at the back of the tractor. 4) ARE NEW PARTS READILY AVAILABLE FOR THIS TRACTOR? 5) ARE NEW TIRES OF THE SAME TREAD PATTERN AND SIZE STILL AVAILABLE? *Gulp* Ah...how much do they cost? Where does one find them? 6) WOULD ANYONE HAVE THE OWNER'S, REPAIR, PARTS AND IMPLEMENT MANUALS FOR THIS TRACTOR, AND BE WILLING TO SELL ME GOOD QUALITY PHOTOCOPIES OF SAME, (SHIPPING MY COST) OR SHOULD I JUST ORDER DIRECTLY FROM THE SIMPLICITY COMPANY? (Despite the good recommendation I saw to order from the co., I was trying to save $ as I am currently unemployed.) 7) IS THE FRONT AXLE BEAM SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO LEAN OR "TWIST" FORWARD AND BACK, FOR LACK OF A BETTER DESCRIPTION, AS YOU TURN THE WHEEL? I.e., is it a particularly "loose jointed" front end, to allow max. front axle articulation, or is my tractor in need of some TLC here? There is also several inches of play in the steering wheel. While I'm sure I can reduce this w/ torches and grinder, I want to know if the 700's were all like this? 8) I SEE NO 700’S WITH AN 8 HP. ENGINE, SO AM I CORRECT IN ASSUMING THIS TRACTOR WAS REPOWERED? The engine looks old, and has the same air cleaner/carb layout as the 700's pictured here. If it IS a 1960 Wonderboy 700, what brand of engine should it have come with? 9) I WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE BOTH THE CORRECT SNOWBLOWER AND PLOW FOR THIS MACHINE, AND ALSO WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE WERE SEPARATE DIRT/SNOW PLOWS? I live near NYC and travel most of upstate NY as well. I would be interested in hearing from anyone wishing to sell these items, or manuals for same,and can be reached at my email address of stevestorm7@hotmail.com. I will post pics of this tractor, so you all can put an image w/ the story, once I get them back from Snapfish, as I do not have a scanner/digital camera. As my fellow Ford guys and gals can tell from my "screen name" I am a fan of the 300 inline six, and am somewhat into older/antique Ford pickups, as I have three at the moment-only one could be considered "restored," however. What brings me here? I have wanted a quality garden tractor for some time, to use to snowblow/snowplow, and for general use. The 12 Hp. MTD I was given cuts the lawn nicely enough, is surprisingly quiet and easy to operate, but is just a big lawn mower. It has no character. Simplicities have intrigued me for years, as I recall seeing bad line drawings of them in the ads in the back of Popular Science, next to the "Magnatrac" mini-dozer adds. I wondered for years if Simplicities were "for real" until I started seeing them. (Incidentally, Magnatrac is alive and kicking, and sent me very slick promo material on their products, which are pretty intriguing machines themselves). So anyway, I wanted a functioning antique that represented the values of the America that produced it, i.e., a versitile, quality piece of real equipment capable of real work. I came from a construction family business and appreciate good, solid equipment that is designed to last, not break. Although I am only 40, it makes me nostalgic for the days when companies produced such quality products, and people expected to get quality, not ripped off, for their money. I feel a duty to preserve this tractor for the "edification of others" less fortunate than myself, who don't recognize quality when they see it. Plus it's just a cool little tractor! I plan to repaint this tractor, after I get it running, and have it as a "working antique," rather than re$tore it completely, and would appreciate any help you all can provide, in the form of information, do's and don'ts, suggestions, anecdotes about this model. Lastly, I would like to thank Mike, Frank and all who commented on it, for the “Never Forget” posting. While I have, for years, reminded anyone who would listen about this sad example of democracy shooting itself in the foot, I have never seen so many pertinent details of Hanoi Jane’s regrettable actions laid out, especially from such august sources. I was especially moved by Eddy’s question: “Does anyone know if she ever realized what a BIG MISTAKE (for lack of a better word) she made and apologized to our Nation and Veterans. If not, I for one will FOREVER refer to her as Hanoi Jane.” If Hanoi Jane had exhibited half of the TOLERANCE (to use a “P.C.” word) Eddy does in overcoming his obvious disgust for her actions, and embracing the possibility that Ms. Fonda might be forgiven for her “mistake,” were she to apologize, she would never have done what she did. It’s ironic that liberals are supposed to be the “tolerant” ones, and yet she seems not to practice this value. It is refreshing that people like Eddy can maintain a sense of tolerance in the face of such vile, (anti-American?) actions, and I feel it is more than she deserves, perhaps, given the apparent absence of any apology from Ms. Fonda. So yes, I will pass this email on, and I can’t tell you all how appropriate it seems to find such honest, patriotic, DEMOCRACTIC (as in, from a “democracy”) sentiments as those echoed here, on such a fine website. I feel I am in good company, and appreciate the opportunity to join this club. Sincerely, BigSix

[johnmonkey 4]

I have both a simp 700 and a montgomery ward gardenmark squire (same as simp 725) and both take a plain ol' LM battery (lawn mower) sold everywhere I don't have the dimensions here in front of me but both tractors had them installed when I got them. Good luck with your new toy I just recieved the simp 700 and it needs major work as it sat outside uncared for for many years. There is lots of rust the mower deck needs a total rebuild and I'm not sure about the motor/rear end.but it will be fun to crack her open and find out what makes her tick. John H

[SmilinSam 4,240]

Welcome to the club. You're right... this is a great site! You are lucky to have found a model 700 (Simplicity’s very first 4 wheel tractor) with the ID tag still intact. I don’t know much about those early models but I’m sure there are others that can answer your questions. Until they do, I’ll point out a few pages you may have missed on this really big site. Referring to the Model Listings the 990168 was made in both 1959 and 1960, as was the 990169. I don’t know what the difference is. According to the History Page the 1959 model was called the “Wonderboy 700”. In 1960 the name was changed to just “700”. Does your tractor have an emblem on the side of the hood..? I think I read somewhere that the 1959 model emblems were “Wonderboy 700”. Those tractors were built with a 7hp Briggs & Stratton. If yours has an 8hp, the engine has probably been replaced. A 42” mower deck was apparently available in 1960 in addition to a 32” deck. No 36” deck is listed for the model 990168. Attachments may have been swapped or added over the years. If that 46” sickle bar is in good shape, I would guess it alone is worth what you paid for the entire package. I don’t believe hydraulic lifts were available on any model 700 (I may be wrong). The left side lever lifts front, rear, and center implements. Many parts may still be available new from a Simplicity dealer. Dealers and collectors may have NOS and used parts that are no longer supported by Simplicity. The same blade is used for pushing dirt or snow, and there are many other attachments that the tractor can use. In 1961 the model 700 was upgraded to the 725. At that time Simplicity started labeling the 725 as the famous Allis-Chalmers B-1. Many additional attachments were introduced for the A-C "B series". Sounds like you have a worn axle bushing. The axle should pivot side-to-side but NOT back and forth. The steering wheel should NOT have any play or looseness. Call Simplicity Manufacturing's Technical Publications Department at (262) 284-8519 (they also have a toll free number, but I don’t have that handy). Manuals may still be available and not that expensive. Good luck with your project. You found a real piece of history.

[KenW 0]

Great tractor....it has lots of accessories and does a heavy duty job even with 7hp. See the link below for my 700 and 725 which became a working restoration as well. Good luck, Ken Williams[A href='http://kenw.freeservers.com/']http://kenw.freeservers.com/[/a]

[MPH 12]

Haven't heard from you much lately Ken, welcome back, that sure is a sweet looking 725 you have...MPH

[BigSix 0]

Thanks, guys, for such speedy, informative responses. Sorry I’ve been away, but we moved New Years Eve, and I’m still at it. Just had time to roll the Simplicity into the shed for now, w/ its attachments, and don’t anticpate getting to see if/how it runs for a couple weeks, anyway. But I did want to thank you all, and in no particular order: Dutch—thanks for responding so closely to all of my questions. I think I will go ahead and order all the books from Simplicity itself, and in anwer to your question, no, there does not appear to have ever been emblems on the sides of the hood, so I’m thinking this is a 1960 700, as opposed to a 1959 Wonderboy 700. Kent—Thanks for the tip on the snowblower, (getting the single belt model) which will definitely be one of this tractor’s primary missions, and for the tire info. From the adds I get the idea I can expect to pay $200-300. for a good single belt blower—is this correct? Also, I assume the “What Fits?” section of this site will tell me what years/model #’s of blowers will fit? John H.—curious to hear how your “diagnostic” goes on the 700. Ken Williams—great pics of your machines—love the “barred” tires! So guys…since my 700 seems to have a nice, bronze-colored B&S 8 hp.—should I call it a Simplicity “800”? Oh, and what brand of 7 hp. engine should the tractor have had, back in 1960? And what does CCKB or whatever those initial were, stand for re: the Onans? Thanks again, Peter, a.k.a. “Big