Simplicity System 5010 Off Road Adventure Thread

1974-75 Simplicity System 5010. Stock engine except exhaust and running crank case vent towards ground with hose instead of going into the air cleaner. Figured I would put some of these nifty trail damage pictures on here. Tried going up a snowy hill with the turf tires and open rear, which wasn't working too good. I stood on top of the rear bumper to get a little traction and managed to tip the tractor straight up in the air. Finally got things under control and flat again and figured I had enough fun with the hill. Reverse is geared a little high on this thing so I thought I would back straight down the hill, turn hard to the left, and slide the front end around on the snow thus pointing me down hill again. It's a little hard to describe the terrain, but the bottom line is I backed up into a bank to my left and slid half way around before the wheels dug in and it flipped me off. I didn't get hurt but the steering wheel got a slight bend in it. Kind of surprises you when you don't expect it to happen... I put some chains on tonight, but didn't take any pictures yet. Now it goes up pretty steep hills in the snow with no problems, even with the open rear.



Steering wheel has since been bent back into shape with a prybar. Didn't even need to take it off!


A couple of minor scratches to the jegs sticker and a little orange paint missing, hood still straight though.

How fast did you get it to go?

BTW I have a mower or two almost the same.  I might have to build a mini out of a frame like that because they are small!

It currently doesn't go much faster than stock. Where I ride is mostly rocky terrain and also about half on a hill side, so mostly I just try steep hills or try to get over rocks. I took the pulley from the engine that ran the blades and used it for the drive. Transmission is stock. I think they are pretty neat mowers. The wierd thing about them is the rear end pivoting instead of the front axle. I was thinking of locking mine and locking the transaxle at the same time. When you hit a rock hard with the front wheel, it almost knocks you over sometimes. Worse if your steering towards the direction of the wheel that's off the ground. I figured this effect would be worse with the rear locked, which is why I was going to do both at once. Think you could take some pictures of your simplicitys when you get a chance?

Sunday's winter weather activities.

Everyone has snow romps and here its 80°f lol

Too cool man. I saw the video last night. Ill end up showing this thread on the ALTLF.com facebook page sooner or later.

Wow, thanks for the trip down memory lane! I had a Broadmoor and I loved that machine. I remember the right foot clutch / brake too. I did like how it pivoted in the middle of the machine. Great for crawling! And the twisted belt worked well with that indestructable transmission. COOL!   

craftsmancole wrote:

Everyone has snow romps and here its 80°f lol

I have a friend that lives right by daytona.

Thanks for the replys. Here are a few shots of the trail on a quick run tonight. It's about 25° out in these pictures, but it was warmer when it finally stopped snowing so now everything is hard as a brick. After I took these pics, I hit a big chunk of plowed up snow/ice with the front tire and it jumped my steering a few teeth. I think it's still intact but I'm going to take a look at it and see what happened.

Those lights work so much better than mine! How much amperage do they draw? I'm thinking about ditching my LED idea, but I've still got one set to try still. I'm thinking those NAPA incandescent roundy's are hard to beat. Looks like a fun trail too!   

I don't remember how much they draw, but I did check to see if the charging system would keep up with them when I put them on. All I checked was voltage with engine running, lights on/off. I know it was close to breaking even with the headlights and one small tail light. It does charge a little when the motor is run up higher. I'll have to check them some time. You could probably get some LED ones somewhere for about the same price that are just as bright or better and draw less juice.

Interesting. What are you running for an alternator? My Simplicity ran a DC starter / generator that charged even at idle. It was sweet! I'm worried that even with a 10A chargng system I have now, it still won't charge unless I have my foot in it.... But I sorta like to lug through the woods.

Is that an 8hp B&S you're running? Hmm,, I think I might have to go get that old broadmoor. I know where it sits...   

This one is a little newer I think. It uses a seprate starter and a charging coil like most modern tractors. I guess it's an 8hp. My dad used to use a broadmoor with a starter/generator to mow with for a while. That got junked probably about 10 years ago. This one was sitting outside for at least a couple years before I got it. Someone had primed the foot plates, hood, and rear rims. The deck was all rusted out. I wish I had some pictures from when I got it.

Super tough machines for sure. And they last forever.

Looks like these are the lights you're running... GROTE 64931 or 64991. I'm confused by the ratings on these though: The 91's are rated at 50w, 3.3 amp and 1000cp (candle power), but the 31's are rated at only 35w, 2.7 amp and put out 3000cp! Seems like a no-brainer to me. I wonder why anyone would run a 91 then. (???)

Looks like fun... I would personally have to take a pass on the right foot clutch thing.... yikes!

T-Dub13 wrote:

Super tough machines for sure.  And they last forever.  

Looks like these are the lights you're running...  GROTE 64931 or 64991.  I'm confused by the ratings on these though:  The 91's are rated at 50w, 3.3 amp and 1000cp (candle power),  but the 31's are rated at only 35w, 2.7 amp and put out 3000cp!  Seems like a no-brainer to me.  I wonder why anyone would run a 91 then.  (???)

I'm not sure what the deal is, I just grabbed them off the shelf because I thought they looked neat. Looks about like mine except that mine don't have that edge in the rubber, it just comes straight out. They probably changed them a little. I think they were about $15 each. We put some on a pickup truck for backup lights and they held up pretty good with the road salt and everything. I figured they would be good enough for the mower since it's parked inside.

TheRainbowBoxer wrote:

Looks like fun... I would personally have to take a pass on the right foot clutch thing.... yikes!

You get used to it pretty quick. I think my newer simplicity was on the right also.

I called the vendor and asked her about the lights. Seems like there all the same pretty much. If anyone is interested in buying lights like what we're talking about, just get style PAR36 and make sure they have bulb number 4411. I'm sure that's what you're running, MR Mod. Sorry for the confusion!

And I'll second the Right side clutch comment. You get used to it right away!

You get used to it right away or you do something goofy like run into the side of your pickup like my buddy Chris did early on in our experimentation... I've been driving stick on and off for over 20 years... overcoming that much ingrained reflex wouldn't be quick. Guess the old dogs/new tricks thing holds true

I was your age when I had my Simple-City (about 6 yrs ago). Once in a while I would forget and run stuff over.    Then the panic hits and I completely forget what to do. Like the old lady confusing the gas for the brake. The older I get, the more brain farts I have!   

Another night run, Snow melted after a warm sunday.


Now everything is mud.


The simplicity in a pit.


Weeds hid this log until I ran into it.


I was heading down hill when I ran into it so...


When I backed up, this happened.

looks like a great time. That bumper took it like a champ lol.

I know I might be doing too many things at the moment.  But! I am thinking about building a mower like this!

Mine is a broadmoor 728 8hp briggs.  I might swap it out for a twin.. I have a few extra..
Besides that it'll get a 3inch front pulley and a 5inch rear pulley, so guesstimating around 10mph. Also direct steer and hand throttle on the steering wheel.  This one is going under the radar without a thread for now.

EDIT: it will end up being a stunt mower!

LMM: I think that's the exact one I had. I miss it. I'd suggest not putting a twin in that frame. All the extra weight might make it handle strange with it articulating in the middle. I'd opt for a 12.5 hp like The one Doc did the thread on (that I hijacked). More than enough power and it will bolt right in.

MrMod: Looks like fun! Good thing you didn't snap tie rods on that log!   

Finally washed the mud off this thing. Figured I would just put a few pics on to show a closer view of the exhaust and the added footpegs behind the stock foot plates. The right side footpeg is slightly shorter due to the exhaust shield being in the way. As you can see by the black rubber melted onto the muffler, It could have been a bit longer.

LAWN MOWER MUDDER wrote:

I know I might be doing too many things at the moment.  But! I am thinking about building a mower like this!

Mine is a broadmoor 728 8hp briggs.  I might swap it out for a twin.. I have a few extra..
Besides that it'll get a 3inch front pulley and a 5inch rear pulley, so guesstimating around 10mph. Also direct steer and hand throttle on the steering wheel.  This one is going under the radar without a thread for now.

EDIT: it will end up being a stunt mower!

T-Dub13 wrote:

I'd suggest not putting a twin in that frame. All the extra weight might make it handle strange with it articulating in the middle.

Could be true that it would make a man killer out of it, but you have to admit it would look pretty cool with the cylinders hanging over the edge of the frame. It would be intresting. I'm probably going to lock the articulated part and the transaxle when I get a chance. The bolt holes that hold the wheels from turning on the axles are egged out pretty bad. They don't have any keys on these.

the wheels are held on with bolts threw the axle? I guess that our simplicity rototiller was that way. be careful, where the holes are drilled the axle likes to break off......