Simplicity 653, 654 Operator's Manual

OPERATOR’S

MANUAL

LANDLORD

&

SOVEREIGN

MFG. NO. 655
MFG. NO. 654

MFG. NO. 657

MFG. NO. 653

Safety

Ge”e‘d Read the Operating and Service lnstrudfions

carefully. Be thoroughly familiar with the
controls and the proper use of fhe equipment.

Never allow children to operate the machine.
Do not allow adults to operate it without

proper instruction.

Do not carry passengers.

Keep the area of

operafion clear of all

persons, particularly small children.and pets.

Preparation . Handle gasoline with care - it is highly

flammable. be picked up and thrown.

a. Use approved gasoline container.

b.

Never

remove the cap of

.the

fuel tank or

add gasoline to a running or hot engine,

.or fill the fuel tank

iridoors.

Wipe up

spilled gasoline.

l Do not run the engine indoors:‘Exhaust

fumes are dangerous.

l Disengage power to attachments and stop

engine before unclogging attachment chutes.

l Disengage

powerto attachment(s) and

stop

engine before leaving the operatorP position.

. Disengage power fo attachment(s) Ind stop the

engine before making any repairs or adjustments. .

. When

as

usino

follows:-

the vehicle wirh mower. proceed

a. Mow onlv in davliqht or in aood artificial

light.

b. Never make a cutting

height adjustment

while the engine is running.

c. Check the blade mounting bolts for proper

tightness at frequent intervals.

l Do not stop or start suddenly when going

uphill or downhill. Mow up and down the face

of steep slopes; never across the face. .

l Reduce speed on slopes and in sharp turns to

prevent tipping or loss of control. Use .

extreme caution when changing direction on

slopes.

l Stay alert fbr holes in The terrain and other

hidden hazards. Be extra careful when

operating on wet or slippery surfaces. .

l The vehicle and attachments should be

stopped and inspected for damage after

the

.

When using any attachments, never direct
discharge of material toward bystanders nor
allow anyone near the vehicle while in
operation.

.

Make sure
a. tractor and attachments are in good

operating condition,

b. all safety devices and shields are in place

and in good working

condition,~and

c. all adjustments (cutting height, etc.), have

been made.

l

Clear the work area of objects which might

l Disengage all attachment clutches and shift

into neutral before attempting to start the
engine.

l

Wear heavy footwear. Do not operate tractor
when barefoot or when wearing open sandals
or

canvas

shoes.

striking a foreign objecr. and the damage
should be repaired before restarting and

operating the equipment.

.

Watch out for traffic when crossing or near

roadways.

If equipment begins to vibrate abnormally
disengage power to atrachments and stop
engine at once. Inspect for damage and correct

before starting up tractor.

.

Use care when pulling loads or using heavy
equipment.
a. Use only

drawbar hitch point.

b. Limit loads to those you can safely control.
c. Do not turn sharply. Use care when backing.

d. Use weights when suggested in the owner’s

manual.

Disengage

power

to atrachment(s) when

transporting or not in use.

Take all possible precautions when leaving
the vehicle unattended, such as disengaging
the power take-off, lowering the attachment(s).
shifting into neutral,

setting

the parking brake,

stopping the engine. and removing the key.

Keep the vehicle and attachments in good
operating condition, and keep safety devices
in place.

-

Maintenance

and Storage

. Keep all nuts. bolts, and screws tight to be

sure the equipment is in safe working
condition.

l Do not change the engine governor settings

or overspeed the engine.

l

To reduce fire hazard. keep the engine free of
grass. leaves, or excessive grease.

l Never

store

the equipment with gasoline in the

tank inside a building where fumes may reach

an open flame or spark. Allow the engine

cool before

storing

in any enclosure.

. . .

to

Congratulations on your

purchase

of the Simplicity

trac-

tar. We know you bought this machine to make your lawn

and garden work easier. You bought the right machine to

do it. So that

you can get the very most from your pm-

chase, we would consider it a personal favor if you would

take time to study this manual before using your tractor

and its attachments. It will increase the chance of adding

SIMPLICITY’S NEW EQUIPMENT WARRANTY

you to our long list of satisfied customers. Also, before al-

lowing others to operate your tractor, be

and understand the safety precautions and operation

sure

they read

sec.

tion of this manual. For your own safety and that of your

family and friends, periodically review the safety tips

found on the inside front cover and page two of this man-

uai

The Company warrants Simplicity products to be free from
the Company makes no warranty, express or implied, with respect to tires, engines, generators and voltage

regulators, which

is

proven

defective within one year (45 days for equipment used for rental, municipal or commercial
purposes) under normal
returned to the factory, (if requested), and is found to be defective upon examination at the factory. This

warranty

FOREGOING WARRANTY IS IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPR ESS OR IMPLIED. OF

MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, PERFORMANCE, OR OTHERWISE.

The Company’s obligation under its warranty is

parts,
incidental, special, or consequential. Simplicity Manufacturing Company, Inc.,

or change specifications without prior notification. There are no warranties which extend beyond the

description of any Simplicity product.

does not apply to any Simplicity products altered outside of the Simplicity factory. THE

and

in no

are

warranted by their

use,

from date of purchase, will be replaced without charge, provided such

event

shall the Company be liable for any other damages, whether direct. immediate,

respective

manufacturers. Any part

strictly and exclusively limited to the replacement of

defects

in material and workmanship, except

covered

by this warranty which

reselves

the right to modify

part

such

is

TABLE OF CONTENTS:..

WARRANTY
SAFETY INFORMATION

FEATURES

OPERATION

CONTROLS AND HOW TO USE THEM
BEFORE STARTING
STARTING THE ENGINE
STOPPING THE ENGINE

OWNER’S MANUAL

LANDLORD

&

SOVEREIGN

MFG. NO. 855
MFG. NO. 854
MFG. NO.

MFG. NO. 653

857

CONTROLLING TRACTOR GROUND SPEED

STOPPING

TROUBLE SHOOTING

ADJUSTMENTS

STARTER-GENERATOR
SEAT
SAFETY INTERLOCK

P.T.O. CLUTCH
VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE
HYDROSTATIC TRANSMISSION
BRAKE ADJUSTMENT, FOOT PEDAL
BRAKE ADJUSTMENT, PARKING

MAINTENANCE

EVERY 5 HOURS

EVERY 25 HOURS

EVERY 100 HOURS
SERVICE
GENERAL REPAIRS
OFF SEASON STORAGE
STARTING AFTER STORAGE

REPLACEMENT PARTS

SPECIFICATIONS
ACCESSORIES

& BELT STOPS

’

1
2
3

4
4

~6

8
9

9

9

10
11
11

11
11
12
12

13

13

14

15

15

15

18
18
18

18
19

19
20
24

1

PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS

:: .:

: :

,,:.;

,.,

n Know the controls and how to stop quickly -- READ THE

OWNER’S MANUAL.

. Do not allow children or young teenagers

hicle or adults to operate it without proper

. Do not carry passengers. Keep children and pets a safe

distance

. Clear work area of objects which might be picked UP and

thrown.

m

Disengage all clutches and shift into neutral before Starting

engine.

E Disengage power to implement (9 and stop engine

leaving operator position.

n Disengage power to implement

making any repairs or adjustments.

. Disengage power to implement

not in use.

. Take precautions, such as disengaging power take-off.

lowering implements, shifting into neutral, setting parking
brake. stopping engine and removing key when leaving ve­hicle unattended.

away.

(s)

and

(s)

when transporting or

to

inStrUCtion.

Stop

engine

Operate

before

Ve

before

m

Do not put hands or feet near or under rotetins parts.

Keep clear of discharge opening at all times.

n Before cleaning, inspecting, adjusting, or repairing the trac-

tor or any attachments stop the engine,

tion key (electric start models) and be sure all blades and

other moving parts have stopped.

n

Stop blade

n After striking a foreign object stop the mower and

the ignition key. Thoroughly inspect the mower for any

damage, and repair the damage before restarting and
operating the mower.

w

If your equipment should start to vibrate abnormally, stop

the engine and check immediately for the cause. Vibration
is generally a warning of trouble.

W

Do not run the engine indoors.

n Look to be

before backing up.

n When mowing with a tractor mounted mower, mow

and-down on slopes, never across or horizontally. To pre­vent the danger of overturning, exercise extreme caution
when stopping, starting or changing direction.

1s)

when crossing gravel drive, walks or roads.

sure

that children are not behind the tractor,

reri~ove

the igni-

remove

up-

n Don’t stop

n Reduce speed on slopes and in sharp turns to prevent tip-

ping or loss of control.

. Stay alert for holes in terrain and other hidden hazards.

n Use care when pulling loads or using heavy equipment.

A. Use only approved

8.

C. Don’t turn too sharp, and use care when backing.
D. Use counterweight

Watch out for traffic when crossing or near roadways.

n When using any attachments, never direct discharge of ma-

terial toward bystanders nor allow anyone near vehicle
while in

fl Handle gasoline with care -- it is highly flammable.

A. Use approved gasoline container.

6.

C. Replace gasoline cap securely.

D. Open doors if engine is run in garage exhaust

n Keep vehicle and attachments in good operating condition

and keep safety devices in place. Use guards as instructed

in owner’s manual.

w

Do not operate equipment when barefoot or wearing

sandals. Always wear substantial footwear.

2

oxtart

suddenly when going uphill or downhill.

drawbar

Limit loads to those you can safely control.

gested

in owner’s manual.

operatitin.

Never remove cap or add gasoline to a running or

hot engine or fill fuel tank indoors. Wipe up spilled

gasoline.

qanes

are dangerous.

hitch points.

(s)

or wheel weights when

sug

open

n Check blade and engine mounting bolts for proper tight-

ness at frequent intervals.

n Keep all nuts. bolts, and screws tight to be sure equip-

ment is in safe working condition.

n Never store equipment with gasoline in the tank inside of

a building where fumes may reach an open flame or spark.

Allow engine to cool before storing in any enclosure.

n To reduce fire hazard keep engine free of grass, leaves or

excessive grease.

n Never operate any attachment without all guards, deflec-

tors, and other protective covering in place.

n Keep the area of operation

small children, and pets.

n Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment is to be

used and remove all stones, sticks, wiie, bones and other

foreign

n Check fuel before starting engine. Do not fill gasoline tank

when engine is running or while engine is still hot. Wipe
off any spilled gasoline before starting engine. Do not
smoke when fueling engine or around open gasoline con­tainers.

n Mow only in daylight or in good artificial light.

n Do not change engine governor, settings or overspeed

engine.

objects.

clear~of

=A

all persons, particularly

SlMPLIClTY

OFFERS YOU-

OPERATION
Easy to get on and off. Full length foot rest is convenient

step. Controls are
Quick, simple starting. High capacity battery. Key-control-

led electric starter/generator.

Easy steering. Large steering wheel and gear reduction

vide low steering effort.

Simple control of engine speed. Single lever has adjustable

friction lock.
Choice of ground speed control. Pick from

sions.

Hydrostatic Drive for full range of ground speeds in

forward or reverse without clutching. Variable Speed Drive

provides

+n-r~~c=r~e

Good traction on sidehills

.a”,+ c,inn.aru c,,rfzaroc

L”II,~LIb lllllllr”

ential

sidehills and ice, yet doesn’t
scuff

Precise attachment po-

sitioning. Standard

manual lift has not­ched sector for fixed

positioninq and a
&at

merits

ground contour.

SAFETY
Single action stopping. Large clutch/brake

pedal has outer lip, retains foot even when icy;

declutches

when depressed further.
Protection from hazardous parts. Belts and drives are

shielded. Muffler and exhaust pipe are enclosed by hood
and grill.

Unobstructed view. Low profile hood. Headlights illumi-

nate wide area, do not reflect from

Easily identified control action. Controls are logicallv
grouped and clearly marked as to function and direction.

COMFORT
Soft, comfortable ride. Double bead rim wheels retain

tires at

Comfortable Seat. Position is adjustable to match opera-

tor’s size.

s&en

shiftinn

provides traction on

lawns

cam so attach-

can follow

Idw

out~of

the way.

wo transmis-

TV

speeds in each gear plus flip shift

lbsina

clutch.

At,.

“‘IJ “lI3FI~

on turns.

in first half of travel and applies brake

air pressure.

y

snow

thrower.

pro-

second-

Comfortable foot support Large area foot rests permit

changing foot position without resting feet on mower.

Reduced noise and vibration, Enclosed, large

muffler lowers engine noise. Synchro-balanced engine

(Sovereign) and massive frame (Sovereign and Landlord)

minimizevibration.

RELIABILITY

Increased engine life.

valves with rotators.

Durable power t

oear

housing are all of hardened gear construction. Roll-

ing contact bearings

Y

T

change is required. Oil fill and drain pipes

readily accessible.

No fuse replacement, Automatic reset circuit breaker

eliminates fuses.

Differential needs no adjustment. Eight springs and hard-

ened wear plates automatically adjust limited slip action.

Briggs &

rain. Transmission differential and bevel

lapsed time meter indicates when oil

Stratton engine has

sumcrt all moving

Hydrostatic transmission

handler

Simple access to en-

gine and power train.

Hood unlatches and

nivots

forward.

is open at bottom.

Easy

to change oil. Optional e-

EQUIPMENT

hioh

vOlUme

stellite

loads,

Se?’

.

“me

p21*+

are

OPERATION

CONTROLS AND HOW TO USE THEM

choke control should be pushed all the way in whenever

the engine is running.
Picture yourself seated on your Landlord or Sovereign
tractor. ‘Before starting the engine, lets learn how to use
each of the safe, easy to reach controls. (The numbers on

figures

1 thru 7 correspond to the paragraph numbers be-

low.

1. Ignition Switch: When turned clockwise to the first po-

::.

.::

;,:
,..

sition, the ignition is turned “ON”. Turn past the “ON”
position to

actua@

the starter. (If the starter does not ac-

tuate, be sure the transmission shift lever on variable speed

~models

or the hydrostatic control lever on hydrostatic

models is in the neutral position). Release the key as

soon

4. Generator Warning Light: The generator light will

warn

you if the generator or voltage regulator on your tractor is
not functioning properly. It is normal for the generator
light to come on when the ignition switch is in the ON po­sition and the engine is stopped

or running at low speed.

The light should go out when the engine is running at
higher speeds. If it does not, the generator a voltage regu­lator, is not functioning properly. Check the generator

belt adjustment (see

adj. page 11). See your Simplicity

dealer if the light will not go out after the belt is adjusted.

as the engine starts. Return the key to the vertical position
to stop the engine. ALWAYS REMOVE THE IGNITION
KEY WHEN CLEANING, ADJUSTING OR

tiEPAIRING

THE TRACTOR OR ANY ATTACHMENT OR WHEN
LEAVING THE VEHICLE UNATTENDED.

‘::

FIGURE 1

2. Engine Speed Control Lever. The engine speed control
lever should be moved forward toward the FAST position
to increase engine speed and back toward the SLOW posi­tion to decrease engine speed.

5. Light Switch: (Standard equipment on Sovereign

FIGURE 2

-

Op-

tional on Landlord). Place the toggle switch in the “UP”

3. Choke Control Knob: Pull the choke control knob all
the way out when starting the engine. As

soon

as the en-

gine starts, push the control knob all the way in. The

position to turn on lights. To avoid the battery being

ac-

cidentally run down, the ignition switch must also be in
the “ON” position for the lights to work. DO NOT OPER-

4

speed when the power take-off is engaged to absorb the

initial effort of the added load. ALWAYS DISENGAGE

THE P.T.O. AND WAIT UNTIL ALL ATTACHMENTS

HAVE STOPPED MOVING BEFORE LEAVING THE

TRACTOR SEAT.

:.:
.:,

;.:7
..~..

.~::

FIGURE 3

ATE THE LIGHTS FOR OVER 10 MINUTES WHEN
THE GENERATOR LIGHT IS ON OR THE BATTERY
MAY DISCHARGE ENOUGH SO IT WILL NOT START
THE ENGINE.

6. Fuel Gauge and Filler Cap: The gauge measures the level

of fuel in the tank. Turn the cap counterclockwise to re­move for adding gasoline.

7. Hourmeter IOptional): The hourmeter is used to record

the number of hours the engine runs, though it will oper­ate any time the ignition switch is ON even if the engine
isn’t running.

FIGURE 4

8. Power Take-Off Control Lever: The power takeoff lever
controls power to attachments such as a mower or sickle

bar which are driven by the center power take-off unit.

Pull the lever up and forward until it snaps

over center

to

engage the P.T.O. Pull it back and down to disengage. The

tractor engine should be running at 112 to full engine

FIGURE

5

9. Lift Lever: The lift lever is used for lifting the rotary
mower
so they can he

,or

other attachments out of the operating position

transport.ed.

By using the notches and pin
holes provided in the quadrant, you can regulate the op­erating height of attachments such as the grader blades and
snow throwers. The thumb button on top of the handle is
pressed to disengage the latch from

thequadrant so the

lever can be moved forward or back as required and
locked in position. Placing the float cam in the “UP” po­sition will allow the lift lever to “float” through any posi­tion as an attachment

moves

over rough surfaces. SEE

THE ATTACHMENT BOOK FOR SPECIFIC INFORMA­TION ON HOW THE LIFT LEVER SHOULD BE USED
WITH YOUR ATTACHMENTS.

10. Power Lift Switch (Optionall: The Power Lift Switch

controls the electrically operated power lift unit. Push the
toggle switch forward when you wish to raise a center or
rear mounted attachment

or lower a front mounted at-

tachment. Pull it back toward you to raise a front mount­ed attachment or lower a center or rear mounted attach­ment

to

the operating position. The power lift will immed-

iately stop and hold in any position when you release the

toggle switch. The height indicator qn the left side of the
tractor can be used

to determine what position the lift is

in. The lift motor will ratchet when it has reached the end

of its travel. It is not harmful to the unit, but you should

release the toggle switch as

soon

as the motor begins to
ratchet to prevent unnecessary wear. If the motor is al­lowed to ratchet for an extended period of time, a circuit

breaker will open disconnecting power

to

the lift motor.

It will automatically reset itself after a few minutes.

11.

Clutch and Brake Pedal: Depressing the pedal will first

disengage the tractor drive clutch. As you continue to de­press the pedal the brakes will be applied to stop the trae

for.

CAUTION: ON HYDROSTATIC TRACTORS THE

5

BRAKES WILL NOT FUNCTION IF THE GEAR SHIFT

LEVER AT THE REAR OF THE TRACTOR IS

IN THE

FIGURE 6

12. Hydrostatic Speed Control: (Tractors With Hydrostatic

Transmission): Travel speed of the hydrostatic equipped

tractors is controlled by the control lever at the right of
the instrument panel. Place your hand on top of the con­trol and squeeze the lever so the control can be moved. It
must be in the notched “NEUTRAL” position to start the
engine. The further it is moved forward from this position,
the greater the tractor ground speed forward will be in re­lation to the engine speed. Moving the lever back from

“NEUTRAL” position will allow the tractor to

move

ihe

in re­verse. THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER AT THE REAR OF
THE TRACTOR MUST BE IN THE DRIVE POSITION.

The diagram printed on the panel shows the

locatioi~

of
each position. To shift the transmission into reverse or sec­ond, pull the shift lever back toward you,

then push it all

the way to the right or left into the desired position. To
shift into first or third, push the shift lever forward and

move

it left or right all the way to the desired position. Do

not attempt to

move

the shift lever unless the foot pedal

(item 11) is depressed and tractor motion is stopped. The
shift lever must be in the neutral “Start,” position for the
engine to start.

15. Parking Brake Lock: To lock the parking brake, grasp

the lock and pull it upward and back until the handle rests
against the footrest. To release, pull the top portion away
from the footrest and down. The parking brake is located
on the right side of tractors equipped with Hydrostatic
Transmission and on the left side of those with Variable
Speed Transmission.

13. Variable Speed Control (Tractors With Variable Speed
Transmission): Tractor ground speed can be changed while

the tractor is in

m&on by moving the Variable Speed

Control Lever. Place your hand on top of the control and

move

it to the desired position. Pushing it all the way for­ward to position 7 will give the greatest speed in any

titular

transmission gear (see item 14). Pulling it all the

pa-

way back to position “1” the lowest speed. NEVER AT­TEMPT TO MOVE THE VARIABLE SPEED LEVER

UNLESS THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AND THE FOOT

PEDAL IS RELEASED.

14.

Transmission Shift Lever (Tractors with Variable

Speed Transmission): The transmission shift lever is used

to select the desired transmission gear speed and direction.

There are three forward and one reverse position. The

ground speed for each depends on the position of the vati-

able speed lever discussed in paragraph 13.

Gear

Variable Control at “7” Variable Control at “1”

First 1.56 MPH .815 MPH
Second
Third

ReVerSe

3.65 MPH 2.04

MPH

6.1 MPH 3.36 MPH

3.14 MPH 1.73

MPH

FIGURE 7

16. Gear Disconnect Lever (Hydrostatic Models Only):

The gear disconnect lever located at the right rear of trac­tors equipped with the hydrostatic transmission is used to
disengage the transmission from the rear

axel. With the

lever in the NEUTRAL position the tractor may be moved
without engine power. WHEN THE GEAR DISCONNECT

LEVER IS MOVED TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION, THE
BRAKES WILL NOT FUNCTION. NEVER DISENGAGE

DISCONNECT LEVER WHEN TRACTOR IS ON AN IN­CLINE UNLESS TIRES ARE PROPERLY BLOCKED. Be
sure the hydrostatic control lever is in the NEUTRAL po­sition before attempting to engage or disengage the Gear
Disconnect Lever. To engage,

move

the lever to the vertical
position until it snaps into the spring clip. Disengage by
pulling the spring lock up and moving the disconnect as far

as possible to the right.

BEFORE STARTING

Though your Simplicity dealer may have performed the

before starting checks listed below, we suggest you

per-

6

sonally check each one so that you will become familiar

with them and also to insure that your tractor is ready to
go the first time you use it.

1. Tire Inflation: The tractor is shipped with all tires in-

flated to 25 PSI. Before operating, reduce pressure in all
tires. The front tires 12 to 15 PSI and rear to 6 to 8 PSI.

the hydrostatic pump. Oil should be level with the bottom
edge of this hole. If it is not see page 17 under Mainten­ance. Remove the pipe plug from

~the

elbow on the axle
housing. Oil should be level with the top of the elbow. If
it is not see page 17 under Maintenance.

2. Engine Oil: Be

sure

the oil in the crankcase is at the
proper level. Remove the dipstick, wipe it clean, and turn
it back in. When removed again, oil should show up to the

full mark. See figure 8.

-See

your

Briggs

and Stratton
manual and page 15 of this’manual for grade and weight of
oil to use.

FIGURE 10

(Variable Speed): Remove the fill plug on the right side of

the transmission. Oil should be level with the bottom edge
of this hole. See page 17 of Maintenance.

FIGURE 8

3. Transfer Gear Case Oil: Remove the pipe plug from the
elbow at the rear of the gear case. Oil should be present at
the top of the filler elbow. If it is not, fill with 90 weight
transmission oil.

FIGURE 9

4. Transmission Oil (Hydrostatic Models): Remove the in-

spection plug at the side of the reservoir to check the oil in

FIGURE 11

5.

Fuel

Supply: Fill fuel tank completely with clean, fresh,

leaded or non-leaded “Regular” grade automotive gasoline.
(DO NOT MIX OIL WITH GASOLINE) Store gasoline in
small quantities as prolonged storage produces gum. See

page 9 item 6 of this manual.

6. Battery: Be sure the battery is filled to the proper level

(Fig&e 12).

with electrolyte and the vent holes on each cap are open.

See page 18.

7. Lubrication: Lubricate all grease fittings and oil lubri-

cation points shown in figures 32 through 346f the Main-

tenance section of this manual.

8. Attachments: Read and become famiiiar with the AT-

TACHMENTS MANUAL which refers to attachments you

will be using with your tractor. IMPORTANT: If you are

7