Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I did a search and found a few references to this machine but no answers.  Any one have one of these?  15.5 snow max engine, heated hand grips, 30" wide.  I can't find a listing for auger diameter or impeller diameter.  I called John Deere and the guy that was suppose to be the snow thrower expert didn't know either. 

What is the Easy Steer drive system?  The literature says: 

Easy SteerŪ drive system giving continuous power to both wheels and auto speed adjustment

Is it similar to the Ariens auto differential? 

I've heard that the units are built by B&S which translates to Simplicity.  They do have cast iron gear cases like the Simplicity.  The chute control is different than the simplicity and so is the turning method so they are not exactly the same.  I'm trying to compare the Simplicity L1530E to the JD 1130SE.  Any help would be appreciated.

Rick

I found the gas cap mentioned earlier in this post for $23 here: http://www.powerequipmentmart.com/briggs-stratton-part-698109-cap-fuel-tank $10 S&H

Once again, the legendary thread continues.....

I had purchased one of thse blowers from lowes in jan 09 was in a pinch old blower giving me troubles and we were getting pounded day after day with snow so needed to do something so found this machine great deal opened a lowes credit card and got over 130 bucks off machine and so on so took it home and the problems started from the start the light wouldnt work found the wires got pulled apart when the guys loaded it on my truck and then the drive slipping started so I returned it before the 30 days was up and bought a cub cadet 930 and so far it works pretty well..it was a shame as I thought boy a john deere and I will be done monkeying around now how fooled I was!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't understand why people these days still equate once proud brand names to quality?   With most, if not all domestic snow blowers (and many other domestic OPE), the "name" is all but a ruse.  Even Toro and Ariens are watering down their equipment.  It's folly to assume that the once proud brands of old still produce the grade of equipment that made the name famous in the first place.  Sadly, it's come to the point where the only OPE manufacturers that can be trusted these days for consistent quality comes from Japan.    

Your correct borat you really have to take a look at what you are purchasing and know what you are looking at and make your decision from there, john deere quit marketing snow blowers for a rrason!!!

Your correct borat you really have to take a look at what you are purchasing and know what you are looking at and make your decision from there, john deere quit marketing snow blowers for a rrason!!!

After following the steps outlines on this post to stop the slipping clutch disc, I can't say how HAPPY I am with this machine.  It is a great snowblower and has a ton of power.  I plan on keeping mine until the day I die.  If you are considering a JD, don't let the negative posts on here sway you.  I am one satisfied customer. I admit, there was a design flaw from the factory, but now that I know how to keep the friction disc dry, it hasn't slipped since the first season I bought it back in '09. 

Basically, if you have a Simplicity or a Snapper snowblower (I've used a Snapper parts manual to order parts for my JD 1130se), this is the exact same machine....nothing wrong with JD except that the plastic belt cover would let melted snow drip on the friction disc, which is an easy fix. 

This is my 3rd season with the 1330SE. It's actually my first and only snowblower. It's worked well enough for my needs, and is probably a bigger machine than I actually needed. Having said that, I don't think I would want to use this thing in a commercial application. In my opinion, the whole friction disk drive mechanism does not seem very robust, but I guess that type of setup is fairly common in snowblowers.

I've been using an 1130 (with the sealing modifications) and a 1330.  Both have been working great for me so far.  I also wouldn't use them in a commercial application.  Most commercial applications in my area are either a snowplow or a tractor based snowblower.  Then they use a Honda or Toro 20"-21" paddle type for cleanup and sidewalks.  I think my 1130 and 1330 will last many years for the amount I will use them.

I have had the 928e since January 2010 and had the problem with the drive slipping but solved it quickly with weather stripping and it runs like a champ...the reason I posted here was that I had a problem back in December '13...was clearing the yard for my 2 small dogs and I lost the bottom oil fill plug without noticing it and subsequently blew the engine...not to worry I had the extended warranty, so I had the machine picked up after I put some used oil back in the machine to cover my stupid mistake...the place that serviced my blower called me about a week later and said that a new engine had been approved and it should be ready to go in about a week or so...after that period of waiting I did not hear from them so I called to find out the engine they put on was defective and had to go through warranty nonsense with Briggs & Stratton so I had to sit patiently and wait it out...snowblower was gone now 3 weeks and we had 2 snow storms here in MA what a pain...so I finally get the call the new engine is in and it runs like a champ and they will be bringing it to me immediately so I took the day off from work to welcome home my sorely missed baby...around 3 pm exactly one month after it was picked up it was home, and the delivery guy starts it up first pull and it runs nice...So i start questioning him about the engine and he stated that it was brand spanking new and it was the exact same as the one that was replaced...this is where is gets really good, I know I had the 13.50  305cc engine and I look at what was put on it was the 16.50 342cc professional series from Briggs...can you say hell yeah!!!  I got a beast of an engine as a replacement...I was lucky my stupid mistake turned out the way it did.