Abby’s Guide > Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) > Discussions > John Deere 1130 SE
Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions |
|
Clay
Location: Wis
Joined: Dec 3, 2008
Points: 111
![]()
|
 |
John Deere 1130 SE
Original Message Jan 7, 2009 1:07 pm |
|
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 SteerŽ 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 |
Clay
Location: Wis
Joined: Dec 3, 2008
Points: 111
![]()
|
 |
Re: John Deere 1130 SE
Reply #58 Jan 20, 2009 4:17 pm |
|
So 3 pm local time, B&S calls me back. I spoke with a technician named Matt. Matt said that the belt cover is not the issue most of the time but can be in a very rare instance. He said that if the unit starts out fine and then after blowing snow and alot of it comes back on you often some times the issue can be the cover. There is another cover available but it would only be appropriate if your unit starts out with good power and then develops a problem after a lot of snow falls on the unit. If you were in a snow cab the cab would be constantly getting smacked with snow. Again, he said that this is very rare. My issue is when I first start out and this isn't my case buy may be yours. He told of another issue that happened very rarely too. A spacer under the disk was shy in production. This spacer allowed the proper pressure to be applied by the disk to the plate. It was nice of him to admitt an issue in production. He said that it was very rare but did happen. The third and most likely issue he said is that they went from greasing the hex shaft that the friction disk is part of to an oil that is better suited to extreme temps. Even though they didn't have any real issues at operation of negative 15 and below they wanted to use the best product for that application so they went from a grease to an oil. While this oil is better for extreme cold and no real problems presented themselves with the grease, the oil comes off of the hex shaft and gets onto the friction disk and plate and causes problems. He said that they totally clean up the friction disk and plate with 120 grit sand paper, my local JD dealer said they have used brake cleaner which would be less agressive. After the surfaces have been cleaned the oil would be removed and replaced with a LIGHT coating of grease which would stay put better. The tech from B&S also called my local JD dealer and spoke with the service manager about the machine that I have in service right now. At this point I am happy with the response that I got from B&S. Some companies don't even return the call. My recent adventure with Ariens that was the case. They didn't return numerous calls. I even wrote a letter to Ariens and they haven't responded yet. So far B&S and JD have both proven responsive to my needs as an end user. The real pruff will be when I get my machine back and it works or it doesn't. Again, am pleased with what has happened so far and I hope these finding help others with the same issue. Rick |
ccginmn
Location: Saint Michael, MN
Joined: Jan 20, 2009
Points: 5
![]()
|
|
|
Re: John Deere 1130 SE
Reply #59 Jan 20, 2009 5:29 pm |
|
Thanks Clay!! I just purchased this model last week. About one month ago I purchased the Troy Built 30" model. I liked everything about it but the chute control. The joystick just wouldn't work at 90 degree angles. Lowes took it back without an arguement. They even knocked $100 off of the John Deere 1130SE. I haven't gotten a chance to try the John Deere out yet but am tempted to load it up and bring it to a local lake to see if I have similar issues. This thread is making me nervous. I'll report back what I find out.
|
embury
Joined: Jan 11, 2009
Points: 8
![]()
|
|
|
Re: John Deere 1130 SE
Reply #60 Jan 20, 2009 10:00 pm |
|
B&S called me back today. It's a rare thing today to actually speak to a human being in this country about service issues. I gave them all the details and showed them the link to this site. I have decided not to return my unit yet. I'm going to see what they are going to do to correct this design flaw. They did inform me that they are aware of this problem. They will be contacting me with more information shortly. So, For now I cleaned the friction plate with carb cleaner, sealed the frame holes and the bottom of the belt cover backer plate with a rubberized sealer. I also put a piece of weather stripping along the front of the plastic belt cover. This should take care of the problem until they have a factory kit to fix this. Once the sealer dries I will test it and post my results here.
|
embury
Joined: Jan 11, 2009
Points: 8
![]()
|
|
|
Re: John Deere 1130 SE
Reply #61 Jan 20, 2009 11:00 pm |
|
FYI:
Here are the part numbers for the parts that are missing from the John Deere 1130 SE
1. Shaft Seal 1733898 http://www.lawn-parts.com/detail.asp?id=1733898 $1.95
2. Seal Plate 1733868A http://www.lawn-parts.com/detail.asp?id=1733868A $5.95
3. Seal Strip 1733897 http://www.lawn-parts.com/detail.asp?id=1733897 $1.95
I found these in the parts manual for a Snapper model 1530SE. It is very similar to the JD 1130SE except for the Chute control.
|
Clay
Location: Wis
Joined: Dec 3, 2008
Points: 111
![]()
|
|
|
Re: John Deere 1130 SE
Reply #62 Jan 21, 2009 11:05 am |
|
Just finished up a phone call with a very pleasant and customer oriented gentleman in North Carolina who works in the marketing department at John Deere. Talked to him about some of the mechanical issues with the snow thrower and then spoke about loosing sales over these issues with some people returning units. If those units were returned and sales were lost because a $3.50 part was used instead of a $3.75 part being used, who did that benefit? The numbers that I choose are just relative numbers and not exact but if one plastic cover fixes the issues, they should be using that cover on all machines not just the ones where people have the patience to take the unit into the service department. Some people just get their money back and buy a competitive unit. I did tell him that many have noticed how Ariens machines are set up at Home Depot and many customers have not been happy with how their units were delivered. I thought that John Deere was doing the right thing in that Big Box stores are a reality, but having a true John Deere service tech set the unit up was a good thing. He was responsive to my needs as an end user and said that he would investigate further. I've been very pleased with the response that I have recieved from all of the John Deere reps. Rick
This message was modified Jan 21, 2009 by Clay
|
hirschallan
If it aint broke don't fix it !!
Location: Northern Hills of NY
Joined: Aug 25, 2005
Points: 327
![]()
|
|
|
Re: John Deere 1130 SE
Reply #63 Jan 21, 2009 12:17 pm |
|
I can only say I frequent Lowes and have seen the JD dealer truck parked there several times. At least now I know why. Last week I have been there and they just had five or six new JD 1130SE models assembeled parked in a row one behind another. I figured I must compare these against each other and now is my chance. So I picked on the chute control only because what else can you compare on a non runing machine. Results were as follows: On all them the deflector portion worked both ways without hanging up. In the rotation part of the comparison they were all over the place. Only one worked flawlessly whatever you did with it. Another one did not work at all because the gear that comes in contact with the teeth on the chute was so far out in reality why and how could it work. The rest of them were all getting stuck and getting tough to move somewhere in the rotation due to IMPROPER adjustments made to them. So now we know its not a big deal to get home and spend some time and get it right but, if they brag that JD is behind the machines in lowes then I would expect much more when your not going to get it. In 2005 I bought my Ariens in the big box store of "HD" and only in an unopened box due to the following. I was in the market for a blower and stopped by my local HD one evening about 9 pm only to have witnessed two part timers in they're late teens racing against each other assembling a couple of skids of boxed blowers. I observed lots of forcing,bending and to say the least they were using power tools which gives very little feedback of whats going on when you have'nt a clue. I watched for a while and nobody came to check on them so what are the chances of those machines being trouble free. Allan
This message was modified Jan 21, 2009 by hirschallan
|
hirschallan
If it aint broke don't fix it !!
Location: Northern Hills of NY
Joined: Aug 25, 2005
Points: 327
![]()
|
|
|
Re: John Deere 1130 SE
Reply #65 Jan 21, 2009 6:19 pm |
|
<BR> Allen, I initially had a concern about the chute control as well. As you noted some in the stores were smoother than others. Remember that it is a worm gear that meshes with a PAINTED GEAR. When I used mine a couple of times it smoothed out very nicely indeed. The other thing about the chute control that concerned me was that it wasn't a super fast rotation between one side and the other. That is no issue for me at this time and I really like that there are no cables on this connection. The chute rotation is a solid shafter with a knuckle linking the two portions and not a hi tech cable or other wiz bang thing that keeps freezing up on people. I really like low tech on this because I think it will be durable. I wish that I could post pictures on this site and I have some up of this connection. It might not be for everyone and I am not saying that none of them were put together incorrectly of the ones that you looked at, just that my particular unit smoothed out very nicely with a little use between the worm gear and the painted gear.<BR>
Clay, Its not the paint that was the problem, as you have mentioned there were not one but two knuckle joints which means that what I have on my Ariens in one long rod was on those machines 3 individual rods. That being the fact you have more to fiddle with to get it right and none of them (non working) had it right. Besides, the teeth on the chute are very small which makes the gear lineup much more critical. Take a look at your chute I think only two teeth are in contact so not much room for error. Allan
This message was modified Jan 21, 2009 by hirschallan
|
Clay
Location: Wis
Joined: Dec 3, 2008
Points: 111
![]()
|
|
|
Re: John Deere 1130 SE
Reply #66 Jan 21, 2009 9:22 pm |
|
Fair enough Allen, I didn't see the machines that you were looking at I just know that my machine was stiff to rotate and not very smooth the first time that I used it and now it is as smooth as butter. I did pick up my machine today from JD at the promised time (day and a half total in the shop) and I am a happy camper. When Matt from B&S Tech services called the local JD dealer for me to explain the possible solutions to my issues he had the local techs not only remove the oil from the hex shaft, friction disk and friction plate areas and replace that oil with a very think coat of grease that would stay in place better than the oil but he had them actually rough up the pressure plate area with 120 grit sandpaper to that the friction dsik has a better surface to make contact with. They thought that the plate might be too smooth. When I picked up the unit I didn't load it up right away but rather went to the first area of the parking lot that had not been plowed. There was 18 to 24" of snow that was HARD in this area. I went right at it and while the pile of snow did stop of the forward motion the wheels did not stop spining. With the full weight of the machine on the wheel and the forward progess stopped the wheels still turned. I did find some loose snow and she plowed through it very nicely with no hesitation. The forward motion was positive indeed. Now, this unit just came out of a heated shop and not my frozen garage. I ran it around the parking lot for a few short minutes. What will make me feel better is using the unit at my house in a good 8 to 12" snow fall in which I plan on doing all of the neighbors drives and walks to put it through a good test. After I do a couple of these and it behaves, I will feel better. I know I sound like a broken record, but good response time, good customer service and the problem SEEMS to be fixed. Life is good and I feel like buying a John Deere hat. Rick |
hirschallan
If it aint broke don't fix it !!
Location: Northern Hills of NY
Joined: Aug 25, 2005
Points: 327
![]()
|
|
|
Re: John Deere 1130 SE
Reply #67 Jan 21, 2009 9:30 pm |
|
Fair enough Allen, I didn't see the machines that you were looking at I just know that my machine was stiff to rotate and not very smooth the first time that I used it and now it is as smooth as butter. </p><p>I did pick up my machine today from JD at the promised time (day and a half total in the shop) and I am a happy camper. When Matt from B&S Tech services called the local JD dealer for me to explain the possible solutions to my issues he had the local techs not only remove the oil from the hex shaft, friction disk and friction plate areas and replace that oil with a very think coat of grease that would stay in place better than the oil but he had them actually rough up the pressure plate area with 120 grit sandpaper to that the friction dsik has a better surface to make contact with. They thought that the plate might be too smooth. </p><p>When I picked up the unit I didn't load it up right away but rather went to the first area of the parking lot that had not been plowed. There was 18 to 24" of snow that was HARD in this area. I went right at it and while the pile of snow did stop of the forward motion the wheels did not stop spining. With the full weight of the machine on the wheel and the forward progess stopped the wheels still turned. I did find some loose snow and she plowed through it very nicely with no hesitation. The forward motion was positive indeed. Now, this unit just came out of a heated shop and not my frozen garage. I ran it around the parking lot for a few short minutes. What will make me feel better is using the unit at my house in a good 8 to 12" snow fall in which I plan on doing all of the neighbors drives and walks to put it through a good test. After I do a couple of these and it behaves, I will feel better. </p><p>I know I sound like a broken record, but good response time, good customer service and the problem SEEMS to be fixed. Life is good and I feel like buying a John Deere hat.</p><p>Rick
Rick While your at it get the gloves too.
|
|
|
