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

trekguy wrote:
Hi trek, did you get your machine back?

I just picked one of these up at my local Lowes store yesterday for $800, ($890 on seasonal closeout with 10% coupon) new, never started. If the two that were sitting there were not sold by next weekend the guy said they would go up on a shelf until this Fall.

Do you guys think I should just ring my local JD dealer on Monday, or should i go with calling B&S or JD directly? Looks like a beast of a machine, just hoping to see if there is a service bulletin out yet and if there really is a kit to fix it that can be provided to the JD dealer.

Got it back with a different plastic cover.  I think they double-checked adjustments, as well... and cleaned the disk.  My retired Dad had time to spare, so he ran it to the dealer... I didn't talk to them myself.  Guess I won't know for sure til next winter, whether or not the problem is fully resolved.  The dealer said to let him know how it goes.  They are fully aware of the problem, so I wouldn't hesitate to give your's a call... they should know exactly what's what.  I will say again that besides that drive hiccup, the machine throws snow like nobody's business!  The last storm we had dumped 22 inches of heavy, wet snow in my yard..... the 1130 went through it like it was nothing.

Hi Everyone,

I am looking at an 1130SE for this winter and came across this thread. I realize the posts are from last season, but I am thinking of purchasing one (from new stock) very soon. Does anyone know if John Deere has made any changes yet to solve the friction drive problem?

I am trying to decide between the 1130SE and the Toro 1028OXE. Each has advantages over the other, but the JD has a much better price point for a larger engine.

Thanks for any input,
Mike

mikkel'

I had the friction drive problem last year - sometimes.

I racked my brain and came across this site. I read the pages and could see some very interesting progress being made.

I figured the parts were missing on my 928E as everyone else was having the same experiences with their 1130SE.

Finally my local Lowes in Hamilton, Ontario started selling the snowthrowers again and I popped in to take a look at them this weekend.

Sure enough, the correct parts have been installed to stop the water seepage onto the friction disc on the new models (both 928E and 1130SE). So it looks like this years models will be fine.

I asked the sales staff about the model I purchased last year and they directed me to my local John Deere dealer who is now ordering me a kit to install myself. They did however offered to install the parts free of charge - nice.

Once the kit arrives, I'll post the results and hopefully be able to post pictures.

As for the Toro 1028OXE I can't comment.  I can however say that the JD is a brute and has impressed me like no other.

Len

Thanks LennyB for your reply. I really appreciate it; sounds like the friction drive problem has been solved for sure.

Couple more questions for anyone:
1) Regarding the electric-powered chute rotation: is this system robust? Does anyone think snow and ice will freeze the operation up, or is it shrouded well enough?
2) Is the Easy-Steer system similar to a limited-slip diff? How does it actually function? The dealer cannot really explain to me how the system works, although I did operate the blower on a cement floor and it seems to work seamlessly.

Thanks again,
Mike

I just purchase the JD 1130SE. I called the JD dealer and he knows nothing about the "Retro fix" for the Drive slippage problem.  The Sevice guy started to laugh when I told him that I was getting my information from the internet. He was not interested in what people were saying and said that he checked and found nothing about a cover or anything from B and S.

Well, I will have to wait until the snow flys in Minneapolis to find out if it slips and has problems. Maybe this is a isolated incident. If you can supply me with the "Fix" that your dealer did for you I can follow up with the dealer.

Jim

lanningjw,

I have ordered my kit from the dealer and I have not heard anything yet. It's been about 14 days. I'll give them a little more time before I start nagging again.

Like I said, once I get the kit I'll post back with the results, a few  photos, and the part numbers.

Hopefully that information can help everyone else.

lanningjw wrote:
Sounds like your dealer is tuned out. I find it annoying as hell when dealers of anything scoff at the idea of information from the internet. I personally think it embarrasses them. Particularly when they are proved wrong. I've had that experience with motorcycle shops and OPE shops. The difference is that I do my homework thoroughly before I go in. When they start feeding me BS and arguing that the internet info is wrong, I challenge them on it. After all, fifty unbiased opinions from participants of forums must account for something vs. the very much biased opinion of the dealer. Put it in their face and keep it there. I find that their argument rapidly deteriorates in the presence of research, facts and the reported experience of others.

I was at a Lowe's store a couple of weeks ago looking at the 1130SE.  They had both last year's and this year's versions of the Deere 1130SE on the floor.  The old version had the plastic belt cover where I could stick my finger through openings on the engine side of the cover.  The new model has additional plastic that has no opening what so ever.  It also seems more robust on that edge.  You might want to ask the "service guy" why Deere spent money tooling up a different cover.  He's an idiot.

Here are the differences I saw between the two models.

1) Belt cover is completely sealed from what I can tell versus last year's model with gaping holes.
2) Electric chute rotation now versus the hand crank.
3) Engine exhaust cover is now made of heavier gauge metal.   This doesn't bend as easy.
4) The hand control cables for blower and wheel engagement don't cam around the black plastic rollers anymore.
5) The upper chute hinge no longer uses a spring on top of the chute.  It's now a compression spring arrangement on the side of the chute.

LennyB wrote:
Although my Simplicity didn't suffer too bad from snow getting inside and onto the drive system, I did have it happen once or twice in exceptionally deep snow. I made a seal/shield from a piece of inner tube that I glued and riveted to the engine side of the belt cover. Not the prettiest fix in the world but it does the job. It's good to go. Just waiting for some snow now.