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 Steer® 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

Catt wrote:

I replaced light and clamp, all works well. About $7.50 for the new light, so it was no big deal. I think one of the screws that hold the starter motor on has also fallen out.....

Also I think I need to tighten up the cable that engages the drive, If that doesnt work I am taking it back to the JD dealer. Seems only 3rd gear really has any power. Reverse is bad and 1 and 2 dont have any power.

Hi, I don't have the JD but it sounds like you need to make adjustments as per your manual.This is very typical when gear a selector is off.

I tried adding my weatherstripping underneath the factory strip.  Apparently, mine is too thick and the guard would not sit with both layers of foam.  I can see it working just as effectively with my thicker foam, but only using the 2nd add-on strip that Catt used here and not using the factory foam.  If it is thick enough, it should be good enough to seal it up.  Thanks for the pic, Catt.

Also, (using Catt's pic again :)  ) The foam I used between the belt guard and the auger housing was too thick.  It pressed the belt guard into the belts and wore some marks into the plastic.  Something to look out for. 


Mechanically, mine has been working pretty good after the updates.  I do notice that it gets very slow in 1st gear after running for a while.  This could be slippage, but it is hard to tell.  It goes perfect once I put it into 2nd gear.  Another thing I noticed is that it will jump into a higher gear by itself.  I think this is more of a problem with the spring and lever assembly.  I will have to look under the dash to see if I can tighten up whatever holds the gear selector into the notches. 

I did find some inexpensive LED headlights for $9 including shipping on eBay.  They may hold up better to the extreme vibrations our machines make. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SMD-5050-13-LED-894-881-Car-Foglight-Light-Bulb-White_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem25560bb97dQQitemZ160357398909QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Another thing I noticed is that it will jump into a higher gear by itself.  I think this is more of a problem with the spring and lever assembly.  I will have to look under the dash to see if I can tighten up whatever holds the gear selector into the notches.

You are exactly correct.  There is a bolt with a spring that needs tightening on the gear shift lever under the dash.  It will hold it in the proper gear when adjusted correctly.

Update on my transmission changing gears on its own:  Under the gear selector there are 3 13mm nuts that hold the gear selector in place.  I tried just tightening the tension bolt for it (one that has the spring), but that didn't help.  If you loosen the 3 13mm nuts it allow you to move the gear selector into the gear selector notches on the dash tighter.  You have to take the bolt that adjusts the tension on the shoot height adjuster to get to one of the nuts.  If you look under the dash, you will see what I mean.  It works much better now and really holds itself in the proper gear.  Catt: thanks for mentioning those dime-sized holes under the engine.  I didn't know those could leak.  They are all sealed up now.  I also took a hair drier to the belt cover to soften it up a bit and pulled it out so it won't rub the belts.  Hopefully it is enough.  I don't think it was a problem with the thicker weatherstripping as much as it was that the plastic belt cover was a bit bowed-in.

My headlight has lasted 2 times after putting rubber between the headlight bracket and the machine and is still working.  It may be just a fluke with the other bulbs.  I didn't look at the original one that burned out very closely, but the last one the burned out has a little white spot on the bulb.  Maybe I accidently  touched it and caused it to burn out. 

Catt: Thanks for posting all of those pics.  I took my belts and pulleys off and forgot where a washer came from.  Luckily you had a picture showing where it went.

I think I solved the problem of my headlight burning out.  Today when I was using the snowblower, the headlight wasn't working.  CRAP, NOT AGAIN!  A bit later I noticed that the headed handgrips weren't working either.  I thought there might be an in-line fuse that blew.  When I was done snowblowing, I was looking at the wires and thought I saw in-line fuses by the starter.  They were just connectors that looked like in-line fuses.  I followed the wires around and found one of them was broken.  It is a wire that goes from the starter to under the carb and through the engine.  Luckily it had broken off with just enough room for me to put a heatshrink crimp connector on.  Problem solved.  It must have been broken just enough to keep burning my headlights out, but not broken enough to cause it to quit sending power completely. 

Good job Swoods!
If you still have problems with the belt cover you can add a piece of angled sheet metal for strength.  Mine was rubbing slightly and I added the galvanized sheet metal with two stainless steel screws.  It doesn't flex now.  Just make sure the sheet metal isn’t too big or it might interfere with the belts and pulleys.

I’m happy to say that my 1130 is working flawlessly.   I got in Dec 2008.   It started slipping within 5 minutes when it first was delivered.    The addition of the correct parts from JD (Back Plate), some weather stripping on the front of the belt cover, and clear roof patch over all the holes and behind the bottom of the back plate resolved all the issues.  It has not slipped at all this winter.  What I can’t believe is that JD and Briggs shipped the units this year with the same problems.  Very poor management and quality control!   Hopefully they will get off thier butts before the go out of business. 

It's really too bad that Deer, Briggs or Simplicity didn't get the transmission water problem solved from the start on the 1130.  Because now that mine is sealed, this is a very good snowblower.  I used it again today and it's a joy to use.