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

CHXBEACHVA wrote : I looked at the Hondas. They seem to be a very well built machine. Could I afford one....absolutely, but is it necessary to spend $2k+ on a blower, maybe or maybe not. I ended up buying a Deere 1028e and was very impressed how it handled the 18" we just got in Long Island, NY. No bogging at all and cleared right down the pavement. It cut my EOD like butter. My neighbors were definitely happy to hear me coming down my driveway

The 1028e is very similar to the Simplicity L1528E with a few items exclusive to John Deere.  Much of the construction is identical to the Deere 1330SE.  The gearbox is just one example.  Borat has a 28" Simplicity that he seems to like a lot.  He recently posted pictures of his machine doing an impressive job blowing snow.  The 1028e should be a great machine and I would expect it to last many years. 

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Other than a few different gizmos, the 28" JD and Simplicity are pretty much the same.  They are very rugged and efficient at moving a great deal of snow with relative ease.  My machine has the 305cc B&S Kool Bore engine it starts and runs great and makes impressive power.   Not sure what the JD has for an engine but if it's the Kool Bore,  keep an eye on you oil level. I've been using synthetic for three season and have noticed oil consumption.  You won't see any smoke or other clues that the oil might be going down.  So check it every couple hours of use. 

Don't forget to do your five hour oil change and check your belt tension and control cables adjustments.  

If you want to keep the paint on the inside of your chute, you  might want to line it with plastic like I did.  

The manual for my machine says change the oil after the first 5 hours of use and 25 hours (or end of season) thereafter.  I went to the John Deere dealer and the guy that sold the machine to me said the first 5 hours wasn't neccessary and was overkill.  He said to just change it at the end of the season.  My neighbor has a Craftsman 7hp 2 stage and said he's has had his blower for 4 years and NEVER changed the oil. Thats probably why his machine runs like S*#T and I had to bring my 1028e over to help him out with this recent snow we just got on Long Island.  I bought the oil anyway just to have a quart on hand.  Just wanted to hear your thoughts.

"You have to help the neighbors out"

Chxbeachva wrote:
Sounds like your dealer doesn't like to get his hands dirty.   You sure he's not just a salesman?

What does your engine operator's manual say about the five hour oil change? 

I suggest you do it.  You won't see any difference this year or next.  But ten or fifteen years down the road, you will.  The reason for the five hour oil change is to get manufacturing debris such as filings and machining grit out of the engine.   The reason you run the engine for five hours is to ensure sufficient circulation of oil to get most of the grit into the oil.  Drop the oil while it's good and hot.  Put in any decent 5/10W30 oil and go to work. 

borat wrote:
My thoughts exactly.  I would not override manufacturer's recommendation based on salesman blah blah.  Not sure what his motivation is, but that doesnt bolster trust and credibility in my book. 

I was going to do an oil change at 5 hours, from previous recommendation of the lawn mower manual.  I kind of assumed most OPE engines are the same.  However, after going through the snowblower manual, it says to do at after two hours.  I'm going to get it done, it has 3 hours on it.  A little due diligence goes a long way.

borat wrote:

Manual says change at first five hours.  I already bought The Deere Brand 5w30 (manual calls for).  I will change it this weekend.   Thanks everyone.

aa335 wrote:
Google MotoMan and you'll have some fun reading about how he recommends break in.

I generally do the first change at 1 hour, EVEN on engines with an oil filter.  And most importantly with those without one.

I still like the next one at the recommended 5 (or whatever) interval.  What's the worst that can happen?  I spend 5 extra dollars on oil?

ALSO:  I went to warm up the unit for that first o/c and as soon as I let off the choke I was thinking..."man it sure burns off water (vapor) on startup" when I realized it was one of those dang plastic oil caps on the bottom of the engine that had just come loose and was spitting oil.  I shut down ASAP and only lost a couple of ounces but it made a large spray area of oil and forced me to do some extra cleaning of the belt cover area, etc.  What should have been 10 minutes start to finish was over an hour.

Moral of the story?  Be sure to occasionally tighten those stupid plastic plugs!!!

borat wrote:
What did you use to make the plastic liner?

I run full synthetic in my cub cadet 930swe as with all my other power equip.as well as keep them greased just greased the cub up yesterday and gave it a going over was 55 degs here and now its 25 and snowing supposed to get lake effect so who knows 2 inches or 2 foot by morning you never know..