You did not list your factory model number so no telling which model 1080 you have. Not a big deal though. You can follow your linkage down from the handlebars and see what interacts with it as it goes along. Check the outside of the tractor where it goes into the tractor section. Put the machine up on it’s bucket and open it up to see what happens as you press your clutch lever.
>>>I currently use a hose clamp slipped over the handle to hold the auger control down as it takes significant force to keep it down.
Seems like you have something wrong to require such force. Time to take the belt cover off and see what is happening when you press the auger clutch. Usually levers cause some arms to swing. Those travel through the tractor section from back to front up to the belt area.
The belt area (under the belt cover) will have a belt tensioner pully that the auger clutch linkage causes to press into the belt. When you let off the clutch a spring pulls back the tensioner pulley. Possibly you have a mouse nest in there. Something is hampering smoother operation.
Most models have a spring on the bottom of the rod going from the handlebars. You press the handle and take up the slack usually putting tension on the spring which transfers that pressure to the belt tensioner arm. The spring allows some leeway in the tightening of the tesioner arm so it is not over tightened. Your system is out of adjustment and needs to be looked at. There’s a good chance your drive clutch, auger clutch locking problem is linked to the necessity of having to use a hose clamp.
