tmac

I have a driveway very similar to that which you describe, though living in Southern CT I don't usually have to worry about 4 to 6 feet of snow annually. For 3 years I used a Honda 928 with tracks that worked pretty well. However, the snow we are now getting is wetter and heavier and the 928 was constantly clogging. I decided to get a more powerful machine and considered the Honda 1132 because I believed that a tracked machine was a necessity for my steep driveway. After a lot of research I decided that an even more powerful machine would be better and purchased a 13 horsepower Simplicity with a 38 inch cut (the Simplicity 1338 Pro Model).

The Simplicity has wheels but handles the slope easily, up and down. Because of the 13 hp engine the heavy wet snow is no longer a problem.  The Simplicity cuts right through it.  All in all, a really good machine, especially for long driveways.

Borat,

Thanks for your reply and diagnosis. I think that a better desciption of the sound would be that of a power steering unit that requires adjustment, i.e., a screeching sound. I did engage the auger and the drive. The sound decreased and ended. I do believe that it is one of the belts and will have the machine inspected when winter is over. At this point I cannot be without it for a week and it is otherwise working fine.

After using my two stage snow thrower for about an hour to remove some wet snow I let the machine, which had performed very well, idle before shut-down and storage. While the machine was  idling I heard a loud noise (similar to that made when an auto's automatic transmission needs attention).  I removed the belt cover and ran the machine but could not see any obvious alignment problem. Does anyone have any suggestion as to what the problem might be? The machine is new and  has been used for about 12 hours.

I purchased a Simplicity 1338 last September. I have a 900 foot driveway with a constant 10 to 15 degree slope. I considered the Ariens 1336 but went with the Simplicity because I prefer Briggs & Stratton engines. The price was also a consideration, but a small one. I wanted the best machine.

I am very pleased with the Simplicity thus far. It handles wet, heavy snow with ease and never slips on the slope. It performs as well as my old Honda 928 (tracked) with respect to traction and is much better in heavy snow. The motorized shute and the hand warmers are welcome additions as well.

Krislu and Mech12,

Thanks for your helpful responses. I figured that there was a reason for the lack of a plow attachment and now I know that the transimission is the issue. I guess I will have to find another solution.