Rex1

I've been blowing snow for years.  The Simplicity 1032 does have a governor that kicks in under heavier loads and works very well without stretching out the auger belt.  I don't have to take a 1/2 cut either because it does have a super slow creeper speed.  Suggesting 1/2 cut at higher speeds to me doesn't mean equal performance.  I've adjusted the Ariens 1128 LE down to a slower forward speed (not as slow as the Simplicity), but maybe it will be enough with the on order dual belt auger upgrade kit.  IMHO right now the Ariens 2006 1128 LE isn't performing up to the level of my older 1032 Simplicity, and not even satisfactorily in our recent snows in CT.  It's in storage until this dual belt upgrade kit arrives and is installed.  I've adjusted it to go slower by giving up 1 of the reverse speeds (which I don't really need anyway).  I like the release to make turns easier, the heated handles are nice, but performance less than what should be expected from a unit with more HP  and a larger impeller.  I see no point in just replacing the current stretched out auger belt if a replacement will suffer the same fate in a short time.  I'll wait and see if this dual belt kit gives the performance that should be expected from this 1128 LE

Circa 1995 simplicity 10hp 32".  An absolute beast in heavy snow.  I had to put my Ariens 1128le back today.  It needs this new dual belt kit.  Simplicity unit kicks in additional rpm when you hit heavy wet snow.  Did 5 driveways with the Simplicity without a hiccup (18" of snow last night).  Creeper speed is a super slow ground speed that gives the auger time to process the heavy snow.  You  especially need this at the end of the driveway where the plow piles up the icy heavy stuff.  Dual belt kit and upgrade chute kit on order for the Ariens 1128 LE.  Hopefully arrive and installed before the next snow and will give the Ariens another go.  Ariens 1128 LE has great features but up to now it has been nothing but a failure in the heavy snow removal.  Ariens has larger diameter auger than Simplicity and for some reason isn't performing properly despite several trips to a dealer for adjustments.  Looks to me like the auger belt is stretched out.  I've barely used this Ariens unit since buying it at HD 4 years ago.  It's very difficult to adjust ground speeds properly.  I gave up 1 reverse speed to get a creeper speed (sometimes kicks back into reverse because it's on the borderline).  IMHO, Simplicity is better with heavy snow.

Ariens just e-mailed me 72600700 dual belt kit for my 2006 1128 LE.  IMHO, the unit lacks a creeper speed which makes removing heavy wet snow a problem with impeller and chute clogging and stretching out the single belt.  They now have this dual belt system that's supposed to be an improvement.  I have on order and will have to see.  I'm also considering a Clarence Impeller Kit that review rate highly for increasing throwing ability in wet snow.  I have an old simplicity that handles the wet snow better (10 hp 32") than this newer Ariens (11.5 hp, 28").  One reason is the creeper speed so the unit has time to process the wet snow, also has added 400 rpm kick in under heavier loads.  Ariens needs to pick it up a notch and take a lesson from simplicity. 

My 2006 wasn't that bad, but it had problems too.  Several trips and several hundred $$$ to a dealer made this an even worse bargain.  It won't throw wet snow period.  All kinds of dealer adjustments haven't worked.  Even the headlight blew out.  When the snow is wet and heavy I drag out my old 10 HP 32" simplicity to get the job done.  A heavy bear to handle but at least it gets the job done.  At times the Ariens chute will not hold position too.  Wet snow  simply clogs the Ariens 1128 LE impeller and chute and smells like rubber burning (most likely the belt overheating if I keep pressing down on the control hoping to get at least chunks of wet snow to fall out).  It also doesn't have a slow enough speed for the machine to process heavy wet snow.  All adjustment failed to make a slow enough speed.  Is this a design flaw?  It seems to me that this machine is improperly designed to process heavy wet snow, while the simplicity 10 HP 32" seems to handle it (also has super slow speed setting-maybe that helps).