KentT, could you describe what you learned that enabled you to use the single stage effectively, or do you have to learn it from just trying?
I think a lot of it is just experience, but I can provide a few tips:
1. Keep the "throat" of the chute rust-free to cut down on clogs. The curve of the throat tends to get sand-blasted and will develop surface rust. A good car wax helps keep it "slick" if you still have a good coat of paint. Since our town uses sand, instead of salt, I can't keep paint on mine -- it gets sand-blasted off. I typically just use a sheet of sand-paper to knock the surface rust off, then spray it with a spray lubricant each fall when I put them into service...
2. Spraying the throat with WD-40 or something like Pam spray oil (used for cooking) before each use will help, especially in wet, slushy snow.
3. As I said, the real key is keeping the "intake hopper" full and it throwing a steady stream of snow. The snow simply must go somewhere and it will keep moving it, if you keep feeding it a steady diet of all it can take. If you interrupt that flow, it can clog in the throat, especially in slush. When I first began with the little Simplicity above, it was a 3-speed gear-drive machine, and I'd try to use first gear almost all the time. I couldn't keep a steady stream going -- so when I started using 2nd gear I found that it worked much better. If the snow was deep, I'd simply take a smaller cut and still use 2nd gear. I'd use 1st gear only for the first, full-width cut. Now, I have one hydro and one variable-speed, so I have essentially infinite speed control, and it's a lot easier. I've literally "pumped slush" that was so heavy it couldn't throw it more than 3 or 4 feet, so I'd begin in the center of the driveway and work my way to the outside, "pumping" it as I went...
4. Always, always, always run at full-throttle with the augur turning as fast as it will turn. Watch the stream of snow coming out, and if it starts to "droop" a little bit, either speed up or take a wider cut. Listen to the engine for clues on "biting off more than it can chew" -- if the engine starts to slow down, take a smaller cut or slow down. Mine runs "on governor" essentially all the time that it's blowing snow, so you can identify the changes in eninge tone once you get used it. It takes a while watching the snow and listening to the engine to find the "sweet spot" for your machine.
5. You can often clear a clogged chute (as long as the augur is turning) by pushing into a snowbank. The "surge" of snow will often push the clog out, if it hasn't frozen in the chute... Always shut the machine completely down to clear a clog and NEVER use your hand to clear it -- use a large stick, broom handle, etc. A clog can build up "spring energy" that will move the augur when cheared -- these are VERY dangerous machines. On that note, keep everyone away from the front of the machine and the side where you're throwing snow...
6. Most have adjustable deflectors on the chute -- don't deflect the snow any more than necessary to avoid hitting things, or unless there's a strong wind you're dealing with. Deflecting the snow requires more power and can increase clogging -- let it "fire away" and throw it as far as it will go as much as possible. On that note, throw the snow downwind -- kinda like "don't spit in the wind"...
Those ideas come to mind... but a lot of it is just practice, I think... like many things with a tractor, such as bucket or minihoe work.
Here's what the sides of my driveway look like, all too often, in the winter:
That, plus you have to deal with what the city snowplows keep piling up:
