Re: N.O.S. Wheelhorse

["Max Hall" <maxo iname com>]

When you add electrolyte, remember to charge it up fully!

(PS I am delighted to hear about your find!)

-----Original Message-----
From: Naugler, Steve <SNaugler Rodel com>
To: Pestka, Dennis J <Dennis Pestka mkg com>; 'roden ald net'
<roden ald net>
Cc: elec-trak cosmos5 phy tufts edu <elec-trak cosmos5 phy tufts edu>
Date: Monday, December 07, 1998 1:38 PM
Subject: RE: N.O.S. Wheelhorse


>David, Ken, Dennis,
> Frequently new batteries are dry charged and shipped without the
>liquid electrolyte.  The presense of the paper seals suggests to me that
>your NOS rider's batteries have no liquid in them.  If so, they are likely
>to be as good as new with the addition of electrolyte; they can't sulfate
>without sulfuric acid.  If they were already filled with electrolyte by 
>the
>dealer, they are most likely dead.
>
>Ken,
> My E15 has Exide GC-4 batteries with the offset combination
>terminals.  I found that by drilling holes partially through the plywood
>under the seat I had clearance for the threaded posts without cutting them
>off.  Even with the drilled holes I still had no chance of shorting the
>battery terminal to the tractor steel.  Other batteries may have different
>heights so if you were to do this be very careful or you could get a hot
>seat.  I did this because battery removal is much easier when using 
>plastic
>handles bolted to the threaded rods on the terminals.
>
>
>-Steve Naugler
>-e mail address:  snaugler rodel com
>
>
>> ----------
>> From: roden ald net[SMTP:roden ald net]
>> Sent: Monday, December 07, 1998 11:51 AM
>> To: Pestka, Dennis J
>> Cc: elec-trak cosmos5 phy tufts edu
>> Subject: Re: N.O.S. Wheelhorse
>>
>> "Pestka, Dennis J" <Dennis Pestka mkg com> wrote:
>>
>> > On Saturday I picked up a Wheelhorse A-60 from a lamn mower dealer.
>> > This is a 1975 unit that is new. The batteries still have the paper
>> seals on
>> > the caps.
>> > If anyone has one of these I would be like to here from you on
>> performance,
>> > range, problems, etc. I don;t want to do anything stupid to this 
>> > virgin
>> > unit.
>>
>> Dennis, congratulations on a terrific find.  Do they have any more? <g>
>>
>> Not know little about the Wheel Horse range, so someone please
>> correct any inaccurate statements I make here.
>>
>> I take it the WH A-60 is equivalent to a GE E-8 or E-10.  As far as I
>> know, all the GE models came from the factory with 36 volt systems,
>> but the batteries differed.  The E-8 used 3 12v batteries, while the 
>> E-10
>> used 6 6v batteries of greater capacity.  The E-8's limited onboard
>> energy storage would suggest that it wouldn't have the capacity to
>> handle your 3 acres.  GE's literature rated it to mow only 1 to 1.25
>> acres; the E-10 was rated for twice that, still a bit low for you.
>>
>> However (someone correct me if I am wrong), I think that you could fit
>> more modern batteries to an E-10 type tractor and get range equal to
>> the larger machines.  Trojan T-145 batteries (if they will fit) have
about
>>
>> 40% more capacity than regular golf car batteries (and cost about 60%
>> more, alas).  Even T-125 types, which cost only a little more, will have
>> 20% more capacity than the batteries fitted stock to the larger 
>> tractors.
>>
>> You will probably want to replace the original batteries anyway.  If 
>> they
>> have been sitting all these years without maintenance charging, the
>> chances are they will be sulfated and have poor capacity.  All batteries
>> self-discharge over time, and sitting for long periods discharged will
>> ruin
>> a battery.
>>
>> Good luck, and let us know how you make out.
>>
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