Re: (ET) New Idea Electrak

[John <etrak jvlnet com>]

Call Bill Gunn at Technical Service (608-868-6220). They bought this out 
from New
Idea farm equipment years ago. I have seen many at their place and I 
believe
there are quite a few differences between the GE and New Idea units, hope 
this
helps, John.

LEE A HART wrote:

> This is my first attempt to post to the Electrak list.
>
> I acquired a (very) used "New Idea" brand electric garden tractor. I 
> believe
> it is just a re-branded Electrak, but don't know for sure. Can anyone 
> help
> identify it?
>
> The basic chassis is a long square steel 5-sided box (open on top). A 
> large
> sheet metal stamping forms the back fenders and seat support. Another 
> sheet
> metal piece forms the hood. The dashboard is fiberglass. Three 6v 
> batteries
> were in front, and three more in the rear (36v). The motor is mounted
> transversely between the battery boxes, and connects to the 3-speed 
> transaxle
> via a V-belt.
>
> It has a 2-blade mower deck, powered by a separate motor. The controller 
> is
> completely gone. The transformer and diodes are all that is left of the
> charger. It was left outside with dead, frozen, burst batteries in it 
> for at
> least several years, so the battery boxes are a rusty mess.
>
> And yet...
>
> I hooked a 12v battery to the motor with jumper cables, and it ran! I 
> drove it
> with 3 flat tires up the ramps and into my truck to bring it home.
> Tractorin-stein lives!
>
> So, the next step is to figure out what it is, and how to fix it. Anyone
> recognize it?
>
> Lee Hart                     If you would not be forgotten
> 4209 France Ave. N.          Soon as you are dead and rotten
> Robbinsdale, MN 55422 USA    Either write things worth the reading
> phone (612) 533-3226         Or do things worthy of the writing
> e-mail XURQ03A prodigy com   (Ben Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanac)