RE: (ET) Re: Parts....

["Elie, Larry (L.D.)" <lelie ford com>]

Dave, I'm not trying to be cute; I use the ET as much as anyone.  My point
is 
that only someone willing to put as much time in it as a collector will be
using 
the thing all that much.  I used to rebuild farm tractors as a hobby and to
re-sell.  
They looked great, but parts got so expensive that people would call me and
ask why 
the starter for the tractor they bought for $1500 cost $200 rebuilt.  Or 
why
the 
rebuild on a hydraulic pump cost several hundred dollars, and so on.  They
were USING 
the tractors; it wasn't like something just for show, but the parts
eventually pushed 
them to stop.  They were always afraid something would break.  I am too.
Even with 
cheap parts, my time must be worth something.  Nor can I go to the nearest
dealer to 
get a part if something breaks.  Only other 'collectors' have parts.  
That's
what I 
was talking about.  I hope it doesn't offend anyone.

On the side question; has anyone else but me noticed that the ET is MUCH
better at cutting 
grass than it is with dandelions?  Seriously, you have to drop the speed a
LOT for just a 
few dandelions, yet the grass all around is cut.  Is it the suctionless
design of the blades, 
or the slightly slower blade speed, or something else?

Larry Elie


-----Original Message-----
From: David Roden (Akron OH USA) [mailto:roden ald net]
Sent: Tuesday, May 09, 2000 10:37 PM
To: Elec-Trak
Subject: RE: (ET) Re: Parts....


From:                   "Elie, Larry (L.D.)" <lelie ford com>

> The ET is fun but to be honest, it will
> never be more than an collectors oddity at this point in time. 

I was surprised to see Larry write this, and even more surprised that no 
one challenged it.  I may be naive, since I've never owned a gas tractor 
(never had an excus ... uh, need for one until I moved to my present 
home).  But I find that the ET handles my needs just fine.  It shoves 
snow out of my driveway, whacks down the weeds in the field behind the 
barn, and soon will till up the garden for us.

I'm not a collector.  I bought it to use.  I don't want it to be pretty, 
because then I'd hesitate to work it hard.  It's scratched, dirty, and 
rusty, but it keeps on running.  It makes no fumes (my neighbor's old 
lawn tractor had an exhaust stack right in front of his face!).  It's 
quiet enough that I can mow after dark, and I have.

That doesn't sound like a collector's oddity to me.  But perhaps that's 
not what Larry meant?


David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA
1991 Solectria Force 144vac
1991 Ford Escort Green/EV 128vdc
1979 General Engines ElectroPed 24vdc
1974 Honda Civic EV 96vdc
1970 GE Elec-trak E15 36vdc
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