RE: (ET) My new E-15 (question on running tractor on the charger)

["Chapin, Tim" <tchapin umich edu>]

I have heard a few people state that you can run the tractor and mower deck
on the charger (no batteries or dead batteries).  If I want to check the
tractor with no batteries, do I need to connect the battery cables together
to complete a circuit or do I leave them disconnected?

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Gaarder [mailto:gaarder ecovillage ithaca ny us]
Sent: Saturday, June 01, 2002 2:45 PM
To: Elec-trak
Subject: (ET) My new E-15


Well, I opened it up and took a look.  Generally quite good condition. The
little 3-fuse holder is somewhat corroded; I cleaned it but probably
should replace it.  I plugged it in (there are no batteries) and after
some hesitation it actually moved!  It wouldn't get out of the 2nd speed
tho - the 2A relay is not cutting in.  At that point I noticed that the
voltage across the 1A and L coils was a little over 20 volts - rather low. 
 
I checked the accessory plug and it was low too.  This sounds like a bad
charger - I checked and one diode seems to be bad.  I pulled the charger
and on Monday I'll go down to the electronics store and pick up a couple
of big stud-mount diodes.  I wonder if the low voltage could be why 2A
isn't activating?

thanks,

Steve Gaarder