RE: (ET) ZTR and articulated ETs

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

I an not an engineer of any kind and can only tinker on things... So the
only way for me to do the ztr thing is...  get the Ransomes E-Plex off of
ebay and them buy a 6 Feet Cut Gang Reel Mower from Northern tool.  The 
only
work to be done would be fab up a hanger to hang the gang mower off the
front of the Ransome.  I would think that when you were done, you would 
have
something to have alot of fun with.. 

-----Original Message-----
From: ThompsonG DFO-MPO GC CA [mailto:ThompsonG DFO-MPO GC CA]
Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2002 3:39 PM
To: elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
Subject: (ET) ZTR and articulated ETs


Hi
OK Guys as far as the ZTR goes. There are a couple of "reality checks
needed". First, If we tried to use separate rear brakes like the big
tractors do. Extensive work would be needed to fit brakes to the wheels and
hubs. Because like most lawn tractors the brake is on the tranaxle, second
you need two brake peddles, this would take as much fabrication as the rear
brakes. Second, to grab a stop a moving wheel would have to remove the 
brake
switch, because ZTR won't work if the motor is stopped. 
        A motor on each wheel, this is a cool idea but again you are really
starting from the ground up, and you would need to get a control system and
pair of motors that didn't mind full forward to full reverse. I know this 
is
done but in terms of Electrac we talking major modifications. After all one
of beauties of the Ets is that they are simple. 
        However, if somebody has a "junker" that they feel they want to gut
the electic's from and them make these modification. I would be real
interested in getting the plans. 
        Has anybody give though to a articulated ET. Mounting a tranny and 
a
motor at both ends two small hydraulic rams, a 36V pump a two speed
controllers would do it. It would pull like stink. 
Geof Thompson B. Sc. CLS
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Data Management Designer
Canadian Hydrographic Service
Central and Arctic Region
867 Lakeshore Road 
Burlington, Ontario
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