RE: (ET) Snow!

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

Brings up an interesting point.  Some years ago in talking to Bill Gunn about the snow thrower, He asked me if mine was two stage (it isn't).  But the fact he asked told me something.  I asked and he briefly mentioned something about 2 stage machines.  I should probably ask again, but I'm not sure if it (they?) was a prototype(s), marketed briefly, or a modification made by someone.  The normal one is pretty bad in wet snow.  Anyone out there with a two stage?

 

Larry Elie

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Rob Brockway [mailto:getractor yahoo com]
Sent: Monday, February 03, 2003 10:21 AM
To: Christopher Meier; elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
Subject: Re: (ET) Snow!

I have found I can plow as long as I want without drawing the batteries down.  Snow blowing on the otherhand can really discharge the batteries.  I think the electrak is a much better plowing machine compared with the gas tractor I had.  The snow blower however is somewhat limited compared to the gas machine.  I think a two stage thrower would be much more efficient.

Rob Brockway NH

 Christopher Meier <mr23 mn rr com> wrote:

 

Here in Minneapolis we have finally had enough snowfall to haul

out the plow.  I was a little concerned that I'd have enough traction,

as this E16 had been changed over from 6 golf cart batteries to

3 Hawker SBS60's, and obviously there is a lot less weight.

However, the tractor had no problem pushing around the heavy

wet snow, although we've had only 3 or so inches here so far.

I was able to push the piles of snow that accumulated as well

(due to my plowing pattern).  I believe that a couple inches more

of this heavy snow would require more weight, but I have a couple

of the 6 volt blocks ready to drop in if necessary.

 

Had good power the whole time, didn't even notice that it was

getting down to empty, and the headlights were nice and bright.

 

Yee ha!  Been waiting all winter to try it out.  Took the batteries

down to 12.16v (couple of minute rest after I had cleared the drive

and much of the street - to avoid the city plow filling in the end

of the driveway).  I'll probably add another 3 of these SBS60's

for the winters to pick up some more weight, and keep the

discharge level down to 50-60% discharged, for battery longevity.

 

-Chris

 

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