Re: (ET) Took the plunge -- bought an I-5

["SteveS" <ssawtelle fcc net>]

The service manual (on the elec-trak.org site) has a really good
troubleshooting guide to the charger.

Actually charging the battteries two at a time with a 12V charger (if it's 
a
decent one) should be fine. I've suspected my ET charger of not doing a
complete job on charging and I've resorted to using a 12V charger which has
worked fine - it just takes 3 times longer....

SteveS
E12Ss
E20
Leesburg, VA


----- Original Message -----
From: "D Howell" <dervatl yahoo com>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2003 4:51 PM
Subject: (ET) Took the plunge -- bought an I-5


> Well guys, I took the plunge.  Went to NC yesterday
> and picked up an I-5.  Came with mowing deck, rear
> Elec-Trak sweeper, grass trimmer, and welder.  It was
> raining (as luck would have it).  Rented an U-Haul 5X8
> trailer.  Loading was not a problem -- drove up on two
> 2X6's.  Batterys were very low, but it pull up the
> ramp in reverse ok.
>
> The tractor and accessories were in good condition.
> Had 6 trojan 105's in it.  The owner said the batterys
> were new last year, although I don't think they were
> ever charged fully as the charger in the tractor is
> not functioning.  I pulled them out yesterday and
> hooked them up to a golf cart charger today.  I'll see
> if they charge up ok.  He was trying to use a 12 volt
> automotive charge on them 2 at a time.  I'm afraid
> they will be sulphated badly by now.  Said he was
> getting rid of it because it wouldn't mow all he had
> to mow on a charge.  From the looks of it, I suspect
> he only had about 1/2 acre to mow.  This would
> indicate they were never fully charged.
>
> Except for scratches on the paint, the tractor is in
> good shape.  The batterys were in the plastic bags.
> Only a few places had corrosion in the battery boxes.
> I plan to do a light sanding and POR-15 them.
> Everything on the tractor seems to work fine.  Drove
> it around a bit in the yard before pulling the
> batterys.  I suspect the diodes are bad in the
> charger.  If you plug it in, it will humm about 30
> seconds and then stop.  No voltage on the output.  If
> anyone else has any guesses about what it could be,
> please let me know.  I looked at the acid in the
> batterys.  It is clear -- not murky yet.  Hopefully
> they will recover enough capacity to get some use out
> of them.
>
> The rear sweeper needs new material on it.  It is torn
> in a couple of places and is starting to become
> brittle.  Does anyone know if a replacement is
> available?  Cost?
>
> Thanks guys for any advice.
>
> Darryl Howell
> Smyrna GA
>