Re: (ET) mower blades

["Eric" <E-max sbcglobal net>]

Hello Barry,
   I did use a set of the Gator mulching blades several years ago. I posted
to the list the results of my experience, but I failed to find a copy of my
original posting from back then. It may be in the archive. Basically the
Gator blades were considerably thicker than the ET blades which added
additional weight and pulled more amps to the point the motors were getting
too hot to tough and did trip the breaker.
   The Gator blade size is the same as one of the Dixie Chopper 42" mowers.
I
had made bushings to fit inside the center 5/8" hole. A second problem I 
had
was the height of the "wing". Since I was using the rear discharge baffling
the higher "wing" on the Gator Blade would not clear the baffle.  I had to
remove about 1/2" of material so the blade would spin and not hit the
baffling. With the higher wing more amps are required to spin the blade. I
don't remember what the total amp draw was (check my original posting) but
it did shorten my mowing time. But... my lawn did look 100% better which I
credit to the higher wings that lift up the grass and then cut it off 
giving
to lawn a nice even cut. I was using an E12m tractor with the larger
diameter motors for this experiment.
   My suggestion would be to have blades that are still as thin and light 
as
the ET blades with a little more wing lift, but not so that the motors will
over heat. I should also mention with higher wings on the blades the noise
level will also increase.
   I love my ET but I do wish it had a better cut.
     Eric & Tracie Miller

----- Original Message -----
From: SteveS <ssawtelle fcc net>
To: <elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu>
Sent: Monday, May 19, 2003 11:30 AM
Subject: Re: (ET) mower blades


> A quick check at McMaster doesn't show a reducing bushing (like for
circular
> saws) that go from 5/16 to anything. But for a test setup I could make a
set
> of three - just give me the diameter of the blade's mounting hole and 
> your
> address, Barry.
>
> I'd be careful about making the blades longer - add up wobble, vibration,
> etc and there could be trouble!
>
> I seem to recall Eric Miller told me he was playing around with different
> blades. As I remember, heavier blades added significant load to the mower
> motors. Eric, you out there?
>
> - SteveS
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Barry Woods" <barry woods wright edu>
> To: "Dave & Debbie Barden" <daveb seanet com>; <>
> Sent: Monday, May 19, 2003 12:42 PM
> Subject: Re: (ET) mower blades
>
>
> > I will contact Gatorblade about doing this.  I would like for someone 
> > to
> > double check my dimensions on the blade length and center hole, before 
> > I
> do.
> > Once again, I got 14 1/2" length with a 5/16" center hole.  It looks
like
> > there is a little clearance between the blades, so we might be able to
go
> up
> > to 14 7/8".
> >
> >  If someone who has the ability to make a bushing (or could find a
> > compatible one) would try a set of Gatorblades, we can well how well
they
> > work on an Elec-Trak deck before we commit to Gatorblade.
> >
> > If they work well, an alternative would be to have someone who has the
> > ability to make a compatible bushing, like Timothy or Bill Gunn, see if
he
> > would be willing to make and sell them to the group.  We could then use
> > these bushings on stock Gatorblades.
> >
> > Barry
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Dave & Debbie Barden" <daveb seanet com>
> > To: <Don Barry kirbycorp com>; <elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu>;
> > <barry woods wright edu>
> > Sent: Monday, May 19, 2003 4:25 AM
> > Subject: Re: (ET) mower blades
> >
> >
> > > I would buy one or two sets.
> > > dave
> > > seattle
> > >
> > > > A better question: If we could get Gatorblade to make some blades
for
> > us, how
> > > many of us
> > > would particpate in a GROUP BUY of the blades??
> > > >
> > > > Count me in for 2 sets!
> > > >
> > > > Don Barry
> > > > E-15
> > > > Houston
> > > >
> > > > >>> Barry Woods <barry woods wright edu> 05/19/03 09:05AM >>>
> > > > Has anyone had any luck in finding a set of high-lift blades to fit
> the
> > 42"
> > > > front mount mowing deck?  The blades I ordered from  Bill Gunn have
> very
> > > > little lift and the appearance of the lawn after cutting, even with
> > freshly
> > > > sharpened blades, is disappointing.
> > > >
> > > > If my measurements are correct, the blades look to be 14 1/2" in
> length
> > and
> > > > the center hole seems to be about 5/16".  I can find 14 1/2" blades
> but
> > > > nothing with a center hole that small.
> > > >
> > > > I tried mounting two blades on each motor, at right angles with the
> > fiber
> > > > washer between them. It did give somewhat better lift and did not
seem
> > to
> > > > draw anymore current, but no matter how hard I tighten them they
will
> > not
> > > > stay perpendicular to each other and one will swing around and stop
> > directly
> > > > under the other after mowing  row or two and them the advantage of
two
> > is
> > > > lost.
> > > >
> > > > Gatorblades make a mulching blade that does not require a closed
deck.
> > I
> > > > figure this would stop some of the back pressure and not draw as
much
> > > > current as a regular mulching blade would  with the discharge chute
> > blocked
> > > > off.  I contacted them (gatorblade.com), but they said they do not
> have
> > that
> > > > would fit.
> > > >
> > > > Any suggestions?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks,
> > > > Barry
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > E-15, Dayton, OH
> > > >
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: "Christopher Zach" <czach computer org>
> > > > To: <wombat dssinternet net>; <elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu>;
"Dave
> &
> > > > Debbie Barden" <daveb seanet com>
> > > > Sent: Monday, May 19, 2003 9:44 AM
> > > > Subject: Re: (ET) ryobi
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > Well, the Prizm's running voltage is 300 volts at 52 amp-hours.
Thus
> > the
> > > > > batteries are run in two strings of 25, connected at the ends by
> > > > contactors.
> > > > >
> > > > > Pretty high voltage. However the car can *move* since the
batteries
> > can
> > > > > deliver 4C without sagging too much (200amp max draw at 300 volts
is
> a
> > lot
> > > > > of power).
> > > > >
> > > > > The Hawker Genesis batteries are probably the best in the
business.
> > They
> > > > > will crank a V-8 motor without trouble, and I have used one on my
> > garden
> > > > > tractor for a year with no trouble. I think the max current you
can
> > draw
> > > > on
> > > > > them is something like a thousand amps. And they weigh only 24
> pounds
> > > > each.
> > > > > Small, compact, high power.
> > > > >
> > > > > I am thinking of wiring up three of the old ones together and
seeing
> > how
> > > > far
> > > > > they take the Elec-trak (loaded with 6 volt batteries of course
:-)
> > Based
> > > > on
> > > > > my calculations, six of them (two strings of 3) should provide
> enough
> > > > power
> > > > > to run the tractor for 30 minutes or so.
> > > > >
> > > > > Chris
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > > From: "Dave & Debbie Barden" <daveb seanet com>
> > > > > To: <czach computer org>; <wombat dssinternet net>;
> > > > > <elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu>
> > > > > Sent: Monday, May 19, 2003 2:26 AM
> > > > > Subject: Re: (ET) ryobi
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > > 54?!  how did you wire them, what's the pack voltage?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > this wkend I just got a sears cordless mower running that I
> rescued
> > from
> > > > > the
> > > > > > dump.  The 24v charger came in the mail friday, the 12v sealed
> batts
> > > > > measured
> > > > > > 2.2volts each!  but after 2 days on the charger came up to
12.7v.
> I
> > ran
> > > > > it but
> > > > > > only for a coupla seconds.  my charger did the same thing only
the
> > green
> > > > > > "ready" led ever lit up.  the red "charging" led never has come
> on.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > there's not much grass here in my neighborhood here in town to
> test
> > it
> > > > on
> > > > > so
> > > > > > I'll have to wait till next wkend when I bring it the farm.  I
> plan
> > to
> > > > use
> > > > > it
> > > > > > for the lawn in close to the house and flower beds and the
E-trac
> on
> > the
> > > > > other
> > > > > > 1/2 ac of lawn.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > dave
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > Could also be that after sitting for years the battery is
fully
> > > > > sulfated.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > If it's a 12 volt 26amp/hour battery then they cost $50 new
from
> > > > > > > www.surplusev.com. I just bought 54 of them for my electric
car;
> > > > really
> > > > > nice
> > > > > > > batteries. Have been thinking of trying to run the E20 with a
> set
> > of
> > > > six
> > > > > of
> > > > > > > them :-)
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Chris
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > > > > From: "Neil Dennis" <wombat dssinternet net>
> > > > > > > To: "Elec-trak" <elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu>
> > > > > > > Sent: Monday, May 19, 2003 8:42 AM
> > > > > > > Subject: (ET) ryobi
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > I've got probably the same model, the battery indicated
> > "charged'
> > > > > after
> > > > > > > > running the charger for several hours but wouldn't start 
> > > > > > > > the
> > mower.
> > > > > If
> > > > > > > > I remember, I found an open connection somewhere, after
> fixing,
> > the
> > > > > > > > mower would run with the charger plugged in but about a
minute
> > on
> > > > the
> > > > > > > > batt.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > It sits in my garage, too cheap to try and find a new batt,
> > wonder
> > > > > what
> > > > > > > > they cost.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > wombat
> > > > > > > >
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