Re: (ET) mower blades

[Barry Woods <barry woods wright edu>]

Thanks for the info, Eric.  It's somewhat disappointing to know we can't
equip the decks for mulching, but oh well.  Like you I still love my
Elec-Trak and would rather have an uneven lawn than go back to a gas mower.

I suspect the high current draw was due to the greater air resistances of
the gatorblades versus the weight.  As I mentioned I had double blades on
each of my deck motors with them mounted perpendicular to each other (i.e.
like a +).  I saw no difference in current draw.  And they cut slightly
better, but would not stay perpendicular.  I didn't try them in heavy grass
so they might have overheated the motors in that case.  I also have no
baffles in my deck so there is probably even less back pressure than in
decks with baffles.  I might still give gatorblades a try and see how they
work in a baffleless deck

What we really need, as you say Eric, is to find a compatible set of
high-lift conventional blades.  So the great search will continue.


Barry



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Eric" <E-max sbcglobal net>
To: "elec-trak" <elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu>
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2003 2:11 AM
Subject: Re: (ET) mower blades


> 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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