RE: (ET) mower blades

[Humphrey Timothy H Contr AFRL/IFEC <Timothy Humphrey rl af mil>]

My theory is that cutting in reverse automatically turns the deck into a
mulcher. The grass is kept inside the deck much longer than if mowing in
forward. The deck is forced to keep on cutting the grass until it no longer
has the surface area required for the blades to be able to pick it up and 
it
stays on the lawn. Otherwise it is just spit out the "back" and picked up
again a second later to be rechopped and spit out the "back" where the
process repeats until the grass escapes either out the sides/front or has
been liquified.

The side discharge decks cut better, right?

I wonder what the effect would be if we removed the baffles, and installed
both the side and rear covers. Thus making the deck sealed. Much like a
mulcher deck.

Stay Charged!

Hump

-----Original Message-----
From: Pestka, Dennis J [mailto:Dennis Pestka TycoHealthcare com] 
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2003 9:29 AM
To: 'Barry Woods'; Eric; elec-trak
Subject: RE: (ET) mower blades


Barry;

If you look at the archives you will see some discussion on cutting in
reverse. I think a lot of us agree that the front mounted mower deck cuts
much better in reverse than forward. Don't know if anyone has figured out
why, but may be worth looking in to. I recall that someone was even talking
about mounting their mower backwards. I don't know if they ever did this, 
or
how it worked.

Dennis
Elsberry, MO




-----Original Message-----
From: Barry Woods [mailto:barry woods wright edu]
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2003 8:20 AM
To: Eric; elec-trak
Subject: Re: (ET) mower blades


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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