RE: (ET) mower blades

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

Actually I don't have a problem with the way my deck cuts. I do think the
lawn looks nicer after cutting in reverse though. This is not because the
deck cuts uneven. It is because in reverse the deck does not leave a trail
of grass from the discharge chute. It gives the appearance of having been
bagged.

I also have the new baffleless deck that you speak of, but am currently
running the original deck with the baffles. The pan is shaped differently 
on
the new decks, there is very little dead air space (in the corners) when
compared to the original deck.

Stay Charged!

Hump
I5

-----Original Message-----
From: john briese [mailto:goodguyforsure hotmail com] 
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2003 10:07 AM
To: elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
Subject: Re: (ET) mower blades


I have a new, rear discharge, no-baffles deck.  I have the blades that 
Bill 
Gunn sells. I have no idea if they are high lift or not. The deck cuts 
great

and is even. The one thing this deck does have is a plate that stiffens 
the 
motor mounts and keeps the deck straight.  If you get an uneven cut, I am 
willing to bet that your blades are not all in the same plane and it is 
due 
to deflection and bending in deck itself.
John Briese
I5


>From: "Christopher Zach" <czach computer org>
>To: "Humphrey Timothy H Contr AFRL/IFEC"
><Timothy Humphrey rl af mil>,"elec-trak" <elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu>
>Subject: Re: (ET) mower blades
>Date: Tue, 20 May 2003 09:56:41 -0400
>
>Well, on my E20, the rear-discharge deck does a pretty good job of 
>cutting the lawn and not leaving a mess. I do cut in L, cruise speed so 
>it's somewhat slow. And I do run with the "high lift" blades. However 
>unless the grass is *tall* it does a great job and doesn't leave many 
>clumps on the lawn.
>
>Note: I do have the baffles in there. I think they are very important.
>
>Chris
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Humphrey Timothy H Contr AFRL/IFEC" <Timothy Humphrey rl af mil>
>To: "elec-trak" <elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu>
>Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2003 9:49 AM
>Subject: RE: (ET) mower blades
>
>
> > 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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> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>

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