RE: (ET) mower blades

["Elie, Larry (L.D.)" <lelie ford com>]

Right.  Bent shafts cut unevenly, vibrate, and draw EXTRA CURRENT (you are 
cutting to two different heights).

Larry Elie


-----Original Message-----
From: Hazen, Dwight L [mailto:hazen indiana edu]
Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2003 10:43 AM
To: john briese; elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
Subject: RE: (ET) mower blades


I agree my decks gets an even cut all the time.  Make sure your deck is
straight and the blades are not bent. Also make sure the motor shafts
are true. With the power plug removed spin each blade by hand and
measure the difference between each end of the blades to the cutting
surface. If you are getting an uneven cut I am sure you will find
something amiss. 

Dwight

Dwight L. Hazen, Indiana University, UITS 
Bloomington, In. 47408-7378
812-855-5367 IP phone 317-278-4014    
hazen indiana edu http://php.ucs.indiana.edu/~hazen/
Ham Radio wb9tlh arrl net http://wb9tlh.ampr.us
 

-----Original Message-----
From: john briese [mailto:goodguyforsure hotmail com] 
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2003 9:07 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
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>

_________________________________________________________________
Add photos to your messages with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*.  
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail