Re: (ET) mower motors

["SteveS" <ssawtelle fcc net>]

I don't have huge experience, but I've never had a mower motor cut out. I
don't think they have ever gotten very hot, but I don't grab them too 
often.

Does the motor feel hot? How hot? If it's 'can't keep my finbger on it' hot
I would say something is wrong. If it's not, then maybe the wrong thermal
cutout was used.

Does the blade turn easily by hand? A good test someone told me was, with
the cord unplugged, spin one blade by hand - the other blades should turn a
bit due to the generator action of the turned motor.

I would not think the extra wire length would have significant effect. If
yoy have a voltmeter you coudl measure the voltage at each motor 
(CAREFULLY)
while they are running to see if there may be a wire or connection problem.

I would not think any break-in is needed.

- SteveS





----- Original Message -----
From: "Humphrey Timothy H Contr AFRL/IFEC" <Timothy Humphrey rl af mil>
To: <>
Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2003 11:25 AM
Subject: (ET) mower motors


> Any thoughts on the mower motors overheating.
>
> My rear discharge deck has three motors that were rebuilt by Bill. All
have
> new blades on them, purchased from Bill.
>
> However when I mow the right most motor(view from the seat) seems to
> overheat and cut out a lot more often than the other two. The center 
> motor
> cuts out occasionally. The left motor has never quit. Strangely, the 
> right
> motor also has a new switch/breaker assembly. Does anybody have any 
> ideas.
>
> I have pondered a few thoughts;
>
> The right motor is not broke in yet...not likely.
>
> The switch is not right...not likely, Bill put it on.
>
> The right motor is furthest from the main cord so has the longest
umbilical
> lead. Maybe excessive voltage drop? This seems somewhat likely since the
> center motor has about half the length and runs for a longer period 
> before
> cutting out.
>
> Even after just a few mowings my damn near deaf ears can pick up the
> individual hums of the motors singing their sweet tune in three part
> harmony. I know when one has passed out. The current meter shows it too.
The
> running motor feels no cooler than the stopped motor.
>
> I was thinking though, maybe it would be a neat idea to have a red/green
led
> display for each motor that changes color when the motor drops. My wife's
> hearing is very good but she seems oblivious to the fact that one motor
has
> dropped. When two go she knows it. Last night two dropped and she thought
> the tractor needed recharging, so drove it over to the outdoor plug and
let
> it drink. Not necessarily a bad thing, but not needed either.
>
> It seems to me that the grass I'm cutting shouldn't drop any of the
motors.
> Ambient temp is 70, the grass is moist(internal), not wet(external), and
> about 4-5 inches long. I'm cutting it in half. I'll really be in trouble
> when summer gets here and the ambient is sitting at 85-90. I'm thinking 
> of
> upgrading all of the motor wiring to a heavier gauge. Maybe 8 or 10, I
think
> right now it's 12 at best, maybe even 14. While I'm at it, I'll make all
of
> them equal lengths.
>
> We've got a week of rain forecast, so I'll take this opportunity to 
> switch
> over to the new deck also.
>
> Anybody have any other suggestions?
>
> Stay Charged!
>
> Hump
> I5/NY
>
>