Re: (ET) e90 & avco

["Mike Wallace" <metman scrtc com>]

Guys, I can't really comment on the John Deere units, but I currently have
an Avco New Idea R-36 and once had a GE ER8-36 rider.  They are of the same
manufacturer, and I always figured it was GE.  I think Wheel Horse had
riders called an A-60 and an A-85, but I'm not sure what they actually 
were.

It had been my understanding that GE simply made the New Idea units for 
Avco
and painted them orange.  Maybe this has been discussed in the past, but
does anyone know the real history and chronological order of these units?  
I
know GE was first, but exactly how and when did New Idea and Wheel Horse 
get
into the picture?

I was always under the impression that Wheel Horse bought out GE in the
early 70's with their motive being to kill the electric tractor.  I've had
several Wheel Horse B-145's and C-185's, some parts and pieces of which 
were
simply painted red over the top of GE yellow.  I considered the B-145 to be
a late version of an E14 and the C-185 to be an E20 with no electronics.

While reviewing some of my "Elec-Trak" notes from back in the 70's, I found
some information that a fellow named Chic Gruber at GE was considered as 
the
"father of the Elec-Trak", and a guy named Fred Clark was the "expert" at
Wheel Horse in South Bend.  Just recently, Joe Caruso introduced himself as
the shop manager that was involved in building all 33,331 units.  Has 
anyone
heard anymore from Joe, or does anyone know anything about Chic Gruber or
Fred Clark?

If all of this has already been discussed in the past, would someone please
direct me to the right section of the Archives.

Mike Wallace
Glasgow, KY
----- Original Message -----
From: "wombat" <wombat dssinternet net>
To: <elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu>
Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2004 9:04 PM
Subject: (ET) e90 & avco


> I've got a couyple e90's, had an avco that I sold, they were definitely
> not from the same mfgr.  The e90 was a rear engine JD converted, the
> Avco was also a rear engine converted but the chassis and running gear
> were completely different.  Avco was somewhat bigger, wider track and
> longer with an entirely different transaxle.  The method of conversion
> was basically similar, a fixed speed electric motor mounted where the
> gas engines had been, a pair of mower motors on the midmount deck.
> the jd uses a set of locking relays so that the motor can't be started
> unless the clutch is depressed and the mower can't be run unless the
> drive motor is running.  The mowere motors also short the field so the
> blades have a rapid stop hen shut off.
>
> Daryl, now I'm wondering who bought the Avco,  remembering that you
> bought the Cadet.
>
> wombat
>
> BTW, I've picked up a Ryobi pushmobile, be cheap but needs battery,
> everything else seems to work.
>
>
>
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