Re: (ET) ETs After Bill Gunn - Peter's, Chris's & Larry's suggestions

["John B Reinhard" <reinharj frontiernet net>]

I second Chris Tromley's suggestions, and Larry Elie's Motor, etc comments:

1) Open Source (immediate need)
2) Co-op
3) small manufacturer/vendors
4) kits (to solve insurance problem)
5) design improvements (future of electric tractors)

All great ideas (in order of importance, practicality & likelyhood) -
probably the only chance it has (like Linux)

As far as kits, or just replacement metal parts - check out these companies
that make weld-it-yourself backhoe/trencher kits (plans & partial kits):
http://cdp-backhoe.com/MID/backhoe.htm

or this one (plans only):
http://www.cadplans.com/
or this one (precut metal parts only):
http://www.metkit.com/

Maybe the above could make/stock/sell some custom parts for Electrak 
repair.

Also, check out these new electric motors (only in production for bicycles
so far, but promising):
http://www.wavecrestlabs.com/technology/adaptive_motor.html
Maybe with a built in gear reduction, to lower speed & improve torque to
what's required for garden tractors, a tractor could be built without a
transmission - and 2 to 4 motors !

You could make adjustable width tractors, etc ! if you did not need
transaxle.

John
E-20's, E-15, E-12(parts)
1980 Comuta Cars
Age 46, Upstate NY.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chris Tromley" <chris_t microtrac com>
To: <elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu>
Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 10:07 AM
Subject: RE: (ET) ETs After Bill Gunn