Re: (ET) First snow report from the blower

[jeremy gagliardi com]

Speaking of snow in Maryland, I finally got to try out my dozer blade at 
the new house.  I have a corner lot, and thus double the sidewalks as the 
others.  My town *requires* sidewalks be cleared within 24 hours.  This 
makes using the ET all the more appealing to me, because in addition to 
keeping the front walk and driveway clear, I have to clear about 500 
linear feet of sidwalk.

Well, let me tell you, the ET took only 10 minutes flat to clear it all, 
driveway included.  The guy up the street shoveling had already done half 
his job before I started and was still working at the last quarter when I 
was already done.  Sweet.  :-)  (Although, I might be missing out on some 
exercise.)

Some notes...

I didn't have the tire chains on at the time, and I did have some slippage 
at the bottom of the hill (I had to go fast forward into the street, turn 
around, and fast foward back onto the sidewalk to get unstuck).   My tire 
chains are a pain in the a** to get on and off, and I don't think they're 
the right kind either (they're just the ones that came with the tractor 
when I inherited it).  Anyway, tire chains are definitely a plus.  I wish 
I knew the brand and model to buy.

Also, I had the crossbar on the back of the dozer off (the one that locks 
the blade in place vertically).  It's a good thing too, especially for 
snow plowing.  I hit a few highpoints on the sidewalk, and the blade just 
cantilevered with the obstruction and sprung back into place after passing 
it by.  If I had the crossbar in place, I'm sure I'd've bent or broken 
something (maybe the sidewalk).  The last time I used the crossbar (for 
plowing out a garden), the crossbar ended up 2 inches bent out of shape, 
and it's half-inch diameter solid steel.

One last note, I hadn't attended to my tractor in well over 4 months 
(dormant since end of summer), and the batteries were still fully charged 
a-la the Landis Controller.

E20
Potomac, Md

(---------------------------)
 mailto:Jeremy Gagliardi com
 http://Jeremy.Gagliardi.com
(---------------------------)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Zach" <czach computer org>
To: "Elec-trak list" <elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu>
Subject: (ET) First snow report from the blower
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 20:24:29 -0500

> 
> Finally had the first snow here in MD. Some thoughts on the blower with 
> POR15 
> and the 26ah aux battery pack:
> 
> 1) POR15 is God. Or close to it. This is powdery snow that usually 
> accumulates in the chute. Tonight, there was NOT ONE BIT OF SNOW IN 
> THERE.
> 
> Painting the inside with POR15 makes it slick as glass. No, greased 
> smeared 
> glass. The snow literally has nothing to adhere to, so it just falls off 
> if 
> you try to press it on.
> 
> I would strongly recommend that everyone go out, get a little can of 
> POR15, 
> and paint the inside of your chute. Think exceptional. Think no more wax.
> 
> 2) The battery monitor is a good thing. That one battery is still low, 
> it's 
> pulling it's light on when going up hills in L. Not good. Still, I'm 
> glad I 
> have the light to keep the load off the battery. Will replace it in a 
> week or 
> two.
> 
> 3) The aux battery pack (3 26ah Hawkers, connected via the accessory 
> port) 
> works wonders. The massive sags are reduced and buffered, and I was able 
> to 
> plow the driveway with no problem. I think AGMs in parallel with the 
> T105s 
> are a great idea. In the weight box now are the 3 AGMs (with 40amp 
> fuse), and 
> 4 more that are not hooked up for power but provide ballast. I'll put 
> another 
> string online next week.
> 
> 4) On charge the Elec-Trak seems to pull about 1,000 watts, with a power 
> factor of .92.
> 
> Chris
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Elec-trak mailing list
> Elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
> https://cosmos.phy.tufts.edu/mailman/listinfo/elec-trak