From: "Chris Tromley" <chris_t microtrac com>
Reply-To: chris_t microtrac com
To: <elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu>
Subject: (ET) Newbie tries plowing
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2005 13:35:18 -0500
Hi All,
Last week we got a few inches of snow so I got an easy introduction to
using
the plow. Then we got a foot last weekend. I figured this will be a snap,
oh I'm so glad I got a plow.
Not.
Maybe I should have known better, but I grew up in southern California,
where the weather is 76 degrees with a gentle breeze every day, all year
round. On the east coast the only snow tools I've used are a shovel and my
(surprisingly effective) electric snowblower.
Is a foot of snow too much for an ET and a plow? That first pass pushing
everything aside was a real bear. I quickly learned that speed is my
friend, making ample use of D2. Still, that's a lot of snow. Even after
the first pass, angling the blade and pushing it all to one side wasn't
easy. I had to take pretty light passes. Finally it got to the point that
the snow was piled too high and packed too hard. I had to break out the
little snowblower, which finished the job remarkably well considering its
size.
There were some other issues I know I have to deal with. During mowing
season I frequently couldn't tell what speed I was in, or whether I
actually
changed speeds when I moved the lever. Last weekend there were frequent
hesitations before the tractor would take off after I moved the lever.
Toward the end it wouldn't get up to the higher speeds at all. I had been
thinking of adding a little light panel to show what speed I'm in, but
maybe
I'd be better off just getting in there and cleaning all my contacts?
Also I was low on power toward the end. I didn't think plowing took that
much juice, but then it was 20 degrees and my batteries are 8 years old.
No
problem mowing my yard, but maybe I need to warm them up with a charge the
night before if plowing is planned.
I could use some chains, too. Just wondering, do they mark up your asphalt
at all?
I guess my main question is what is the practical limit of snow to clear
using the plow? This was pretty light and fluffy stuff. I can't imagine
how difficult it would be if it was wet and sloppy. I think I'll be
keeping
my snowblower after all.
Chris Tromley
near Philadelphia PA USA
100% Gas-Free Yard Equipment:
* Avco New Idea EGT 150 electric tractor
with mid-mount mower deck and snow blade
* B&D corded <a
href="http://www.serverlogic3.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=9&k=electric%20mower";
onmouseover="window.status='electric mower'; return true;"
onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">electric mower</a> and <a
href="http://www.serverlogic3.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=9&k=string%20trimmer";
onmouseover="window.status='string trimmer'; return true;"
onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">string trimmer</a>
* Patriot 1.5 hp electric <a
href="http://www.serverlogic3.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=9&k=chipper%20shredder";
onmouseover="window.status='chipper/shredder'; return true;"
onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">chipper/shredder</a>/vac
* Remington Garden Wizard corded <a
href="http://www.serverlogic3.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=9&k=electric%20tiller";
onmouseover="window.status='electric tiller'; return true;"
onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">electric tiller</a>
* Craftsman corded electric <a
href="http://www.serverlogic3.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=9&k=snow%20thrower";
onmouseover="window.status='snow thrower'; return true;"
onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">snow thrower</a>
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