(ET) fusible link and Alltrax conversion

["et jpjt net" <et jpjt net>]

I have an E15HA with Alltrax conversion and snowblower, which has worked
fairly well since I got it running just after the first of the year.
I was snowblowing five or six inches of fine powder this morning and had
finished most of the driveway and the hump from the street plows, when I
decided to do the uphill walkway.  I generally use the highest gear of the
transmission, and modulate my speed with the foot-pedal linked to the
Curtis pot-box.  I haven't replaced the drive belts yet with the new ones I
got, and the old ones aren't as tight as they should be.  So I had the
pedal floored to compensate for the slipping belts.  After about 15 or 20
seconds of this, just as I reached the end of the walkway, the headlights
(which had been on) flashed bright then out.  The dash light stayed on.  I
switched the lift on to raised the blower, and backed down the walk to line
up with the last of the snow on the drive.  At this point the lift wouldn't
lower.  Can't really blow snow with the thing off the ground, so I put the
machine back in the garage.  Hooked up the (OEM) charger, set the timer
(haven't gotten around to wiring in the Landis controller yet) and started
shovelling the last of it.  Caught a whiff of hot electricals and turned
off the OEM main disconnect then unplugged the charger.  Pulled the cover
off the charger to inspect it and the lift, but nothing looked burnt there.
Opened the top of the firewall.  There I eventually noticed that the
insulation was damaged on the wiring that had been too close to the (OEM)
fusible link.  I guess that little wire got pretty hot there.

So the moral of the story is: if you move wires around inside the
electronics compartment (e.g. during an Alltrax conversion), be sure when
you put it together that there is protection for things in proximity to the
fusible link.

Had to go to work so I have no idea how extensive the repairs will have to
be - I sure hope I didn't burn out the lift motor.  

Where do I get replacement bulbs for the headlights?  Does anyone know the
part number?  Am I right in thinking that their two bottom contacts are
insulated from the bayonet body?  Is there a better alternative for
headlights?

Joel Parks

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