Re: (ET) Reliable, heavy-duty electric tractor?

[Klein Robert W NPRI <KleinRW Npt NUWC Navy Mil>]

I've got the C-185 Wheelhorse (which has the E-20 drivetrain with the 
upgraded WheelHorse controls).  I have used it constantly for three years 
now and have found it very reliable.  I had to replace one control relay 
because of stupidity )do NOT close the hood on an open control panel... 
Lots of energy gets released when the crossbrace grounds the open fingers 
of the relay).  

I agree that the fragile piece is the front mower deck motor spindles and 
front wheel spindles. Cutting trails has got to be rough going.  I would 
worry about the sudden stopping of the mower blade due to rocks and stumps.

Good Luck!

Robert W. Klein II
SSGN Deputy Technical Manager AWS/AWSS
1176 Howell Street
Newport, RI 02841
Phone: 401-832-1948
Toll Free:  1-800-669-6892 Ext. 21948
FAX:  401-832-7877
e-Mail: kleinrw npt nuwc navy mil


-----Original Message-----
From: elec-trak-bounces cosmos phy tufts edu [mailto:elec-trak-bounces 
cosmos phy tufts edu] On Behalf Of ThompsonG DFO-MPO GC CA
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 7:50 AM
To: elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
Subject: (ET) Reliable, heavy-duty electric tractor?


Hi
Good luck, and go the ET solution. Nothing better than cutting grass 
hearing the birds chirp and breathing clean air. 

All the New Idea (Electrak) Tractors will take both a mid mound and a 
front mount mower, and you can make a front mount mower into a mid mount 
if you know somebody who is good at stick welding. So you are not just 
stuck looking for a E12M , Also the E10 and E8 while much smaller machines 
are mid mount two mower decks and are great in tight quarters. The small 
frame E10 and E8 are 3 speed machine extremely simple machines with a 
constant running motor PM motors. And it very easy to make the E8 a 3 12V 
battery machine into a 6-6V  battery machine, basically just add swap 
batteries and a couple of jumpers. It would be dead simple to put in a 
controller if you wanted to control speed but it is not needed. I think 
Jon K. from Albany (use and E10 to pull fire wood out of the bush and as I 
recall it is a good little work horse). 
If I was looking to make a working tractor from an ET I do like the rest 
of the group seem to be suggesting. Get a good large frame ET, rebuild the 
motors and install an Alltrax type controller. 
        Caution. There are some variation in the motors, some are Sepx/ 
some PM some sort of a bit of both and it really depends on the model and 
the manufacturer. This is not a problem but it does make a difference when 
you go to buy a controller.

Have fun


Geof Thompson 

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