Re: (ET) Toaster/reverse help.

Hi Tim,

Overfilling the transaxle shouldn’t be harmful. I would probably try to get some of the extra out, but some people fill them right up. I prefer to follow the manufacturer’s specs.

As far as the relays, I think you’re looking at the row of 3 contactors. To get to the relays, you’ll need to open the hood and drop the panel that the fuse block is on. It is the very top panel. Mounted to the back side of it are the: control card, two relays, and a resistor/varistor card. The reverse relay is the one with more wires attached to it. The (original) relays have a blue base and contacts that are at the end of metal “fingers”. The contactors are silver colored metal cans, that have 4 posts (2 big and two small).

If you download the Homeowner’s Service Manual, it’s likely to be very helpful. Here’s a link: http://www.myelec-traks.com/OPS-74-4035.pdf. Pages 107-134 cover the E15 you have. Page 131 shows the location of the various control parts. The troubleshooting flow chart may also be helpful to you.

Nick

From: Tim Faulhaber

Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2014 12:07 PM

Cc: elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu

Subject: Re: (ET) Toaster/reverse help.

Well i guess that explains it, I must have confused 2 gallons with 2 quarts. Overfilling the transaxle isn't bad is it? I just drove around the yard for a little inspiration. I'm inspired!!! Thanks for the great answers.

From what i can tell it's a 15BA, The plate is extremely hard to read but i see what looks to be the top of a "B" and the leg of an "A" so i think that's it. The PTO switch is 2 position.

I'm not exactly sure which relay you are talking about, there are three on the left side correct? are those the ones you are talking about? I have 1 week to get this baby cutting grass. I'm just glad I have a moving tractor, and enough working deck motors to throw a deck together without rebuilding motors just yet. I going to limp along until i find some time to really dig in and restore what i can.

Tim

On Fri, May 30, 2014 at 6:20 PM, Nick Skinner <kc2dzb nycap rr com> wrote:

Hi Tim,

The transaxle takes two full QUARTS. You have to jack up the rear, but turning it on the nose isn’t necessary.

I’m guessing that when you lowered it back down, you somehow disturbed the field wires that go to the back side of the drive motor. Loss of field is consistent with the very high current draw and very low power.

When the toaster is in series with the armature (high current wires), it serves to reduce the voltage to it. This provides speeds 1 and 2. It is necessary hardware.

Regarding your hot toaster in reverse. Are you also seeing high current? My guess is that the Reverse relay has damaged or corroded contacts and is presenting a high resistance path for the field current/voltage. It is the relay on the right side of the controls panel under the hood (as viewed from the seat). Compare to FR relay next to it.

If you were closer to Albany, I’d come help out in person.

Nick

From: Tim Faulhaber

Sent: Friday, May 30, 2014 5:51 PM

To: elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu

Subject: (ET) Toaster/reverse help.

Hi Gang,

There's no better way to get your mower up and running than your current ICE mower taking an indefinite vacation.

Here's where i begin. I have 2 E15's and 1 E12M. The E12M went in reverse only when i bought it so i thought that would be the best candidate for getting running real quick. Well it turns out nothing works on it right now. But the one E15 "works". After dragging it out of the basement i flipped it on it's nose and filled the tranny up with new fluid. I read somewhere it takes 2 gallons so that's what i bought back in the fall, well i couldn't even fit 1 gallon in. Hummm maybe i read wrong. Well testing the system on it's nose i was able to get it to go in all gears forward and reverse. When i brought it down on all 4 tires i couldn't get it to move without maxing the amp meter out.

Well stupid me though removing the charger and toaster was all in the same back in the fall. So i just added the toaster back on. Can someone give me a brief rundown of what the toaster does? I remember someone saying it's there to deal with (insert electrical terms here) for the low speeds. Now it seems forward speeds all work great. But reverse just seems to put off a lot of heat in the toaster. I don't want to burn it out so I didn't push it more than trying 2 times for 1-2 seconds at most. For now i'll build up the mower deck as i await suggestions from the wise and all knowing council.

If anyone is in the Buffalo area and wants to come over to teach me a few things I'd be more than willing to let them.

Thanks for the help ahead of time,

Tim

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