Re: (ET) Replace a lift strap, motor, etc....

Your post reminds me of a situation relating to the snowthrower. The darn thing is so unbalanced in weight. The left side (with the motor) of the snowthrower is sooo much heavier than the right side. I have noticed when the lift is picking it up that the right side is off the concrete a couple inches before the left side starts to lift. I have also noticed one of my E20's has a definite (permanent) tilt in the frame from having picked it up over the years. I mean even without the snowthrower, just looking at it from straight on. Do you experience that same eccentric loading? The center of gravity for lifting is probably clear over by the edge of the motor somewhere. I even removed the factory lifting point on the thrower and welded a 1"x6" bar to the left structural flange transferring the lifting point about 3-4 inches to the left. Now the loop in the lift strap is around that horizontal bar, it helped a little. The bar does not deflect but I would guess any longer version (attempting to move the center even farther to the left) would involve much more redesign.

Mike.

From: Chris Zach <cz alembic crystel com>
To: Elec-Trak BB <elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu>
Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2015 2:05 PM
Subject: (ET) Replace a lift strap, motor, etc....

So the snow might be coming to MD and I figured it was time to switch
the E20 from mower deck to snowblower. However earlier this year the
front lift belt broke and I just tied it to the deck instead of
replacing it.

So off came the deck (breaking two bolts due to corrosion) and out came
the lift. Took the motor off so I didn't have to remove it from the
tractor (it's a Bill Gunn top of the line one with the wires coming out)
and got the old belt out while breaking the wire staple that holds it to
the shaft.

Put the new belt on, used a new staple to hold it in, and went to
re-attach to the tractor. Then one of the wires to the lift motor broke
flush with the motor.

Great.

Fortunately I had two spare motors. Got one of them, hooked it up, put
lift back on and everything works. I don't quite like how the lift motor
smells at 36 volts, but it's getting better now, I think I replaced the
brushes on the spare so maybe they worked in. As long as I run it in
short pulses it seems ok.

Blower is on, ready to go. I will see how 36 volts runs on a original
stock motor, since it is a series winding it should hold, and to be
honest the current should only be 1/2 the 18 volt levels.

Never dull. I should have done this over the summer instead of the cold
and muddy winter.

_______________________________________________
Elec-trak mailing list
Elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
https://cosmos.phy.tufts.edu/mailman/listinfo/elec-trak