[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: (ET) Fall into winter



We have already had a couple of snowfalls here, and both ETs have been out to play in the snow now (E12 with plow, E15 with snowthrower).

Shed a tire chain on the last run with the snowthrower. Looks like a few middle links had worn down over the years, and a run-in with a spinning wheel on a piece of frozen metal debris (embedded in ice sheet) on the road had unfortunate results. Have temporarily mended with nuts and bolts until my spare chains resurface in the annual seasonal shuffle of stuff.

The first snow was very wet, what we call 'heart attack snow' here, and the ETs don't do well in it. Plowing makes an instant ice wall wherever you stop. Using the snowthrower makes an industrial size slushie machine and fills the throat of the chute. But once the temperature drops a bit, I love how the snowthrower eats up the municipal plow droppings, which inevitably cover the road drains, so have to be cleared for the melts. Enjoying a melt right now, as the next one may not come until March or April.

Two ETs may seem overkill for a city lot. I typically do 3 double driveways and about 150-200 yards of street before the municipal plow shows up, and then another pass after the plow goes by, when I may end up doing 5-6 driveway ends. I also tend to plow the lawn along the road frontage for the first few storms so neighbours can use the space as a small snow dump. Otherwise the roadway narrows over the winter so that it's hard for 2 trucks to pass each other.

Regarding leaf vacuuming, I was lent a corded carry leaf vacuum this year, and spent several hours over 3 days vacuuming. Nice rig, mulches to about confetti size. Surprisingly quiet, even without ear protectors. This is the first year I can remember where our big maple dropped its leaves before the first snow. (Not the first strange thing in 2020.) Also, the vacuum picks up pine needles, which raking can't touch. I'm wondering about the practicality of ganging one or two of those with some sort of duct-work with casters or big lawn-mower wheels with battery and inverter. Probably a push-along unit rather than attaching to an ET given the small yard and lots of obstructions. Especially for around the pine trees.

Always nice to read the ET stories, and connecting seems more important this year than ever.

Darryl

On 11/28/2020 4:26 PM, Chris Zach via Elec-trak wrote:
Well today I did the last leaf pickup in the yard with the elec trak vacuum, bag, and trailer. I realized I was done when I broke the adapter that connects the deck to the vacuum hose and figured I was done.

So off came the blower, I think I will POR15 the thing or at least the intake adapter to prevent rust, and off came the mower deck. The cotter pins on the lift which hold the springs were rusted on (again) so I need to grind them off, pull the axle, and re-drill out the cotter pins. Again. Seriously I think I'll just get stainless steel cotter pins for it, this rust and corrosion stinks.

Deck will go in the shed and I'll probably POR15 the underside in the spring. It's been holding up pretty well.

Also put the E15 motor back together and it's ready to go in the Elec-Trak E15 hulk. I went in the back and checked it out, it's still rusted but solid so as soon as I can find a tow strap I'll drag it out up to the house, wash all the mouse nests out (again) think about stripping the rust and POR15ing the frame (again), and build a 60 cell BB600 pack for it over the winter. Oddly enough the welds I put in years ago to repair the back of the frame with angle iron are still holding up pretty well....

And re-mount the motor of course :-) With new brushes, bearings, and a good cleaning it will spin nicely at 3 volts....

Soon though it will be snow time, and I'll hitch up the snowblower and chains.....

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


--
Check out the laundry microfibre catcher at:
https://contest.techbriefs.com/2020/entries/sustainable-technologies-future-energy/10412

Darryl McMahon
Freelance Project Manager (sustainable systems)
COVID-19 blog:  https://www.econogics.com/blog.htm