EcoRider - riding mower electric conversion

[toyobug]

"you might be an ecomodder if......."

Originally Posted by bennelson

Wait a minute, is this two electric Metro projects giving birth to a little electric riding lawn mower? How cute!


I mean. Eww.

Ben- that was hilarious!

[toyobug]

Originally Posted by Daox

There will be many pictures to come.

Daox- will you be posting build info in this thread or also on ecorenovator?

[Daox]

I'll be posting major updates on both sites.

BTW, did you guys notice that its already aeromodded? Take a look at the rear wheel covers. She's built for speeeeed! (or not)

[Ryland]

first thing that comes to mind to me in the design is that v-belts rob energy, do as much as you can with direct drive, we have a spare blade motor for our electrac tractor, it's about the size of a tape reel motor from the old reel to reel tapes on computers from the 60's-70's, an E-tec motor might also work well for the blade drive, the wheel drive motor is going to need to be larger then you might think, as you are going to haul around alot of weight, so a 2-3hp motor might be needed.

[bennelson]

Old Simplicity yard tractors ROCK!
(I inherited my grandmothers, I think it is about the same age I am.)

Those rear moon caps are nice!

I have three "spare" motors around right now. I think one would work great for the drive, and another might be good for the blades, or it might be a little too big.

I believe the Electrak has a motor for each individual blade. In this case, a single motor runnning a belt for all three blades, and another motor for just running the wheels might be best.

[orange4boy]

Cool project, Daox.

Not surprisingly, I like the colour of your tractor.

There are a few conversions on the elec trac owners club forum. maybe I will see you there. Elec-Trak.com

Good luck with it.

[Daox]

Yeah I was already there and have posted.

Thankfully, at the EV association meet I went to yesterday I was able to talk to an elec-trak owner and got some really good info.

[Daox]

It finally got tropically warm (35 degrees) this weekend, and with my insulation project behind me I took some time to do some work on the EcoRider. The first step? Rip out the engine! The previous owner is still patiently waiting for me to return it thankfully.

I also got a chance to talk with an elec-trak owner at an EV meet. He said the Elec-traks can do about 2 acres of mowing before they need to be recharged. So, with my less than an acre to mow, I'm not going to worry at all about not having enough battery capacity.

Now pics!


Pulled the top cover off.



Front cover off.



Yay, the happy moment of draining the last bit of gas this mower will ever see.



Engine GONE!

[bennelson]

I see that all the work on Tom's Neon have motivated you to work on your own EV!

I noticed that it's an 8-horse Briggs you are pulling out of there. The Etek motor is rated at 8hp and it also a Briggs&Stratton.

Also, you have a CM400 and you haven't converted it to electric!!?!? Come on, you know you want to!!!

PS - I also have a Simplicity tractor - check out my snowblower attachment next time you are over. It might fit the EcoRider.

[Daveedo]

Cool project. Keep us posted on it.

PS I really like my 24 volt electric push mower. Never runs out of gas, doesn't stink, no problems starting it, don't need ear protection to run it either, turns on and off with the push of a button. Never realized how annoying gas ones were till I got this one (its cordless btw)