Paul & Sabrina's Cheap EV Conversion - Page 28 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

bennelson · 08-31-2008, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MPaulHolmes

There was still the occasional high pitch sound coming from the back, but it was only a few times for a few seconds each time.

Whippersnapper number one or whippersnapper number two?! Don't make him come back there!

MetroMPG · 08-31-2008, 11:07 AM

Paul: regale me with tales of your superior 72v performance. How fast have you gone? Has anybody honked and/or shaken their fist at you?

MPaulHolmes · 08-31-2008, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Paul: regale me with tales of your superior 72v performance. How fast have you gone? Has anybody honked and/or shaken their fist at you?

NO ONE has shaken their fist at me, or honked!!! Well... Once someone got angry before I knew how to downshift. I took it out of gear to coast, and I had to coast to a complete stop on the road before I could put it in gear again.

Also, I've been treating the batteries like they were new born babies. Only yesterday did I allow myself to accelerate as in a normal car in 1st gear AND second gear until I was cruising at 35 mph. I kept looking at the amps. These batteries can take it, though. The speed limit around here varies from 25 mph to 40 mph, so I probably won't go much over 40. It had a lot left at 35.

Another reason I have taken it easy, is that I FIXED THE BRAKES! I have never done that before! I keep half expecting the steering wheel to fall off, and for the brakes to go out, but they work great. I'm starting to trust the car.

Overall, if I want to accelerate it like a normal car, it can do it. I drove the "other" car (gasoline) yesterday, and it was IDLING at stop signs! It was so weird!

MPaulHolmes · 08-31-2008, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bennelson

Whippersnapper number one or whippersnapper number two?! Don't make him come back there!

If the transmission/motor keeps doing that strange sound, I will dub the pair of them WHIPPERSNAPPER #8. I'll whup the tar out of them!

MetroMPG · 08-31-2008, 04:50 PM

Thanks for regaling. Let it be known I have battery pack/controller envy. Resisting the temptation to head off to eBay.

I've also never been honked at or had a fist shaken in my direction while driving the ForkenSwift. (Though once someone passed me "aggressively".) But I also take care to choose routes that aren't likely to get me into traffic situations where those things are likely.

MPaulHolmes · 08-31-2008, 07:23 PM

Speaking of my brake job, my mother in law's driveway is very steep, and I have been parking on it, setting the e-brake pretty hard. Well, like 15 minutes ago, I SET the ebrake, and SNAP! Some cable broke. I guess I'll first take the back wheels off and check back there, where the cable connects to the brake shoes, then I'll check where the lever is.

Anger! Fire coming out of the sides of my head! Flames! ("Clue" the movie)

MPaulHolmes · 09-01-2008, 12:10 AM

Well, the steel cable broke right near the ebrake handle! How ghetto is that? That cable is thick too. I think it was really frayed.

I have DISCOVERED THE SOURCE OF THE SQUEAK!!! It's NOT a centering issue! I'm so happy, I could go to the bathroom in my pants right now!

It was the tape! The half of the lovejoy inside of the bell housing of the transmission had separated about 1.5 mm from where the tape should have kept it, and it started to rub against the metal inside the bell housing (a round bronze colored thing. So, I need a good way to keep it put! Common sense would dictate that I drill and tap (thread the hole) it, and then screw in a weird thing that pushes against the post of the transmission. But that seems so brutish. I just need a gentle pressure keeping the 2 lovejoy halves together.

Idea: I'm going to wrap the lovejoy pair from top to bottom around it rather than around the circular direction. Then, I'll wrap it around the circular direction. Then that's it! There's a little room on the top and bottom so the tape will gently hug the 2 pieces together. The tape is the "marriage counselor" if you will. The 2 lovejoy pieces are "husband and wife", which were having marital problems. The round bronze colored thing attached to the transmission is the "mailman" trying to skank with the woman. I'm definitely not going to tap that lovejoy! hahaha!

bbjsw10 · 09-01-2008, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MPaulHolmes

The 2 lovejoy pieces are "husband and wife", which were having marital problems. The round bronze colored thing attached to the transmission is the "mailman" trying to skank with the woman. I'm definitely not going to tap that lovejoy! hahaha!

No but it sounds like the mailman wanted to!!

Anyways glad you found the problem, and glad it was something simple.

MPaulHolmes · 09-02-2008, 03:39 AM

Well, I had a new spare tire that was put in the trunk, and it was too big, so the trunk wouldn't open anymore. So, first I destroyed the glove box, and removed some stuff, but that didn't help, so I tried to pry open the hood, denting it some, and finally, I just took the grinder thing and cut open a smallish rectangle around the handle that you push to open the trunk. It was not a good day.

Then, the brakes still need to be fixed. I need 1 new cable e-brake cable. Also, I need to put in a new pin that fell off that was making weird sounds rattling around inside the brake drum.

I also took off the motor, "fixed it" so it wouldn't grind anymore, and re-attached it. I don't know if it's as centered as it was before. It seems a hair louder now. Ideally, I think I would have to remove the transmission and motor together, re-center it like before, and put the whole thing in as one piece. That would be really heavy. Also, I'd have to take out the battery box to be able to remove the transmission. haha! Plus, school starts on Wednesday. I hate teaching. If it was legal to whup the tar out of the bad students, then teaching would be fun.

Tango Charlie · 09-02-2008, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MPaulHolmes

...Plus, school starts on Wednesday. I hate teaching. If it was legal to whup the tar out of the bad students, then teaching would be fun.

You could freelance and teach people how to build EV's!
I don't think I could put up with the 'whippersnappers' in the public schools today. I don't envy you on that front.
But congratulations on all the awesome progress on the bug so far. Sounds like you've entered the 'Adjust/Tweak/Tie Up Loose Ends phase.