EcoRenovator  

Go Back   EcoRenovator > Improvements > Lawn and Garden
Advanced Search
 


Blog 60+ Home Energy Saving Tips Recent Posts Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-07-11, 08:48 PM   #261
Daox
Administrator
 
Daox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 5,525
Thanks: 1,162
Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts
Default

It works out great for me. I only cut the yellow area maybe once every other week. Its in the full sun and grows slowly. The red area is more heavily shaded and it grows much faster so I cut it about once a week.

__________________
Current project -
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
&
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Daox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-12, 08:00 AM   #262
Daox
Administrator
 
Daox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 5,525
Thanks: 1,162
Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts
Default

With snow FINALLY on the way, I took last night to winterize the tractor. First, I took off the mowing deck and attached the snow blower attachment and then I put chains on the wheels. I got one shot at blowing super wet snow last year and the mower slipped like crazy without chains.

So, I'm going to see how things go. As of right now, I have nothing covered up. That means snow can get anywhere. I'll keep an eye on things as I go about blowing for the first time and see where the snow tends to build up, and then I'll make some covers to keep the snow at bay.







__________________
Current project -
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
&
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Daox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-12, 08:04 AM   #263
MetroMPG
Infrequent noob
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: 1000 Islands region, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 402
Thanks: 37
Thanked 20 Times in 19 Posts
Default

Is it just the camera lens, or has the rear battery rack actually bowed under the weight of those monsters??
__________________
.

  • To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

  • To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

  • To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

  • To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
MetroMPG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-12, 08:46 AM   #264
Daox
Administrator
 
Daox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 5,525
Thanks: 1,162
Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts
Default

I'll have to double check, but I'm pretty sure its just the camera.
__________________
Current project -
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
&
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Daox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-12, 08:54 AM   #265
bennelson
Home-Wrecker
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 546
Thanks: 3
Thanked 165 Times in 96 Posts
Default

Chains - when the weight of four Group 31 Lead-Acid Batteries just ISN'T enough!


Sure wish I had a snowthrower on my tractor. If anyone has an ElecTrak snow-blower just kicking around, let me know!
__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
bennelson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-12, 09:30 AM   #266
Daox
Administrator
 
Daox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 5,525
Thanks: 1,162
Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts
Default

Yeah, I think part of the problem is the old tires too. They're pretty hard rubber and don't bend well let alone bend well in cold! I even tried letting most of the pressure out last year to get more traction, it didn't help at all.
__________________
Current project -
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
&
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Daox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-12, 03:25 PM   #267
dh1
Helper EcoRenovator
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Ont. Canada
Posts: 99
Thanks: 14
Thanked 11 Times in 9 Posts
Default

Looks pretty good there.
The 2 batteries at the rear will help balance out the tractor with the blower on it.
You will find night and day difference with the chains on and you got the good 2 link chains on there.

Good Stuff.
dh1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-17-12, 01:13 PM   #268
Daox
Administrator
 
Daox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 5,525
Thanks: 1,162
Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts
Default

I got to use the blower over the weekend! It worked really good, but the conditions were pretty ideal too. We had about 5" of powdery snow. The chains worked very well. I never had an issue with traction, at least not with the rear wheels. I did find out that I can't turn while the blower is down. There simply isn't any pressure on the front wheels and they'll just plow through the snow. I think chains on the front might fix this, thoughts? In any case, its not too hard to lift up a little on the blower when I need to turn. Overall time to blow is drastically reduced compared to my walk behind blower (7hp 26" cut 2-stage John Deere), and its quite a bit more fun. And, best of all, its really quiet! This thing would never wake up the neighbors.

I am going to need to make a cover for the box where I house the chargers, contactor, etc. When I was done I had about 1/8" of snow on the batteries themselves. I don't think thats a problem at all. But, there was ~1/16" of snow on the stuff inside the box. Thats on the chargers. I didn't plug it in right away because the heat from the chargers would surely melt the snow. The chargers that are in the back of the mower (under the seat) were completely clear of snow and those were the ones I was more worried about initially.

I also ran into a problem with the tractor itself. When I got it from the previous owner, he said it had transmission issues. I never had any problems with it, until now. As of now its stuck in gear. I can shift, but it doesn't get me out of gear. So, until I get that fixed the tractor is parked.

I have pictures and even a video that I'll post up soon.
__________________
Current project -
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
&
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Last edited by Daox; 01-17-12 at 01:17 PM..
Daox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-17-12, 04:24 PM   #269
TimJFowler
Apprentice EcoRenovator
 
TimJFowler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Posts: 184
Thanks: 9
Thanked 12 Times in 11 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Daox View Post
Moon Disks! Wow, you EcoModders never rest!

Tim
__________________
- DIY Adventures in Applied Sustainability -

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
TimJFowler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-17-12, 06:01 PM   #270
dh1
Helper EcoRenovator
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Ont. Canada
Posts: 99
Thanks: 14
Thanked 11 Times in 9 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Daox View Post
I got to use the blower over the weekend!

I also ran into a problem with the tractor itself. When I got it from the previous owner, he said it had transmission issues. I never had any problems with it, until now. As of now its stuck in gear. I can shift, but it doesn't get me out of gear. So, until I get that fixed the tractor is parked.

I have pictures and even a video that I'll post up soon.
What exactly do you have for a tractor, the gas version? Simplicity 728?
Do you know what transmission you have in it?

dh1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Tags
conversion, electric, lawn mower, tractor

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:22 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Ad Management by RedTyger
Inactive Reminders By Icora Web Design