DIY electric lawn tractor

[bluedog225]

I bet you guys know stuff about lawn tractors. I’m not impressed with the currently available electric stuff (Ego, Ryobi, Greenworks).

What lawn tractor would you pick as a base for an electric lawn tractor and mower?

They are all available. Assume the engine is trash. Husqvarna, Deere, cub cadets, etc.

I don’t want to reinvent the wheel. Replace the engine, throw in one or two of 48V 100 amp hour lifepo4 rack batteries, a controller, motor(s), fuses, and get it cutting grass.

I’m betting some are better suited than others. What’s the best base unit?

Thanks

 

[OccupantRJ]

An older 318 John Deere would be a bulletproof chassis. I own one and it is more garden tractor level than mower. However, it does have hydraulic power steering and accessory lift. Other 200 or 300 series units are likely manual, but I am unfamiliar with which ones.

 

[Gmonkee]

I would go straight for a most basic MTD version with the 6 speed fender shift and no hydraulic system at all. Lots of brands carry them. Mount the motor and align the pulleys then place the batteries.

Not the most efficient chassis but one that requires the least adapting to the new power.

 

[bluedog225]

I would go straight for a most basic MTD version with the 6 speed fender shift and no hydraulic system at all. Lots of brands carry them. Mount the motor and align the pulleys then place the batteries.

Not the most efficient chassis but one that requires the least adapting to the new power.

Modern Tool and Die? E.g. Cub Cadet

 

[Gmonkee]

Modern Tool and Die? E.g. Cub Cadet

No, the OEM of the cheap low end riders branded under a billion names.
The ones no one fixes when the engine pukes.
Used to be Murray long ago.

 

[Bessy]

Now this sounds like it's gonna be fun!

If I may pose a question: what powerplant are you planning to use, and in what configuration? I wonder if getting a rough idea of the size of componentry might be a good starting point and working backwards from there? In general I don't exactly expect that it matters what chassis you go with ultimately, does it?

 

[tyyost]

I pondered this question, read the replies, and slept on it. Here’s my 2 cents. To me a riding mover is all about the cut. I’m not looking for a striped lawn but I want a great one pass cut. So a good deck, with adjusting wheels, replaceable components and quality steel is important. Second is the drive system and controls. There are lots of cheap Hydro transmissions in low end tractors that don’t do well long term. I’d be looking to consider a manual geared transmission or a bigger garden tractor with a sturdy Hydro.

The only other considerations would be frame type. A ladder style with a motor plate will obviously be better suited to your swap. Gas tank under the rear fairing would give you room for batteries. A better question may be what garden tractors lend themselves to performance engine swaps? Then you could start with a solid platform that could take abuse and build from there.

 

[bluedog225]

Something like this.

 

[Stuart in MN]

If you can find one, a GE Elec-Trak lawn tractor from the early 1970s would be a good start. They were already electric, I think the only thing you'd really need to do is replace the old lead acid batteries with something more modern and with more capacity, but a modern electric motor could probably be adapted too. There weren't many to start with so not many are left but as I recall the chassis was pretty heavy duty.

 

[bluedog225]

And the 48V 100 amp hour lifepo4 rack battery is going to run about $1,000.

That’s $2,500 or so if I shop around. Plus balance of system and repairs to the vehicle itself.

Hoping to find a brand that has good bones and replacement parts. Old cub cadet or deere seem like front runners.

 

[OldDoItAll]

New, DIY 48v Electric Lawn Tractor Conversion Manual and plans

The manual contains over 70 numbered pictures, an instruction manual, electrical and mechanical drawings and suppliers to convert a old gas lawn tractor to electric battery power, comes with 2-year email support should you need help

electrictractor.net

 

[bluedog225]

New, DIY 48v Electric Lawn Tractor Conversion Manual and plans

The manual contains over 70 numbered pictures, an instruction manual, electrical and mechanical drawings and suppliers to convert a old gas lawn tractor to electric battery power, comes with 2-year email support should you need help

electrictractor.net

Interesting. Thanks!

 

[Bessy]

Something like this.

Do you have the video link referenced in the screenshot here, by chance? Would love to take a look at that just for curiosity's sake.

I do agree with @Stuart in MN that finding an old GE would be a great starting point, if one could be acquired. It would be a cool restomod kind of situation to just give one of those a heart transplant.

I don't have the property or the need to justify a riding mower (despite owning two located at my parent's property) but I have not been super happy with the availability of front wheel drive battery electric mowers on the market. I currently run a 2009 Toro Recycler with front wheel drive that I can't seem to kill, but I have toyed with the idea of electrifying it when the engine eventually dies.

 

[manwithtools]

Do you have the video link referenced in the screenshot here, by chance? Would love to take a look at that just for curiosity's sake.

Link: Electric Lawn Tractor

 

[bluedog225]

Do you have the video link referenced in the screenshot here, by chance? Would love to take a look at that just for curiosity's sake.

I do agree with @Stuart in MN that finding an old GE would be a great starting point, if one could be acquired. It would be a cool restomod kind of situation to just give one of those a heart transplant.

I don't have the property or the need to justify a riding mower (despite owning two located at my parent's property) but I have not been super happy with the availability of front wheel drive battery electric mowers on the market. I currently run a 2009 Toro Recycler with front wheel drive that I can't seem to kill, but I have toyed with the idea of electrifying it when the engine eventually dies.

This one?

 

[WisJim]

You ought to be able to find a good used 1970s era General Electric Elec-trak lawn tractor for less than cost of a new motor and controller (maybe $1000 or so?) and save a lot of time re-engineerin something. I had a couple of them and used one for 15 years or so, and gave it to a son about 4 or 5 years ago and he uses it all the time for mowing and snow blowing. We replaced the original controller with an Alltrax modern controller and he has replaced the lead acid golf cart batteries with lithium batteries. The Elec-trak had separate motors on the mower, snow blower, and roto tiller, and they plugged into receptacles on the tractor for power

.

 

[Bessy]

You ought to be able to find a good used 1970s era General Electric Elec-trak lawn tractor for less than cost of a new motor and controller (maybe $1000 or so?) and save a lot of time re-engineerin something. I had a couple of them and used one for 15 years or so, and gave it to a son about 4 or 5 years ago and he uses it all the time for mowing and snow blowing. We replaced the original controller with an Alltrax modern controller and he has replaced the lead acid golf cart batteries with lithium batteries. The Elec-trak had separate motors on the mower, snow blower, and roto tiller, and they plugged into receptacles on the tractor for power

.

Man, I really want one of these!!!

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

And the 48V 100 amp hour lifepo4 rack battery is going to run about $1,000.

That’s $2,500 or so if I shop around. Plus balance of system and repairs to the vehicle itself.

Hoping to find a brand that has good bones and replacement parts. Old cub cadet or deere seem like front runners.

Might add Wheel Horse and Simplicity to the list. Interesting project.
What size deck are you wanting? What are the mowing conditions? Size of yard, trees, hills? Any other uses such as snow removal, garden tilling, towing?

 

[whateg01]

A could have suggested that a ge could be found. I've never seen or heard of them and that's the first picture I've seen. Maybe they're out there, but sure don't seem to be common.

 

[bluedog225]

Might add Wheel Horse and Simplicity to the list. Interesting project.
What size deck are you wanting? What are the mowing conditions? Size of yard, trees, hills? Any other uses such as snow removal, garden tilling, towing?

3-5 acres of light brush. Knee high In the summer. Pasture-ish. Not grazed. Never mowed in my 20 years. some mesquite I’ll cut by hand. I’d like at least a 48” deck. I don’t mind recharging (solar) but it’d be nice to get an 1-2 hours from each charge.

First time through I may rent a Kubota zero turn or fire out a tractor with brush hog.

I’ll need to go to the yard and have a look around. See what’s available. I’ll wait till it’s cooler to minimize the rattlesnake encounters.

 

[Stuart in MN]

3-5 acres of light brush. Knee high In the summer. Pasture-ish. Not grazed. Never mowed in my 20 years. some mesquite I’ll cut by hand. I’d like at least a 48” deck. I don’t mind recharging (solar) but it’d be nice to get an 1-2 hours from each charge.

First time through I may rent a Kubota zero turn or fire out a tractor with brush hog.

I’ll need to go to the yard and have a look around. See what’s available. I’ll wait till it’s cooler to minimize the rattlesnake encounters.

Boy, with those conditions I'd go through it the first time with a brush hog or something else equally heavy duty to get it all knocked down. That's a lot of mowing for any battery powered mower

 

[bluedog225]

Boy, with those conditions I'd go through it the first time with a brush hog or something else equally heavy duty to get it all knocked down. That's a lot of mowing for any battery powered mower

Agreed. In reality, I’ll focus around the cabin.

I’ve been keeping that area sorta clear with an ego push mower. anything will be an improvement.

paths if nothing else

 

[pb014]

My dad had a GE Elec-Trak. It was based on a Wheel Horse chassis. The mower deck had three(?) blades powered by separate high speed motors. Keeping the blades balanced was critical to minimize vibration. The mower deck often cracked.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Boy, with those conditions I'd go through it the first time with a brush hog or something else equally heavy duty to get it all knocked down. That's a lot of mowing for any battery powered mower

If possible I'd burn it off to get started.

 

[My Old Tools]

How about a dead ZTR? Motor is out the back, belts run everything.

 

[Viper98912]

Is nobody else impressed at the craigslist post? I know I am.

 

[Bessy]

Is nobody else impressed at the craigslist post? I know I am.

Huh?

 

[baldy343]

I have been planning a project to convert a mower to fully autonomous with RTK, and it would be hybrid electric, as the power steering pumps draw too many amps. I was gonna use a predator 212 hooked up to an alternator to cover the surge demand from the steering, and to prolong the battery life.

For the best results, 3 separate motors was determined to be the best way to implement power delivery. Direct drive for the blades and transmission. This has the added benefit of essentially giving you a hydrostat for your transmission as the electric motor has a full range of speeds. You might also want to add a small flywheel to each blade, as electric does not have the same inertia as a gas motor.

If you are going pure electric, and are riding on it, then your batteries will be on the front where the motor was. You will run into power density issues as the size of your mowing is substantial. For your budget, you could pick up a fully or semi-working tractor and mower. However, I love fun projects, so good luck!

 

[Skooterj]

Is nobody else impressed at the craigslist post? I know I am.

I am. I want to know where this is. I bet I could find a couple good older JD 214's, 316's or 318's. Maybe a good hydraulic or electric lift for my 210.

As for an electric conversion to mow with, I thought about it with my older Craftsman YT4500, but I was going to cost pretty much as a new Bad Boy ZTAvenger, so I just got a new zero turn.

 

[manwithtools]

I have been planning a project to convert a mower to fully autonomous with RTK, and it would be hybrid electric, as the power steering pumps draw too many amps.

Why not adapt an electric actuator for steering control? Looks like you would be creating a fully custom control package for the mower anyway, electric steering should not be a big challange.

 

[baldy343]

Why not adapt an electric actuator for steering control? Looks like you would be creating a fully custom control package for the mower anyway, electric steering should not be a big challange.

I haven't progressed that far into the project, and most linear actuators that meet my speed requirements are out of my price range. I was also debating using a standard steering wheel style steering motor, but mounting it lower, so I could cut/shorten the steering shaft.