Dustin M's Wood-ED (Craftsman Electric Drive Woods Tractor) [2019 Build-Off Entry]

Here is my entry for the 2019 ATLTF Build-Off...my first one! I asked my wife to draw a readable entry sign (since she likes crafts), so she asked if she could just print it...turned out real nice.

I have been slowly working on this tractor for the past couple years and can use the deadline to help me drive this to completion. The gas engine is out and gone, time to Get Schwifty...oooohhh yaaaa!

Please ignore the small orange Citicar in the background and being used to support the hood, it is NOT part of this project.


Here are the things that need to be done:

• Make motor mount and mount motor to trans-axle
  
• Mount motor controller somewhere under there
  
• Mount throttle box and pedal
  
• Finish 48V Headway LiFePO4 battery pack (make buss bars, install balance wires, etc.)
  
• Get a step down regulator for the 12VDC headlights and main contactor
  
• Make front suspension using the Eton 90 front drum brake hubs and the Fox EVOL air shocks (have to figure out how I want to make the a-arms)
  
• Get front cable operated brakes working (in addition to stock rear brake on trans-axle and the regenerative braking from the brushless motor)
  
• Make rear suspension using the white coil overs and using the trans-axle as a swing-arm (this is considered "temporary" until the trans-axle breaks, the eventual goal is independent rear)
  

Approved: MightyRaze 2-28-2019

Good luck man! There have been a few electric tractors in the forum, but this is the first one that I have seen in the build off. Doug seems to think there was one. I haven't seen it.

Whats that for an Transaxle?? Doesnt look like a 820 or 930 or 920 or MST

I guess some Foote / Spicer??

Them old Craftsman ll are tough looking. Sweet build.

While I do not see anything using some basic tools in my utility belt, some may question your sign. If you could kindly write "ATLTF" by hand anywhere on your sign and send another picture. That way no one will question your sign.

Thank you. I just want to ward off anyone saying the sign is not real.

SebastianAlbrecht wrote:

Whats that for an Transaxle?? Doesnt look like a 820 or 930 or 920 or MST

I guess some Foote / Spicer??

Says Foote on the bottom:

Jeremiah R. Cooper wrote:

Them old Craftsman ll are tough looking. Sweet build.

Thanks man! I am happy that this one is all metal, it has really good patina, I don't worry about new scratches. My neighbor gave it to me, the price was right.

MightyRaze wrote:

While I do not see anything using some basic tools in my utility belt, some may question your sign.  If you could kindly write  "ATLTF" by hand anywhere on your sign and send another picture.  That way no one will question your sign.

Thank you.  I just want to ward off anyone saying the sign is not real.

When I looked at my post earlier today, I had a similar thought. Here is an updated picture with a hand written sign, good thing my pile did not go far!


I started on a quick "temporary" motor mount today, I don't want to commit to welding anything up yet. It is made out of aluminum 1" t-slotted framing (aka 80/20).

I like where this is going.  LOL, you didn't need to make a whole sign, but what you have is ok.  Thanks for the update!

Hay Dustin,
Going to be a cool rig when you get it finished.

Foote Transaxles R usually not very good but with a Doc Locker & replacing the Grease with Gear Oil it might last longer

@SebastianAlbrecht I wish I didn't destroy my Foote 3speed hi/low.

Jeremiah R. Cooper wrote:

@SebastianAlbrecht I wish I didn't destroy my Foote 3speed hi/low.

I had a 3speed H shift Foote (like a Peerless 700) rebuilt it & sold it then cuz I dont want to blew it up after 5mins of runtime since replacements R hard to find

@SebastianAlbrecht that trans is a dana foote spicer they came in the craftsmen 2's and there really beefy for a spicer

Frankenstein 2.0 wrote:

@SebastianAlbrecht  that trans is a dana foote spicer they came in the craftsmen 2's and there really beefy for a spicer

nice! Will see how fast my Spicer will die LOL

@SebastianAlbrecht im stealing the spider gears out of my foote to put in my peerless 206

Frankenstein 2.0 wrote:

@SebastianAlbrecht im stealing the spider gears out of my foote to put in my peerless 206

do they work together???

@SebastianAlbrecht the spider gears will change out easy

I like the parts pile.

Since I know nothing about electric/battery powered vehicles, what's the power rating-battery life-time useage before recharging of that setup?

Couple more questions. The hubs on the transaxle what are they and boltpattern of them?  And are those two more motors on the front of the mower frame? (The one front hub looks like it could accept a keyed axle so was wondering if your going 4x4?)       That would be awesome.

Sounds really interesting! Good luck.

seems like a mighty task - Electric with front and rear suspension and possibly independent rear suspension ! YOU SIR HAVE MY ATTENTION !

prancstaman wrote:

Hay Dustin,
Going to be a cool rig when you get it finished.

Thanks buddy! Did you ever get to doing something with the old beat engine from this thing?

SebastianAlbrecht wrote:

Foote Transaxles R usually not very good but with a Doc Locker & replacing the Grease with Gear Oil it might last longer

As I was getting the ATV tires on it and doing the pulley swap with the gas engine, I squirted a bunch of 80w-90 gear lube and Lucas Oil Stabilizer in there since it probably has not been opened up since 1987 when it was built and it did a lot of mowing. I had to add it through the neutral switch hole since the pulley was very rusted to the input shaft at the time. My plan is to use it till it breaks...

muddstir wrote:

I like the parts pile.

Since I know nothing about electric/battery powered vehicles, what's the power rating-battery life-time useage before recharging of that setup?

Couple more questions. The hubs on the transaxle what are they and boltpattern of them?  And are those two more motors on the front of the mower frame? (The one front hub looks like it could accept a keyed axle so was wondering if your going 4x4?)       That would be awesome.

This pack most likely will not have enough capacity, hopefully it will do about 30 min to 1 hour, but we will see.  This pack is really just for testing, these cells can put out 160 amps continuous and the controller can only suck down 80 amps so it is all good. I wanted to be able to get the full torque from the controller/motor so that I can test out if 3kW (4 HP) continuous is enough. The pack is 16 cells in series (16s) with a nominal 51.2 volts and 8 amp-hr capacity which results in 400 Watt-hours, if that means anything to you guys  http://evcomponents.com/lifepo4-cell/headway-38120hp-8ah-lifepo4-cell.html

The hubs are these 4x110 1" Bore ones from BMI Karts: https://www.bmikarts.com/Billet-Aluminum-Wheel-Hub-for-Metric-Rim-1-or-1-14-Bore_p_3144.html. BMI also has 4x4 pattern ones with different bores and ones with bearings in them already...and they are cheap too! OHIO FTW! I ended up with these to work with the set of 2013 Yamaha Raptor 90 ATV rims and tires I got from Craigslist. The rears have a 1" to 3/4" adapters to key onto the axles and some cut down Aluminum tube as spacers to reduce the side-to-side sloppyness. The fronts have bronze 1" OD - 3/4" ID flanged bushings clamped in them so that they can fit the spindles like stock.

The things on the front of the mower frame are front hubs with drum brakes (drilled rotors get locked up when mudding) from a Chinese E-TON Viper 90 youth ATV. Most of the brand name ATV companies rebrand these for there youth offering. BTW, I am looking for a set of A-arms and tie rods for these, mainly just for the ball joints...they are extremely hard to find! These hubs are for double a-arms (which is preferable), most of these Chinese ATV's have single front a-arms which might be better for these tractors since the hood gets in the way.

I have toyed with the idea of front hub motors for 4wd...but that is for the future!

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/QS-Motor-1000W-205-40H-E-car-V2-electric-car-hub-motor/32808622868.html?spm=2114.10010108.1000014.4.46ab1bc8nUqFN5&gps-id=pcDetailBottomMoreOtherSeller&scm=1007.13338.110449.000000000000000&scm_id=1007.13338.110449.000000000000000&scm-url=1007.13338.110449.000000000000000&pvid=4a70109d-c75c-49e7-b5d7-0a8338b4eddf

Enough time on the computer - Time to get out there, clean up the sticks in the yard, get that motor mount done, and the transaxle back in!

Sticks and moving some stuff to the Sharn (Shed-Barn) used up yesterday, made some progress for a few hours today.

Started whittling the cross members that the motor will mount to:



Cut some M8 studs for the motor:


Planned out where the stud holes needed to go:


The dolly made it a little too high for the jack:


Added some "anti-tip" spacers on the front axle while I am jacking it around:


Motor view from the old battery hole:


Motor & transaxle view from the bottom:


I am thinking the controller will live up here where the fuel tank used to be with the stock wiring:


This week I will need to massage a step key for the motor Lovejoy (the motor shaft has a different key way size than the coupler), spin up the motor on the bench to verify alignment of the shafts, and get metal motor spacers ordered instead of those nylon ones (they are what I had available to me).

While the rear end is loose, I did some rear suspension travel checks.

Semi-lifted neutral ride height:


As low as it will currently go ride height (this is why is has 18" tires all around):


Still has a couple of inches to go:


Looks like the frame will need to get out of the way:


Shifter works in both neutral ride height:


...and current low height:


...and still functions, although I most likely will not need gears with the torque of the electric motor from 0 RPM:


Time for bed...tomorrow is another day!

Super awesome build!! I'm looking forward to seeing an electric powered rig ripping it up for a change!

Do you think there's any chance that dirt will get to the love-joy coupler and cause any issues?

No belt issues there. It's lookin good man.

Love them old craftsmans.

AllisKidD21 wrote:

Super awesome build!! I'm looking forward to seeing an electric powered rig ripping it up for a change!

Do you think there's any chance that dirt will get to the love-joy coupler and cause any issues?

Thanks @AllisKidD21! I do not see any huge issues with dirt. Eventually the rubber spider will wear, but that is a $10 part. Also, in my older age, I only go through mud & water that I have to and I am careful when I do it. Cleaning mud off takes too much time and it damages bearings, bushings, connectors, etc. I do the same thing with my RC cars, but they do get muddy at the local track when it has been rainy.

muddstir wrote:

No belt issues there. It's lookin good man.

Love them old craftsmans.

Thanks @muddstir! The belt was definitely in the way for rear suspension. I am always amazed how people on here wade through mud and water with that belt flopping around down there and still keep moving!