OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions On Ride On Mowers Questions on Greenfield Ride On Mower Frames Electric conversion of Greenfield forwards problem

Hi,

I have converted a greenfield tractor 8 to electric and have a teething problem that I am looking for help with.

When I go forwards it is slow off the mark and will not even do some hills. Once it is moving it flys along. In reverse it flys up a hill from a standing start while mowing.

I have been at this for a while and have chased a few dead ends, local greenfield ride on service centres have been stumped / un interested when I explain the problem.

Here is what I know:
The 48v 3600rpm electric motor is designed to replace a ride on petrol motor. It is running at 120 amp when driving up hill mowing which is under its maximum load rating so it is not struggling with the load or staling, it has the power as demonstrated when going in reverse.

The back pulleys are not slipping and have brand new cork on the drive.

The drive belt is old but appears to have its shape.

The front pulley gets too hot in my opinion.

So I suspect the front pulley is slipping in forwards but is not slipping in reverse, why I do not understand.

Does anyone have any ideas? Would a new belt help? Would a new front pulley fix it?

Why does it fly in reverse and struggle in forwards?

Any help very much appreciated!

Hi ravin, welcome to Outdoorking.

I can make a decent guess as to what your problem is, thanks to your clear description of the symptoms. When a Greenfield climbs a lot better in reverse than forward, it is possible that the forward clutch is worn or glazed, but it is considerably more likely that the automatic tensioner on the wheel-drive belt has not taken up a ratchet-notch when it needed to. This tensioner is only in the power transmission path when going forward - when reversing it is just an idler on the return side of the drive belt. The fact that your drive pulley on the electric motor's output shaft gets hot, seems to lend strength to this tentative diagnosis.

It is necessary from time to time with some Greenfields to lift the seat, and apply some encouragement to the small pulley you will find under it, to move forward a notch on the notch bar which restricts it to moving forward, not rearward. The encouragement is usually supplied by a small lever, but some people choose a mallet or their right foot. You can see pictures and a more detailed explanation in this thread:

https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=46066#Post46066

If you have questions please come back here so we can discuss the next step. Alternatively if you procure a small click from the ratchet and find that the problem has disappeared, please tell us that instead. Your electrified Greenfield is interesting - we would like to see some pictures of the conversion, and discuss some issues that might or might not arise.

Your a genius Grumpy! I actually did not have a ratchet set up on it at all, an over site as I re built it.

I added the ratchet and it is fixed, my electric mower project is complete! I will start another post about the conversion.

Regards,

-PAUL-

Thanks for bringing us up to date, Paul. I'll close this thread.