Thanks of course to the info on this website i was able to get the correct part numbers for the key switch,and seat safety switch and order them off ebay. 

Sometimes I need to grab firewood or move a trailer around the yard at night, and I would like to be considerate of the neighbors. So, I had the idea to make an electric wheel horse.

I began the hunt for a non-working tractor for this project and finally found one this weekend!

I took some time to remove the engine and almost all of the electric (wires for lights are still in place).

Now I have a clean slate to work with for my new build.

A coworker had some parts left over from an electric trike build that didn't work out too well. It consists of an 1800W 48V BLDC motor, Battery pack, controller, and the wiring to make everything work. He ended up not using everything because the 1800W motor wasn't strong enough for his application.

At first glance, you might thing that motor won't work for me either. But I figure it should be plenty as a drive only motor, not for PTO. These transmissions have a crazy 400:1 gear ratio at the bottom end and somewhere around a 30:1 for high speed. Supplying enough torque should be easy enough. My plan to test this is to rough mount the motor with a pulley, put the nose of the tractor against a tree, and see if I can break traction in high gear. If the motor can't do that, then I will look into a bigger motor for the job. I will also have the benefit of the motor running at 4500rpm instead of 3600rpm, so I will be using a smaller pulley. I am hoping to keep the motor as small as possible for efficiency and longer drive times.

My goal (subject to change) is to mount the motor underneath the seat and belt drive the transmission. The controller will go on the shelf the fuel tank used to sit on. The battery...is a triangle (remember, this was originally for a trike), so I am not sure where I want to put it that doesn't look silly. It's pretty thin, so I'm considering mounting it to the underside of the hood, which would make it practically invisible.

Operation will be similar to the current setup. key for on/off, throttle lever for motor RPM, and maintain use of the clutch for changing gears.

If everything works well, I will look into mounting a motor in the same location as the engine for all PTO implements. I want to keep the two systems on separate batteries, so I can run the PTO as much as possible, without worrying about being stuck in the yard away from the charger.

Stay tuned for updates!

P.S. While getting ready to make this post I learned about the E-141 (previously, I only knew about the Elec-Trak). When all is complete, I guess I will need an E-100 badge for the side.

Needed some fire wood and the woods around here is full of dead small trees.

Then I get a lead, text this guy in Minnesota, who I don't know and is not on RS... He says ya I have a NOS A-60, but it's in Iowa. Ok I says, can you get it to Minnesota and then we'll see what happens... Yup... couple months go by... it's in Minnesota. Now what? So i put out some feelers to some Wisconsin and Minnesota boys - @WHX??, @Achto, @wheelhorseman, @Shynon, @prondzy as well as my Michigan buddy @Pullstart who is well known for short jaunts to pick up wayward 's...

Thank you gents. Would not have happened without your help!!! 

Long story short, achto and whxx pick it up in a late season blizzard (covered trailer thank you!) on the way back from their own wrangling mission. So now it's in whxx's shed, which is a sketchy place to be if your a young filly far away from home...

But all is well, as whxx begins lookin it over he notices flat tire, missing ignition coupler, etc. and proceeds to fix said items!!! 

Now I'm waiting on pullstart to go west to North Dakota to pick up a herd he bought last fall. Snug in her temporary home, A-60 waits... Then, long winter over, Mrs Pullstart insists, i am told, that she spend Mother's Day in Norman on the way to North Dakota to get some more Wheel Horses... Couple days later and voila... A-60 is home!!!

The first pick up by an unknown assailant from Wisconsin. Note the cheese curd stains on the jacket...

The second pick up (note the signature shorts and safety boots):

The third and final pick up:

And home:

Done so far:

Cleaned up.

lubed

3 new deep cycle batteries from Costco. Saving the WH branded, never seen acid still in shrink wrap, for garage decorations.

New spring for clutch

Lubed chain

Penetrol on all sheet metal. 2 coats.

And she floats!!!

More to come as I fine tune things and look over belts etc.

Here's some pics and a video of first known ride on this tub in 47 years...

GE originally was working on an electric car, but the power - weight - run time ratios weren't working out. Someone at GE realized that the high power short run time was more suited to lawn and garden, and approached Wheel Horse to develop it jointly. After building a working prototype based on a '67 short frame tractor, Wheel Horse felt there was no market, and withdrew. GE continued with development, and introduced a line of electric riders and tractors in '69 as a '70 product. In 1974, Wheel Horse introduced the A60 Electric Horse rear engine rider, based on the stampings of the old Reo RR/RE riders. In spring of '74, at the height of the oil embargo crisis, Wheel Horse purchased the entire lawn and garden division of GE. They continued for the first couple of years producing the GE designs, later changing to the E141 built on a C-series long frame chassis. Other electric offerings were built by Roper (Sears), and John Deere. Once the oil "crisis" was over, they pretty much disappeared. Every now and then, someone will try to bring electrics back to market, the current attempt being Ryobi, on what appears to be a Husqvarna (Roper) chassis. They are wonderful machines, quiet, powerful, and no fuel / oil expense, however their initial cost is 2 to 3 times the cost of comparable gasoline powered equipment. And the batteries have a definite life span, comparable to those in a golf cart (since that's what the batteries are). The higher initial cost, and the expected cost of replacement batteries every 5 to 10 years, makes them more of a novelty than a working equipment option.

I will not be hacking it up, If this project goes poorly, I would want to bring it back to stock operation with new engine.

 I will be creating a blog at some point to show conversation. 
Budget will be tight, I will be using parts from past projects, but motor will be new permanent magnet DC. 

Voltage will be 48v, as many old lithium batteries that I can fit in. I plan to retain pto clutch.
 

Yard Art is cool… but an electric cruiser is cooler…. 

Have assessed nothing on the yard art, but thinking I could use something like this for a “push pedal to go” cruiser for the littles…

floor boards etc. would be added to make it little feet user friendly…

Thoughts from the brain trust greatly appreciated… just spitballing at this point.

———-

36V Electric Brushless DC Motor Kits 1000W BLDC Mid Motor 3100RPM 27.7A with 30A Speed Controller Handlebar Twist Grip Throttle Go Kart Motor Kit

Fairly local and asks me if i would be willing to score it and see about haulin help to get it to him.

You kiddin me Richard this is what we live for!

So after much finagling with the seller @Achto and I go to get it.

Well the seller is somewhat of a dingus and delays our arrival time so we have to kill some time so we shoot down the road to a Cabelas wher Dan proceeds to kick tires on and wants me to buy a 40k fishin rig. Had to keep reminding him just 'cause we ain't hungry don't  mean we can't look at the menu!

Got out of ther with my skin and a nice $30 shirt jacket tho. 

I digress...

So we proceed unto our pick up and get her loaded. Never really looked it over as a done deal but were out splity  lick. 

Not NOS as yours Sylvia but still worthy of the asking price. 

Really ironic thing of it all is this same bozo or a relation had it for sale on CL in 2018. I made a play on it and posted pics here but the seller reniged saying his kin wanted it... whatever...

Ohhhh you clowns wanted pics of the tractor... my bad... only got one or two for now but since we like Richard and Sylvia can...nevermind... many more pics when Dan sobers up...

I found in My Wheel Horse Manual Collection this Orginal Service Manual ( Big Book ) for Wheel Horse Elec-Trak !

Hard to find or not ? 

https://www.amazon.com/Tocas-Surface-Mount-Circuit-Breakers-Waterproof/dp/B07D7S2VBY/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=70%2Bamp%2Bcircuit%2Bbreaker&qid=1692491449&sr=8-5&th=1

They have a breaker 120 amp but not 125...

Part 19 - 125 amp fuse...

Definitely the issue - I jumped it with clips and it fired right off...

Help...advice...please...

Thank you.

KC

Just testing out the hydro on a parts machine. [ Note ] Range & H.P. is limited...

Then it dawned on me... I know several folks who think 11 hours one way is "before lunch" on a Wheel Horse wrangler trip... So, I message a few and before long, thanks to the generosity and ingenuity of @Pullstart, @WHX??, and @Achto the little gal started her way to Michigan yesterday when achto and whx?? added a stop and picked her up on a previously planned all day run to Iowa, Minnesota and back to Wisconsin... 

But the tale doesn't end there... pullstart will be bringing her to mid-Michigan in a few weeks on his way back from another multi-state  run...!!! I will then pick it up from pullstart, hopefully in plenty of time for the Memorial Day parade!!! 

Whew...!

I can't thank them enough for the logistical support and help. (Well, yes I can. Wheel Horse Bourbon is in their futures)!!! Just another example of the great people on this site!!! 

Note: If you see a "for sale" add for a NOS A-60 in Wisconsin, please inform the authorities...

This is the last known picture of it, taken yesterday, with what appears to be a Wisconsin native at the wheel... 

After a few days he let me know he found it. Gharged me a VERY reasonable price, not the ridiculous prices out there. Just a guy out to help a newbie and not get rich from it.Fortunately we don’t live to far from another and we’re able to meet up. A very nice man. Hope to get to know him better. Thanks again Pullstart.

What I was hoping to learn,was if there is a troubleshooting guide for the E -141? I know GE has a service manual with trouble shooting flow charts and info.I did find a schematic and parts break downs which is a big help.

BUT long story short,due to a accident related brain injury  I am a bit slow to figure things out and pictures help.

The B-145 is the same as a GE Electrac E-14 so my book on ge's will be a big help for it.

But I think the E 141 is a bit more scarce and plus it is a single speed PM motor,easier to bring back.

I have done some work to it since the photo was taken, Replaced rear tires with good used, new bearings in the motor,it runs, new pulleys.BUT having issues with belt length that is about to drive me nuts. Original belt is Almost perfect fit but stretched  a bit. 60 inch belt to short,61 inch to long. Any who,I also got a really nice charger for the E 141 from a fellow in indiana. so that is covered.

Now more questions.

1,what does the correct hitch look like on the back of the E 141? I would like to be able to put a brinley hitch on it perhaps but can't find a photo of that set up on a electric.

2, Will a push blade from a late 60's  854  horse fit this E 141? It has the Unidrive transmission so I am thinking it will.

Ok, I will stop for now.:) thanks for letting me in the door!

It appears to be a roller bearing as there were a few of the balls in there. Where can i get a a replacement bearing? I can't find a part number on the bearing to interchange with.

Still learning.And I decided to post this to perhaps get suggestions and pointers to improve the idea or whatever.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/133819426634

https://www.harborfreight.com/100-watt-monocrystalline-solar-panel-57325.html

I caught the solar panel on sale for 99 bucks.

There is a learning curve to "programming" the green box.

But it does work.

Looking forward to getting it all lubed up to @peter lena standards so it’s ready for train towing and lawn mowing duties… perhaps snow plowing this winter…