Electric spreader guys...Lets see pics

[Lawngodfather]

We know what the Trnex looks like, but what about those Downeasters and Smiths, can yall post some good pics with close ups of the conponents? Lets see good pics of under the hood.

[BRL]

Here's the Downeaster line. Not under the hood shots, but its a start.
http://www.sandspreader.com/electric.shtml

[Snowboy]

BRL

I think LG is looking for action shots, you know kinda like the ones of the V Prp's or Hey check out my new blizzard plow type of pics.

I know thats what i wana see as well as hear how good they perform compaired to Gas and Trynex.

[Lawngodfather]

I wanna see what under the hood of one of them look like.

How did they hook the motor to the grar box, etc....

How they are built, I seen the Downeaster and Smiths, just what they have on the web sites, but they show no details to what's under the hood, or how anything is hooked up.

Heck anyone got a Curtis that would be good, to, they are hydro driven off a 5hp engine, but I never seen under the hood yet.

I have read a few threads on guys converting gas to electric, but I wanna see under the hood before I give it much more thought.

[cat320]

I have noticed that they really do not do alot of details or even the control set ups.

[Lawngodfather]

Very vegue, that's what I am after.

Hard top even cosider them from my point of veiw, nothing around here but Trynex/Snowex.

[BRL]

Snowboy,
Hence the following comment in my post:
"Not under the hood shots, but its a start."
;)

:headwall

[Raymond]

Here are a few pictures of my Smith spreader. It runs off a 1/3 hp electric motor.

[Raymond]

Now for one under the hood.

[phillyplowking1]

I have a smith v-box im gonna get some shots tomarrow.

[Lawngodfather]

Thaks for the shots.

Now the motor goes to I take it the spinner shaft, and then a chain to the gear box?

Is there any numbers on that motor? Model#?

[Matthew Bowman]

LGF - trying to figure out how to post pics, then I'll give you some pics of my highway gas converted to electric.

I mounted the electric motor in the same place that the gas motor was, just drilled new holes. You have to change the sprockets to increase the gear reduction. The electric spreaders have a 50:1 gear box, while the gas units are 25:1. I did not change the gear box and my conveyer chain still spins a little faster than I would like.

Over all this was much easier to do than I thought, real easy conversion and only costs around $400.00. I have been running this setup for the entire season and have not had one single problem. In comparision with the gas motor I could not even get through a storm with out screwing around with something. I can not say enough about how well an electric spreader works, except that if you use one you will throw the gas jobs in the dumpster.

Good luck, and any specs that you need I would be happy get.

Matt

[Matthew Bowman]

I think I figured this pic. thing out now.

[Matthew Bowman]

-I took the specs for the motor off of a smith, and then found one at Granger. Heres one from the underside.

[Matthew Bowman]

Numbers for the motor - 1/3 hp, 1800 rpm, 12volt DC, 27amp
Granger model: 6MK99

You must use a constant duty relay, not just a plow or starter relay. If wired correctly you can reverse the motor. Mine is not wired this way, but I think I will change it for next year.

Matt

[BRL]

Thanks guys! That's what we're looking for... Meat & Potatoes :D :cool:

4 bills? That's not bad. If you think about it you'd spend that much to replace a bad gas engine if needed. So for the price of replacing the engine theoretically, you get the satisfaction of using electric, without having to sell the old spreader & buy a new one. Might have to spend more to change the gear box, but still better than the hassle of replacing the whole spreaders IMO.

[Lawn Lad]

I'll take a few pictures when I go back outside... but here is the back side of the truck. I've never owned a gas powered engine, but after using this Smith I don't think I'll ever experiment with a gas powered spreader. I would stick to hydraulic on larger units (or trucks with existing hydraulics) and electric on the smaller pick up and one ton trucks with no central hydraulics.

[cat320]

On those electric units do they all run the same size electric motor? or if say to had a small one and extended the sides alot higher would you need to get a larger one? Also Is there an option when you get them to controll belt/chain speed and spinner speed?

[urethane dino]

When I replaced the motoron my oldest smith, I went with a 1/2 hp instead of the 1/3 hp. The extra hp only really helps on start up. As the rpm of the motor and gear box is what governs apron chain speed.
Once you havehad electris gas power seems wayyyyyyy outdated.
They do have variable speed controllers, but I have not seen a need for that.
Dino

[Lawngodfather]

Rheastat...................Speed controller..............Makes motor spin slower.

Just has to be able to handle that 27amp start up load

[Lawn Lad]

I was told by the Smith salesman that I should not put a variable speed controller on the motor - that it would burn up the motor. This seems curious to me. I'm no electrical engineer, only applying common sense - but I don't see the problem with using one.

It would be nice to have a variable speed controller in a few instances. With the deflectors all the way up for maximum spread witdth there are the times when I don't want to get out of the truck and would like spread a narrow area (residential drive) or turn down the spreader when there are pedestrians crossing through a parking lot. Since I only have Blast and Off I have to make the decision to hit ankles with salt or sit and wait for them to pass by.