Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Motorized Tractor Cart


First Version:

The first version of the cart was the simplest. I dropped the speed controller between the upright braces behind the front fork which held it in place nicely by gravity. The batteries were placed in the cart bed, and the seat was not covered. The scooter section was attached only to the hitch beam of the cart. The plastic hitch beam bowed with the weight of the batteries in the front of the cart + the rider. Cables were fastened with twist ties. The front wheel came off when I was pushing it once (the axle was not properly fastened to keep it from turning). But it ran!-- until the controller burned out. :(


Second Version:

The speed controller was upgraded and moved and mounted under the front of the cart and all cables properly held down with nylon ties. The batteries were moved out ot the cart bed and placed in front of and behind each cart wheel on a metal shelf. This balanced the weight of the batteries over the cart wheels. A light battery enclosure was fabricated from the plastic material usually used for campaign posters. The seat was covered with fiber fill and vinyl. The scooter section was more securely fastened to the cart bed at the rear and placed in tension to keep the hitch beam straight. A plate was installed to lock to the  right front fork to the axle to keep it from turning. I added a bike horn and some reflectors. It ran well once some loose wires were properly fastened.


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