Starting tractor re-power with Leaf components

1260 Views 18 Replies 5 Participants Last post by remy_martian, Feb 21, 2022

darko

Discussion Starter · Feb 18, 2022

I've started collecting the components to convert a tractor. So far I have a salvaged 2015 leaf, and have my eye on some old tractors at auction that I think might be simple conversions. Hoping to get an Oliver 88, or 1550. We own two other leaf's (2015 and 2021). It will be fun to dig into one and learn.

I just discovered this forum and am really excited to find a place to come to share the experience. As I told my wife - I found my peeps!

--Dave

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brian_

· #10 · Feb 18, 2022

Bratitude said:
Uh no, holding one side of the diff stationary won’t reduce the rpm of the other side, it just transfers the torque 100% to the other side.
The rpm will be the exact same.

No, he had it right. The average of the two differential output speeds is the input speed. If you lock one output stationary, the other rotates at double speed.

Bratitude said:
Your also distributing the torque through the spider gears of the open diff, which are not designed for that, and will most likely fail prematurely.

But I agree - don't use a diff this way, as the spider gears and their bearings are not designed for it.

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brian_

· #15 · Feb 21, 2022

darko said:
I'll probably not use the hydro-power box (2 speed gearbox connected to the bell housing) and use the Leaf gearbox with the spider gears welded such that I can use one side of the drive shaft running a 5-V-belt pulley to increase the RPM output using whatever ratio makes sense - thinking a 13" driving a 6" pulley might work.

Have you considered a single toothed belt instead of a set of V-belts? The only things that you can guarantee about a set of V-belts are that they'll all be at different tensions and that one will fail before the others.

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brian_

· #18 · Feb 21, 2022

darko said:
My thinking on using the V-belts is that if something goes wrong I want it to slip instead of bust the tractor drive. That was more the case when I was thinking of using a smaller tractor, maybe not so much with the one I'm thinking of now.

The motor shouldn't be able to bust the tractor, if suitably sized. EV conversions don't normally include any component as a deliberate torque limiting feature.

darko said:
Haven't had an issue with them on my 50 year old baler - probably has the original belts on it.

Yes, if the torque requirement is low enough for the size of the belts, they can stumble their way through many years.

More highly stressed installations are less fun.

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