1947 Allis Chalmers G Electric Conversion

We finally have all the parts we need to move forward with the electric conversion of our 1947 Allis Chalmers G.  The conversion essentially involves removing the motor and clutch from the tractor and replacing it with an electric motor designed by Electric Vehicles of America (New Hampshire) that is held in place by a couple of plates and operated by a couple of pulleys both designed by Niekamp Machinists (Kingston, NY) - all powered by several batteries.  The design is the brain child of a farmer/tinkerer/inventor friend who use to farm in New Paltz, NY (to see more, you can go to his website, www.flyingbeet.com/electricg).  We are really excited and will keep you updated with pictures.

2/7/14: Motor is off, and we hope to begin installation this weekend!

2/10/14: We have electric clutch system (new bearings, a new pulley, and the old clutch plate attached to a mounting base - the large piece of metal in the picture) and electric motor (the cylindrical object coming off metal mounting base) attached.  We just need to attach controller, contactor, switch, and batteries.  The impending weather may slow progress!

A close up of the bearings and pulley design with old clutch plate.  This is what is on the opposite side of the metal plate, inside the old cavity.

2/25/14: Well, after some weather delays, the batteries that will power our "new" electric tractor arrived last week.  We thought it would be quick from there.  On Wednesday, we had everything connected and ready to go.  We turned the switch, and, well, nothing!  So, we worked backwards, three times!  We couldn't figure out where we had gone wrong.  We thought we had blown our contactor, so yesterday I made a call to Bob Batson at Electric Vehicles of America.  I think your 12V auxiliary battery needs charging he said.  I went back to Lalo.  He said he thinks the auxiliary battery needs charging, I told him.  So we charged it.  Nothing happened, again.  After dinner we were going through the circuit out loud, I repeated Bob's message again.  This time I said, "he thinks our 12V auxiliary battery needs charging."  We both knew it.  I think I even slowed as I said it.  My brain lightbulb shouting a big, HELLO!  We had used the battery from the old gasoline version of the tractor as our auxiliary/crank battery.  We had never thought anything more about it.  Battery, battery.  NO, NO, NO.  Although most gasoline-powered Allis Chalmers G tractors out there have been converted to 12V over time, ours never was.  We had an original 6V G.  We were trying to start the tractor with a 6V battery instead of a 12V battery.  Well, easy fix.  And, now, your CSA cultivation tractor is run on ELECTRIC!  And as Lalo says, we are never going back!  No fumes to breath in while you are going through the fields, no loud noise damaging your ears so that in 20 years you have to ask everyone to repeat everything several times, no oil to recycle or concern about leaking oil or gas.  The "Chapulin" is reborn and at 60% efficiency and no emissions no less!