This Tractor Is So Quiet It Hums
Imagine cultivating vegetables with a Farmall Cub tractor so quiet that you can hear plant leaves swishing by the metal shank supports. You can have that experience with a Cub powered by a DC motor, which delivers full torque at low rpm’s. The motor hums effortlessly, powered by 4 Trojan deep cycle 12-volt batteries. Instead of a liquid fuel gauge, the round instrument in front of you shows the amount of charge remaining in the batteries. When it’s time for recharging, just head back to the farmyard and plug it in.
David Grau built his first electric Farmall Cub several years ago and has used it in his California farming operation without any problems since. He says the idea of using electric power for a tractor really makes sense because the machine rarely travels far from a charging station. The weight of the motor and the batteries provides more traction and the electric motor provides outstanding torque. The tractor is easy to drive, they never have to deal with engine problems and oil changes.
Grau designed and built a belly-mounted tool bar that handles up to a 3-row cultivator, a rotary mower, a sickle bar or a plow. The tractor also has a rear-mounted hitch for pulling wheeled trailers.
The Electric Cub was built on the frame of a gas-powered tractor. They first removed the motor, radiator, battery and gas tank, then reconditioned all the drive train parts, including the transmission and the brakes. A custom steel framework supports the batteries and electric motor that power the tractor. The sheet metal hood preserves the general look of the tractor. After they applied fresh paint, new tires were added and a linear actuated lift arm assembly and mid-mount double toolbar. The completed tractor even has a pto and, of course, electric lights. Grau and his staff have built a second version with some modifications on a similar Cub frame. In the future they may offer electric tractor do-it-yourself kits.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Valley Oak Tool Co., P.O. Box 301 , Chico, Calif. 95927 (ph 530 342-6188; www.valleyoaktool.com).
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This Tractor Is So Quiet It Hums ENERGY Miscellaneous Imagine cultivating vegetables with a Farmall Cub tractor so quiet that you can hear plant leaves swishing by the metal shank supports You can have that experience with a Cub powered by a DC motor which delivers full torque at low rpm’s The motor hums effortlessly powered by 4 Trojan deep cycle 12-volt batteries Instead of a liquid fuel gauge the round instrument in front of you shows the amount of charge remaining in the batteries When it’s time for recharging just head back to the farmyard and plug it in David Grau built his first electric Farmall Cub several years ago and has used it in his California farming operation without any problems since He says the idea of using electric power for a tractor really makes sense because the machine rarely travels far from a charging station The weight of the motor and the batteries provides more traction and the electric motor provides outstanding torque The tractor is easy to drive they never have to deal with engine problems and oil changes Grau designed and built a belly-mounted tool bar that handles up to a 3-row cultivator a rotary mower a sickle bar or a plow The tractor also has a rear-mounted hitch for pulling wheeled trailers The Electric Cub was built on the frame of a gas-powered tractor They first removed the motor radiator battery and gas tank then reconditioned all the drive train parts including the transmission and the brakes A custom steel framework supports the batteries and electric motor that power the tractor The sheet metal hood preserves the general look of the tractor After they applied fresh paint new tires were added and a linear actuated lift arm assembly and mid-mount double toolbar The completed tractor even has a pto and of course electric lights Grau and his staff have built a second version with some modifications on a similar Cub frame In the future they may offer electric tractor do-it-yourself kits Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Valley Oak Tool Co P O Box 301 Chico Calif 95927 ph 530 342-6188; www valleyoaktool com
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