DIY EV Tractor walkaround Ford 9n electric conversion

Here's a more detailed view at the tractor and some of the decisions made in the build. Next up I need to add the body and lights.

[@realvanman1]

30 years ago we commonly referred to the Curtis controllers as "Curse-It" controllers. Surprised they're still around!

[@paulmlemay]

Dude, I am so impressed with you and what you have done with a low budget and incredible ingenuity. This is awesome.

[@DuncanAitken]

Nice work, Steven! I love it. Thanks for the tour. I've converted a small Iseki (18HP, Hydrostatic -> 48v, brushed DC motor). I'm currently tackling a larger project: A Nuffield 4/60 (60HP -> 2x Nissan Leaf motors, 3:1 reduction, ~200v DC). They're great fun, aren't they! :)

[@rnedlo9909]

Thanks, you have put a lot of work in it! I have a Simplicity 4041 I hope to do this winter, nothing as complicated as you have done, but I have little knowledge so your tips help me formulate a plan.

[@wesleysgarage7069]

Love to see cool stuff done with these tractors! I have two 8ns and I’m doing a series on my channel of an amphibious one that I built over the course of 2020. Definitely subscribing!

[@simpleagain1]

Damn how cool is that old tractor! Nice work! I wish someone around here could teach me how to do this. I’d do it in a heartbeat

[@RetroElectric]

About to do mine I think.

[@richhandler2621]

I also have a 9n I am looking to convert. Thanks for the upload!

[@stevenmurphree]

I made an update video about what is working and not working after 1 year. Check that out before spending $!

[@LivingOutHere]

That is super cool!! It looks to be 1 of 1!!

[@rickygarrett6508]

You could put the sheetmetal back on it and itd look almost unaltered. Nice work man

[@FBPrepping]

Great work, Steven. Currently my country is going through a severe crisis induced by the world communism, in order to use our country as a launching platform to threaten the USA. After being one of the top oil producing countries, now we don´t have even fuel to go buying groceries, nor diesel to harvest our crops. But we will survive, no matter what. Thanks for sharing this.

[@MrCustomconstruction]

Man I have been wanting to do this.

[@flacksonnkhoma8901]

Good job Brother

[@scottbaker9066]

Very cool , not expensive, just making something that works!

[@waynepedder2033]

Nice work

[@GNiessen]

I want to do that with our Gator 6x4. It can handle a lot of weight. And the current motor is only about 18hp.

[@radamson1]

I wish you could make more of a how-to video in the place of this one. I love what you have done but need a little more guidance to do one of my own.

[@sajucis]

Time machine. From history to the future

[@mariaribeiro7851]

Super !! Thanks..!!

[@TAKinPoland]

The important part is that will it be able to take tha load of the plow.

[@bobhotchkiss2438]

Great Video! I intend to make a similar conversion to an 8N, but I intend to use a 48 volt system to drive a smaller motor that mounts to a sealed 3:1 gear reduction. I've got some questions I hope you can answer. First, I can't see any reason to retain the clutch since an 8N doesn't have a live PTO that is still powered even when the clutch is depressed. It doesn't look like you retained the clutch, but I've seen an EV 8N where they did, and another fella that said he wished he had retained the clutch. Now that you've built yours, do you wish you had retained the clutch? Second, I noticed you have washers between the adapter plate for your front sub frame and the bell housing. Did you do that to compensate for a lack of "flatness" in the adapter plate, or was there another reason?

[@stevenmurphree]

That's a correct assumption about direct drive clutchless. I used the original clutch disc splines center for my motor adapter, though. I dont regret clutchless. Good eye on the washers! That's a temporary spacer to account for the machining with the materials on-hand approach.

[@timothychapin8879]

I did a 8N conversion about 9 years ago.. I went clutch-less. I ran out of hands when using a scoop scraper. One hand on the 3pt. control and one on the throttle.. none for the steering. I ended up hooking a pot box to the clutch peddle that slows the tractor to a stop when depressed. (similar to a clutch but not quite the same). the second pot box makes the tractor operate similar to it's gas counter parts. www.evalbum.com/4736 and www.diyelectriccar.com/threads/e-ford-8n.80143/#post-327616

[@Altair885]

Fantastic work! Been thinking about doing something like this to an old Ferguson 35, the engine in it had got frosted and cracked the block, then the head was stolen so it's just sat there ever since. Anyway I just wanted to ask how much work would you say you get out of a full charge with battery capacity you have? Ideally I would love it if were possible to have an electric tractor that could run a small mower, turner and bailer in order to bale a small field, trouble is I suspect all of these activities are going to very heavy on battery power and I'm unsure what capacity I would need in order to complete each of these tasks, especially the mowing as that is going to be determined by things like moisture and density of the grass ect, it always used more diesel anyway, I suppose I could make an educated guess knowing how much fuel I used and the tractors power rating to determine how many watts of energy would be needed. Anyway any thoughts on battery usage would be great and very much appreciated. Keep up the excellent work! Cheers.

[@stevenmurphree]

I get a couple hours of utility work like dragging logs or pulling a small cultivator. This has a 3.7kwh battery pack.

[@Altair885]

Thanks, that's very useful information. Guess I'll have to just cram batteries into every nook and cranny 😁, it least it'll give me a bit more weight to aid with the traction!

[@devonolsen1331]

Do you have videos of the conversion process? Or a link for where you learned how? Concept makes sense to me but unclear what to wire to where, etc.

[@HunterReport]

Noice!!!

[@jasperaj1]

cool project! The stressed member at the front replacing the engine as a stressed member in the chassis is probably a bit on the weak side for real tractor work. But for light work in the yard it is probably enough. Anyway, cool project! Could you say anything about the cost of the components?

[@stevenmurphree]

If anything I am concerned I overbought the frame replacement and the case would be the first failure point. Last I checked I was $2200 into the whole project including tractor. Most expensive item soliton Jr controller that I run now. Free batteries.

[@jasperaj1]

@@stevenmurphree Well the plate is not flush against the clutch housing. You have those screws with the washers in between the two surfaces. So that may cause the screws to break out of the clutch housing. It looks a bit flimsy all in all.

[@stevenmurphree]

Yeah the pilot for the input shaft was too long and pressed into the closed end bearing on the motor I used. I was afraid to cut it off initially but next time the tractor is split one small 1/4" non splined section should purchase enough clearance. Eight 3/8" (m10) grade 5 bolts is in excess of 50,000lb shear strength.

[@tuelosok.2023]

Cute

[@tomengel5815]

Wonderful! I would love to see this. Where are you located?

[@stevenmurphree]

Middle TN

[@tomengel5815]

@@stevenmurphree A little too far away. I am in northern New Mexico. I am looking for the led lights. Do you have a link to what you bought. I looked on Ebay and there are 19,000. Thanks for the help.

[@d911tru4]

How long can you use it for, before having to charge again? And charging time?

[@stevenmurphree]

I get a couple hours of utility chores. I've experimented with different chargers but about 4 hours.

[@lj516]

Would it be possible to get the contact info for the salvage yard you went to? I own an energy solutions company that works with a local parts dealer with a similar issue and we provide them recycling for battery systems they can't sell so that the packs don't end up in the ground. Just a company name and location in the country would be great! Thanks!

[@stevenmurphree]

Sorry but keeping that source private for confidentiality and maybe some future projects. I'd recommend reaching out to local junkyards as these smaller less popular hybrid batteries can be a burden for them.

[@kellybarthel8060]

Nice, but what can it do? And how long can it do it for?

[@stevenmurphree]

I made a 1yr update video talking about that.

[@joeschlotthauer840]

6:04, wishbone...

[@zachm5873]

I’d love to do something similar with an old Cub Cadet (on a far smaller scale). Any way I can reach out to you to get some more information?

[@stevenmurphree]

Not sure how to DM from KZbin. I posted some update videos that will hopefully help.

[@scottbaker9066]

Would you like to sell your Curtis controller? Then you could get the one you really want?

[@stevenmurphree]

I have actually already swapped on a soliton jr and would sell the Curtis. Not sure what messenger platform I can send pics/info on from here.

[@davidhilton7780]

KISS

[@kmuralikrishna1582]

Is that forklift motor?

[@stevenmurphree]

Yes

[@kmuralikrishna1582]

@@stevenmurphree I really don't know.. What is use of forklift motor.. As far I know It requires less rating system ( in terns of volts) like 36/48v, means it has low speed. It has max loading capacity. Please reply few more info ...what is the purpose of forklift.. Because I have seen few mates used forklift motor in car as well.

[@stevenmurphree]

@@kmuralikrishna1582 it all depends on motor specifications. Forklifts are just a common source for large, inexpensive DC motors.

[@bertsmith1682]

long live gas

[@tysonernst9657]

Thats all great but ....thats about as far as he will drive it.... 20 feet??..

[@stevenmurphree]

It runs for a couple hours of chores.

[@Валодимир]

Який контролер

[@pirpy2]

Hello great video! I think you must cool the botom side of the controller ? I'm working on a similar conversion but with a clutch kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaC5k2Cui7uCfK8 motor is netgain warp9, controller is zapi h2b, 600A 80V I'm also having problems with heat disipation on the zapi , I sourced a bigger cooler from 22 kW industrial inverter, hope it will be enaugh. I still don't have a propper charger.

[@rjminton534]

👀 😦 😳

[@darrinmcgann]

My 9N runs on gas... Much more simple.

[@farminghuntingtrapping-fht]

You ruined that poor oldy

[@stevenmurphree]

It was a $350 tractor that had a locked up and disassembled engine so I kinda saved it.

[@farminghuntingtrapping-fht]

@@stevenmurphree wow that’s actually really cool what you did then! 👍 good job don’t know why I was so grumpy when I wrote my comment 😂😂😂

[@farminghuntingtrapping-fht]

@@stevenmurphree I guess I didn’t even watch enuf of the video to be worthy of commenting sorry man but great job 👏👍