Zero turn r/c weedeater

[lincpimp]

Just a theoretical idea here. I was eyeballing my new Gravely zero turn lawnmower and though that it would be cool to make a rc zero turn weed eater.

Started with the idea to stretch a MT chassis, and mount a weedeater power head to the center. That was going to make issues with 4wd and any sort of center drive shafts. So I came up with the zero turn design idea. rear wheels drive, single motor for each wheel.

I will use a stick radio, and a pair of 14xl motors on 3s lipo each going thru a pair of MM's setup as forward to brake to reverse. I need to make some custom gearboxes with double 5:1 reductions to get the speed down to around 8mph max.

Now I had planned to to use the 2 stoke weedeater power head to drive the blades, but then I decided that a large outrunner would be even better. Run the linked motor below on 10s lipo thru a airplane esc that I have lying around. I can set the dx6i to control that esc via the switches so that I can have low and high speeds and set different rates as well.

http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/s...(Eq:_4030_AXi)

Plan to use this instead of the usual line that weed eaters use: http://www.trimnclean.com/http-//tri...ml/prod_2.html


So I plan to make a custom welded steel chassis, mount the gearboxes up higher at the back and use dogbones to drive the rear wheels. That way it will have plenty of clearance. I will make some sort of bearing carrier to hold the 3 blade cutter and take the load. The outrunner will direct drive the blades. The rear wheels will be narrower than the width of the blades as they spin, so that I can drive past objects and cut right up to them. I will use some casters on the front, just like zero turn mowers do. Battery mounting will be at the front, for optimum weight distribution.


My question is do you guys think that outrunner will be enough to power the blades? It is rated for 60 amps, and at 10s that will be 2200 watts. My intended use will be going around oples and trees, not cutting thick grass.+

All of the other equipment that I mentioned save for the outrunner is already in my possession. I have 2 14xl motors, 2 MM, a dx6i and rx, 60amp hv air esc, 2 4500 30c 3s lipos, 2 5000 5s lipo (for 10s) and plenty of building materials. Should I do this? I think it would be cool!

And here is pic of my new mower! http://pikelawnandgarden.com/resources/44z.jpg

It was $6800 new when the original owner bought it in late 06. I picked it up with 42 hours on it, not a scratch on it either, for 2500 bucks... Smoking deal.