[ausev] This weekend?

[Chris Robison]

Looks like I've got something that's going to take a chunk out of the
middle of Sunday, from about 2pm until 3 or so.   I can arrive early
though, and come back when I'm done.

If just raising the truck a few inches would help it to clear a battery
pack sitting just above the ground, I have two of my wheel casters (you
put them under the truck wheels to allow the truck to be pushed around),
they might raise the truck high enough to allow it to be pushed off of the
lowered pack.  I can bring them on Sunday.

  --chris



On Thu, August 3, 2006 4:43 pm, mark witt said:
> Hi...I like the idea about taking our time. Also I sold my motorcycle and
> cleared out a nice big area in my garage. I have the batteries on the
> right
> side near the garage door so they are out of the way. I would be willing
> to
> invest in some good stands and other equipment that will make it easier.
> How
> about we meet at my garage sometime on Sunday and forge a plan and figure
> the best way to proceed. What would be a good time for those that could
> make
> it?
>     I could also start to procure a few things Friday and Sat. if we
> thought
> we would actually drop it on Sunday. Thoughts? Witt
>
>
>>From: "Aaron Choate" <achoate at gmail.com>
>>Reply-To: AustinEV announcements list <ausev at austinev.org>
>>To: eeyore at phototropia.org, "AustinEV announcements list"
>><ausev at austinev.org>
>>Subject: Re: [ausev] This weekend?
>>Date: Thu, 3 Aug 2006 16:16:43 -0500
>>
>>This is basically a good idea.  However, there will need to be some
>>lifting of one of the ends of the truck before it is rolled out from
>>over the pack or the pack is pulled out from under it.  The pack is
>>too tall at points.
>>
>>/AC
>>
>>On 8/3/06, Chris Robison <eeyore at phototropia.org> wrote:
>> > I'm reminded of how we pulled the engine out of the MR2.  We set the
>> > engine down, and then used an engine hoist to lift the car.  We then
>>slid
>> > the engine out from under  (it was set down on cardboard to make this
>> > easier).
>> >
>> > How about something like this?  :
>> >
>> > A) Start with the truck on the ground
>> > B) Insert a palette jack from the side between the wheels, raising it
>> to
>> > support the pack
>> > C) Place a set of supports (maybe just wooden blocks) under the pack
>> so
>>it
>> > will be supported just above the lowest height of the palette jack
>> > D) Unbolt the pack from the truck and lower it with the palette jack
>>until
>> > it's resting on the supports
>> > E) Remove the palette jack
>> > F) Roll the truck away to expose the pack, which is sitting on the
>>ground.
>> >
>> >   --chris
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > On Thu, August 3, 2006 2:12 pm, Derek Bridges said:
>> > >     What we learned at the first attempt to change out the battery
>>pack
>> > > was the need to do our planning in some detail. We could take a shot
>>at
>> > > removing the pack on Saturday if Roy can make arrangements with his
>> > > friend's shop before then but I would recommend that we meet on
>> Sunday
>> > > strictly to do some detailed measurements, research and planning. It
>> > > would just suit my overly analytical, under achieving nature to
>> wring
>> > > out the thinking and the talking before starting the lifting.
>> > >     The thing that bothers me most is the danger associated with
>>lifting
>> > > the truck several feet in the air then having people stoop under it
>> to
>> > > do strenuous work dismantling the battery pack.  Tall tripod jack
>>stands
>> > > are available which have a range of about 55" to 83". If the shop
>> with
>> > > the lift has these stands it would make things more nearly safe
>>although
>> > > I'm still not crazy about the idea. I would prefer to find a way of
>> > > moving the still-loaded battery pack out from under the truck. The
>>pack
>> > > is longer than the fore-aft distance between the tires so it would
>>have
>> > > to come out from the front or rear. We could use the winch to pull
>> it
>> > > out if it were on some casters or if it were on wooden blocks on
>> some
>> > > kind of relatively low friction surface.  Nylon slider pads on sheet
>> > > metal?  If we built a dolly with 2 each, 200 lb rated casters under
>>each
>> > > of the 6 battery pack hard points, we would basically be within the
>> > > caster ratings, not withstanding the heavier loads at the ends where
>>the
>> > > batteries are stacked two high in the pack. If the dolly was on a
>> flat
>> > > concrete floor that was long enough, we could then pull it out
>> pretty
>> > > easily.  Getting the pack and the truck aligned for re-assembly is a
>> > > whole nuther topic.
>> > >     I also like the idea of raising the truck in Mark's garage where
>>we
>> > > can take all the time we need. We  could raise it incrementally and
>> > > place the tires on big blocks made of railroad ties or landscaping
>> > > timbers.  Complicated and time consuming and maybe not even safe but
>> I
>> > > find it appealing.
>> > >
>> > >     Which ever approach we use, we should take some measurements to
>> > > answer the following questions before lifting any thing.
>> > >     1. Exactly how high does the truck need to be raised in order
>> for
>> > > people to work under it?  How tall are the batteries, how heavy are
>>they
>> > > and how much vertical space is needed for disassembly?
>> > >     2. Is there enough Horizontal room under the truck to place tall
>> > > jack stands and still not interfere with the battery pack or with
>>people
>> > > working on it? Take into account the footprint of the jack stand and
>>the
>> > > limited number of hard points where it could attach to the chassis
>> or
>> > > axles.
>> > >     3. How high does the truck need to be raised in order for the
>> > > battery pack to be dragged out from under it going out the rear?
>> Going
>> > > out the front?
>> > >       4. How much space is under the pack? Current thinking is to
>> put
>> > > blocks (or a dolly) under the pack and deflate the tires enough to
>>rest
>> > > the pack on the blocks.
>> > >
>> > >  From the budget-is-no-object department:
>> > > Here is a picture of a portable lift that does exactly what we need.
>> > > Wonder where we can rent one.
>> > > http://www.bencostuff.com/images/lifts/alm/we18-2.jpg
>> > >
>> > > Here is a close up view.
>> > > http://www.bencostuff.com/images/lifts/alm/we18-1.jpg
>> > >
>> > > Here is how we will end up doing the job.
>> > >
>>http://www.bencostuff.com/images/past%20installs/large/Not%20a%20good%20idea.jpg
>> > > I have seen the same picture posted elsewhere with the caption "Why
>> > > women live longer than men."
>> > >
>> > > Lots to think about. Any comments? Suggested meeting time?
>> > >
>> > > Derek Bridges
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > mark witt wrote:
>> > >> Hi  all....well the batteries and the NGS tester have arrived at my
>> > >> house.
>> > >> I'm still unwrapping them and charging them up. I am available both
>>Sat.
>> > >> and
>> > >> Sunday. Maybe we could drop the pack on Sat. and transfer the truck
>>and
>> > >> old
>> > >> batteries and case back to my house. On Sunday afternoon we could
>>gather
>> > >> in
>> > >> my garage to check everything out and see what we would need in
>>addition
>> > >> to
>> > >> what I have. I will post some info directly related to the "Ranger
>> > >> Reformation" project so everyone can see the fun we shall be
>> having.
>> > >> (Chris
>> > >> has seen it) I still have the truck loaded on the trailer from Sat.
>> > >> night at
>> > >> the movies.(WKTEC) I'm working on a garage closer to my SE Austin
>>house
>> > >> but
>> > >> the NW Austin one that Roy lined up may be the one we
>> use...Thoughts?
>> > >>     I will be out of town from Aug. 11 maybe through Sat. the
>>19th..so
>> > >> getting the truck going for the Ball prob. wont happen but it would
>>be
>> > >> great
>> > >> to drive it around at the Roundup...Ranger Witt
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >>> From: "Chris Robison" <eeyore at phototropia.org>
>> > >>> Reply-To: eeyore at phototropia.org,        AustinEV announcements
>> list
>> > >>> <ausev at austinev.org>
>> > >>> To: ausev at austinev.org
>> > >>> Subject: [ausev] This weekend?
>> > >>> Date: Wed, 2 Aug 2006 17:36:31 -0500 (CDT)
>> > >>>
>> > >>> It's looking like my garage is going to be closed this weekend, at
>> > >>> least
>> > >>> at the normal time on Saturday afternoon.  I'm wondering if
>> there's
>> > >>> some
>> > >>> alternative venues that might be open instead.
>> > >>>
>> > >>> As far as I know, the two projects nearest to being on the road
>>right
>> > >>> now
>> > >>> are Mark Witt's electric Ranger (needs new battery retrofit, Witt
>>has
>> > >>> the
>> > >>> parts!) and Erik Bigelow's Cabriolet.
>> > >>>
>> > >>> Either or both of these would be fantastic to have available for
>>show
>> > >>> at
>> > >>> the Sustainable Shopper's Ball, and/or the Roundup in
>>Fredericksburg.
>> > >>> Do
>> > >>> we have a possibility for a work session on these, or any other
>> > >>> vehicles
>> > >>> this weekend?
>> > >>>
>> > >>> I'll probably have some time on Sunday to pitch in...
>> > >>>
>> > >>>   --chris
>> > >>>
>> > >>>
>> > >>> _______________________________________________
>> > >>> AusEV mailing list
>> > >>> AusEV at austinev.org
>> > >>> http://www.austinev.org/mailman/listinfo/ausev
>> > >>>
>> > >>
>> > >>
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>> > >>
>> > >>
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