Elec-Trak: A New Concept in Home Ground-Care

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This is a 1970's promotional film for General Electric's lawn and garden tractor line known as the Elec-Trak!
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In the 1970's, General Electric produced an entire line of electric lawn tractors. They were versatile and had an amazing array of accessories available. The drive system itself was a 36VDC setup using six 6-volt flooded lead-acid batteries, similar to a golf cart. The machines were very reliable and maintain quite a following today.
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2 окт 2024

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Комментарии : 86

@zeon5323 2 года назад

It is 2021 and I still have the E15 I bought new in 1970! Also have most attachments. Most reliable item I have ever owned. Smooth, powerful, quiet and inexpensive to operate.

@bustopninja4520 2 года назад

Good on ya! We had an E15 too. Loved it except we had 100 trees and busted those mower casters more than a few times. Even though the tractor was heavy enough for snow blade, we also threw chains on the tires.

@robertcornelisse8664 Год назад

These tractors look awesome. I literally just found out about these.

@gsilva220 5 лет назад

"Although X is not recommended, it works" Good old times...

@Jeff-ow4ud 5 лет назад

I have a buddy who has one. Restored it and he uses it every week to mow his grass. Loves it.

@anthonyhill503 2 года назад

Dad owned one of these.. great tractor..I mowed our 1 acre lawn with this for 3 years.loved the front mower.

@timothyneiswander3151 5 лет назад

When I saw the electric grass shears it brought back memories of doing yard work as a kid.

@edwardpate6128 4 года назад

I cannot believe this concept has not be revived!

@BenjaminNelsonX 4 года назад

There are a few electric lawn tractors available new now, but I think the G.E. Elec-Trac was the best ever built.

@joeaverager Год назад

There are alternatives but none are as affordable as a used GE Electrak that has been renovated with a little TLC. Mowed this weekend for the first time this season. Flipped the switch and went to work.

@Usul 3 года назад

How is this still not a product I can buy? This would be incredibly useful, especially with updated technology and safety features.

@BenjaminNelsonX 3 года назад

These tractors are still in use and have a cult following. The good news is that with advancements in batteries, outdoor equipment manufacturers are now making battery powered equipment. A few of them are now making electric riding lawn mowers. Ego is coming out with an electric zero-turn in the spring of 2021.

@fletcher3913 5 лет назад

I like watching old product commercials.

@joeaverager Год назад

The narrator sounds like the mayor (?) from the Andy Griffith Show. Still mowing with our 1972 E15. Batteries are getting tired (~6 years old). Probably last year for them, but thinking about upgrading to lithium next time. The FB and email groups both report longer run times and slower battery aging. Still, I was able to mow a couple of acres with the old batteries this past weekend. Just alot slower than when the batteries were new. Love this old machine.

@FFVoyager 5 лет назад

0:39 I particularly like the scratched paint on the model used for close up!

@RPRosen-ki2fk 5 лет назад

This is BRILLIANT Ben, thanks for posting it. I'll predict this will earn lots of views for you, over time. I LOVED that the editor slipped in a cheese cake shot at 0:04. It's like GE was the Tesla of the 70's. I don't understand why it didn't take off. I hope some one revisits this and makes a small cabbed tractor that can handle all facets of a 10 acre spread. I'd be interested.

@BenjaminNelsonX 5 лет назад

I’m pretty sure the image of the woman is actually used for color calibration. It shows skin tone, and she is wearing a colorful outfit. That, or it’s the producers wife.

@joeaverager 3 года назад

@@BenjaminNelsonX I wonder who she was? I thought for a moment she was Diana Muldaur.

@jackgutschenritter1260 5 лет назад

I had one of these in 1980. It came with a house I bought in Pewaukee. I didn't take it seriously at the time and sold it cheaply to someone smarter than me. I would love to have that baby back today and put Li-Ion batteries in it. I did recently find a newly designed commercial zero turn mower that is all-electric with Li-Ion batteries, but cost is around $20K. Also of interest to me is an all-electric ATV. Looks like a polaris but is Li-Ion. Cost is not bad at $7k.

@statewidefilms 5 лет назад

Mr Nelson that is definitely you ... truly i would like one as well ... nice find on the old movie file .☝️

@frankz1125 5 лет назад

I want one.

@Apafej627 5 лет назад

Very cool, it must have cost a fortune back in the day, with all the accessories. 😊

@joeaverager 3 года назад

$1500 or so I think for the E15. That's about $12K now. Plus accessories. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. A VW Beetle that the time was roughly $2000. I only spent ten seconds on the Beetle price research so I could be wrong.

@MitzvosGolem1 3 года назад

Volvo just released battery payloader and mini excavator . I just tried them Excellent

@noahbianchi1920 3 года назад

I want one!

@BenjaminNelsonX 3 года назад

There are still LOTS of these tractors out there, and they have quite the fan following. They commonly show up on places like eBay and Craigslist, but probably the best way to find one is being a member of an online group such as facebook.com/groups/55780309812

@noahbianchi1920 3 года назад

@@BenjaminNelsonX I will be keeping my eyes open for one now that I know about them.

@Zachry86 2 года назад

Its incredible that these machines came out so long ago and now in 2022 we are just bearly getting something similar and useful. The garden tractor/lawn mower companies should be ashamed how slow they are at building units from the ground up designed for electric drive. Get rid of belts and idlers and give us all electric goodness like this.

@BenjaminNelsonX 2 года назад

The other thing that always amazes me is just how well-built the Elec-Traks are compared to any modern electric mower.

@Zachry86 2 года назад

@@BenjaminNelsonX Yeah. I have quite a large property and bought a used Husqvarna becuase I was sure it would mean quality. Rather then a cheap new riding mower. Its horrible. The belts and idlers is a horrible design. Ive had it for few seasons now and it always costs me at least 300-400 dollars in parts each summer with downtime. Ive been looking at the Ryobi and the new EGO power, but they are just to pricey for me now.

@hiddengrousefarm 5 лет назад

This is a well thought out design. I am slowly converting to battery yard tools and I am super happy with the results. Planning to sell or donate my gas engine tools since I never use them anymore. How do you like the front mounted mower deck? I've always thought that would be a better design for larger yards. Thank you for posing this film.

@BenjaminNelsonX 5 лет назад

The front-mount mower deck is a nice design for cutting the grass BEFORE you run it over with your tires. You can also pull straight up to a building or tree and cut all the way right up to it. The one disadvantage is that it's not great for mowing a tight circle around a tree, because the deck is in front. A mid-mount deck is better for that.

@cayman9873 3 года назад

My uncle bought the E20 around 1972 and I mowed with it and snowblowed. It was super fast and could mow about half his 1.5 acre yard on a charge. I remember he liked the quiet operation and not having to get gas for it. I think it was 50 years ahead of its time. I think it would sell well now. The machine was 100 percent steel panels. I think the wiring looked pretty crude. It had a multi speed auto trans that kept ramping up speed. My uncle won his neighborhood tractor race in his every year.

@robertcornelisse8664 Год назад

Haha this is cool to read

@Jeiiyman87 5 лет назад

If I ever hit the lottery I'm going to get all the pieces and have it all professionally restored... Awesome video

@BenjaminNelsonX 5 лет назад

You can commonly find these tractors on Craigslist for not a lot of money. You don't have to be rich, just interested in the history and using them.

@jeremydavis2595 4 года назад

I just became proud owner of an E15 & E14. The 15 is operational. 14 just needs some wiring fixed. I love it so much I don't even like using my gas tractor anymore!

@cyngaethlestan8859 4 года назад

Thank you for posting this, very good, promotional video. I'm in the U.K. and would love a modern version of this machine. Capable of most tasks you could reasonably ask and battery powered. I think any new machine should also be able to lift light forks as well, they wouldn't have to be heavy duty but forks & pallets are so useful. (the weight of the batteries at the front should help) As I only have 5 acres I can't justify the massive cost of a 'proper' tractor but a good solid Garden tractor would be a huge help. Alas proper GTs never came over here in any numbers and the few old ones that come up on ebay are insainly expensive.

@joeaverager 3 года назад

I'm mowing about 4 acres with an E15. I also have an E12S that is in pretty fair condition but doesn't run. I'm considering rebuilding it and adding a Curtis controller for modern controls and fine speed control. Honestly I think these machines are buy it for life machines as long as the rust is kept away and the maintenance done regularly.

@gordoncoppock6004 2 года назад

Hi, I have used these in the UK for over 15 years. I have a top end ElectTrak Model I5 (the industrial version that can take a front fork lift attachment) for sale on ebay. Its bodywork is the best of the ones and is excellent I have and I've decided to reluctantly put it up for sale since I use others as my workhorses.

@rick-the-gardener.3349 5 лет назад

put me down for one ;)

@jeremydavis2595 4 года назад

I own 2. E15 & E14, coming from a guy who USED to enjoy gas engines....not so much now lol. I can't wait to convert all my attachments from my gas tractor to work on them.

@manuelmolina5368 5 лет назад

Wow. ☺️👏👏👏👏👏👏👍👍

@markdanielczyk944 2 месяца назад

When a GE can smoke a Deere, I'm in! 💪👍

@ATCRyderX 3 года назад

One of the finest products to ever come out of Schenigurdy - Sadly, everybody scrapped these many moons ago when the 6 or however many full size car batteries all needed to be replaced at $70 a pop in 1985. =( Edit: Don't censor your comments, *Bum* .

@BenjaminNelsonX 3 года назад

There are still a large number of these tractors out there! They have a cult following. For those on Facebook, check out "Elec-Trak garden tractor fan club"

@BenjaminNelsonX 3 года назад

Not sure what the reference to editing a comment is, but I promise not to correct the spelling of "Schenectady".

@ATCRyderX 3 года назад

@@BenjaminNelsonX Schenigurdy*

@32BitLink 5 лет назад

Congratulations on 70k subscribers!

@BenjaminNelsonX 5 лет назад

Thank you!

@NeilBlanchard 5 лет назад

Trim the hedge while driving? Yikes! Otherwise, I like it! Do they say what type of batteries it used?

@BenjaminNelsonX 5 лет назад

These machines were designed to run off of six 6V flooded lead-acid batteries, similar to a golf cart.

@NeilBlanchard 5 лет назад

@@BenjaminNelsonX Thanks, that is sorta' what I figured.

@joeaverager 3 года назад

@@NeilBlanchard There are engineering types in the hobby using electric car batteries too. More initial cost, more range, no acid to manage.

@AndyFromm 5 лет назад

that tiller looked like a joke

@joeaverager Год назад

The one on the back? It weighs a ton...

@jeremydavis2595 Год назад

Thanks!

@EVBud69 5 лет назад

I kinda expected you to give a modern day review of this product.

@JMLoll 4 года назад

Won't surprise me if Tesla made something similar.

@wantblackwolf 5 лет назад

It's cool to see people still own these. edit: for $2700 you can buy 4 of them on ebay with attachments.

@asterixthecat855 5 лет назад

I can't find any...

@wantblackwolf 5 лет назад

@@asterixthecat855 just put "elec trak mower" in the ebay search change to highest price 1st and you will see 2 ads for these $2700 for 4 and 1 for $1200

@patrickmckowen2999 5 лет назад

Might still be cheaper to convert an ICE to electric if u just want it for moving Cheers

@joeaverager 3 года назад

@@patrickmckowen2999 I'd argue that these older tractors are made of better stuff. The Sears (MTD) tractor I owned was made of thin gauge metal. I ran the dickens out of it for several years mowing grass for income while I went to college and it was good but lots of cracks and tears in the steel after a while. The GE tractors are just bent sheetmetal of a thick gauge. A lifetime product. No soft edges or sophisticated looks about them. All work and all business. ;)

@KiwiEVadventures 5 лет назад

That's neat!

@christhomas9624 4 года назад

Way ahead of it's Time & NOW, is the Time !!!!!

@jontscott 5 лет назад

I guess the only thing it did not have was a good solid battery tech to run on... but glad you fixed that on your one :-)

@BenjaminNelsonX 5 лет назад

The flooded 6V batteries worked fine. That's what's still used in golf carts. Also, it's usually GOOD for a tractor to have weight, the the mass of the batteries was actually a benefit. Of course, if you put lithium batteries in instead, you can pop wheelies....

@BushImports 5 лет назад

Where did you find that on the net? It looks /sounds like something made back in the 60's or before. It is interesting. Is that the brand mower yours is? You didn't get the mower with yours did you?

@BenjaminNelsonX 5 лет назад

This is a film that I got a physical copy of and had it digitally transferred so that you could all watch it. These tractors were made by General Electric in New York state in the 1970's. I have a pair of them, including the mower deck and regularly mow my lawn with it.

@BushImports 5 лет назад

@@BenjaminNelsonX That's cool, Thanks Ben. I knew it was General Electric , the film said so, but I could not remember what the junk mower you bought to fix up was.

@hanscraig1850 2 года назад

A friend had one when i was a kid it was wonderful, wish they made them now.

@BenjaminNelsonX 2 года назад

There's still LOTS of these tractors out there! Keep your eyes open on Craigslist and those types of places.

@haugstule 5 лет назад

6:47 now that is impressive, first garden tractor i see that can roll a snowball like a pistenbully.

@BenjaminNelsonX 5 лет назад

I've used the snow-thrower and it works quite well.

@haugstule 5 лет назад

@@BushImports a snow-groomer, a tracked machine that tills alpine slopes.

@haugstule 5 лет назад

@@BushImports you really had to ask in form of a comment instead of spending the same effort googling it.... smh, this is 2019......

@richardriehle4159 5 лет назад

ben, are you selling the valence batteries on ebay.....if so, i would be interested.

@BenjaminNelsonX 5 лет назад

No, sorry, I am NOT selling Valence batteries, but I can put you in touch with the guy I did that road trip with. That's Seth Muller. Contact him through his web page. He has batteries for sale. www.mullerindustriesusa.com

@stanislavjaracz 5 лет назад

@@BenjaminNelsonX what do you think about BatteryHookup.com?

@pashko90 5 лет назад

I love this old videos!

@victorvannatter312 3 года назад

That was a really cool ad. I presume these things must have been very expensive or had really low run time. Because otherwise that's all we should be using today

@BenjaminNelsonX 3 года назад

Run time was just fine. They were a little on the expensive side. They were made in upstate New York, and there are still PLENTY of these tractors out and about, especially in that area. I know that historically, General Electric employees had a pretty good employee discount and company loyalty. It's my theory that lots of GE employees bought them, as upstate NY seems to have more than anywhere else.

@victorvannatter312 3 года назад

@@BenjaminNelsonX unfortunately here in Ontario, Canada, there aren't many around. The ones that I have found, people want around $1,000 for them with rusted shells and no batteries

@joeaverager Год назад

@@victorvannatter312 I had to drive a ways (across a couple states) to buy my two four years ago. Bought my tiller attachment from Ben and he shipped it via Fastenal. Both methods will put a GE in your garage. Plenty of them available used.

@victorvannatter312 Год назад

@@joeaverager in the states sure. Canada is a bit more spread out. I’ve found a couple but they were scrap, and asking price was for gold