Biggest, (Heaviest) motor in an Attex?

[JRP3]

Since I'm putting 240lbs. of batteries where the engine was plus a 60lb. electric motor on top of the T-20 I was wondering what the heaviest engine weighs that was ever in an Attex. I'd just like to get an idea if my back end is going to sink when I hit the water Or if anyone has gone in the water with a passenger sitting on the engine cover? Or if anyone would like to try that and do some testing for me

[hydromike]

Hey JRP...
I haven't weighed different engines to get an exact number, but I imagine that the most butt-heavy Attex produced would have been the Li'l Truck powered by the OH160 Tecumseh. The JLO and Chaparral twins are pretty darn light little aluminum boxes, but the cast iron Tec' is a big cast iron monster. That, and add the weight of the steel bed-reinforcement in place of the plastic engine cover, and I imagine that it might weigh as much as 75-100 pounds more than a two-stroke version of the same machine. This is just a guess... The Kohler twin I have in the EFI machine is pretty heavy, and may weigh about the same with all its' peripherals. It floats just fine. You might be about 100-150 heavier in the rear than some machines, but I've swam (swum? swimmed? swammed?) about 250 pounds of drilling supplies across a pond before with out much problem. I would just do a lot of "riding R&D" with the machine before you get it bouncing on the trails too hard... You could always balance the weight in the front by adding 374 fog lights. Let's put those batteries to good use!

~m

[Roger S]

It'll probably float like my Response when it was filled with rock.. just barely. Find a very shallow place to try it. I thought the batteries needed to be moved forward, but don't know what room you have. It might be a wheelie machine as is?

[JRP3]

There is room up under the dash where the tank was but then the weight would be up higher than I'd like, plus I'd have to fab up a pretty strong rack. I could also fit one in front of the T-20 but I'd have to re-work the whole shifter setup. If I'm wheelie prone I'll explore those options.

[hdble]

Hi John,
I come in about 275# my attex swims well with me, my son and I weigh in at around 500 total still swims. You might just be opposite the argo's rear down.

[JRP3]

Thanks, good to know. Plus since I'm only about 150# myself I'll probably be OK.

[Amphiman1]

attex electric

Don't forget your drain plugs,ZZZZzzzzzzzzap!! I would put 2 battries up front where gas tank was....balance......a bracket down to the frame would be an easy bolt in. i would think..

[JRP3]

A sturdy bracket down to the frame that still allows the floor pan to drop in and out easily while holding 120lbs of batteries stable wouldn't be that simple, but it is doable. For side to side stability I'd like to keep the weight down low, so I'm putting them all in the back for now, and I think the specs on the Attex show something like a 700lb load capacity, so I should be alright. If I start sinking or flipping over backwards I'll rethink the setup

[hdble]

No, no, flipping over backward, or even sideways is bad real bad.
Swimming means the machine not you.
Alright, I know, I'll stop.
Seriously I don't think you'll have a problem.

[George]

Hey JRP,

How far off are you from a test run/swim?

Will you be taking video? I know I'd like to see it.

[JRP3]

I'm really close, I need to borrow a battery cable crimper and finish the wiring. I was hoping to test it this weekend but I don't know if I'll finish. I don't want to screw up the wiring and fry anything I'll definitely put something up on youtube when it gets moving.