Riding mower conversion

[Homestead]

I have a John Deere X304 riding mower that I would like to convert to a yard utility cart for doing my homesteading chores. I will not be using the mower deck. I'm 72 years old and am starting to have knee problems and have been using this mower with a box mounted to the back of it to do farm chores. It is very handy as it has 4 wheel steer and a very nice variable ratio hydrostatic transmission with internal brake. I would like to retain everything but the 17hp gas engine and replace it with a 24 volt electric motor. This transmission is made to work with a maximum 3750rpm. The engine and trans now operate at a 1 to 1 ratio but I do have room to change pulleys as this is a V belt drive system. I have the ability and equipment to do this but know very little about choosing the higher power motors and controllers used for something like this. This will be used at little more than a walk speed and within my 5 acre homestead. I will not need to reverse the motor or need a brake as my trans. can do all that. Motor speed control would be nice. Can you folks point me the right direction? Thanks.

 

[Apartunis]

To replace the engine with an electric motor of equal peak power will take about 17 kilowatts if it is BLDC or more if it is a brushed motor. To me it sounds like you do not need equal power but you might need equal torque if you intend to tow.

Note that 17kW at 24 volts is about 700 amps. The cables switches and terminals would have to be huge. So if you want that much power or anything close it would be a good idea to use higher voltage. Even at much lower power levels it would probably benefit you cost and tech wise to step up to 48 volts at least. 2 x 24 = 48, 3 x 24 = 72. So you can use a 24V system to charge higher voltages.

 

[gromike]

As the OP isn't going to use it as a mower, only as a tractor, he will need significantly less power. Just a ball park, but a third of 17hp would probably be more than adequate. A 5kw motor should do.
Just an example: I cleared and plowed a building site and a large garden with a horse and a half David Bradley walking tractor. Admittingly, I was a wee bit younger.

 

[Homestead]

As the OP isn't going to use it as a mower, only as a tractor, he will need significantly less power. Just a ball park, but a third of 17hp would probably be more than adequate. A 5kw motor should do.
Just an example: I cleared and plowed a building site and a large garden with a horse and a half David Bradley walking tractor. Admittingly, I was a wee bit younger.

Yes, that's the thing. For this use I now operate the gas engine at idle most of the time and control speed with the trans. I don't have a tach on the engine but I think it's just under 1000 rpm.