Is there any cheap and easy way to talk to and change the program on the drive on an e825 2001?
The quick and dirty answer- Yes.
The software is available, but it is old and outdated and no real chance of an update any time soon.
It is clunky, not very intuitive, and more intended toward the engineer/specialist that knows what the numbers do. Many of the settings can be changed and there is absolutely no indication that you made a change in character or performance. It takes a LOT of tinkering and study before you start to get the idea on what is going on when you start to adjust the programming.
What is it that you are wanting to do to your car? There may be other ways to do better. Depending on what you are running, it may be giving it’s all and simply adjusting your controller will not do much.
Thanks for the answers…
I actually am an electronics engineer… (well I used to be. ha ha). So I like numbers… But in all reality I am looking to change the acceleration rate and the top end speed to a much lower value.
I can do the lower speed with a simple resistor, but the accel and decel rates interest me a lot. Since I am making a parade float, the more control I have geared toward that outcome the better for me.
Interesting. We don’t get much call for slowing these things DOWN.
How does Turf work for you? Do you need to go even slower than that?
You could also limit the voltage your throttle sends to the controller. (is that what the resistor would be for?) This might be a quick/dirty solution as you could switch “parade mode” in and out as needed.
I’m not authorized to distribute the sw, but I would think someone on here would share.
I guess that I could buy the sw again in whatever format. In past it was on disk.
Then sell a cable. FSIP no longer supports T1 controllers.
It may be embarrassing for me to sell you a kit for $150 after you see how simple it is. 
That is the issue I am finding all over… no one want so to slow them down only speed them up. ha ha…
Yes, that is what the resister would be for. I was just unsure how the motor would do running at slow speed all the time… But… now that I have torn this apart I see the motor appears to be a TENV motor so running slow “shouldn’t” be an issue. I would just like to control the ramp times better.
LOL… Yeah that would be just horrible… 
I keep looking… I really only want to adjust the ramp times for the accel and decel
Thinking back, the strange/unexpected issue with slowing these cars down was that it weirdly overheated the controller. Watch for a -41 error.
There was a guy that used his flatbed truck as a sprayer platform in his orchard. I think the usual solutions were offered, but I think he disappeared without a follow-up post if there was a solution found.
The unfortunate aspect in using a Gen1 2001 e825 is that the gearbox probably has the 10.33 gears in it. This would be the speed set of gears. If the wheels are the small tires, you might even have the 8.9 gears (which makes the issue worse). I’m not sure if you have anybody else in your area that might want to swap for a 12.44 gearbox.
When is this parade? Are you in a rush?
I think I do have an 8.9, so I was told. There is someone selling a 15.1 replacement gear kit but it is $450. I will go that route if I need to but if I can avoid it by just slowing the speed that would be better. I will have to do some testing. The controller shouldn’t overheat if it was made right. I imagine it is PWM type and that means the duty cycle changes but not the rise and fall time of the power devices…that is where the heat is mostly generated. Higher currents during that time could cause excessive heat if the controller lets it draw like that.
I figure this project will take a year. Christmas of 2025 is my goal.
Here is something like what I want it to be (without the drum), just the locomotive.
I am modifying the steering and seating now so I can sit down on the frame, more or less.
This project is taking a turn and now we should probably change the name of this topic.
How crazy do you want to go? How about moving the driver position to the back of the car and maybe moving to a standing position?
Maybe even figuring out a rear steering setup so this thing will turn really tight? But this is totally getting away from your cheap Gem Platform as a parade float.
Side story - (to get you inspired) A friend of mine started out driving the lady bugs for that parade. They were built with two big wheels on either side of the driver and castors front and back. Independent motors allowed it to turn and do crazy spins, then take off in any direction. I think it was single stick control. (I’ll ask him)
Up the field current slightly will slow it properly by cutting arm amps.
Interesting… I love the Main street electrical parade floats. I know this is way off topic but here are two of my other ones.
So anyway, I really do want to slow this down but now that I think about it, slow by program or slow by resistor means is just slow. The output would be the same regardless… just the ramp times… So drop me a PM on FB
In order to do that I would have to get into the drive to set it higher. I am not sure there is a way without the programmer or software and cable. Unless… you have a way?
File is too big to pm. If I get time I can link to it. Was hoping Byron would do it. I can talk him into anything. 
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Ya- sure. I can have a look. I’d need to figure out a testing rig.
Since this will be an ongoing/long term project I could fit it in somewhere.
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