Help from start to finish

[mojonito]

Before you start unhooking anything on the pump rod string, you need to have someone look at it than knows. It appears but not sure from the pic that the drop pipe is still up at the well seal where it broke off from the discharge T? If so, either the sucker rod or the sell seal is the only thing holding up the drop pipe. There is nothing to pick up on the drop pipe with since the T is broken off. We use a harpoon down inside the pipe to grab it. If you loosen something, you cant move fast enough to keep the drop pipe from dropping. Fishing for pipe is even worse than your worst day fishing.

They either had binding or freezing issues in the past with that setup as evidenced by the splash pipe being welded to the top of the T

Ron Stauffer
Montrose CO

Any idea on finding someone who is experienced? I have a great well guy but he doesn’t do windmills.

[mojonito]

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Looksnlikebthe inner pipe is 8” below. The connecting rod appears to have been welded

[Ron Stauffer]

You can tell if it is a closed top cylinder if there seems like a lot of weight hanging on the pump rod. If the pump rod feels loose, then it is likely an open top cylinder and the pipe has fallen down and sitting on the bottom. If it is as you say,8" down, that is good news. If a closed top, you will pull up the drop pipe when you pull on the sucker rod. You dont want to unhook the sucker rod until you have the sucker rod secured to what you are going to hoist it with. If open top, you will need to harpoon the inside of the pipe or drop down a flared out coupler to try and snag on to some of the threads where the pipe broke off.

The welded sucker rod is how they did the makep (connection of the rod when the mill is at the bottom of the stroke and the rod going to the cylinder when it is at bottom of its stroke).

Finding someone with experience is one thing, getting them to go down that far is another. I was once down to Big Bend and thought that was far south TX. Your well guy is smart, haha

[mojonito]

Is there a good place to order parts from? Looks like I’m doing this by myself. Can’t find anyone in the vicinity to help.

[Ron Stauffer]

There is not a good pic of your tower to determine height but if you have over 21' from top of casing to the platform, then you can use a block and tackle. Cylinders are available from Aermotor, Muller Industries and Dean Bennett. You should pull yours before ordering as you dont know if it is an open or closed top cylinder setup. Galvanized pipe is not special to windmills so any supplier works. Domestic pipe is recommended. Fiberglass and solid 7/16 galvanized sucker rod is special as it is 21'. There are other alternatives to rod. It would be good to have the well specs to know if it is doable without benefit of a pump truck.

Ron

[mtblah]

Henry , very early on I told you how smart and helpful these guy's are . Years of experience & knowledge .

[mojonito]

There is not a good pic of your tower to determine height but if you have over 21' from top of casing to the platform, then you can use a block and tackle. Cylinders are available from Aermotor, Muller Industries and Dean Bennett. You should pull yours before ordering as you dont know if it is an open or closed top cylinder setup. Galvanized pipe is not special to windmills so any supplier works. Domestic pipe is recommended. Fiberglass and solid 7/16 galvanized sucker rod is special as it is 21'. There are other alternatives to rod. It would be good to have the well specs to know if it is doable without benefit of a pump truck.

Ron

I will look to see if there is anything written on the tower t are there other ways to determine the well specs? My plan is to pull everything and measure. I will also take some pictures for you all to see. At the same time, I’m going to go up and look in the gear box to see what I am missing and to see if everything is free.

[mojonito]

Henry , very early on I told you how smart and helpful these guy's are . Years of experience & knowledge .

Agreed

[windybob]

I know I'm late, but heed Ron's advice! Do NOT mess with the well unless you KNOW WHAT YOUR DOING. If you can measure the depth of the well with a string and a pencil weight to see how deep it may be. Don't use any weight that may get caught on something on the way back up. If you decide to disconnect the sucker rod from the pump pole You better hold on to the sucker rod with ( depending on the depth of the well) at least a couple of vicegrips, or a U clamp and cable to a solid part of the tower. If the well is deep it's going to be extremely heavy, so if you do disconnect it from tthe mill, you better darn well have a hold of it good.

Maybe my advice at this time is all for naught. You may have it done by now.