Aermotor - New vs Refurbished

[Runway]

I posted a while back that I had taken down a windmill on a property that I planned to restore and put back up. Come to find out, it was a 612, which I was advised not to use that as my project that I plan to put back into working life. Basically this will be used to pump water into a pond, mostly for looks, but it will be working quite often. I have found some ebay that are refurbished A702's. Does that seem like a solid route to go? I was also going to quote out new, but I like the idea of the older style. I would assume a fresh A702 mounted on a new 40ft tower would provide many years work, but should I look to go a different route?

[Windcatcher530 Dan]

Just make sure the seller who is selling the rebuilt 702 is honest and reliable and willing to guarantee the mill. There's been a few on the forum who got burned with rebuilt mills !!

[Justineckel]

I sent you a PM

[Ron Stauffer]

What most consider the classic 702 or Chicago era built Aermotors of 30s, 40s and 50s have the open style hub, hot dipped riveted wheel and matching style spokes. Refurbished may or may not have the open style hub. If refurbished have new spokes, wheel, bone and vane, they will vary from the original Chicago design but will interchange. So the question becomes, how aesthetically pure do you want the head to be? Also new towers for 8' mills are 2 x 3/16 corner angle versus the original 2 1/4 x 1/8. The difference is very visually noticeable.

If it was me, I would locate a good used Chicago tower and put a genuine Aermotor 802 mill with the hot dipped wheel and vane option. Cost would be similar to refurbished with new tower. You would get the benefit of the longer lasting garlock bearing motor, and new mast and furl that comes with complete head.

Ron Stauffer
Montrose CO

[Runway]

Thanks for the response! I am pricing out some different options. The only towers I have found around here are pretty wasted or have been cobbled on quite a bit. Not to say they can't be fixed, but we will see.