Axtel Model A rebuild

[Centex Windmills]

Dang I've been moving so completely missed this, it sure looks like a axtel tower cap.

[Centex Windmills]

Well finally got back to this one trying to wrap it up to put up along with 3 more this fall. Got the old mast pipe cut off and had a new section machined, then had a smaller piece machined to slip inside to add some strength to the joint. Now to just weld it up.

[PaulV]

Looks great Brandon. Glad you back working on it. Keep up the momentum!

[windybob]

It's been quite a while since I did mine. I do remember that the end caps and number of shim gaskets determine the end-play, spacing and/or preload on bearings and shafts I believe.

[Centex Windmills]

It's been quite a while since I did mine. I do remember that the end caps and number of shim gaskets determine the end-play, spacing and/or preload on bearings and shafts I believe.

Yep that's exactly right, it's a unique system.

[Centex Windmills]

Been working on getting this thing back together. Hit some snags and it's back apart, but hopefully have some fixes. But when it was together it ran smooth as silk.

Its always leaked but I never knew why, axtel used machined surfaces for sealing but over the past 90 years there is a few thousands difference and on the oil pump side it just pumps oil out. So some gasket maker should hopefully seal up the surfaces, then onto the fun stuff welding and fabricating new pull out mechanisms.

[windybob]

that brings back memories. Looks like you have most if not all the pullout stuff. Those are quite the mills.

[CTXmiller]

Nice progress.

[Centex Windmills]

Well we have taken a few steps back. Putting it together last night noticed another crack had developed right above the keyway in the hub. Not the end of the world but frustrating, went to drill out the new key to remove the hub for welding and the drill bit snapped halfway through. So no we have a stuck key with a broken drill bit. I have two more tricks to try and get the broken drill bit out if those don't work not sure what I'll do. 6 years ago when I first tried rebuilding it I had a stuck hub with a crack, 6 years later right back in the same spot, this thing just haunts me.

[CTXmiller]

That is typically my luck… Finding a replacement hub would be difficult.