new here

[the first mike]

hi,

mike here from Duluth, MN
I bought my neighbors mill it's a 1919 monitor, 8 ft. how can I find the model number? on the large sprocket I see KB I believe. its a K not sure if its an 8 or B. he added grease zerts to all the moving parts. some parts look to be warn too much and need to be replaced. where can I find parts? also im thinking about adding on to the tower to make it 40 ft. ive seen drawings for that with larger angle iron toward the bottom but can I use aluminum instead of steel? I still have no idea how to install the brake but maybe my neighbor does. basically I want to use it to aerate 2 ponds. what about color? I might paint it. I was thinking white with red tips? what is the original color to this?
thanks!

[the first mike]

this thing has no bearings what so ever. its all metal on metal with grease?

[Windcatcher530 Dan]

Welcome to the forum Mike. She's a nice ole Mill !! I do not recommend using aluminum to extend your tower just my opinion.

[CTXmiller]

Welcome to the forum.

There are bronze bushings that act as the bearing. Yours looks to be a model K.

This is a 10’ Monitor, but the bushing concept is the same as your 8’. Yours should have 3 bushings.

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Like Dan, I would not recommend aluminum to extend the tower. If it is going to aerate, you’ll be climbing the tower weekly.

As far as finding parts, you might try Dan Benjamin.

[the first mike]

Sweet! thank you everyone! As far as extending the tower I was just thinking thicker aluminum because everything here in MN rusts. why keep painting something? instead of 3/16 thick 2 3/4 angle go with a 5/16 or 3/8... that's all but probably stick to steel and go off recommended design. thank you! im surprised that only 2 bushings are required. everything rubs even the small pins. can't you just make your own copper bushings out of some smaller copper pipe for all the arms with cotter pins holding everything together? I know for sure the pin that holds the tail on the top is 1/2 inch but through time its worn down to 1/4 on the top and needs to be replaced. so a small piece of copper will prevent wear and tear on cast iron in 1919? the big crank has 2 other settings? I talked to someone who makes a pump for air-rateing ponds and he said as long as its set to a shot stroke 5 1/2'' and everything else is solid it should easily do (2) 1/2 acer ponds. I gotta do more research. and the grease that's used must be the thickest you can find.....
thanks again everyone.

[CTXmiller]

Galvanized metal will ultimately rust, but takes a long time.

Three half bushings is what it should have with two on the main shaft and one on the big gear. Something like this, but measure your specific size as I just searched a generic random size to show an example via McMaster-Carr. Cut them in half vertically and down to the correct size.

IMG_5300.jpeg

Replace the tail pin.

You can weld up worn down parts

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I like to use thrust washers to minimize wear points, if clearances allow.

[the first mike]

Sweet, Thank you!

[windybob]

There should be 3 brass bearings. Two for the mainshaft, and one for the crank gear shaft. The steel tower should be galvanized, but still may be rusty. K is the model (6 foot across the fan (wheel)) and the number is the part number. Reasonably common. One of the last open gear mills they made.
Monitor usually had red for the color of most of their mills, not really positive about OG (open Gear) models, but maybe. red ail tips are always nice on mills, not sure how that goes with yellow sail. LOL
Bearings are slightly less than half-round. A length of 1 1/8 brass slit down the length ( less that half round) is what I use. Shafts are regular size, nothing special. Pump rod going down the center to run the well may be 9/16, as the tail pin may be. That's the way it is with a WC Monitor mills, the direct 8 foot offshoot of yours. I'll see if I can find a picture of mine.

[windybob]

Here ya go......should be able to click on them to make them larger.

Monitor K 4.JPG

Monitor K 1.JPG

[the first mike]

Sweet! looks awesome! thank you for alll your help!