Why isn't it turning?

[babraid]

Came upon this Aermotor, it was turning when we drove up. Then it stopped turning although the wind continued to blow. I felt the pump rod, it was frozen in place. The associated stock tanks were full. No regulator on the mill, tail isn't furled, furling lever was pointing up. Is there some other way that a windmill is stopped and started?

Also of interest was the pointy vane-brace - I see them occasionally in that area, others have noted them in a couple other states. Ron Stauffer opined that they might have come from Dean Bennett.

Thanks in advance for any info

[Justineckel]

That looks like an old Muller made tail. Before the days of lasers that was easier to make than the curved angle iron like the originals.

[windybob]

Sometimes a cylinder can get locked up. Sometimes the well is deep enough to seem like it's locked up. We used to work on a 6 ft Aermotor well that was so deep it was impossible to pull the sucker rod up. It finally trashed the head. But it was VERY heavy. if you can turn the wheel and watch the jetrod move then apparently it works.

[babraid]

Bob - maybe the well was so deep the wind pressure wasn't strong enough to drive the pump rod at the time we stopped, altho it was previously when we drove up. I like this hypothesis!

Justin - I was also thinking the pointy vane might be easier to make than a nice curve and that's why it was made like that. Can you elaborate on what "Muller made" means? Is Muller a person, or a fabrication technique? Or a kind of cookie lol...mmm cookies...

[Justineckel]

Muller Industries was a company that made replacement Aermotor parts.