1/2 Scale "model" windmill

[arizonian]

Needed custom shoulder bolts for the pitman arms. Turned them out of 7/8 round, then silver soldered a socket head into the ends. The bull gears have been matched drilled and counter bored for the shoulder bolts, bushings have been installed.

Made 3/4" longer pitman arms from smaller mat'l. Wanted to keep the thickness at the bottom so silver soldered a pad on one end, then match drilled and tapped. Bull gears assembled.

There is room for a yoke now and the guide wheel doesn't top out.

Working on the yoke. Fixturing at it's finest with a bunch of visegrip clamps. Needed a half of a hole in two pieces for the lube wheel guide, butted two straps together and tacked welded, drilled the hole, then cut the tacks apart.

Yoke is complete along with the lube wheel. Put a floor in the back end of the lube wheel guide and the improvement in geometry is much better. Still need to drill a hole in the top of the yoke for the lube. The lube wheel is a 3/16" piece of wire I found floating around. Harbor Freight ring roller is paying it's freight.

[arizonian]

I do have a few questions regarding the lube wheel/ring and it's relationship with the yoke. Should the ring be closer to the centerline of the bull gear ( more to the right) or does it look about right? I really should have took more photos when I visited Jeff.

Also, how does the lube flow after it reaches the top of the yoke? I assume there is a hole drilled into the yoke to feed the cross shaft, how does the lube get to to other side of the yoke? Is it simply a channel or is the cross shaft drilled thru?

[Windcatcher530 Dan]

William i hope these pics help

20220412_072733.jpg

20220412_073326.jpg

20220412_073340.jpg

20220412_073438.jpg

[arizonian]

Thanks, Dan. I didn't catch the cotter pin on top to contain the ring. It looks like the lube gets dumped directly on the shaft thru an opening in the yoke.

[Windcatcher530 Dan]

The third pic you have to zoom in to see the hole in the wheel

[arizonian]

The lube system is complete.

Oil scraper screwed to the snout. With luck, this will direct enough oil to keep the wheel shaft lubricated at the wheel. Soft soldered a bit of 1/4" copper tube to galvanized sheet, then "finessed" it into shape. A lot of fussing for this little bit of work and it still looks like hell.

Scraper bolted between the pinion gears. Gears are still blanks but the day is coming soon to cut the pinion gears.

Scraper between the bull gears.

Up top, silver soldered 1/4" copper tube to get oil over to the guide wheel.

[arizonian]

The rim around the motor case is welded on. A bit of oversight, clearance is needed for the tail so clearance has been provided. The drain bung and plug have also been installed. Hole saw that did the work.

Grease zerk installed where the mast pipe goes thru the motor.

Showing the tail clearance.

The rear cover and the snout have been buzzed to fit under the motor rim.

Finally, a coat of primer and then a coat of paint. Tool Box Red, baby!

The vanes have the tips painted also.

Layout for the motor hood. The lines may not show up due to the sun, the markings indicate whether to bend or cut.

[arizonian]

The hood for the motor is cut and mostly bent. Reversed the markings, better finish on this side. Finish it up tomorrow if I get the chance.

[windybob]

Awesome!

[mtblah]

William , so have some serious skills !