Vintage Windmill and Wind Generator Forum

New, first time Windmill Owner here. I just purchased a Dempster 10 foot ,number12 windmill this weekend for $1,500 here in Washington State. It was stored for many years in a blackberry bushes and the old owner used a excavator to dig it out. The process bent the lower tower up bad. I want to repair the tower and eventually put it back up. I don't have a need to pump water, so I think I will leave the rod off that connects from the crank and bolts to the long piece of wood that goes to the sucker pipe. Sorry learning the nomenclature , I order a parts diagram so I can try to have a conversation with all of you.

First couple of questions. Is there a a document with photos on how to break down the "head" where all the gears are. I want to test, clean and lube the bearings

Can anyone tell what era (year) my mills is from?

If I bend the tower back into shape, is the damaged areas going to be weaker? we have 60 mph gust here in my area and I don't want to have it come down in the middle of a storm. I though if I heated and bent the metal back then maybe but a larger piece of angle over the top about 12 inches long bridging the repaired area would that work or should I start over with new metal?

Where can I buy parts? oil seals, brake lining parts?

Here are some Windmill photo porn.

Great project. Where in Warshington are you?

Welcome to the forum this is a good place to be for information on your project. I can't help you with the gear box never worked on a demster but their is experts on this forum that have . But I can tell you it's not worth trying to bend your corner angles on your tower back into shape you'll find swear words you didn't have before. Been there done that !!! Dan

I am in South King County.

Ok first off, lets all understand that 60 mph wind down here in Oklahoma, we call a breeze. LOL We hook a logchain to a barbwire fence, and whenever how many links go parallel to the dirt, then we know how to measure the wind. One time, we had a 4-linker. It was quite a blow.

I have written extensively on overhauling, rebuilding, and repairing Dempster #12 windmills, all 6 and 8 ft heads. I will assume that a 10 footer will be very similar in most aspects. You have a huge good start, because what you have looks to be excellent. Make a stand to mount it in, for working on, and assembling the wheel on it when you get ready. So at least the mainshaft centerline should be 5 1/2 ft off the floor. Hope you have a tall doorway in your shop for a 10 ft wheel. If not, at least you can assemble it inside, take the top half off, to move it out. This will get you used to working with wheel parts. See if the head spins over freely. Looks plenty oiled to me. There is a procedure to get the guts out easily. It like filleting a fish. There is an easy way and a hard way. You seem to have a later model head, as they had 4 major changes in tweaking several factors, yous looks like the latest. I have worked over towers much worse than yours. Those are the easy bends. The bends opposite of yours that stretch the metal are the tough ones. You have a lot of good to work with. Parts should ne be a problem. Do you have the wheel?

South King County! I grew up in Maple Valley. Now live in a small town near Spokane. I bought an Aermotor A702 and love watching and hearing it. Good luck getting yours up and spinning. You have come to the right place for help and a little razzing now and then!

jj, welcome. I have an 8' and a 12' model 12. Yours looks really good. They are not hard to work on, but you must follow a specific order of disassembly/assembly. Lots of info already posted previously on here. If your search does not yield satisfactory results, just ask a question.

Your tower looks repairable. Those bends can be messaged to a workable profile. No tower is perfect. A hammer and anvil can do wonders. Heat will work out stretched areas, but wear a respiratory.

Anyway, glad you're here. Ask and we'll help where we can.

I agree with all of the above , my #12 was easier than my 1st A702 as a newbe windmiller , and still not a windmiller as most of these guys are .

I have always thought that if you can understand all the concepts and workings of a Dempster #12 head, you can practically work on anything. I consider my TipTop rivalling the Dempster as far as the number of parts go. fortunately I learned many years ago on old rusty Dempster mills. I believe that gave me an edge. Also being a certified mechanic was not a waste either. lol

Windy , i did not know you were "certified " ?