Vintage Windmill and Wind Generator Forum

I am new to windmills. I am disassembling an Aermotor 702A. Everything else is apart, but so far I haven't been unable to remove the hub/shaft assembly from the case. The pin behind the rear pinion is out and the shaft turns freely in the bearings, but I have no longitudinal movement at all. I don't know how much I can drive or press on the back of the shaft through the plug hole before damaging something important. The pinions look pretty good and I hope to save them, I assume some damage to the key passing through the shaft pinions is the problem. Suggestions?

Welcome to the forum.

Make sure the oil collector (part #A520) is removed from under the hub plug when the hub plug is at the 12 o’clock position.

You shouldn't hammer on the shaft of smaller mills as you can blunt them. Make yourself a pusher bolt out of 5/8 all thread as pictured. An impact wrench is more effective to push. Use a max 400 foot pound impact. A 700 will crack the case. If not moving, you can give it a whack on the all threads when in tight. Heat isn't good as it will melt the pinion bearing and you can't get a straight push. Make sure your key is at 6 o'clock so it can go through the spout washer and use a wood block between spout washer and case so both gears move. We have had to cut apart ones that were dry or rusted.. It is a chore and you will replace gears and shaft.

Ron Stauffer
Montrose CO