Vintage Windmill and Wind Generator Forum

Attached is a picture of my Aermotor gearbox that has an 8-ft fan/wheel. I'm trying to determine how to disconnect the shaft that goes to the tower from the gearbox. Does the shaft unscrew from the gearbox at the point in the picture where I wrote an arrow? If not how does it get removed. I have obviously already laid this windmill over. But I was wondering how you would remove the gearbox from the tower when it was erected.

Best regards from Nebraska.

There is a nut and an umbrella type washer within the gearbox. Remove the nut and umbrella washer that the pump rod goes through. Also remove the pump rod.

What your arrow is pointing to is the mast pipe cup. Unless it is worn down, there is no need to remove it.

Thanks CTXmiller. I see the nut you're talking about. Need to borrow an open end wrench big enough to fit the nut. Looks like a 1-7/16. My 15" crescent dosen't open wide enough and my 18" is too big (tight quarters in there) to turn the nut.

Sometimes you can get it with water pump pliers !!

Just lift the gearbox off the mast pipe after those items are removed.

This windmill has a few issues. It ran a long time without oil. Even with heat I was unable to get either of the drive gears loose so I had to cut the drive gears off and also cut the shaft off next to each drive gear in order to get the hub off.

In the picture above, is the arm too worn to use, or can a babbit (cartridge) bearing be place in there and used?

Note in this picture on the casting where the drive shaft slips into the casting, and the hub slips over the casting, it is all wallered out pretty bad. Is this something that can be repaired? Or do you think the casting itself is junk? I guess I could try and weld up the casting and then re-bore the hole.
I'd appreciate comments and thoughts.

Are you going to use the mill to pump water or for pleasure ?

You can repour them or sleeve them with brass. I bet your pins may be shot also. Replace-able.