Vintage Windmill and Wind Generator Forum

Well recently had a client project for another Axtel Model A, 7.5 this time. If you follow my personal model A thread I have a love hate with them. This one started great, complete original, bearings insides everything in tip top shape. But it needed a mast pipe replacement and brake replacement, no biggie been there done that.
But this old axtel had other plans, after a through cleaning of 80 years of oil build up found the reason why the outside of the mast pipe and tower was covered in oil. Crack on the underside of the bearing race, that has loosened the mast pipe. Took some air blew in the cracks and oil shot out so it goes through and through.

So its fate will likely be on a short display tower for the family to enjoy and generations to enjoy from the ground.

Thanks for that info. What a lousy place for a crack.

Brandon , always interesting that Axell used an oil “pump” to lube from the top down

mtblah wrote: Tue Aug 19, 2025 12:49 pm Brandon , always interesting that Axell used an oil “pump” to lube from the top down

It is pretty cool I put a bore camera down there one time and spun it and it does a pretty good job covering everything. The downside is if any of your machined surfaces are not a perfect seal it always will weep oil.