Aermotor Windmill

[@beverlybraid4600]

What a great explanation of the inner workings! That big ring dangling among the gears is picking up oil and spreading it around, lubricating the whole works. As I recall, that was a major innovation devised and patented by Aermotor.

[@bdradley1]

Thank you Beverly. You are correct in that Aermotor was the industry standard and everyone else just copied their work. There were so many windmill companies back in the day, many remaining examples still around but none as popular as Aermotor. Thx for watching! Dave

[@stockee]

So cool n practical. Beautiful clean farmland.

[@williamowens3905]

I bought an old Aermotor windmill from a guy in Mullen, Nebraska a year ago. The guy’s father built the tower around 1967. The total height of the tower is 21-feet without the aermotor installed. The fan is 8-foot diameter. I am hoping to get it put up this summer. Your video was very helpful. Thanks.

[@bdradley1]

Thank you William and good luck with it! If you have any questions give Paul at “Paul’s Windmills” (google it) in Illinois if you have issues. He is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to these. Thx for watching!

[@JimmiePorterAtStuartArts]

Great video...I enjoyed the visit.

[@bdradley1]

Thank you I appreciate it. I’ve got a beautiful picture of it against painted sky that I can send you if your an artist

[@CrestwoodRocks]

This will be fun to see the results

[@martinbyrne6643]

Good video and well explained, I’ve looked at a lot of videos on windmills, this video of yours is one of the best , I am from Ireland and hope to build on of these from scratch, they cannot be gotten here in Ireland , never seen on here I think they are a lovely sight against a mountain backdrop, do you know the ratio of the gearbox, would it be 4 to 1 , or 4 turns of the wind wheel for 1 cycle of the pump .👍

[@bdradley1]

Thank you Martin I appreciate it. I'm sure we could get one shipped over to you but not be the most economical solution. Would definitely look great over there for sure. I looked in my reprinted owner/operator manuals and it says nothing of the gear ratio anywhere. I really have no idea but if you google "Pauls Windmills" out of Illinois, he is the walking encyclopedia of them and could answer anything you can think of and you will see what he currently has in inventory! Thx for watching! Dave

[@chrisroccaforte3934]

Well done, is there an update available on the trees? I did 3/4 pvc above ground for the first two years or so. I bought the 6 year old trees and used a 24" bit on the auger. Good luck.

[@kennykemp2790]

A few tips if you are interested. On the windmill put a street ell on the tee where the weight of the lead pipe to the tank is not prying on the pipe in the well. This helps keep it sitting straight and not wear the rod where it is going into the splash pipe. Also you can dig the tank down in the ground if you want and you can adjust the height/angle to the tank on the street ell. To keep the overflow from plugging with moss/hay place a tee vertical on the inside of the tank with a pipe down 6" or so where the overflow is not skimming the surface of the water. Keep the top of the tee below the top of the tank (or drill holes just above water line) if you are in a place where freezing is a concern and it can still run over the top to drain if the tank has ice on it. With a 2 1/2" cylinder I would advise a 2" overflow pipe. To keep the cleanest water going to the overflow and best chance for your watering system to stay working add a 3"-6" pipe around the overflow tee to the bottom of the tank and drop the water from the windmill into the pipe. Like before in freezing conditions keep the top of the pipe below the top of the tank. The overflow/watering system would be ok in the summer time but troublesome at best in freezing conditions. I would suggest running a 2" main line below frost line then placing stop/waste valves back up to water sections of the tree row in a trench/ditch Trying to get it balanced between all the trees with holes in the pipe would be difficult where there isn't a consistent water flow. Then have a small drainage leach line at the bottom of the hill (below frost) with a small amount of water draining all the time to keep the system drained down when the windmill is not operating. Similar to the drain hole in the well but going into a leach line. If you want you could run pipe on the surface between the trees but it could freeze in the winter time so a ditch might be easier.

[@bdradley1]

Thank you for all the great advice! I will definitely use your knowledge in my future plans and I appreciate your willingness to share. We could all benefit from people like you who are more apt to teach rather than criticize.

[@stockee]

Dont think rotation is too important as long as it pumps.

[@tylerhurd9569]

You know them peacan trees love water, but I just planted some in spring and haven’t water them at all during the summer drought and it hasn’t phase them one bit. I bet they grown fast and strong with your windmilll mill.

[@TerryPresson]

Where can I find the coupling that joins the wood to the fiber glass rod?

[@bdradley1]

Paul’s windmills out of Illinois, google him and you can find his number Also try aermotor, out of Texas now. Maybe aermotor.com Hope that helps and thx for watching! Dave

[@canecutter77]

To conserve the aquifer how about: Put a generator on the mill feeding two or four batteries. Power an electric water pump with the batteries which quits on high water level. Use a clutch to engage generator on low battery or some other control to stop generator when batteries are fully charged. Is that feasible?

[@bdradley1]

That probably is feasible but I just lock the mill down when trough gets full and unlock when they drink it down. Much simpler than trying to add all of the additional items. That’s the way it was designed so I just go with the way it was I tended. Thx for idea and for watching, Dave!

[@terrydoan2035]

What's the value of a arrow motor made your cargo what's the value of one I have one for sale

[@bdradley1]

I have no idea but if you will google “Paul’s windmills” out of Illinois, you could email or text him some pics and he could tell you. He is a walking encyclopedia on everything windmill. Hope that helps and thx for watching! Dave

[@Oldsmob455]

How do you get on the platform to maintenance? Looks like a bear to crawl over.

[@bdradley1]

Yes it can be, You crawl up ladder thats built on one leg, and you will notice platform in notched, so when you get there , you reach over top and grab tower and pull yourself up onto platform. Very small area and not super safe. I find someone braver than myself to service it but make them go up with harness and tie off! Thx for watching, Dave

[@john8210t]

On the video , I think the sails are on the wrong way around. It’s turning the wrong way.

[@jeffsmith7840]

Will the gears on top of the wind mill freeze in the winter or is this a southern set up only

[@bdradley1]

No they are in an oil bath and these were used all over the country back in the day. Totally fine to set up in any state.

[@fionabeards5528]

Is that fan on backwards?

[@bdradley1]

No it’s in correctly, pumping water daily. Does it look backwards?

[@john8210t]

Yes, the pitman arms should lift the water on the upstroke when they are in the upright position.

[@soniaespinoza1713]

Hola