Maintenance on a 101 Year Old Oil Well

Maintenance on an oil well that was drilled in 1921. In this video I grease, oil, change belts, and repack the stuffing box. Thanks for watching.
Gearbox video • Repair on 100 year old...

[@fitzroyfastnet]

"The proof of the pudding is in the tasting". You are the first person to get that expression right in the last 50 years.

[@TheZachLife]

Hahaha

[@jasonhammond4640]

My dad pumped wells here in Ohio. In the summer, when I was a kid, I'd ride around with him to all his wells. He always carried around a big cresent wrench and a grease gun under the seat of the truck. He had one ancient well with an old pump jack with a gas hit and miss engine on it. I remember him greasing the polish rod and stuffing box up, checking the oil in the engine, setting the gas or throttle and cranking the flywheel. When the engine was running good he would release a break that then would engage the horses head. He'd let me go up on the tank to check the oil level which was fun for a kid.😊😊

[@TheZachLife]

That was me as a kid with my grandpa. Riding around these old leases.

[@marks3750]

My dad pumped several wells for two or three different companies and I went with him during summers. We were always changing packing, (Split donuts} or tightening them up. Changing belts, greasing bearings and oil the polish rods. Most of his wells were electric by the time I was around. A few were still the old Fairbanks Morse engines. What you call the hit miss engines. Some times the build up at the bottom of the well would cause the pump to hit and get slack in the cable on the saddle and we would have to adjust that. Every time I smell crude oil I think of him. Our polish rods were always brass, never saw a steel one. I've watched them pull wells and replace pumps and sucker rods and I've been with them when they lowered nitro down a well and touched it off to fracture the formation and I've seen Halliburton do it with there equipment. Those big ole trucks would start jumping and shaking. 24/7 job. Boy the memories.

[@danarudgers3975]

Great story! Thanks

[@Anon54387]

@@TheZachLife How did they lubricate the first oil well pump?

[@Anon54387]

@@TheZachLife Could you do a video and go into more detail about the gear reductions and pulley sizes and the resulting forces, torques, etc? You understand it thoroughly, but a little more explanation would help those of us who aren't as familiar.

[@TheNapalmFTW]

I just spent 20 minutes watching a video of an oil well and I don't regret a second.

[@TheZachLife]

Hahaha Good.

[@russellpeffer7736]

I hauled crude oil, salt water, fresh water, diesel, methanol etc in the oilfields. I miss every second of it..god bless our oilfield workers. Keep it turning to the right

[@fredfrench18]

Hey Zach, brings back old memories, in 1965 I worked on an oil well work over rig while attending Texas A&I college South Texas. It really gits me to hear all these tree huggers rasin hell about fracking, This fracking procedure in older than me at 81 years. Thanks for the videos, your a good man.

[@TheZachLife]

Yep. Thanks.

[@MichaelJones-rn2pq]

People with useful skills and a great work ethic make the world go round. My only criticism is that Zach can't be cloned, because we could use more people like him.

[@TheZachLife]

Hahaha Thanks.

[@donkendall1227]

@@TheZachLife OSHA would have a field day following him around. lol

[@mckimmym]

Shhh

[@whathasxgottodowithit3919.]

Great to see it working, we used to have a few working in Eakring. Nottinghamshire, U.K. There is a Bronze monument still in place as a tribute to the Americans Oilfield Hands that came over in World War 2 to assist in drilling the local wells

[@TheZachLife]

I've heard of that. That's pretty cool.

[@MervynPartin]

I've actually seen one working in Normanton, Nottinghamshire in 2010. I filmed it and used it as the tail end clip of a train video in2010- kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqGUiXeom7SCq9U . There were a few abandoned wells in the area, so I do not know if that one is still working.

[@davidelliott5843]

Those areas of Nottinghamshire (and elsewhere) would be ideal for fracking, but our wonderful government set the ground vibrations so low that a semi truck (we call them articulated) driving by would set them off. All designed to prevent any fracking in UK.

[@meadows408]

The Allies floated to victory on a sea of oil. Our leaders today forget this important fact. My Dad flew in B17's and a lot of times their targets were oil fields, refineries and marshalling yards shipping oil and oil products. I just can't imagine electric powered tanks and fighters.

[@ChrisHarmon1]

@@meadows408 I'm a big proponent of electric but in the right areas such as light vehicles. There is an entire industry that needs to catch up to be truly "green" but heavy vehicles and aircraft will not run on electric for some time if ever.

[@midnightriderize]

Awesome memories there. Pumped for 38 years. All I can say is that wrapped up belt came out way easier than a few I fought. Thanks for posting this!

[@JimNichols]

The interesting thing about folks that watch youtube videos and then comment negatively about the work you preform is they have never done the work you do, or have done the work but not in the environment that you work in or have never done the same work on the ancient old equipment that you work on. I used to work in the rail industry in the same area you are in and the companies that I worked for wanted three things, it to work right now, it to last forever when finished and it to cost nothing at all....... pick one because you don't get all three. What you do is amazing, how you do it is your way and that is pretty amazing too seeing that you are out in the middle of BFE, with limited tools, supplies and equipment and ALONE. Thanks for the ride along and making me miss working on old shit no one knows how to repair anymore.

[@joehead1294]

Fast, cheap, good. Chose two...

[@cyclonicblade]

Grew up with them literally in my back yard. Fell asleep to the lullaby of a hit and miss popping as it swished up and down.

[@dannywilsher4165]

Very interesting! I was born and raised in the oil field. West Texas and eastern New Mexico. I've managed to work in most every capacity from staking out where the wells were going to be drilled to drilling them to completing them to being a company man for several oil companies. I even welded both in the field and in rig building yards.

[@davida1hiwaaynet]

Love this! It's great to see the old equipment still going.

[@adriaanboogaard8571]

It makes me happy to see you taking care of good old reliable equipment. I'm 54 and remember being a kid in southern California. We called those pumps Ya Ya's because they looked like big Grasshopper's nodding yes . Apparently some of the Oil worker's thought so too. They painted bug eyes on the head weight and welded curved rebar on for antennas. They have they own special sound . The newer pumps just aren't the same. I always found it relaxing.

[@haroldwilkerson2026]

Out here in Wyoming they weld metal cowboys on the pump jacks

[@bradjames6748]

Loved the shadow of the greasing process, I spit my coffee out, have a good day brother 👍👍🕶🇨🇦

[@TheZachLife]

Haha

[@Jeff-hp3vn]

Thank you for posting this! I don't live in a area with these but always fascinated with machines

[@snydedon9636]

With the way things are today I sure could use a oil well on my property. Excellent video, thanks.

[@benwinter2420]

Different strokes for different folks . . under the crown still here in Australia we have rights only two meters underground to an extent of leasehold laws called joking freehold etc . . further than that the Queen or more precise the 'London banks' precinct vampire bankers owns that underground not the mafia colony Australia . . more you know etc

[@andyharpist2938]

How much oil on each stroke? How much do you get paid for it?

[@CaliRob281]

Have watched 100's of these horseys pump on the hills of southern california, thanks for the rundown, amazing how we will run out of oil but thousands of 100 year old wells just keep pumping LOL

[@diogenes5381]

Bob, we never will run out of oil. As the pacific tectonic plate slides under the western shores of North America it takes with it millions of years of organic sediment in stratum that cooks due to pressure & heat. Are you aware of this?

[@spanishtreasure9551]

@@diogenes5381 exactly , and theres more, many experts believe the earth makes crude oil continually by various cooking processes , it wants people to think its Only from fossils as they " thought" , this was just a marketing/ production scam to cover up the truth .

[@wes11bravo]

It's such a vast expanse. I remember flying across Texas, seeing the thousands of oil wells down below. I nodded off for an hour, looked back down, and there were still countless wells.

[@oceanheadted]

Interesting to see such an old pump still in action, thank you for the explanation.

[@HollywoodCreeper]

I'm not surprised at all! All this old stuff lasts forever! Something got injected into America and it was really bad. It's a 4 letter word. Starts with J and ends with s. There is a w in the word too. We have all been terribly indocturnated our whole lives in lousy school systems to the point that almost everyone spends way more time in school than people ever did, but we are all way less educated than those people. Most people have a very poor command of the English language and know none of the stories of the glory and noble characters that are our ancestry. I was friends with these ghetto people in Syracuse, NY. They lived in the ruins of a great civilization with beautiful buildings and architecture falling down around their ears. I would wonder who were these people and where did they go? If you look at a history of Rochester, NY it is unbelievable what a prosperous, thriving city it was from basically about 1800! We had the first 2 story mall in 1827 and Western Union was founded at the site. Now the city is dead and filled with crime. The last thing any of these bad people I mentioned earlier want is you to know anything about history. They had no hand in the creation of this country, and they killed Jesus.

[@2manycatsforadime]

Extremely interesting, thanks for the details on the workings

[@MervynPartin]

Fascinating video. I never realised that wells could last that long. Great work.

[@TheZachLife]

Thank you!

[@tonipeters4543]

Thank you. (I am in the UK) I have never seen an oil well pump this close before, and often wondered how they work. (Seen them in the background in movies) Thanks for a very informative video. 😀

[@gregdaweson4657]

The Tories are unbanning fracking, so you might see one even closer.

[@George-wx9dj]

Very interesting, would like to see more videos of the maintenance of your wells. There’s something memorizing about watching an oil well running

[@kkonvicka25]

That's a damn good instructive video. I'm just a chemical engineer, and been to hundreds of wells. Always wondered how they're maintained. Thanks a bunch.

[@Vintageguy73]

Very informative! Being from Alabama and driving through states with pumping wells I've always wondered about the workings of these wells. Thanks!

[@johnunderwood3132]

That to me was absolutely friggin awesome. Something about machines. Love it

[@nohandle62]

I'm grateful for the men who will do these jobs.

[@tommypitcock259]

Thankyou this video brought back some good memories of my childhood

[@randyrhyne1195]

Great job. I used to be a service tech myself, mostly on gas wells. Lots of lonely driving in Texas. I usually would have music playing while I worked. Hard work sometimes and dangerous. Long days and nights. Stay safe.

[@josephmelton4721]

But good money hopefully right?

[@randyrhyne1195]

@@josephmelton4721 Made the companies I worked for a lot of money. Wasn’t getting rich myself. If you decide to get in it work for yourself. You will need insurance and it’s expensive. One lawsuit and you’re ruined. If you work for a service company by the hour you want to ask for a percentage of what you bill the customers. If you just work by the hour you will end up old and broken. Believe me.

[@jeebusk]

Really cool video, I've driven past them but it's interesting to see how they work.

[@gavinmouat7168]

ive been working in the permian all summer drilling water wells so it’s fun to see what the other guys are doing

[@TheRobertralph]

Love, love, loved the video. So fun to watch. Thanks for making and posting.

[@TheZachLife]

Awesome

[@rickb5946]

I think turning the tubing is a genius trick!!!. Great vid!

[@budc865]

Great video. I’ve lived and worked around the oilfield all my life but never had anyone explain the inner workings.

[@mastr-sf1jv]

The explanation at 15 was good thank you!

[@scowell]

Love this... used to stay summers with cousins in Monahans, uncle was a driller... YT is the only way I get to see what's up with the oil patch! Watch those fingers!

[@TheZachLife]

Cool. Ive never been employed on a drilling rig but i've spent a some time around them. I plan on doing more of the oilfield videos as I finish up my RV.

[@scowell]

@@TheZachLife Back to watch again... ready for more content!

[@rael5469]

Totally, 100% fascinating. There are a lot of these types of pumps where I live and it is fascinating to see the well site close up.

[@TheZachLife]

Thanks.

[@syerkes]

Most honest thingI have heard today, "I don't know why, but it seems too". Simple and too the point.

[@mr_noobx3009]

Can't wait to see your video about this Oil Well after another 101 years!! :D

[@Simon_r2600]

Wow. Fits perfect to our 101 year old car.

[@novanut1964]

great video, i learned alot. very interesting to me, as i worked on water well pump systems for my dads plumbing company, thanks

[@robertmartin1784]

I was an oil well mechanic for 11 yrs in calif . Love your video's

[@TheZachLife]

Thanks 👍

[@jakeharris9075]

As an industrial mechanic who loves my job, this is amazing. Thank you so much Zach! And hey, as an educated environmentalist who knows the science: As long as there’s a need for oil, it is ALWAYS environmentally better to use old machinery! It costs a lot of carbon to build these things! A highly skilled mechanic like Zach in the oil field is a godsend to our current climate problems, even if it doesn’t fix everything. He’s running worlds cleaner and more efficient than most “modern” producers!

[@chrisreeves8037]

You are not a "pumper' until you can change the packing with one hand! If that don't beat all. I have changed matched belts on a similar size pump, but I never thought of using a 24 to help roll them onto the wheel, thanks. Regarding the tubing hole, a real old school hand, born in Vernon, told me this possible solution. If the rub is above the pump, use a polish rod atop the pump to keep the rod string from flexing at that point. I never did it. We had to replace the joint of tubing every two years where it rubbed a hole. Great video!

[@debozwi]

Very intersting. Well explained. Keep it pumping.

[@daveglen7876]

I really enjoy your commitment to these videos. Cheers brother!

[@brucemorris6319]

Never done any maintenance on one but have helped set a bunch of them

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

Really cool that you get to work on oil pump jack wells I’ve always been fascinated by those machines especially the ones that use the old wheel and cable drive system and even the individual units that are powered by a hit and miss engine or a Fairbanks Morse engine

[@TheZachLife]

Thanks. I uploaded a video a week or two ago of new well with an arrow engine.

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

@@TheZachLife There was a time not too long ago there was once in oil well out in Oklahoma that utilize the old Rod driven oil well technique it was powered by a Fairbanks Morse engine with a crankshaft which turn the wheel with all the rods going in all directions but as of the 2000 teens the well was removed by a high tech energy company and the oil pump jacks were donated to a museum somewhere in Texas kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6vOh4mtqM6Wb8k kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5CvZ52nnt9-pKc

[@George_Ren]

Interesting, thanks for sharing.

[@361charger]

I used to work an old exxon lease here in south texas where the wells were drilled in the 40s. Do all the same kinda techniques you do except i never thought to turn the tubing to help it from getting holes, thats pretty smart!

[@stihlnz]

Hey thanks for this very interesting video...

[@michaelmeyer9665]

I'm 67 bite me I don't care is my favorite comeback

[@jayshepherd5014]

Neat man! Thanks for sharing. I think it's very interesting!

[@knobsdialsandbuttons]

Superb video, very interesting ! 👍

[@MrJuvefrank]

I'm glad to see your equipment is rotating.

[@VICSWEB1]

my new favorite channel.

[@ARluvr1]

So cool to see old equipment like that still doing it’s job.

[@TheZachLife]

I agree I love the old Iron.

[@MrEric_API]

@@TheZachLife Is that an American pump jack? Any dates or serial numbers on any of the components? Love to see the cool stuff!!

[@TheZachLife]

It did not have a date but might have had a serial # I'll look tomorrow.

[@dbeaumontresident847]

Excellent video and really good job on explaining how this all works! I subscribed!

[@lonesonestarcattlecompanyj408]

excellent video

[@kalleklp7291]

Well, I've never seen a pump so close. Thanks for the video and the excellent explanation. :)

[@TheZachLife]

Thanks.

[@rpsmith]

Great video! Thanks!

[@davidkuehl8713]

I find this very interesting. There is so much that has to happen to make petroleum. Great job...and watch them fingers.

[@leroyjones6958]

Great video! Thank you!

[@tthams73]

That’s super cool!

[@Nickvanscandal]

Alaska gas lift well operator here. This is absolutely wild to see how the old wells run!

[@trevorgrampp6789]

Oil production up north is completely different from south down here in Texas especially north Texas it’s not a rare thing to see a 90-100 year old well it’s pretty cool to think that a well like that will go through plenty of pumpin units before it’s dry or as some people like to call them “pump jacks”

[@nobleroofinggeneralcontrac7961]

Great video thank you.

[@australiantruckspotting8883]

Great video, I’ve never known much about these things

[@GeorgeSemel]

I find that a 101-year-old well is still producing oil the most interesting. I use to fly helicopters in the GOM. One of the Platforms I would service was also one of the first offshore oil production platforms, It still produces crude oil and enough of it to make it worthwhile and to fly out to it with persons to keep it producing and in good repair. I find that people who know how to do this stuff are very worth paying attention to. There is a hell of a lot of work that goes into that gallon of gas I pump into my car.

[@TheZachLife]

One of the thing I find so interesting is that after all this time it still produces enough oil to supply about 100 people in the US.

[@adamsteinhardt6393]

@@TheZachLife that’s a good well

[@Obshowersyndicate]

@@TheZachLife watch out old sleeping joe will sell it to China

[@dodge33445]

I like your way WAYYY better than unbolting everything. Time is money!!

[@JB-mf1zc]

Thanks Zach good video God Bless!!

[@TheZachLife]

Thanks.

[@yukon4511]

Excellent video!

[@TheZachLife]

Thanks.

[@mikerhodes3563]

Reminds me of my oil field days-operating a snubbing unit for OTIS engineering out of Houma -La-felt like I was Popeye when making up tools with 36 and 48 inch pipe wrenches-still had all my fingers which was an anomaly at the time-got plenty of friends now who are pumpers - good money but hot dirty work here in Louisiana-takes a special kind of person but when taking care of wells you feel like they are your working family very satisfying

[@adamsteinhardt6393]

Snubbing hands are a different breed, nothing but respect for that job- it takes competence, hard work, and balls of steel

[@farmall51]

Enjoyed the video

[@stevew270]

There are 4 jacks on my family's property that we own the rights to, there was 5 but one was plugged a few years ago, I like to drive my old Farmall H around and watch them run.

[@zeus014]

Farmall H - the machine that time couldn't kill.

[@LouisEmery]

ole = oil, greeze = grease. Got it! Owning part of what runs the modern world sounds fulfilling.

[@TheZachLife]

Haha Thats it lol.

[@johnclemont7801]

Just found your channel and learned something never been around oil well things like this. Thanks! love how you handle your keyboard experts and their "suggestions" 🤣

[@TheZachLife]

Haha. Thanks.

[@Taliyon]

Fascinating!

[@mikeirwin5162]

What a great video keep up the great work I'm impressed

[@TheZachLife]

Thanks.

[@timtimtim5294]

Turning the tubing sounds like a good idea. The wells we work on also have rod rotators on them to even out rod wear. Must be nice not to have to deal with the strict safety bs that DOGR and the big oil companies have. It take 3 times longer to do anything!

[@SF-ku2hp]

Growing up in Oil City Pa old wells were common thing. Heck I park by the oldest continuously producing well in the world to go fishing and swimming Rouseville Pa. Neat stuff used to play in the powerhouses never understood how much history was around me.

[@calebhefner6760]

It's crazy watching something I do everyday and being able to understand you without all the yelling.

[@simonlunt353]

I know too all you guys who work on these jacks it’s just another day but too me just a chap from the uk 🇬🇧 it’s very interesting thank you mr and stay safe 👏👏👍😊

[@TheZachLife]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@ferstuck37]

Thanks Zach, I just came across your very interesting video. I see these babies in the field pumping away and was always tempted to have a closer look, but you bring it on home with great info. Thanks.

[@TheZachLife]

Welcome

[@keithaldridge8780]

Thx for sharing Zach. Ain’t your first rodeo. I bet your grandpa would be proud of you 👍

[@TheZachLife]

Thank you.

[@BlindmanValley]

Get yourself a chain vice grip to hold the top of the stuffing box. Changed hundreds upon hundreds of packing sets out and they work great. Back in the day they used to run tubing rotators just for the reason you mentioned, someone should have a few kicking around.

[@f2mel2]

I wanna see this guys whole day.

[@dk2614]

I gotta say how refreshing it is to see a Mechanic/Technician NOT have a $400 battery operated grease gun! I'm going to be watching the rebuilding of the gears next probably sub...

[@TheZachLife]

Haha I must confess I usually use one of the pneumatic 35 gallon barrel areas pumps.

[@rhyswoodman6781]

Absolutely loved this video. You just got yourself a new subscriber! Cheers from downunder.

[@adriaanboogaard8571]

I hope to here it run longer in your next video. Keep up the great work.

[@pottyputter05]

Rn you are a God damn hero to every American going to the pump and leaving a pound of flesh behind.

[@Rharaldseide]

Coool thanks for shearing

[@MrKilleromo]

did all this same kinda work in Drayton Valley Alberta Canada very cool to see

[@bigsid1984]

Great video

[@TheZachLife]

Thanks!

[@eddiereichel9354]

When purchasing belts for a multi belt drive there is a thing that's called "matched" belts. Belts are manufactured to a tolerance which is the part number. They are then measured and there are numbers printed on the belt which reflect it's measured size. It's important to use matched belts on multi belt drives for extended life.

[@chauvinemmons]

Cost being the only deterrent on something that has a marginal payback on a CNC lathe making aircraft parts different story. Knowing next to nothing about this industry my guess any profit from this well is measured in hundreds of dollars a year if this gentleman was to be paid a fair wage there would probably be no profit whatsoever. During times like this oil brings good money and effectively pays the losses that have been accruing over the years although the costs have been shifted at this point to different areas. If oil is going for over $100 a barrel that means all of our enemies are fat with cash to buy weapons to harm us and our allies that is where the costs get shifted. But for most of you younger people you have no idea where things come from or how they came about what about all of us older men who worked hard to provide for you as children now only to be scuttled by you in your zeal for maximize profits and the like. I wish you luck and that you find a more hospitable retirement if you ever see such I know for myself my anger and bitterness towards our government and all you smart guys who just treat people like us like yesterday's garbage. And people like Barack Hussein Obama who have brought you to this point in our lowest point in this country's history and said things to us the older generation who provided for you a very good future how bad and evil we were for all we did using words like antipathy that worthless pile of shit I will have you know Is a malcontent a communist a destroyer of all things good he's a filthy pig of a man who has earned nothing our ire and disrespect that should go double for Michelle. These people have enjoyed the fruits of our labor as well as an Obama's case The very finest that could be provided him by his white mother and grandmother in a beautiful place Michelle has been equally well treated where they come up with this garbage but somehow they have been dissed or in any way held down they are now rich they have at the disposal anything everything they wish but it's not good enough to sit in their palace and leave us alone no they must interject they're bullshit their hatred they're disrespect towards us. Not enough that Joe bite me not our president he was the loser we were told a lie by the media the government and big tech to further there control over us. I hear Michelle is thinking of a run for president I can't even imagine I think she had no less than 50 servants at her disposal the last time these dirtbags occupied the White House. I commend this man for his work his knowledge and his sharing. God for those of you who do not believe I'm sorry but he provided for us that's just we have provided for you many things in our case he provided us with an almost infinite supply of renewable energy they don't like the words hydrocarbon or oil that means or provides us with freedom they deny us freedom by changing the meaning of words and destroying the moral values we used to hold dear. They go about destroying our heroes our values our hopes and dreams leaving us empty with nothing only slaves to a state and politicians that hate us they believe they can do without us they no longer wish us a slaves I don't know who will serve them but I think they will find someone I only hope that it is their captors that use them as slaves before God brings them back and his fold and hands them to the devil for destruction.

[@eddiereichel9354]

@@chauvinemmons what on earth are you talking about? I am simply pointing out a clear fact which he would actually benefit from. Belts are not cheap and likely running multi belts without matching shortens life by half.

[@mikejohns3104]

@@eddiereichel9354 How did this even happen.

[@vumba1331]

@@chauvinemmons I understand where you are coming from and your motivations, people need to start thinking for themselves and not rely on, or be suckered in by, big government. Big government is what sank the USSR.

[@dalewhitacre1185]

Match belt numbers came from the same mold number used to make the belt.

[@joemc111]

First time on your station. Also first time ever watching video about an oil well.

[@brycecolwell4304]

beautiful piece of Americana....dont ever let it go man!

[@tbo2120]

Just discovered your channel all the way from the UK. Loving it! 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 LGB 🦅

[@TheZachLife]

Awesome. Hope you enjoy.

[@cheebacheeo5876]

Gotta give you shout out for keeping me watching throughout the whole video. I have literally anything to do with oil wells and their rigs 😂

[@TheZachLife]

Haha Hope you enjoyed lol.

[@tommyhunter1817]

Working with you woulda been fun when I was younger!

[@liabilitymate4750]

I'm an old Roughneck from the 80's in Australia good videos mate. Cheers.

[@TheZachLife]

Thanks.