Aermotor A702

[stdsch40]

Anyone interested in old windmills? It took me almost 30 years off and on to get this circa 1900 Aermotor windmill to actually pump water again.
I have a 2" dia well that was abandoned on my property, too small dia for a submersible pump, so from a salvaged windmill from my parents farm I rigged this set up.
I call it 'St. Agnes Fountain' in her honour of course, pumps water from 100 ft down up into a 1000l tote, basically a fountain, runs when the wind blows. No electricity involved at all, no solar, just wind power. The best water ever. The tower was hand crafted be me out of scrap steel and the windmill was rebuilt/modernized by me too. Installed a new plunger pump with new riser piping and stuffing box. Since I always liked the Christmas carol Good King Wenceslas, I imagined St. Agnes Fountain to look like this. 'Right against the forest fence, by St. Agnes fountain ...'

 

[RedMF40]

Great Aeromotor, beautiful restoration. I’m sure much time and effort went into it. Always admired them while driving across the tall grass prairies out west. Many abandoned farmsteads had them.

 

[JOCCO]

You did a nice job I too enjoy old windmills.

 

[Steve in VA]

Anyone interested in old windmills? It took me almost 30 years off and on to get this circa 1900 Aermotor windmill to actually pump water again.
I have a 2" dia well that was abandoned on my property, too small dia for a submersible pump, so from a salvaged windmill from my parents farm I rigged this set up.
I call it 'St. Agnes Fountain' in her honour of course, pumps water from 100 ft down up into a 1000l tote, basically a fountain, runs when the wind blows. No electricity involved at all, no solar, just wind power. The best water ever. The tower was hand crafted be me out of scrap steel and the windmill was rebuilt/modernized by me too. Installed a new plunger pump with new riser piping and stuffing box. Since I always liked the Christmas carol Good King Wenceslas, I imagined St. Agnes Fountain to look like this. 'Right against the forest fence, by St. Agnes fountain ...'

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That's great. I had a 1930 motor stored for years before finally putting it up. Mine is purely ornamental. The well for the house went down 528ft due to numerous caves. I marvel at the genius that went into those mills. Again, looks grand.

 

[miner09]

I bought a new aero motor few years ago. At the time I didn’t know they were still built in North Dakota. Bought new cheaper than an old one.

 

[David from Kansas]

Too many of the old windmills have been abandoned in my neighborhood and replaced with solar pumps, which I think are pretty pricey. Unusually large fan on your mill; looks like it could be a 10'. My old windmill in the pasture was destroyed by wind about 50 years ago so I put a gasoline engine powered pump jack on it so I have to fire it up every couple of days to fill the tank. Works pretty well. Your tower looks great and should be more sturdy than the old original ones. Great job!!! Thanks for the post.

 

[Mark-Ia]

My brother collects them.

 

[Blue Jay]

Want to know more about windmills, on youtube check out Oki Windmiller.

 

[Gambles]

Quite a few years ago, I did some time at the Dempster factory in Beatrice, NE. At the time, they were manufacturing submersible pumps, but I don’t recall how many windmill parts they sold. In their heyday, they sold many windmills.
Dempster has since closed and the deserted factory is now a target from kids with BB guns. In other words, quite a few of the windows have been shot out and they sneak in and vandalize the old factory. The city wants to tear it down, but there’s so much asbestos covering the huge boiler that it seems nobody can afford to do it.

 

[stdsch40]

When I was building and repairing this old windmill I had a lot of problems with broken and missing parts, that's why it took so long.
When the wind blows steady, it pumps the water up and out with great force, basically a wind powered fountain on the prairie. The genius of the design and the simplicity make it 'timeless'. I made the tower extra sturdy because its a bit scary standing 30' up with those blades spinning beside you. Since its not coming down for at least 20years every thing had to be 'built to last', summer, winter, regardless.

 

[RedMF40]

I’m curious about the gearbox if it has one. I remember a newer Aero Motor in pieces because it looked like the gearbox ran dry but the wind didn’t stop so it continued to spin and everything came apart. Is there an oil reservoir on yours?

 

[stdsch40]

I’m curious about the gearbox if it has one. I remember a newer Aero Motor in pieces because it looked like the gearbox ran dry but the wind didn’t stop so it continued to spin and everything came apart. Is there an oil reservoir on yours?

Yup it has an oil filled gear box. I suppose they could still turn without oil for awhile but they are designed to have oil. Incidently these Aermotor windmills were designed before the invention of the rubber oil seal. My first attempt to get it going was a failure because oil would drip out the shaft end onto the brake band, and there was no way to stop it turning. Kind of a disaster. Brake didn't work so I had to stop it by hand. Plus I certainly didn't want to contaminate my well water with oil. After that I installed double oil seals (modern style) on the shaft, no more oil dripping. There were a bunch of other things I had to modernize like replacing the original 'babbit' bushings with bronze oil-light bushings. Its kind of amazing how quite it is when running full speed.

 

[RedMF40]

Well, you’re now the regional expert on these windmills, and sorry I was spelling it wrong. Don’t know where I came up with “Aeromotor.” Now I know. The one that self-destructed had some castings scattered about; it was clear that it had run for some time with no lube. The opening for the shaft showed great wear and was anything but round. The whole thing probably hung on as long as it could until it shook itself apart.

 

[Steve in VA]

Well, you’re now the regional expert on these windmills, and sorry I was spelling it wrong. Don’t know where I came up with “Aeromotor.” Now I know. The one that self-destructed had some castings scattered about; it was clear that it had run for some time with no lube. The opening for the shaft showed great wear and was anything but round. The whole thing probably hung on as long as it could until it shook itself apart.

It could also have been that the housing wasn't good and water made it's way in z froze.

 

[stdsch40]

Well, you’re now the regional expert on these windmills, and sorry I was spelling it wrong. Don’t know where I came up with “Aeromotor.” Now I know. The one that self-destructed had some castings scattered about; it was clear that it had run for some time with no lube. The opening for the shaft showed great wear and was anything but round. The whole thing probably hung on as long as it could until it shook itself apart.

My guess is its the only actually working (water pumping) windmill in all of Manitoba. If anyone is seeking advice on a restoration or new install I'd be glad to help.

 

[stdsch40]

Well, you’re now the regional expert on these windmills, and sorry I was spelling it wrong. Don’t know where I came up with “Aeromotor.” Now I know. The one that self-destructed had some castings scattered about; it was clear that it had run for some time with no lube. The opening for the shaft showed great wear and was anything but round. The whole thing probably hung on as long as it could until it shook itself apart.

A piece of heavy machinery perched atop a flimsy tower 30 to 40' up in the air, rotating at high speed. What could possibly go wrong...

 

[Duner Wi]

Been using my Aermotor for over 50 years. Oil it in the spring and keep brake adjusted is about all I have needed to do.
Lots of Amish in the area so so anything I need is available. Do you have a trap door to get on to platform.? Mine the platform is much smaller and you just crawl out around up and over. Naturally the blade is always right is your face too as my ladder is in the west side of
frame.

 

[stdsch40]

Been using my Aermotor for over 50 years. Oil it in the spring and keep brake adjusted is about all I have needed to do.
Lots of Amish in the area so so anything I need is available. Do you have a trap door to get on to platform.? Mine the platform is much smaller and you just crawl out around up and over. Naturally the blade is always right is your face too as my ladder is in the west side of
frame.

Yup, I built the tower to resemble the original style complete with trap door, with an actual permanent ladder welded up from 1/2" rebar. My tower is not as high as most original towers but I can easily add more height in future if I need to. So far I don't see the need for more height, gets pretty windy out on the prairie where I live.
I have a chain at the bottom to manually activate the brake in the event I need to service the windmill or stop it in huricane force winds. Climb up the ladder, rotate the whole assembly open up the trap door, climb out, close the door and do what I need to do.

 

[Roger in Iowa]

Anyone interested in old windmills? It took me almost 30 years off and on to get this circa 1900 Aermotor windmill to actually pump water again.
I have a 2" dia well that was abandoned on my property, too small dia for a submersible pump, so from a salvaged windmill from my parents farm I rigged this set up.
I call it 'St. Agnes Fountain' in her honour of course, pumps water from 100 ft down up into a 1000l tote, basically a fountain, runs when the wind blows. No electricity involved at all, no solar, just wind power. The best water ever. The tower was hand crafted be me out of scrap steel and the windmill was rebuilt/modernized by me too. Installed a new plunger pump with new riser piping and stuffing box. Since I always liked the Christmas carol Good King Wenceslas, I imagined St. Agnes Fountain to look like this. 'Right against the forest fence, by St. Agnes fountain ...'

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Are you where it freezes?
If so, and it run's really slow that above ground will or can freeze ruining all above ground.
Also did you put a 1/8 inch hole about 4 feet below the ground in the pipe so the water above can drain down out of pipe and other parts?

 

[stdsch40]

Yeah, gets very cold where I live, last night it was -28C. We often get -30's January/February. I put a 1/8" dia hole at the bottom end of the riser pipe about 6" above the pump. Pump is 60' down. This is its third winter and so far without issue. I shut the windmill down for winter anyways since I don't need the water then. BTW, I grounded the whole thing to the well casing in case of lightning strikes. I get some wild weather here at times. Waterspout over the nearby Lake.