Your work brings back many memories. As a senior high school technology teacher in the mid 1970s, I tracked-down an eight-foot Aermotor water pumper from a local farmer in East Aroura, NY, that I obtained for a tax write off. My students and I (West Seneca East Sr.) worked all winter on the machine to put it back into working order, including pouring new Babit bearings for the main shaft-quite a project for novices. My wife-to-be and I traveled throughout the midwest the following spring to obtain several missing parts, plus a few replacement blades. Fortunately, we met the "windmill man of Iowa" who schooled me as to the intricacies of the Aermotor design. I'll never forger the feeling at the top of a 30-foot tower with the cumulous clouds passing overhead. I had the distinct notion that the whole damn tower was moving beneath me! Our machine with its 30-foot tower remained a mainstay of my energy technology lab for more than 20 years-until my retirement. Among other things, it served as a research tool for some of my advanced students, one of which won first place in the NYS sience congress for his heating with the wind research project. Thanks again for resurrecting these long forgotten memories.
That’s an awesome story that paints an amazing picture in my mind as I read it. You’re the kind of teacher I liked in school. Thank you for sharing! We will keep doing this and hopefully make good content worthy of watching!!!!!! I’m glad we reach out to people like you. You just made our day Sir!
I’m a 61 year old man with cattle I love the fact that you are working on windmills it’s just the camera wasn’t on the work being done and you couldn’t be heard maybe get an exterior microphone would have liked to see you working on the new leathers being installed I do love the fact you’re working on a job from the past that almost doesn’t exist anymore Wish you the best keep working on the videos I’m sure you’ll get better! Best of luck to you
Thank you sir!!! We have a mic but I move around so much that I keep dropping it. As for the camera, same thing, iii move around too much, and try to get it where it can see what’s going on, but there are newer videos that show the leather swap. Look up the David Bradley video. Thank you for the best wishes and please stick around!!!!
It's so nice to see a couple working together. My husband and I do the same thing. We will be married 60 years. What a wonderful life yall have God bless
Wow congratulations, that’s amazing. We just crossed the 24 mark! We love each others company and figured this was how we were gonna be able to be together all the time, start a business together. Thank you sooooo much!!!!!!
You Guys are getting better and better with filming and editing. Best post so far in my opinion. Just wished the wind would blow at the end. Thanks for posting Shane and Mama
Man thank you! Yep I talk to a lot of fellas like you that have spent years in the business, but never messed with one. The guys in our area have dabbled in them, but don’t care for the tight quarters working on them. I don’t blame them!!!!! Thank you for watching and commenting!
Y'all earned a new sub today. I enjoyed the video. I straighten,fix and side old barns for a living and nothing beats the views of the old windmills on the landscape.
I love windmills and I've never seen your channel until today. What a great video and I love the interaction between you two. Seeing all the intricate connections and devices that make windmills work was awesome.
My grandfather built highways in Texas back in the thirties on and ended up on Sheep creek in Oklahoma at some point working on Tishomingo damn. I have a high respect for the old timers that brought us so far with the sweat of their brow. You have a new fan.
Aww man thank you! We’re no comparison to the amazing folks of the past. But, we are glad to share in some of the same workload they did(although less work than they had with all the technology and hydraulics we have today). Thank you for watching and please stick around!!!!! Have a great day!!!!!!!!
I always wandered how they worked ,you guys were very enjoyable to watch,love to see old wind mills working ,living in the city we take our water for granted
Thank you Sir! We try to make it where people want to watch , and not try to be like anybody else. We all take water for granted! Even we do with our own well. Thank you for watching!!!!!!
Your video is always the first or second video of my day. I grew up on a farm in a small town in central Iowa that had a 40 foot windmill. My father did his own maintenance on it. Keep up what you do. 😁
These are great videos, and i have always loved these old windmills. Most are just empty towers here in wisconsin with the occasional tv antenna on top of them. Thanks for taking the time to share your work. I think it is a nitch product that not to many will ever follow, but maybe the solar stuff will bring in another group. ❤
Enjoyed it again. I have to admit this one made me a little more tired this evening. I remember rusty pipes and cheater bars all too well. I was getting a little worried about mama’s chin there for a little while.
I am happy to have found your channel, I have been making decorative Wind Mills for years, people love them and I’ve been fascinated with them as well. Look forward to learning much more about them.
I just, found you a couple of days ago. 😃😃 I’ve been binge watching ever since. My grandpa built his own water well drilling machine from salvaged oil field equipment. My mom was his gopher , this was late 50’s. We have 7 wells we try to keep running and a bill on the counter for repairs at the moment. You make me stop complaining about the cost of water to livestock 👍👍. Thank you and keep it fun . Raised in Carter County Oklahoma
Love it... great couple working together. We had an extra well dug and a new windmill put in.We love it, best money ever spent. If the grid goes...we have water!!!
Man thank you for subscribing!!!!! We want to save them all. I need to come out your way just to look around at them. Probably can’t beat the scenery with a windmill in it!!! Thank you for watching and commenting also!!!!!
Subd. Always cool to see husband and wife working together to common goals. Glad the windmill is working again. I see so many that aren't and it's kinda sad.
Thank you!!!!!!!!! We love working together. We’ve been best friends now for about 30 years. It is sad about the abandoned windmill. There really just isn’t many people willing to work on them any more. There are just so many other ways to make a living that aren’t so terrible on your body. But, we love them and can’t se us doing anything different! Thank you so much again!!!!!!
How cool! So, that’s the whole point of our show. Show folks what this stuff is all about, and so people can take a trip back and see those memories that pop back up! Your grandpa was a tough fella even if he used a block and tackle. Them people were amazing. Lori says I was born 100 years too late😊. Thank you for watching and commenting!
You're doing good things, friends. I live in NM, and we see many inactive windmills. It's sort of saddening. So we enjoy seeing trhem being rejuvenated and put back into service. Thanks!
Man thank you! We are trying for sure! We have a lot around here also that are abandoned and left to die, but the owners still don’t want anything done with them. Very sad! Thank you for watching and commenting!!!!
I'm really enjoying these videos. I helped my pawpaw work on windmills when I was a kid in the 1960's. I loved the work and the time I got to spend with him. He was getting too old to climb so I did all the climbing. I think every tower I agent up had an inch of 90 weight and dirt caked on it, so I had to learn to get past being scared and that strong Texas panhandle wind trying to blow me off.I learned a lot during that time. Thanks for the memories!
Fantastic. I just tuned in. I am 88 this November. I am still working my trades. Painting and self drywall contactor part time these past few years. I enjoy what you two are doing.
Wow that’s awesome! The younger audience doesn’t seem to care about what we are doing, but we’re ok with that. We love that we’re hitting on something that interest people over 45 that have been around these things in the past or have just seen them and liked them. Keep doing what you are doing also, work keeps you young!!!!!! Thank you for watching!!!!!
That is awesome!!! Thank you for finding us and enjoying our shows. Younger audiences don’t seem to care for what we do, but we’re really glad we are are connect with the older crowd. Thank you so much for watching and please keep working, keeps you young!!!
Buddy thank you! We are in the Lawton area every several months. The summers can really be miserable, it sure beats an office! Thank you for watching from the Philippines!!
I thought you might have been asking if there was a bolt through that coupling - it was so stubborn. Not my area of knowlege, but could a little heat on that outside coupling loosen it a bit? Maybe a propane torch lightly painting it. The mighty power of rust - years of rust.
Oh brother I have a propane torch and it don’t touch steel, maybe if I held it on there long enough. It’s for my electrical connections, so it just doesn’t get hot enough. May need to add a real torch one day!!!! That would do it. And, if I still can’t get it, it can’t be stuck if it’s liquid!!!!🤣😄
Did pump and motor work for 35 years. Never worked on a Windmill though. Aren't any in a 200 mile mile radius, that I can think of. Many, Line Shaft Turbines, Subs, jets, and centrifugals. This was fun to watch,,, but reminds me of Work!😊 Much happier Retired, and Faceting Gemstones. ❤ Safety First! A Neck injury forced me out of business. If you know anyone interested in a 97 Chevy Topkick Boom/Service truck,, with 46' Boom and Side Crane, let me know.
Awesome man! What state are you located? There are a lot of them here in Oklahoma for sure! We try to be as safe as possible, considering the atmosphere. Good luck with the truck! I actually have a 1996 Chevy Kodiak with a 65’ crane for sale also! Thank you again for watching!!!!
First, big wave to momma!! It is so fun to watch you two working together. Yall are an awesome couple. Certainly a team to emulate! I didn't understand the pipe pump portion. How does the water get in or is it just sucked in through the bottom of the pipe? I either missed the lower portion of the install or just couldn't see it. You have my curiosity piqued. Was a sludge filter of some sort installed? Beautiful windmill. I most assuredly would love to see either of you do a spider get off of me dance. That would be epic for sure. Thanks to both of you for these videos. I really do enjoy watching and listening to your explanation. It really is fun watching your wife lay out the tools, having them ready before you need them and then gathering what tools you're finished with so that nothing gets lost or left behind. Million dollar partner right there!!
Thank you for watching!!!!!!! Yep there is a brass pump at the bottom, and the windmill and rods suck it up like a straw! No filter of any kind. The pumps has a built in filter that works great. Ones that are added below, don’t work so well, due to the amount of cycles it makes. They just wear out too soon. When they do, chunks can go into the pump and make the valves stick open. Thank you for the wife comments, she loves hearing that!!!!! She is amazing! Thank you for watching and please stick around!!!!!!!!!
I don't think you have to straighten those rods all that often. At least I haven't seen you having to do it, but still a rebar Bender might be a good addition to your toolbox. 😊
I don't think I have ever seen steel pipe threaded so tightly as this. It was so tight that you snapped the bolts on your vise in two. 😂😂😂 Sarcasm helps spread the laughter around...
I havent watched all you videos....yet. But this is a good one. I get a kick out of mama asking questions that make you think. I retired 37 years in the oilfield so i can relate to what your doi g. Not puting a hole cover over the well is a big nono. Your fired if you drop something in the well. Waiting on you to fish something out of the well. God Bless you 2 Okies.
Howdy there!! First of all thank you for watching!!!!!! So, we have a fairly recent video that we actually had to fish pipe that slipped out of my elevator on the way back in the hole. So it happened! Couldn’t cover the well since we were putting pipe back in. We get a lot of feedback on how mama questions me and prepares the worksite for me. She is amazing and we share the same knowledge since we have done this for so long together. She does get me to thinking tho sometimes and most of the time she is correct, and I have to rethink something. Wouldn’t trade her for nothing. Luckily, anything we drop down the hole, I have to deal with, and she won’t fire me luckily, but good idea to cover the hole for sure, just don’t see me implementing that soon. I usually don’t have the hole opened up long enough to have much happen. Man thank you for watching and commenting, we love hearing from you folks!!!!!!!!!
Would you folks come out better by making these longer ones into a couple parts? Not saying that yall don't have one of the most honest views of a skilled workplace. Take care yall from Texas
Well we could, but we have gotten a lot of feedback that people want to see results in their 1 viewing. Also, a lot of people say they like longer videos, which is good, means I don’t have to do so much removing of good material to fit a time slot. Other than that, yes, it would be best to have more videos showing and people anticipating the second part, but the people have spoken. 😀. Thank you for watching down there in Texas!
You to are great together.u wife reminds me of my mother picking my dad tools.he start looking for them she pick them up he use to get mad at that but thy always laugh at each other
Love you guys, dude ..the songs....lol...Black Sabbath...lol..In the middle of Arkansas...lol..good luck the you tube life, It's fun watching someone Erect/ fix / install wind mills,and how they work! Thx
Hahaha we’re very close to Arkansas so you’re good! Thank you for watching us do our thing!!!!!! Please stick around, I want to keep getting better!!!!!! Oh, so one day will be Black Sabbath, the next Edith Piaf!!!!
Amazing video! Beautiful mill! Loved the detail. Hoping you can answer a question. We will be attempting to mount an aermotor mill on a Baker tower. After tipping the tower down, my hope is to bolt on an aermotor stub tower after cutting off the old baker top. Do you have any suggestions/tips/warnings ?
Sounds awesome! I’ve done that before. As for cutting the old tower, I make sure I have about 4-6 inches overlap. I like to measure off the furthest up horizontal braces. You just want to get the stub tower as even all the way around. I have even been known to do it in the air. Get the tower concreted in where the horizontals are level, then set the stub and mast pipe on top, vertically level the upper mast pipe, vice grip it where you want it, and drill with a 3/8 drill bit. Hopefully you can sit on the platform while doing it, but still doable if not. You can do this! It will still spin and look good if it’s not perfect. Let me know if you have other questions!!! Good luck!
Regarding the actual lift of the mill and tower into place. I considered attaching the mill to the tower and have a crane lift the entire thing into place. However, I am worried about where to attach the crane. I know you use the pitman guide loop. While this is good for lifting just the mill, I think it may be to much stress on the bolt on the mast pipe. I know the alternative is to stand the tower only and then have the crane place the mill on top. This would require me standing up there to guide it into place. Your thoughts?
You will be fine lifting it that way: it’s actually an option in the manual do lift by the loop. I have don’t it many times that way. Most of the time tho, I set the tower then the head. Either way you do it, it will be fine. Ive set 8’ on 33’ towers together like that.
@@OkieWindmiller Just seemed like a lot of weight on that mast pipe bolt. However, we did it this way on another with a 27' tower and no issues. This Baker tower is bigger. Maybe 37ft.
I took over my uncle well work my name sk pump repair I fix submersible pumps u thing u have learn it all u still learn all the time.he was my teacher.i been doing it for eight years I enjoy doing them
Keep going Shane 💪 you guys are doing amazing and I loved the 2+ hr video!! Always great content always love the thoroughness of how things are explained so I keep questions to a minimum. This is the real deal no snake oil here 👍
Hahaha I hear you. If I could squeeze everything into a shorter video I totally would!!! We get into some amazing properties for sure. We love how our office is in people’s pastures! Thank you for watching!
Most interesting video. Thank You. Suggest you carry a drum of water and a hose for cleaning your work areas and especially your hands. Less chance of infections from suspect water and odd filth as in this instance. You also have better grip with clean hands and clean tools. I carried water laced with soap when out in the field. Can't eat lunch with dirty hands.
I need to do that for sure! You didn’t see it but I even have a small propane torch that I use for my electrical connections, but it was not anywhere hot enough. I needed a rosebud on that bad boy! 😀
have you ever considered adding a small water tank to your truck so you could have some hand washing or wash down water? like a 20 or 30 gallon tank and 12 volt rv water pump? seems it would come in handy.
I think about it every time we’re out there. We have a 5 gallon bucket that has water in it, for that purpose, but we don’t always use it. Not sure why!
Just saw a towing/recovery video where the youtube driver was proud of the recent addition to his truck - potable water tank with a handheld shower. (Southern Calofornia, no worries of freezing.) And it was a $1.5million rotator, well equipped. A very handy tool for cleanup and safety when contacting hazards. Anyone ever put acid in problem wells? Could be some nasty bacteria and parasites in the stagnant water.
Makes more sense to me for all the sucker rod pumps to be like this one…seems it would be easier and quicker to service as it only means pulling the sucker rod and not the drop pipe
Yep it is way easier, but it also has its problems. They don’t make a dud guide for 7/16 sucker rod, so it’s best to be ran in smaller pipe, which is why the rods came out so bowed, unless it’s a deep heavy set. This creates havoc on the pump rods and pipe. To use 2” pipe properly, you would use 5/8 fiberglass rods with guides. This is expensive so really only worthwhile when doing a well used by humans……. Again, a deep well is fine that way, but shallow set pumps as thin one is, you need more rigidity for the downstroke to push in alignment and not bunching up. I hope this makes since. Thank you for watching!
A steal plate with the same as the vise bolt hole pattern under the bumper will make it impossible to come off the bumper in less the bolts or vise snap😉. When it's that hard I do it against the ground and hit it with a slug hammer. Vibration loosen it up🤏. I agree bad pipe wrench can brake you hand when it slips not cool.💯🫡👍
Just out of curiosity, is there supposed to be a cover on the gearbox? Seems the gear oil would get contaminated with rain water and other things after awhile. I think those old Aermotor windmills re so cool.
I know Aeromotor says it's made in Chicago, but in fact they were made here in Batavia Illinois. The last foundry in town closed in the early 2000s-the Shumway foundry- and all those beautiful mahogany patterns were thrown in dumpsters.
Wow didn’t know that! I do know that most of the mills back then were made in the upper Midwest. That’s so sad that history can vanish just like that. Not sure what I would have done with them, but at least put them old relics on a shelf! Thank you for watching!!!!
@@OkieWindmiller There were three windmill companies in Batavia. Challenge, Aeromotor and one other whos name escapes me. There were four or five foundries.
You make it look easy. I'd like to thank whoever invented the Vice Grips and the Monkey Wrench aka Pipe Wrench. They have saved tool users a lot of time, money, cussing. A 70 year old dude.
I know it is counterintuitive but, you can exert more pressure by pulling up on a wrench. When pushing down you are limited in force by your weight. Pulling up you use your back and leg muscles. Learned this dealing with 6" and larger pipe.
@@OkieWindmillerIn a fire truck factory, I saw two older guys laughing at a kid struggling to tighten a 6" fitting on the back of an aerial ladder truck by everything but jumping on a huge pipe wrench. After watching and giggling for several minutes they walked over. While the foreman explained leverage to the kid the other guy turned the pipe wrench around and easily gave the NPT fitting a full half turn. I used to use that anecdote often when discussing the physics involved in those aerial devices when making sales presentations.
I think you need to do a collaboration with Adam from "Hometown Acres". He's looking for a solution for transferring water from a newly built lower pond, up to his recreational pond. He's in Pennsylvania, so distance might be an issue. But I think such a collaboration would help you grow your youtube channel. Just a suggestion.
Hello! I Love your Videos . what is the purpose of the lifting mechanism, at the mast? And what about the spring, on the vane arm? Some sort of high wind safety override? Thanks, Paul
Howdy and thank you!!!!! The mechanism is the upper brake lever. It actuates all bellcranks that make the brake work. The spring is exactly that! It governs the tail furling in the wind. Looser spring and the tail furls easier, tighter and it holds it into the wind harder! You were exactly right!!!
In the oilfield, me and another pumper once used a ~20 ft sub of 2 3/8” junk oilfield tubing as a cheater on a 36 to loosen a bull plug that had galled threads. It turned the whole freaking wellhead 😂. So we applied heat and persuasion for a while and tried it again and the plug came loose. But the threads had actually broken and some nipples had to be replaced. God bless a cheater pipe!
G’day Mate!!!!!!! So sometime in the past, someone(probably kids) climbed the tower and took the bonnet off, and never put it back on correctly, so it filled with rain, birds, bugs, etc…… It can be rebuilt but the customer wanted it quickly, so we opted for the new gearbox. Thanks for watching waaaaay down under!!!!!!!!!
We work off the bottom of the stroke, so 180 degree different! I don’t k ow why, but we all do it the same, but you could technically put the windmill to the top,and the pump too, and just lower the pump a couple inches. 😀. Thank you for watching!
Who else noticed the old western manners of the owner shaking Lori's hand and tipping his hat also. Wonderful!!!
Oh yeah, she loved that! He is an awesome fella for sure! Old school!!!!
Your work brings back many memories. As a senior high school technology teacher in the mid 1970s, I tracked-down an eight-foot Aermotor water pumper from a local farmer in East Aroura, NY, that I obtained for a tax write off. My students and I (West Seneca East Sr.) worked all winter on the machine to put it back into working order, including pouring new Babit bearings for the main shaft-quite a project for novices. My wife-to-be and I traveled throughout the midwest the following spring to obtain several missing parts, plus a few replacement blades. Fortunately, we met the "windmill man of Iowa" who schooled me as to the intricacies of the Aermotor design. I'll never forger the feeling at the top of a 30-foot tower with the cumulous clouds passing overhead. I had the distinct notion that the whole damn tower was moving beneath me!
Our machine with its 30-foot tower remained a mainstay of my energy technology lab for more than 20 years-until my retirement. Among other things, it served as a research tool for some of my advanced students, one of which won first place in the NYS sience congress for his heating with the wind research project. Thanks again for resurrecting these long forgotten memories.
That’s an awesome story that paints an amazing picture in my mind as I read it. You’re the kind of teacher I liked in school. Thank you for sharing! We will keep doing this and hopefully make good content worthy of watching!!!!!! I’m glad we reach out to people like you. You just made our day Sir!
Camera work, focus, and clearity were excellent. Thank you for making it so enjoyable!😊
Man thank you! We love hearing that. We don’t hear it enough. We are new and still learning, and good feedback is wonderful!!!!
I’m a 61 year old man with cattle I love the fact that you are working on windmills it’s just the camera wasn’t on the work being done and you couldn’t be heard maybe get an exterior microphone would have liked to see you working on the new leathers being installed
I do love the fact you’re working on a job from the past that almost doesn’t exist anymore
Wish you the best keep working on the videos I’m sure you’ll get better!
Best of luck to you
Thank you sir!!!
We have a mic but I move around so much that I keep dropping it. As for the camera, same thing, iii move around too much, and try to get it where it can see what’s going on, but there are newer videos that show the leather swap. Look up the David Bradley video. Thank you for the best wishes and please stick around!!!!
It's nice to see a husband/wife team working together so well.
First time watching you all. Enjoyed the video.
Thank you! We enjoy it! It’s not for everybody, so we’ve been told!!!! Thank you for watching and please stick around!
It's so nice to see a couple working together. My husband and I do the same thing. We will be married 60 years. What a wonderful life yall have God bless
Wow congratulations, that’s amazing. We just crossed the 24 mark! We love each others company and figured this was how we were gonna be able to be together all the time, start a business together. Thank you sooooo much!!!!!!
You Guys are getting better and better with filming and editing. Best post so far in my opinion. Just wished the wind would blow at the end. Thanks for posting Shane and Mama
Man thank you sir! Love to hear that! We beg the wind to blow but it just never does. Just the way it is!
I'll be 59 soon. Pulled turbins, subs, jets, and twin pipes for the last 40 years. Never worked on a windmill. Enjoyed the video.
Man thank you! Yep I talk to a lot of fellas like you that have spent years in the business, but never messed with one. The guys in our area have dabbled in them, but don’t care for the tight quarters working on them. I don’t blame them!!!!! Thank you for watching and commenting!
Y'all earned a new sub today. I enjoyed the video. I straighten,fix and side old barns for a living and nothing beats the views of the old windmills on the landscape.
Man thank you! We live having people join us, and we love what you do also! We love old barns!!
I love windmills and I've never seen your channel until today. What a great video and I love the interaction between you two. Seeing all the intricate connections and devices that make windmills work was awesome.
Man thank you!!!! That’s why we’re here!!!! Please stick around!!
My grandfather built highways in Texas back in the thirties on and ended up on Sheep creek in Oklahoma at some point working on Tishomingo damn. I have a high respect for the old timers that brought us so far with the sweat of their brow.
You have a new fan.
Aww man thank you! We’re no comparison to the amazing folks of the past. But, we are glad to share in some of the same workload they did(although less work than they had with all the technology and hydraulics we have today). Thank you for watching and please stick around!!!!! Have a great day!!!!!!!!
I always wandered how they worked ,you guys were very enjoyable to watch,love to see old wind mills working ,living in the city we take our water for granted
Thank you Sir! We try to make it where people want to watch , and not try to be like anybody else. We all take water for granted! Even we do with our own well. Thank you for watching!!!!!!
Your video is always the first or second video of my day. I grew up on a farm in a small town in central Iowa that had a 40 foot windmill. My father did his own maintenance on it. Keep up what you do. 😁
Thank you!!! We live the history of our folks that we get to hear! 40’ is a tall one!!!! We will keep on doing what we do! Thank you for watching!!!
Enjoy your videos and learning how windmills work. Have done own pump work for 50+ years. N. Illinois deep wells and pump sets here, 400 to 700 ft.
Daaaaaaang I’m glad our wells aren’t that deep!!!!!! Thank you for watching us do our thing!!!!!!
These are great videos, and i have always loved these old windmills. Most are just empty towers here in wisconsin with the occasional tv antenna on top of them. Thanks for taking the time to share your work. I think it is a nitch product that not to many will ever follow, but maybe the solar stuff will bring in another group. ❤
I hear you! It’s a tight group for sure! We shall see!!!!! Thank you so much!
Enjoyed it again. I have to admit this one made me a little more tired this evening. I remember rusty pipes and cheater bars all too well. I was getting a little worried about mama’s chin there for a little while.
Haha yep, that’s why I had to rethink it. Did t want to whack her, I would have gotten it real good! Thank you again for watching!!!!!!!!
I am happy to have found your channel, I have been making decorative Wind Mills for years, people love them and I’ve been fascinated with them as well. Look forward to learning much more about them.
Man that’s awesome! We’re glad you found us also!!!!! People love windmills, decorative or functional. Thank you for watching and commenting!
I just, found you a couple of days ago. 😃😃 I’ve been binge watching ever since. My grandpa built his own water well drilling machine from salvaged oil field equipment. My mom was his gopher , this was late 50’s. We have 7 wells we try to keep running and a bill on the counter for repairs at the moment. You make me stop complaining about the cost of water to livestock 👍👍. Thank you and keep it fun . Raised in Carter County Oklahoma
Wow thank you! I love that story!!!!! People were tough and ingenuous back then! It amazes me! Thank you for finding us and subscribing!!!!
Love it... great couple working together. We had an extra well dug and a new windmill put in.We love it, best money ever spent. If the grid goes...we have water!!!
That’s awesome!!! Yep they’re the ultimate backup water source!!!! Thank you for watching and commenting!
Hundreds of these neglected here in southeastern Arizona...subbed!
Man thank you for subscribing!!!!! We want to save them all. I need to come out your way just to look around at them. Probably can’t beat the scenery with a windmill in it!!! Thank you for watching and commenting also!!!!!
Subd. Always cool to see husband and wife working together to common goals. Glad the windmill is working again. I see so many that aren't and it's kinda sad.
Thank you!!!!!!!!! We love working together. We’ve been best friends now for about 30 years. It is sad about the abandoned windmill. There really just isn’t many people willing to work on them any more. There are just so many other ways to make a living that aren’t so terrible on your body. But, we love them and can’t se us doing anything different! Thank you so much again!!!!!!
Fascinating, my Grandpa used to be a well driller. I watched him pull a 30’ sand point on the farm!!
How cool! So, that’s the whole point of our show. Show folks what this stuff is all about, and so people can take a trip back and see those memories that pop back up! Your grandpa was a tough fella even if he used a block and tackle. Them people were amazing. Lori says I was born 100 years too late😊. Thank you for watching and commenting!
You're doing good things, friends. I live in NM, and we see many inactive windmills. It's sort of saddening. So we enjoy seeing trhem being rejuvenated and put back into service. Thanks!
Man thank you! We are trying for sure! We have a lot around here also that are abandoned and left to die, but the owners still don’t want anything done with them. Very sad! Thank you for watching and commenting!!!!
Love your Channel . You and your wife have a great life together. Thanks for sharing your craft skills.😊
Thank you so much! We think so too, most of the time 🤣. Thank you for watching what we do!!!!
I'm really enjoying these videos. I helped my pawpaw work on windmills when I was a kid in the 1960's. I loved the work and the time I got to spend with him. He was getting too old to climb so I did all the climbing. I think every tower I agent up had an inch of 90 weight and dirt caked on it, so I had to learn to get past being scared and that strong Texas panhandle wind trying to blow me off.I learned a lot during that time. Thanks for the memories!
Man that’s an awesome story!!! We love taking people back many years to a better time!!!!!
...bend steel with his bare hands.... its Superman...Thanks for great videos!
Bahahahaha thank you!! Yep, I tell everyone that was like 1” diameter, lol, but it’s only 7/16🤣
I've always been curious about how these work. That was cool. 🙏🙂
Well thank you! That’s exactly why we do it!!!!!! To keep them alive!
Fantastic. I just tuned in. I am 88 this November. I am still working my trades. Painting and self drywall contactor part time these past few years. I enjoy what you two are doing.
Wow that’s awesome! The younger audience doesn’t seem to care about what we are doing, but we’re ok with that. We love that we’re hitting on something that interest people over 45 that have been around these things in the past or have just seen them and liked them. Keep doing what you are doing also, work keeps you young!!!!!! Thank you for watching!!!!!
That is awesome!!! Thank you for finding us and enjoying our shows. Younger audiences don’t seem to care for what we do, but we’re really glad we are are connect with the older crowd. Thank you so much for watching and please keep working, keeps you young!!!
Well im 70 and retired from the sheetmetel union in okc and I really enjoy you two ! Y'all work really good togeather
Enjoyed, looks good.
Thank you so much!!!!
I lived in Lawton for twenty five years. Retired now in the Philippines. Must be brutal work in the summer. Great channel, just subbed.
Buddy thank you! We are in the Lawton area every several months. The summers can really be miserable, it sure beats an office! Thank you for watching from the Philippines!!
You had me rolling when that clamp fell off and you ask was there any bolts in it. Great video as always. God Bless you two.
Man thank you!!!!! Love hearing that!!!!!
I thought you might have been asking if there was a bolt through that coupling - it was so stubborn. Not my area of knowlege, but could a little heat on that outside coupling loosen it a bit? Maybe a propane torch lightly painting it. The mighty power of rust - years of rust.
Oh brother I have a propane torch and it don’t touch steel, maybe if I held it on there long enough. It’s for my electrical connections, so it just doesn’t get hot enough. May need to add a real torch one day!!!! That would do it. And, if I still can’t get it, it can’t be stuck if it’s liquid!!!!🤣😄
Did pump and motor work for 35 years. Never worked on a Windmill though. Aren't any in a 200 mile mile radius, that I can think of. Many, Line Shaft Turbines, Subs, jets, and centrifugals.
This was fun to watch,,, but reminds me of Work!😊 Much happier Retired, and Faceting Gemstones. ❤ Safety First! A Neck injury forced me out of business. If you know anyone interested in a 97 Chevy Topkick Boom/Service truck,, with 46' Boom and Side Crane, let me know.
Awesome man! What state are you located? There are a lot of them here in Oklahoma for sure! We try to be as safe as possible, considering the atmosphere. Good luck with the truck! I actually have a 1996 Chevy Kodiak with a 65’ crane for sale also!
Thank you again for watching!!!!
Another excellent video. Learned a bunch on this one.👍👍
Thank you so much!!!!! That’s what we’re trying to do!!!!
Great work and Mama does a great job You two make a great team
Thank you! She is amazing for sure!!!!!! Would be lost stumbling around out there without her! Thank you for watching!
Make sure that the spitter party comes would love to see that!
It would make it so fun!
Party time and fun!
Sincerely!
Richard Virchow
Yuck that wouldn’t be a fun party to attend with them little fellers around!!!!!
It is ALL SO INTERESTING. Amazing process and knowledge. Another viewer from CA. THANKS, grew up in Tx, like ur sense of humor & ur wife's comments.
Man thank you and glad you get us!!!! Thank you for coming along and we will keep making good content!!!!
Great video, and job.
Have a great day
Thank you soooo much! You have a great day also!
A lost art. You both make an awesome couple and team.
Thank you so much!!! Yes it is! It’s a lot of work and I don’t blame people for not doing it!!!!!!
Hi there, just stumbled upon you guy's and enjoyed watching you too in action ! Great chemistry ! say hello from the Great state of Tennessee ;-)
Man than you! Glad you found us!!!!!!!!! And thank you for watching way out in Tennessee!!!!!!!!!!
Totally far-out and absolutely mesmerizing. Good job
Man thank you!!!!!! You made our day now!!!!!
Great job!
Sincerely!
Richard Virchow
Thank you kind sir!
awesome job
Thank you so much!!!
Enjoy your videos.
Thank you sir!
TH-cam just showcased your video, great video
Man that’s awesome! Soooo glad you liked it. I’m new and my editing shows it, but every week i strive to get better! Thank you for the kind words.
What a awesome job you guys make a great team👍👍
Thank you so much!!!!!
It's great video, I really like you two.
Man thank you sir!!!!!!!!!
Look forward to more content. Thanks for the recognition of my comments
You’re welcome! Thank you for watching us!!
First, big wave to momma!! It is so fun to watch you two working together. Yall are an awesome couple. Certainly a team to emulate! I didn't understand the pipe pump portion. How does the water get in or is it just sucked in through the bottom of the pipe? I either missed the lower portion of the install or just couldn't see it. You have my curiosity piqued. Was a sludge filter of some sort installed? Beautiful windmill. I most assuredly would love to see either of you do a spider get off of me dance. That would be epic for sure. Thanks to both of you for these videos. I really do enjoy watching and listening to your explanation. It really is fun watching your wife lay out the tools, having them ready before you need them and then gathering what tools you're finished with so that nothing gets lost or left behind. Million dollar partner right there!!
Thank you for watching!!!!!!! Yep there is a brass pump at the bottom, and the windmill and rods suck it up like a straw! No filter of any kind. The pumps has a built in filter that works great. Ones that are added below, don’t work so well, due to the amount of cycles it makes. They just wear out too soon. When they do, chunks can go into the pump and make the valves stick open. Thank you for the wife comments, she loves hearing that!!!!! She is amazing! Thank you for watching and please stick around!!!!!!!!!
@@OkieWindmiller ok. Didn't realize that you had installed a brass pump. Ty
@@Johnathan-ib3qh yep!!!! Have a great day!
I really enjoyed this video. I've got an 8' aermotor on a 27' tower but it's just a spinner.
Thank you sir! I love the 8x27 also. When people ask me what a windmill looks like, that’s what I show them! Thank you for watching!
Watched this video again and noticed that the ladder sections are on upside down or at least I think they are.
Great job as always
Thank you!!!!!!
It takes a good ole country boy to figure it out every time lol
Haha that is a compliment right there! Thank you! Yep, I was raised farming so you had to fix stuff!! Thank you for watching!!!!!
I don't think you have to straighten those rods all that often. At least I haven't seen you having to do it, but still a rebar Bender might be a good addition to your toolbox. 😊
Very seldom, but every now and then. Although, that’s all why I can stay out of the gym!!!!😀 Thank ya fer watching!!!!
Good job as always
Thank you very much!!!!!!
I don't think I have ever seen steel pipe threaded so tightly as this. It was so tight that you snapped the bolts on your vise in two. 😂😂😂 Sarcasm helps spread the laughter around...
Hahaha yep. I think it has been years and years since it had moved lol. I need to put grade 8 bolts in the vice!!!!! Thank you for watching!!!!!!
That was not threaded tight. The word is rusted tight.
Hahaha correct!!! That old stuff gets ridiculous!!!!! Thank you for watching!!!!!
another great video. I love watching all of the repairs. watched the entire thing
Man thank you!!!!!! Thank you for sticking with us!!!!
Enjoyed watching from novato ca
Awesome!!!! Thank you very much!!!! It’s nice to hear where people are from!!
I havent watched all you videos....yet. But this is a good one. I get a kick out of mama asking questions that make you think. I retired 37 years in the oilfield so i can relate to what your doi g. Not puting a hole cover over the well is a big nono. Your fired if you drop something in the well. Waiting on you to fish something out of the well. God Bless you 2 Okies.
Howdy there!! First of all thank you for watching!!!!!! So, we have a fairly recent video that we actually had to fish pipe that slipped out of my elevator on the way back in the hole. So it happened! Couldn’t cover the well since we were putting pipe back in.
We get a lot of feedback on how mama questions me and prepares the worksite for me. She is amazing and we share the same knowledge since we have done this for so long together. She does get me to thinking tho sometimes and most of the time she is correct, and I have to rethink something. Wouldn’t trade her for nothing. Luckily, anything we drop down the hole, I have to deal with, and she won’t fire me luckily, but good idea to cover the hole for sure, just don’t see me implementing that soon. I usually don’t have the hole opened up long enough to have much happen. Man thank you for watching and commenting, we love hearing from you folks!!!!!!!!!
Would you folks come out better by making these longer ones into a couple parts? Not saying that yall don't have one of the most honest views of a skilled workplace. Take care yall from Texas
Well we could, but we have gotten a lot of feedback that people want to see results in their 1 viewing. Also, a lot of people say they like longer videos, which is good, means I don’t have to do so much removing of good material to fit a time slot. Other than that, yes, it would be best to have more videos showing and people anticipating the second part, but the people have spoken. 😀. Thank you for watching down there in Texas!
You to are great together.u wife reminds me of my mother picking my dad tools.he start looking for them she pick them up he use to get mad at that but thy always laugh at each other
That’s funny, yep she likes to put them up too soon for sure. I couldn’t do it without her tho! Thank you!
Fine looking windmills
Thank you sir, they are awesome for sure!
Love you guys, dude ..the songs....lol...Black Sabbath...lol..In the middle of Arkansas...lol..good luck the you tube life, It's fun watching someone Erect/ fix / install wind mills,and how they work! Thx
Sorry ,... Oklahoma
Hahaha we’re very close to Arkansas so you’re good! Thank you for watching us do our thing!!!!!! Please stick around, I want to keep getting better!!!!!! Oh, so one day will be Black Sabbath, the next Edith Piaf!!!!
Yeah, I meant Oklahoma
Hahaha yep! You didn’t hurt our feelings any, we love Arkansas!!!
Cool, I always wondered how windmills worked.
Well wonder no longer! Stick around and we will Shaw you all different types and brands! Thank you for watching!!!!!!
Amazing video! Beautiful mill! Loved the detail.
Hoping you can answer a question.
We will be attempting to mount an aermotor mill on a Baker tower.
After tipping the tower down, my hope is to bolt on an aermotor stub tower after cutting off the old baker top.
Do you have any suggestions/tips/warnings ?
Sounds awesome! I’ve done that before. As for cutting the old tower, I make sure I have about 4-6 inches overlap. I like to measure off the furthest up horizontal braces. You just want to get the stub tower as even all the way around. I have even been known to do it in the air. Get the tower concreted in where the horizontals are level, then set the stub and mast pipe on top, vertically level the upper mast pipe, vice grip it where you want it, and drill with a 3/8 drill bit. Hopefully you can sit on the platform while doing it, but still doable if not. You can do this! It will still spin and look good if it’s not perfect. Let me know if you have other questions!!! Good luck!
@@OkieWindmiller thanks!!
Regarding the actual lift of the mill and tower into place.
I considered attaching the mill to the tower and have a crane lift the entire thing into place.
However, I am worried about where to attach the crane.
I know you use the pitman guide loop.
While this is good for lifting just the mill, I think it may be to much stress on the bolt on the mast pipe.
I know the alternative is to stand the tower only and then have the crane place the mill on top.
This would require me standing up there to guide it into place.
Your thoughts?
You will be fine lifting it that way: it’s actually an option in the manual do lift by the loop. I have don’t it many times that way. Most of the time tho, I set the tower then the head. Either way you do it, it will be fine. Ive set 8’ on 33’ towers together like that.
@@OkieWindmiller Just seemed like a lot of weight on that mast pipe bolt. However, we did it this way on another with a 27' tower and no issues. This Baker tower is bigger. Maybe 37ft.
I took over my uncle well work my name sk pump repair I fix submersible pumps u thing u have learn it all u still learn all the time.he was my teacher.i been doing it for eight years I enjoy doing them
Man that’s awesome! I have always liked this line of work, like you do. It’s honest labor for sure!
Keep going Shane 💪 you guys are doing amazing and I loved the 2+ hr video!! Always great content always love the thoroughness of how things are explained so I keep questions to a minimum. This is the real deal no snake oil here 👍
Man thank you sir! We’re trying to make content that we would sit down and watch. Have a great day sir!!
The cows knew water was coming!! Thanks
Hahahaha yep!!!!! Thank you!!!!!!
Another great one, but i love windmills always wanted one but not going to happen, i buy the small ones from tractor supply.
Hahaha they work too!! Much cheaper for sure and way less maintenance!!!! Thank you for watching!
It’s nice seeing people working for over two hours and nobody touched their phone !
😀Thank you!!!! Yep they ring but we try not to mess with them. I don’t like getting distracted and forgetting what I was doing!!!!!🤣
You must get to access some great pieces of property. Your videos are good. It's the short attention span of Americans that's the problem.
Hahaha I hear you. If I could squeeze everything into a shorter video I totally would!!! We get into some amazing properties for sure. We love how our office is in people’s pastures! Thank you for watching!
Most interesting video. Thank You. Suggest you carry a drum of water and a hose for cleaning your work areas and especially your hands. Less chance of infections from suspect water and odd filth as in this instance. You also have better grip with clean hands and clean tools. I carried water laced with soap when out in the field. Can't eat lunch with dirty hands.
Thank you!!! We actually have 5 gallons with us most of the time if we remember it!!!!!!! It’s so nice to be able to clean up a bit!!!!!
That girl is a keeper.
Yep she is!!!!! Married 24 years now.
Put you a propane torch on truck to have heat for metal hard fittings. And a bucket of water
I need to do that for sure! You didn’t see it but I even have a small propane torch that I use for my electrical connections, but it was not anywhere hot enough. I needed a rosebud on that bad boy! 😀
have you ever considered adding a small water tank to your truck so you could have some hand washing or wash down water? like a 20 or 30 gallon tank and 12 volt rv water pump? seems it would come in handy.
I was going to suggest that very same thing, great idea
I think about it every time we’re out there. We have a 5 gallon bucket that has water in it, for that purpose, but we don’t always use it. Not sure why!
Just saw a towing/recovery video where the youtube driver was proud of the recent addition to his truck - potable water tank with a handheld shower. (Southern Calofornia, no worries of freezing.) And it was a $1.5million rotator, well equipped. A very handy tool for cleanup and safety when contacting hazards. Anyone ever put acid in problem wells? Could be some nasty bacteria and parasites in the stagnant water.
Man we’re gonna do it!!!! Sold!!! 😀
Makes more sense to me for all the sucker rod pumps to be like this one…seems it would be easier and quicker to service as it only means pulling the sucker rod and not the drop pipe
Yep it is way easier, but it also has its problems. They don’t make a dud guide for 7/16 sucker rod, so it’s best to be ran in smaller pipe, which is why the rods came out so bowed, unless it’s a deep heavy set. This creates havoc on the pump rods and pipe. To use 2” pipe properly, you would use 5/8 fiberglass rods with guides. This is expensive so really only worthwhile when doing a well used by humans…….
Again, a deep well is fine that way, but shallow set pumps as thin one is, you need more rigidity for the downstroke to push in alignment and not bunching up. I hope this makes since. Thank you for watching!
A steal plate with the same as the vise bolt hole pattern under the bumper will make it impossible to come off the bumper in less the bolts or vise snap😉. When it's that hard I do it against the ground and hit it with a slug hammer. Vibration loosen it up🤏. I agree bad pipe wrench can brake you hand when it slips not cool.💯🫡👍
100% true sir!
its 4 am in england love it windmill all night
Haha man awesome!!!!! Thank you for watching so early!!!!!!!!!
thank you
Thank you for watching!!!!!!!!
Just out of curiosity, is there supposed to be a cover on the gearbox? Seems the gear oil would get contaminated with rain water and other things after awhile. I think those old Aermotor windmills re so cool.
Never mind I looked them up and saw the Tin Helmet on the Aermotor website. I just imagined it would be cast iron and bolt onto the gearbox.
Yep it’s pretty flimsy, but works😀. Thank you for watching!!!!!
Just think back when those were state of the art.
Oh yep, the won the west for sure!!!! Westward expansion would have been difficult had it not been for them!
I know Aeromotor says it's made in Chicago, but in fact they were made here in Batavia Illinois. The last foundry in town closed in the early 2000s-the Shumway foundry- and all those beautiful mahogany patterns were thrown in dumpsters.
Wow didn’t know that! I do know that most of the mills back then were made in the upper Midwest. That’s so sad that history can vanish just like that. Not sure what I would have done with them, but at least put them old relics on a shelf! Thank you for watching!!!!
@@OkieWindmiller There were three windmill companies in Batavia. Challenge, Aeromotor and one other whos name escapes me. There were four or five foundries.
That is so awesome!
You make it look easy. I'd like to thank whoever invented the Vice Grips and the Monkey Wrench aka Pipe Wrench. They have saved tool users a lot of time, money, cussing. A 70 year old dude.
Thank you!!!! Yes, they saved us all lots of grief for sure!!!!! 👍🏻 can’t imagine doing it any other way! Thank you for watching Sir!
So many different configurations of pumps and plumbing you must have come across in the years y'all been doing this.
Oh man, every one is different, but you do see trends and you know the which guy worked on which for sure!!!!
I know it is counterintuitive but, you can exert more pressure by pulling up on a wrench. When pushing down you are limited in force by your weight. Pulling up you use your back and leg muscles. Learned this dealing with 6" and larger pipe.
Good tip! I will try it! Been using stinkin pipe wrenches for 45 years, now I find out how to use one!!!!!😀
@@OkieWindmillerIn a fire truck factory, I saw two older guys laughing at a kid struggling to tighten a 6" fitting on the back of an aerial ladder truck by everything but jumping on a huge pipe wrench. After watching and giggling for several minutes they walked over. While the foreman explained leverage to the kid the other guy turned the pipe wrench around and easily gave the NPT fitting a full half turn. I used to use that anecdote often when discussing the physics involved in those aerial devices when making sales presentations.
That’s awesome!! I’m glad they did that! Kid never forgot to use leverage!!! Thank you!
Thank you for the longer video.
Do you and your wife always work together..
You make a great couple.
We always do, unless she has something to do with the kiddos. Thank you sooooo much!
they say that nothing lasts forever but i think a windmill comes pretty close to lasting forever if it is maintained properly.
Exactly! If they are maintained, and taken care of in storms, they have a looooooong life!
Espectacular bien explicado saludos desde Argentina
Thank you so much! Thank you for watching waaaaay down in Argentina! We have windmills from Argentina. FIASA brand!!!!!
You two are quite a nice couple.
Thank you!! It’s all her, she makes everything nice!!!😀
I think you need to do a collaboration with Adam from "Hometown Acres". He's looking for a solution for transferring water from a newly built lower pond, up to his recreational pond. He's in Pennsylvania, so distance might be an issue. But I think such a collaboration would help you grow your youtube channel. Just a suggestion.
I will look him up! I’ve done that before, and offgrid at that!!!! Thank you ! I’m on it!
You might try adding heat to the rusty joints to break up the rust.
Yep I need to pack a real torch along sometimes!!!!!!! I have a propane torch for my electrical work but it doesn’t get hot enough……….
Cows like your singing, too. Moo...
Hahahahaha yep, that’s why cowboys sang back in the day, to calm them down! That’s why I do it 😄🤣! Thank you for watching!!!!!
Hello!
I Love your Videos .
what is the purpose of the lifting mechanism, at the mast?
And what about the spring, on the vane arm? Some sort of high wind safety override?
Thanks, Paul
Howdy and thank you!!!!! The mechanism is the upper brake lever. It actuates all bellcranks that make the brake work. The spring is exactly that! It governs the tail furling in the wind. Looser spring and the tail furls easier, tighter and it holds it into the wind harder! You were exactly right!!!
cool
Thank you!!!!
In the oilfield, me and another pumper once used a ~20 ft sub of 2 3/8” junk oilfield tubing as a cheater on a 36 to loosen a bull plug that had galled threads. It turned the whole freaking wellhead 😂. So we applied heat and persuasion for a while and tried it again and the plug came loose. But the threads had actually broken and some nipples had to be replaced. God bless a cheater pipe!
Oh man!!! Now that’s a cheater !!!! Cheaters have saved me many times for sure!!!!!
We used to drive by that windmill for ften my dad Don Griffin was salesman for Pumps of Oklahoma
Man that’s awesome! It’s in good shape now! Thank you for watching us!
@@OkieWindmiller live in Tennessee now love seeing back home
Well keep watching we will take ya back weekly!!!!
G,day from Gippsland Victoria Aust...Do you know what happened to the old Windmill Head ???....
G’day Mate!!!!!!! So sometime in the past, someone(probably kids) climbed the tower and took the bonnet off, and never put it back on correctly, so it filled with rain, birds, bugs, etc…… It can be rebuilt but the customer wanted it quickly, so we opted for the new gearbox. Thanks for watching waaaaay down under!!!!!!!!!
@@OkieWindmiller Many Thanks .....
You’re welcome!!!!
Its so nice when husband and wife enjoying working together. My wife also help me when doing car repairs. ❤
Yep they’re pretty amazing, especially the ones that don’t mind getting their hands dirty!!!!! We’re blessed for sure!
Its because they have to shake the "L" out of them getting them out of the trees...lol
Almond, Amond...🤣
Bahahahahahahahhaha!!!! Good one!!!! (We still call it aLmond around here). Thank ya for watching!!!!!
Does gear box have a cover?
Sure does! It’s a shaped sheet metal cover.
Missed seeing you put it back. Just say you putting oil all over gears. Sure am glad I found the channel. Enjoy watching from Texas!!!
It is the same timing a car engine has ! It is just an upsidedown way of it !
We work off the bottom of the stroke, so 180 degree different! I don’t k ow why, but we all do it the same, but you could technically put the windmill to the top,and the pump too, and just lower the pump a couple inches. 😀. Thank you for watching!
love this stuff mate but tell me you have a oxy touch ?
Thank ya Sir, I have a propane torch for electrical stuff, but don’t get hot enough to cook a kookaburra wing! Thank you for watching!
You didnt tighten the bottom nuts that hold the tower to the windmill axle. Just saying
Oh no! Maybe be did when the camera wasn’t looking. Lori don’t let me miss anything. But you could be right! I will check! Thank you!