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Forum Index : Windmills : FAST DEATH !!

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shawn

Senior Member

Joined: 30/03/2010
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 210

Posted: 08:35am 04 Sep 2011

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I decided to give my trusty dual f&p a tidy up its been hummin all winter and the blades needed a little new paint on there leading edge and when I put it up I only used the old berings that were in the washing machine so I thought its about time to have a looksee it was still going fine and i have been very happy with it.
was bringing it down slowly it got about half way and....
DOWN IT FELL

Damage was two broken blades two broken stattors bent shaft (i think) broken tail and there was a lot of noise pollution, short four letter words just flew everywere!!

Lerning curve is still growing, another dead mill to add to my big pile.

Reason for death
When I first put up this tower I had no power and had to cut the guy ropes with a hacksaw those of you that have done this no that its hard and no fun, in my wisdome instead of cutting four guys i cut two double size and went through the guy point around the tower a couple of times and down the other side thinking that even if the guy point failed it would have to pull the tower in half to fail and my welds might be a weaklink so this would solve any posible problems, it worked fine for ages then in my wisdome i desided to make it a tilt tower rope sliped through when under the most strain.....

HAPPY DADS DAY..

Gizmo

Admin Group

Joined: 05/06/2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 5078

Posted: 09:26am 04 Sep 2011

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Well thats a shame.

But it was a good machine, worth repairing.

Glenn

The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now.
JAQ

Tinker

Guru

Joined: 07/11/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 1904

Posted: 02:38pm 04 Sep 2011

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Its from these events we seem to learn best Shawn, I bet your resurrected windmill will take the strain

.
For what its worth - and I learned that the hard way with antenna masts - its easier if a fixed permanently upright pole (or one at each side) is placed near the windmill mast and the windmill mast either hinges at the base or see saws from the additional pole(s), The poles are about half the windmill mast height. Using these to lower the windmill lessens the load on the tackle or winch considerably.

Klaus

Rastus

Guru

Joined: 29/10/2010
Location: Australia
Posts: 301

Posted: 05:04pm 04 Sep 2011

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Hi Shawn,
Its a bigger repair than exspected!So,is it worth putting the work in,or better to replace it?Sorry about the outcome after such good intentions to make it serviceable for further use.All the best Rastus

see Rastus graduate advise generously

shawn

Senior Member

Joined: 30/03/2010
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 210

Posted: 04:32am 05 Sep 2011

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Thanks for your condolences guys, this mill did not deserve to die like this it has withstood 140k wind gusts, (loved them) but now I have some thinking to do,I like f&p mills they are a great first time mill and very forgiving when you get things wrong but I have been there done that now so I think i will spend my time on the new bigger mill (conisuers mill) I guess I just want more power.

Rastus

Guru

Joined: 29/10/2010
Location: Australia
Posts: 301

Posted: 03:32pm 05 Sep 2011

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Hi Shawn,
The AxFx build looks like its coming along nicely from the posts so far.So now it can be the main focus.We'll be watching with interest.Cheers Rastus

see Rastus graduate advise generously

Kiwi Nigel
Newbie

Joined: 11/09/2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 1

Posted: 09:34am 11 Sep 2011

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Hey Shawn

I have joined the back shed so I can keep up with all your hard work and adventures, maybe one day I will be setting up some wind / solar energy for our house in Christchurch and up at the bach ( bach = kiwi holiday home in this area )we are very lucky to have a place not too far from Shawn !
Sorry to hear your F&P came down faster than you intended !
catch up soon -
Hi and all the best to you and family !
Hi to all you back shed people to !
Nigel & Claire

Gizmo

Admin Group

Joined: 05/06/2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 5078

Posted: 10:39pm 11 Sep 2011

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Welcome to the forum Nigel & Claire

The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now.
JAQ

VK4AYQ
Guru

Joined: 02/12/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 2539

Posted: 01:06pm 12 Sep 2011

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Hi Nigel & Claire from the eastern state.

Bob

Foolin Around

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