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Forum Index : Windmills : Best windmill in Australia ?

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greg199
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Joined: 03/11/2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 39

Posted: 11:47pm 04 Dec 2015

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I've come across Comet windmills and Southern Cross windmills.
Perhaps there are others. I can't remember the type we had on the farm when I was a kid.
Can anyone here speak from experience and recommend the "best" Australian windmill manufacturer for pumping water (or as a turbine for that matter) ?
Important factors in determining which is "better" would include: availability of parts, robustness, reliability, ease of repair, ease of maintenance and lastly price.

Downwind

Guru

Joined: 09/09/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 2333

Posted: 01:47am 05 Dec 2015

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The list is huge depending on your age, as many mills have been around longer then some of us on the forum have had birthdays.

It also depends where you are located to what mills are common.

At a guess I would say you could be in Victoria or the east coast.

Southern cross is a age old mill that has stood the test of time, but again its horses for courses, what depth of water lift capacity are we talking here, as in most cases its a matter of the best mill to suit the requirements based on cost.

For example you would not use a gear head mill to lift water from a shallow depth, due to the extra cost and a direct drive mill would do a better job at a lower cost and higher output.

Pete.

Sometimes it just works

ryanm
Senior Member

Joined: 25/09/2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 202

Posted: 08:06pm 09 Dec 2015

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I'm not sure if you're an avid windmill enthusiast, or possibly looking to become one. If that's the case then all the best with it.

If there are practical considerations then you should know that even at the bottom of a cloudy valley a solar pump will put out more water for a fraction of the price. I don't know a lot about mechanical pumping windmills except how to curse when they break, but I believe depending on size you're looking at the price is in the tens of thousands.

Have fun.

yahoo2

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Joined: 05/04/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 1166

Posted: 09:59pm 09 Dec 2015

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The Metters Model M started in the mid 50's and was renamed the yellowtail in the 80's is now sold by WD Moore and Co.

I would regard it as the modern windmill design. The only design that ticks all the boxes is a solar pump with a vermin proof fence. Sorry to say the world has moved on.

If I didn't have a crane and a lathe I wouldn't keep my windmills going, having said that two are out of commission now and I really cant find the motivation to repair them ATM.

I'm confused, no wait... maybe I'm not...

Downwind

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Joined: 09/09/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 2333

Posted: 02:21am 10 Dec 2015

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The Metters mills with the old "white metal" bearings were one of the worst designed mills I have ever worked on, although there was often many of them about, and if maintained have lasted many decades.

Once the white metal bearings wore out they would self destruct unless the bearing was replaced prior.

Sometimes it just works

M Del
Senior Member

Joined: 09/04/2012
Location: Australia
Posts: 155

Posted: 11:41am 10 Dec 2015

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The main advantage of white metal bearings is that you can make your own, a plus.
The disadvantage is when they go, due to lack of maintenance (mostly bad oiling procedure and dirt) they go real quick.

Not good when at the top of a 20& metre pole and you might be away when it happens.

Mark

yahoo2

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Joined: 05/04/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 1166

Posted: 06:06pm 10 Dec 2015

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sounds like the K series metters you are talking about, not my favorite either.

I'm confused, no wait... maybe I'm not...

oztules

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Joined: 26/07/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 1686

Posted: 09:50pm 10 Dec 2015

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"If I didn't have a crane and a lathe I wouldn't keep my windmills going, having said that two are out of commission now and I really cant find the motivation to repair them ATM. "

Ditto

I love my old s/cross, but it is true... total waste of time compared to solar.... no contest at all... none.... nix... nada

.........oztules

Village idiot...or... just another hack out of his depth

Sungazer
Newbie

Joined: 26/11/2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 1

Posted: 10:42pm 13 Mar 2016

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I have just spent a fair bit of time restoring a 1924 Bryan Bros Cyclone windmill. I didn't really have to do much work in the end a good clean up fix a broken top lid and fit a new pulley. The white metal main bearing is a bit loose but I didn't have the money to really go that far. The plan is to get it up and see how it works before going all out if I have to. It seems to hold oil pretty well with just a bit of a leak out of the white metal bearing.

All the main gears were in really good condition however I swapped the sides they were on so the working surface of the gears is all new.

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