Grain Elevator broke sprocket - need advice

[riptides]

My old style grain elevator broke a sprocket. I have NO idea how to get it off and replace it. I have attached some pictures for advice.

Pic 1 First the elevator.

The sprocket is on the far right, this one is OK.

The PTO shaft, I thought would slide out after I took all the screws out of the sprockets.

Pic 2 This bearing is firmly holding the shaft. How does the shaft come out?

Pic 3 This looks like a bearing. But it is firmly attached.

Pic 4 This sprocket is cracked and will not tighten down to the shaft. I need this off the shaft.

 

[jayste]

Riptides,

It's not a fix but if you're needing the elevator now then could you put a couple of tack welds on the shaft/sprocket area until the off season? I'm not familiar with this type. Looks pretty seized up though.

Jay

 

[dave1949]

In pic #2, it looks like the end of the shaft has been hammered al long time ago. Like maybe someone tried or succeeded in driving the shaft through the bearing?

It really looks so bound up you might consider rebuilding it. Can't be much left of the bearings. Don't see any grease zerks, probably sealed bearings.

I am assuming because you can get it apart, you can't take the shaft completely out and use a shop press on it?

Dave.

 

[riptides]

In pic #2, it looks like the end of the shaft has been hammered al long time ago. Like maybe someone tried or succeeded in driving the shaft through the bearing?

It really looks so bound up you might consider rebuilding it. Can't be much left of the bearings. Don't see any grease zerks, probably sealed bearings.

I am assuming because you can get it apart, you can't take the shaft completely out and use a shop press on it?

Dave.

Yep, you would think it would slide off the bearing right? I used a whole can of wd40 on it. But those bearing will not budge off the shaft.

Riptides,

It's not a fix but if you're needing the elevator now then could you put a couple of tack welds on the shaft/sprocket area until the off season? I'm not familiar with this type. Looks pretty seized up though.

Jay

Yeah, considered that, since it is only used twice a year to move hay to the loft.
My issue is I needed it tonight, I got two hay wagons that need to be unloaded, and it started raining. OF COURSE.

Do you all agree that it should slide out, or do you think a set screw is holding the shaft somewhere else?

Thanks!

 

[kebo]

Just wondering but does that "bearing" spin freely, or is it bound up? You might consider taking a sawzall and just cut it off, being careful to cut the last little bit of it by hand with a hacksaw. That SHOULD at least get the bearing off, which looks like it needs to be replaced anyway. There should be enough left of it to take it to NAPA and get it matched up to a new one. After you get it off, you might see about taking the shaft to a machine shop to see if it can "cleaned up" some on a lathe. I doubt a new bearing would just slide right on the way it's been mangled up. Good luck with it.

 

[whitedogone]

Anybody close by your place sell elevators? Looks like you could use something a little newer

 

[riptides]

Just wondering but does that "bearing" spin freely, or is it bound up?

Yes, the inner part spins freely, but it is frozen on the shaft.

Anybody close by your place sell elevators? Looks like you could use something a little newer

Hey, twice a year. You price those new elevators? Plus, there is the old fashion way. Stack and lift!

 

[riptides]

I got it off.

So, is the bore standard on these sprockets?

What where they called originally? Grain elevators?

It has six teeth.

There is not enough material left to attach it back.

Should I get two? Replace them both?

WD-40, a railroad spike, and a sledge hammer are great tools!

I am calling TSC and AgriSupply shortly. I hope the bore is standard sizes.....

 

[Gooseneck]

"What where they called originally? Grain elevators?"

That looks like a hay elevator to me.

 

[jayste]

Yep, you would think it would slide off the bearing right? I used a whole can of wd40 on it. But those bearing will not budge off the shaft.




Yeah, considered that, since it is only used twice a year to move hay to the loft.
My issue is I needed it tonight, I got two hay wagons that need to be unloaded, and it started raining. OF COURSE.

Do you all agree that it should slide out, or do you think a set screw is holding the shaft somewhere else?

Thanks!

Soooo you're the reason it started raining here 3 days ago and has hardly quit!! Get a load of hay on a truck or trailer, cut and laid down or even raked and here comes the rain! Actually, we needed it!

I agree with Gooseneck around here they're called hay elevators or conveyors. Could be a regional term. Heck our ponds are Texas' tanks!

Jay

 

[Wineslob]

Rip, if you can still read it, there should be a number stamped into the sprocket that will ID the pitch and bore size.

 

[zzvyb6]

That is a grain elevator. Its being used for hay lifting, probably by turning the square bales on their side. No problem. I do the same thing with a 1932 New Idea grain elevator.

The sprockets themselves are hard to come by, but are commonly used on this link type of chain. I'd tack weld it back on the shaft, or drill a hole through it and push a drive pin into it. Be careful to align it exactly the same as its partner on the other side. The grain dams that lift the hay bales are cross connected to the opposite side, so your sprocket teeth have to be in the same exact orientation. The bearings are standard at a TSC store as is the conveyer chain (several chain link lengths, though). To make and break the chain connection easier, they also have a conveyer chain holder. You put the chain in there, turn it 90 degrees and wack it with a hammer.

It looks like you are running the elevator in direct drive from the tractor PTO. These rigs usually have a chain gear reduction shaft to run the action at "walking" speed.

BTW: The sprockets are usually pinned to the shaft. I replaced the solid pins with split roll pins to make disassembly easier the next time. They aren't as strong but are sure easier to push out. (Hope there is no "next time", though).

 

[riptides]

Soooo you're the reason it started raining here 3 days ago and has hardly quit!! Get a load of hay on a truck or trailer, cut and laid down or even raked and here comes the rain! Actually, we needed it!
...

Of course, full hay wagons are rain makers!

Rip, if you can still read it, there should be a number stamped into the sprocket that will ID the pitch and bore size.

Unfortunate, no markings found.

That is a grain elevator. Its being used for hay lifting, probably by turning the square bales on their side. No problem. I do the same thing with a 1932 New Idea grain elevator.

The sprockets themselves are hard to come by, but are commonly used on this link type of chain. I'd tack weld it back on the shaft, or drill a hole through it and push a drive pin into it....

Excellent advise. Yes, I flip the bales and up they went. Unfortunate, there is not enough of the sprocket left to drill through. It had a set screw in it, which broke and took a good portion of the srocket with it.

Your correct, sadly, , I am having a tough time finding another one.

My wife priced out a new elevator, well over 1300.

Guess what I was doing yesterday.

 

[Egon]

Just a suggestion:

You may be able to cut a duplicate sprocket from some steel plate and then weld that to the original hub. It's a temporary fix but as you don't use the elevator that much it may suffice.

Replacing the sprockets with rubber tires may work but tensioning may present problems. These tires would not have to be the same size as the sprockets but PTO RPM may have to be varied to adjust for the differential speed.

 

[tommu56]

try a local bearing supply company.

tsc might have something.

Ive used these on some other instulations

page 8 in pdf split sprockets

http://www.martinsprocket.com/2001/SecEa.pdf#E8

Also I think your chain will be a double pitch type.

tom

 

[jayste]

Guess what I was doing yesterday.

Uh, bucking bales I'm guessing! Been there, done that! A bunch!

Anyway, I stand corrected. ZZ is correct ,as you are, in that you're using a grain elevator as a hay elevator or conveyor. I did have to go back to your first pic to realize it. I guess my mind was seeing that last pic of the chain and sprocket?? The chain is similar to loader or conveyor chain...

I wish I had an answer for you. But I'm expecting, like others have said, TSC or NAPA or some one will have the bearings. Is it possible to roll around say 90 deg on the sprocket and drill another hole along with a hole in your shaft to run a pin through as ZZ mentioned? Also, the roll pins he mentioned would be more "forgiving" if you happen to oversize your hole for a solid pin.

Jay

 

[riptides]

Hey,

Figured I'd update this thread. After exhausting my search efforts for the sprocket, I gave it to a friend of mine. He used his vast network of knowledge and actually found someone who is machining them. So I have it in hand, but will need to weld the sprocket onto the sleeve supplied that rests on the shaft once I get it all lined up.

I also need to reconnect with another old friend who has one sitting in his field doing nothing. I could use it for parts. A lot of effort and time is spent getting this thing back on line for it's once a year (twice maybe) duty of pushing up the bales to the loft. But, it sure beats swinging them in by hand.

I'll post some pics of the new sprocket and sleeve later tonight when I get back.