Moving a windmill

   / Moving a windmill #1  

cowboy357

Platinum Member
Joined
Jun 13, 2008
Messages
773
Location
SC Kansas
I,m not sure if this is the right place to post this or not . But it looks like a project to Me :D .

I have an old dempster windmill about 40 foot or more, tall that I,m wanting to take down & Rebuild & move it elsewhere on the property to provide water to My small pond . This has no hinges on the bottom like some smaller ones that I have seen before so it could be layed down safelly .

It is also in the middle of a few trees I might have to remove as well to get it out of there . I also have very limited access to get any type of crane truck in Our driveway because it is lined with low trees .

I Do Most everything by Myself & other then going up & taking it apart piece by Piece if even posable. are there any other options that anyone has any experience with , Or should I just forget its there ? :eek: .

I,ve enclosed some pics allthough not very good . Thanks for any input . Bob
 

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   / Moving a windmill
  • Thread Starter
#2  
Sorry I guess I should have listed the equipment I have available. 12,ooo pound forklift with 8000 Lb lift capability. 2 - 28 hp 4wd tractors with loaders & 3 4wd pickups for posable dead weights . Thanks Bob
 
   / Moving a windmill #3  
I cut one down with a saws-all a few years back. Ther eis not that much metal to these. You may want to look at taking off the top section and moving it in two pieces. THe gear at the top is very heavy. Maybe rig up a gin pole and lift the top piece down and then fork the bottom section over to th enew location. Gin the top section back up.

I would love to have the one I cut up now that I ahve a spot for it. It was in the middle of a new subdivion and peopel worried kids would climb it.
 
   / Moving a windmill #4  
State had a fire lookout tower near our cabin that was all angle and bolted together w/ each section numbered. They took it apart to re-locate it.

Does it have 'sections' that could be removed as units? Set up a gin pole to solve the crane clearance though a small hudraulic truck crane or a job site forklift [Lull] should fit the driveway...we managed to put an 18' long aggitator into a 18' tall tank w/ a Lull...I think it's max lift was 40'.
 
   / Moving a windmill
  • Thread Starter
#5  
Thanks Guys for the suggestions . Its Buryed in the trees enough I cant make out how the sections are put together but I Believe it will all unbolt starting from the top .

I First have to kill the Poison stuff around the base & do some limb trimming . If & when the wind lays down I,ll climb it & check it out closer & maybe take some better pics .

The good thing is theres several trees close I can rig up a block & tackle to tie off to Remove the bolts & take it down one stage at a time Using the forklift for the counter weight .

Also Theres no rust on the tower or fasteners so that shouldn,t be an issue . Once again thanks & any more suggestions are welcome .

My biggest problem is I,m not a big fan of being up 40 foot in the air. :eek: . Bob
 
   / Moving a windmill #7  
I took one down by cutting the legs on one side cutting loose and the side of the angle for the other 2 and used the steel as a hinge.
I rigged up a gin pole out a heavy duty extension ladder and used my truck as dead weight and just backed it up to lower it after starting it over with a comealong.

tom
 
   / Moving a windmill
  • Thread Starter
#8  
I took one down by cutting the legs on one side cutting loose and the side of the angle for the other 2 and used the steel as a hinge.
I rigged up a gin pole out a heavy duty extension ladder and used my truck as dead weight and just backed it up to lower it after starting it over with a comealong.

tom

Thanks for the input Tom . I was wondering if that was posable . How tall was that one ? Any Idea of how much they weigh ? This ones around 40 foot or a little more . Bob
 
   / Moving a windmill #9  
Thanks for the input Tom . I was wondering if that was posable . How tall was that one ? Any Idea of how much they weigh ? This ones around 40 foot or a little more . Bob


about 30 - 40 ft
it didn't have any blade left on it.
the frame was light about 100 lbs per section avg
gearbox weighed about 150lbs

the fame is pretty flimsy.

I had the ladder set up about 25ft a chain from the ladder to top and a doubled up 1/2 rope to my truck and guy ropes to sides to keep it plumb.

I took it down because I wanted to us it at my cabin but the gear box was worn through the bushings and in to the cast iron shafts were worn 1/3 away so i ended up scrapping it

tom
 
   / Moving a windmill
  • Thread Starter
#10  
Thanks again Tom , Thats the kind of info I was looking for . The Blades & rear fin on mine are gone as well , the winds ripped them off awhile back pushing the trees limbs into them so I,m hoping the head is ok.

At Least its starting to sound posable to do safelly & that was My biggest concern . Thanks again to all. Bob
 

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