Powered Cane Press

[dougg]

I've got an old Goldens #2 Cane Press that is setup for a horse. Anyone converted these to motor or tractor power?

 

[MIKE R]

It is most likly driven from a belt from the horse tread. You can belt it to a electric motor. Getting the speed correct is important as running the press to fadt can cause it to fly apart. I have seen photos of a corn sheller that flew apart from running to fast and parts flew hundreds of feet and some hit a vehicle with enough enery to peirce the body. If you know the speed of the press you can make a speed reduction for it to be run by electric.

 

[kensnelling]

I have no idea what brand my grandparents old sorgum press was, but if yours is anything like their's was it was connected to the drive animal by a 10' or so pole. Last saw one in operation in the mid 1970's so I have no idea what the ratio of turns was. You'll have to see how many revolutions the rollers make for one revolution of the drive plate. Then figure out how many rpm your engine or electric motor turns, then calculate the size drive and driven pulleys you'll need. As already mentioned, those were slow rpm operations so don't try to run it to fast.

Ken

 

[Ed of all trades]

Hook a small tractor or lawn mower to the end of the pole and turn the kids loose driving, when one gets dizzy let another take a turn. We did that with a cub 40 years ago and I still remember trying to walk after getting off of that tractor.

 

[Gator6x4]

I have seen some that were converted. They mounted an automobile tire on the cane mill. They had a tractor with a PTO driven belt pulley (Ford 8n). The then used a belt over and around the automobile tire and the pulley on the tractor. I can't remember if the belt was crossed or not. The large size of the automobile tire in relation to the pulley on the tractor slowed the revolutions down on the cane mill. The pulley on the tractor was making several revolutions to one on the cane mill. I am sure a 10-12 horsepower engine with the rights size pulleys would work just as well. The motor pulley and compressor pulley from a old discarded air compressor should work well also. A air compressor repair shop may have one they will let you strip the pullies from. If going this way, air compressor pulleys I think I would search for a two belt pulley instead of a one belt.

 

[crowbar032]

Unfortunately I never saw it in person, but I know of a guy who rigged one up to run off of a PTO shaft. He took a rear end and transmission off on an S-10 and mounted it to a platform. He found some large old gears from a mining operation and welded them to the top of the cane mill (where the stick normally goes) and one to the hub of the rear end. The gears he found would accept ag roller chain. He then took a PTO shaft and attached it to the yoke on the rear end, put the transmission in reverse and turned on the PTO. Worked beautifully. My uncle helped him several years using that set-up. I've got a picture my uncle forwarded somewhere, I'll have to see if I can find it.

My dentist also has one that runs off of a PTO. He'll be making molasses here in about a week. I'll see if I can get a pic of it.

 

[Don87]

I've got an old Goldens #2 Cane Press that is setup for a horse. Anyone converted these to motor or tractor power?

This guy did:

Making molasses from sugarcane - YouTube

 

[dougg]

Thanks for the info and that youtube link. Any pictures would help.

 

[Don87]

Thanks for the info and that youtube link. Any pictures would help.

If you can run that link in slow motion, you can count the revolutions and get the speed relatively close.

 

[Don87]

I counted 1/2 turn in 10 seconds.

 

[JakeBrake]

My late FIL had a Golden#2. (I had to look at the U-tube video post by a previous poster to verify that this was the same machine.) This was back in the 1970's. He had a rig that if I had not seen it I would not believe it. The Golden#2 was permanently istalled on a timber frame. The Golden#2 had a vertical drive wheel about 16" in diameter. There was a rubber belt about 1' wide and 50' long. One end of the belt was around the drive wheel on the Golden # 2 and the other end was around one drive wheel of an old tractor. Both tractor drive wheels were blocked up off the ground. When properly adjusted this rig would crush sugar cane for hours or days until he was finished. I don't know why the belt never came off, but it didn't. My FIL said this was a common way to power stuff back in the day on the farm.

My FIL made syrup with his father and two brothers. I was unskilled labor loading and feeding cane into the Golden#2 When his father died, my FIL and his brothers quit making syrup. He sold the Golden#2 and the syrup pan. The syrup shed is now in ruins.

I will look around among my thousands of pre-digital pictures and see if I can find any pictures of this rig.

 

[BHD]

Hook a small tractor or lawn mower to the end of the pole and turn the kids loose driving, when one gets dizzy let another take a turn. We did that with a cub 40 years ago and I still remember trying to walk after getting off of that tractor.

this sounds the easyest use a lawn tractor and put a front teather on it (as they would do the horses) turn the fornt wheels and tie or clamp the steering wheel and you start it and let it go on its own if wanted to,

 

[crowbar032]

Attached are some pictures I took over the weekend.

 

[crowbar032]

The funny thing about the set-up I posted pics above is that it's run by a local dentist. His uncle used to run that press for other people. When his uncle got too old to do anything with it, he just let the building fall in on the copper pan and press. After his uncle died, his aunt gave him all of the stuff (cane press, copper pan, copper skimmers) and restored it. He built the other holding pans using stainless steel and wood. The juice coming out of the press runs through PVC into the building into the first pan that holds about 200 gallons. That pan has a valve that runs into another 200 gallon pan that sits on top of the fire box but back far enough that no fire is on it (basically pre-heating). From that pan, a valve runs it to the evaporator pan. Out of the evaporator pan, a valve runs into a bucket that is used to fill up the finishing pan. This is where it is stirred and all of the green crud is skimmed off. It is boiled to 224-228 degrees depending on what he feels like and the sugar content. A chain hoist is used to pick the finishing pan off of the fire and over to a table to prevent scorching and so the jars can be filled. Using this set-up he makes about 100 gallons every year. Unfortunately my pictures didn't post in order. He posts a sign in his yard and sells it out if his office. He's working with the Board of Health to be able to sell into retail establishments. Once he gets that permit and retires, he'll probably expand. My Dad (73) and uncle (74) have helped for the past 4 years. I go when I can, but I have to work through the week and the weekends are the only time I have to do my stuff. Wish I had more time.

I'm still looking for the picture of the home-made PTO with an S-10 rear end and transmission set up.

 

[Farmerford]

The Golden's Foundry is still in business in Columbus, Georgia in the initial location, just a few blocks from here. I don't think they have made cane mills in years; they make mostly castings of gear blanks for equipment manufacturers such as Caterpillar. Their specialty is rough machining the blanks so that the end manufacturer has only the finish machining to do.

 

[69x11]

im trying to set up a chatanooga improved 12. Im thinking the total rpm output should be around 8-10 rpms. if and when i ever get the project off the ground i'll take plenty of pics. i plan on using a right angle gearbox like on a peanut inverter or post hole digger. I think they are 3-4:1 which with the right size cogs should drop my final driven rpm to around 10 rpm