Session 21 Maintenance - preventive and routine
TOTAL TIME: 1 to 2 Hours
OBJECTIVES: To understand the maintenance needs of various types
of wind systems and pumps
To learn maintenance techniques
To experience maintenance on a wind system
MATERIALS: Blackboard & wind waterpump system on site
PROCEDURES:
Step 1: 30 minutes
Have the group develop a list of the various parts of the wind
system and pumps that will wear out, and, in a parallel column, list what will
cause the wear to be maximal or minimal.
Step 2: 30 minutes
Have the group develop another list showing the maintenance
necessary to prevent wear of the parts listed. Using a parallel column, make an
estimate of the frequency of maintenance necessary for that part.
Trainer Note
Emphasize that wind systems, with the exception of sealed, oil
bath commercial units, are usually a high maintenance technology.
Step 3: 1 hour
Have small groups perform lubrication and simulated maintenance
on a working or broken wind waterpump system (if possible).
RESOURCES: Copies of Attachment 21-A
Attachment 21-A
MILL MAINTENANCE
The oil in the bowl of the windmill should be changed at least
once a year with a good grade of low temperature oil. This should be done in the
fall of the year, prior to the winter months, because all moisture, or water,
must be removed from the bowl.
Water in the oil can accumulate as a result of changing
temperatures on the humid air, which has a tendency to drive the water from the
air, and because of the total enclosure, the water is then dispersed into the
oil.
It has been known that, in some instances, where the mill was
neglected, sufficient water had gathered in the bowl to freeze and cause
breakage of the bowl. It is for this reason that we recommend that the lubricant
be removed from the windmill bowl in the fall of the year, and the user should
be sure that all the liquid content is removed.
When the mill is being serviced, the user may find that the oil
bowl has become laden with a thick sludge, usually resulting form the use of a
lower quality of oil. If the user finds the situation to be thus, then we would
suggested that after he has removed the drain plug and drained out most of the
material in the bowl, he use some gasoline or coal oil and rinse off all the
operating parts so that the sludge that may hang on will be removed.
This sludge, if not removed regularly, can move through the
bearing and into the return oil slot, and it is possible that the bearing would
begin to wear.
If sludge is present in the bowl when the mill is serviced,
something should be done in the way of rinsing all of it free and flushing it
from the bowl before refilling with new oil.
THE PULL OUT CABLE SHOULD BE INSPECTED AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR
AND, IF THE CABLE STRANDS ARE FOUND TO BE FRAYING, THE CABLE SHOULD BE
REPLACED.
