Restoring an old Cotton Gin

15,180 Views | 86 Replies | Last: 4 yr ago by The Fife
stbabs
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Dr. Doctor • 9:26p, 10/10/20
AG
Dr. Doctor said:
Could you hook up an electric motor to the old steam motor? Essentially make it look like the steam motor is driving, but really with electric motor?

~egon
Yes, but not with enough power to run the gin. Plan is to actually run the gin with the Hercules, assuming I'm able to get it running, and run the old steam engine on compressed air as a demo only.
I'm looking at a Fairbanks Morse engine as a backup if the Hercules isn't rebuildable.
But, I'm pretty confident we can make the Herc run again with enough time and $$$.
Reply Quote
The Fife
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
7:59a, 10/11/20
If you need parts where do you go for stuff that fits a 100 year old engine?
Reply Quote
stbabs
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to The Fife • 10:47a, 10/11/20
AG
The Fife said:
If you need parts where do you go for stuff that fits a 100 year old engine?
Valve blanks and guides are available. Ditto for rings. Pistons can be made.

Cracks in unreplaceable parts can usually be welded. I have a few

Two cylinders will need sleeves. Industrial machine shop in Houston for that.

Magneto is repairable

For sure you can't just run down to NAPA!

Reply Quote
2
BenTheGoodAg
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
5:13p, 10/11/20
AG
What a cool project. Nice work so far!
Reply Quote
cmiller00
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
3:31p, 10/12/20
AG
Awesome work.
Reply Quote
Burdizzo
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to stbabs • 3:59p, 10/12/20
AG
I have always read Marvel Mystery Oil is a good soak for stuck engines too.
Reply Quote
stbabs
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Burdizzo • 5:00p, 10/12/20
AG
Burdizzo said:
I have always read Marvel Mystery Oil is a good soak for stuck engines too.


Marvel is good. Seems I may have used some then topped it off with ATF and acetone. Tops of my pistons were so rusted that nothing penetrated far enough to do much good.

An oak block and a sledge eventually broke them free.

Block is now stripped and ready for the hot tank and machining.

I found new valves for it. An old engine guy in North Dakota has valve blanks that'll work.

Block goes to the machine shop next week.

I'll work on the magneto and starter while it's being machined.
Reply Quote
3
stbabs
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
4:34p, 10/14/20
AG
Saws on one stand running true with good alignment inside the ribs (green things)

Reply Quote
6
stbabs
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
5:18p, 11/14/20
AG


One of the three gin stands assembled, less feed chutes and front cover (door)

Wonder if anyone has even wet sanded and buffed a cotton gin before??? I just did.
Reply Quote
7
stbabs
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
6:45p, 11/14/20
AG


And what it looked like when we started.
Reply Quote
6
Dr. Doctor
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
8:41p, 11/14/20
dubi
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:30p, 11/14/20
AG
Amazing!
Reply Quote
1
chris1515
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
5:24p, 11/15/20
AG
This is damn cool.

Stbabs, what is your background in this sort of endeavor?
Reply Quote
stbabs
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to chris1515 • 6:24p, 11/15/20
AG
chris1515 said:
This is damn cool.

Stbabs, what is your background in this sort of endeavor?
No relevant background at all except growing up under the tutelage of a part time farmer/rancher who could fix anything. Myself, I'm a retired Marine officer who spent 31 years breaking things, not fixing them.

I do love the restoration process; bringing something old back to life.

I've been able to find some others guys with cotton gin knowledge who have been very helpful. Roy Childers, from CS, retired from Agrilife came over to advise and Dan Taylor, semi-retired farmer/ginner from Lubbock actually drove 500 miles to bring me a part I was missing.

Patience, research, some mechanical skill, learn as you go.. but mostly being a hard headed, never quit sum beech is the key.
Reply Quote
8
agfan2013
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to stbabs • 7:14a, 11/16/20
AG
stbabs said:
Dan Taylor, semi-retired farmer/ginner from Lubbock actually drove 500 miles to bring me a part I was missing.


Awesome guy. I was just at Dan's barn outside of Lubbock about a month ago for a dinner and presentation on the cotton industry. He's got a small museum on his property with cotton gin memorabilia.

Not surprised at all to hear he helped you out, him and his wife Linda are great people.



Reply Quote
2
2 edits
stbabs
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to agfan2013 • 5:50p, 11/16/20
AG
Yep, on all counts.
Reply Quote
WildAg08
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to agfan2013 • 2:33p, 11/18/20
AG
Dan and Linda Taylor, and their place are a real treasure for Texas Cotton and Agriculture as a whole.
Reply Quote
The Fife
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
7:36a, 11/19/20
And now it's starting to make sense how my great grandfather lot an arm to one of those things around the turn of the century.
Reply Quote
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.