Restoring an old Cotton Gin

15,191 Views | 86 Replies | Last: 4 yr ago by The Fife
stbabs
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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 $$$.
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The Fife
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7:59a, 10/11/20
If you need parts where do you go for stuff that fits a 100 year old engine?
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stbabs
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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!

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BenTheGoodAg
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5:13p, 10/11/20
AG
What a cool project. Nice work so far!
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cmiller00
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3:31p, 10/12/20
AG
Awesome work.
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Burdizzo
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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.
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stbabs
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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.
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stbabs
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4:34p, 10/14/20
AG
Saws on one stand running true with good alignment inside the ribs (green things)

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stbabs
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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.
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stbabs
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6:45p, 11/14/20
AG


And what it looked like when we started.
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Dr. Doctor
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8:41p, 11/14/20
dubi
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9:30p, 11/14/20
AG
Amazing!
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chris1515
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5:24p, 11/15/20
AG
This is damn cool.

Stbabs, what is your background in this sort of endeavor?
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stbabs
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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.
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agfan2013
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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.



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stbabs
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In reply to agfan2013 • 5:50p, 11/16/20
AG
Yep, on all counts.
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WildAg08
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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.
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The Fife
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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.
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