yard power rollers

[diesirae7]

Anyone else have a ride-on and drive power roller? My grandpa picked up this 1950s era Homemade lawn roller in the late 80s. After researching, it was made by two brothers in my home-town. They owned a machine shop for years until they passed away in the 1990s. I recently started restoring it, the transmission is a repurposed 1930s GM car transmission, as well is the steering box. Clutch assembly I just found out is from an old power sheer. I added a new paint job, added an alternator to the engine, battery and lights, going to custom bend a long exhaust pipe to the rear and hopefully have it ready by Spring. A machine shop is refitting a new chain sprocket and I hope that is done soon.
I'm posting some before and during restoration photos.

 

[tolivac]

NEVER seen a "lawn roller" like this one-the ones I have seen are the ones you pull behind a small tractor or riding mower.The chains in this are like the drive chains in the coil drives in our GE transmitters.The coil tubs and platforms are moved by the chains and a large GE 1 Hp gearmotor-naturally its a GE 250Kw SW transmitter.When you have to work on those chain drives you look like a gang member that was in a chain fight!

 

[diesirae7]

Those chain drives

Would be awesome to see! Yes, they can be a pain, I bought new chain at the local John Deere dealer, also a new chain gear for the input on the transmission, I geared it lower with a larger one, had to have a machinist fit it to the clutch hub. Still need to install new the large drive chain once the output sprocket is finished.

btw you listed an Ironrite as a dream item, like the one in this photo?

 

[tolivac]

The chain coil drives in our GE transmitters are GREAT when they work---but a real HEMORHOID when they don't.The drive chain loops around four jackscrew sprockets,one coil tub rotator sprocket,an idle-then the motor sprocket.They have to be just right or won't work and will BREAK something because that 120VDC drive motor has LOTS of torque-and keep fingers,hands away while the drive is going-we have to watch it after repairs to make sure it works and is calibrated.One time a rag got caught in the drive and tore the rag to bits-and the drive had to have the chain put back on.These drives are now about 60 yrs old!!!You can't call GE's "We care" service to work on this.Each transmitter has like 6 of these drives-other work the Tune,load capacitor drives.For tune,load t here are four vacuum capacitors that have to be moved at the same time-and they all have to track in value-so we do have to calibrate these regularly-or the transmitter won't tune.The coils are wearing-so the contacts heat or arc.The contact tension springs have to be specially made-from a special beryllium copper alloy.

 

[diesirae7]

Those chain drives

What are they transmitting? Radio signals? Sounds really neat to see, have any photos? It's amazing how much older equipment is still in use today, was really built to last, I know ComEd substations around here are still using transformers from the 1940s and my friends who work on them say they are the best compared to the newer stuff. They have wooden disconnects, he showed me some photos.

 

[tolivac]

The VOA/Marti SW transmitters broadcast to South America,Cuba,and Africa.The plant has the capacity to broadcast to anywhere in the world.2 of the transmitters here can run up to 500Kw.Old transformers-they would have to have the old PCB dielectric-insulating-cooling fluid removed and replaced with Non PCB fluid.The late fifties-ealy 60's transformers here that converted building power input from the utility at 4160V 3 Ph to 208/120V 3p have been replaced.Those failed a rather breaker tripper death.One bank failed during my mid shift-caused all of the 4160V breakers to trip-we were off air.Had to reset,put tranmsitters back on air and use extension cords to tap into a system that still worked-at that time building had two 208/120V systems.You reset the 4160V breaker on the failed bank and it tripped out instantly-then had smoke in the transformer room.The old transformers were dry GE ones.Amazing they had the dry technology at that time.There is only one original LV transformer bank left-4160V to 230V for 3 older CEMCO transmitters.These may get removed when the old CEMCOs are replaced with newer transmitters.The older supply won't be needed.Those are GE dry transformers.They are still working.The 208/120 system is dual 500Kva Square D dry transformers on a transfer switch.If one should fail-will switch to the other.I can try to get pictures-the GE trans mitters are workhorses here-they are on air most of the time.