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Missing tail
By marv, Section Homebrewed Electricity Posted on Sat Nov 29, 2003 at 02:30:12 PM MST
has this happened to you

We had some strong gusty winds last night and I woke up to find my tail was missing from my genni. What had happened was it was working back and forth on it's mount until it lifted right off the mount stub. Does anyone know if this is a freek happening or do I have to strap it on to avoid it lifting off again?

Missing tail | 4 comments (4 topical)

Re: Missing tail (none / 0) (#1)
by Norm on Sun Nov 30, 2003 at 04:27:53 AM MST

Well it looks like you aren't the only one I see over in Diary's it also happened to Geek. Norm
( :>) Norm

Re: Missing tail (none / 0) (#2)
by Geek on Sun Nov 30, 2003 at 07:49:10 AM MST

the u bolts that were holding the stub that my tail sat on slipped so that the tail was not at the proper angle ( it was tilted towards the ground)then it cam off. Before I put it up next time I will weld it into place. I think I will also tack a pice of aircraft acble to it so it can't come all the way off.
Geek
Alway have a dream. Those with out dreams are just waiting to die.
[ Parent ]

Re: Missing tail (none / 0) (#3)
by DanB on Mon Dec 01, 2003 at 08:06:43 AM MST

I've had them fall/break off before - (when I made them from metal) - but never simply lift off the stub.

Part of me wonders if it might not have to do with the shape/size of your tail. It seems, that in certain situations (if its gusty or turbulant) that the tail in this design could be "lifted" by the wind. From the pictures before, it kind of looks like your tail is long - so that part of the tail itself is very near the pivot. I wonder if that could enter into it...

It would certainly be easy to fix it so that could never happen, but it does surprise me that it did in your case. Sounds like you got lucky anyhow! Seems like sometimes teh tail falling off means the blades can explode due to the rapid turning of the windmill... or - having the blades hit it!

How do you fix it way up there on a 90' tower? Do you just climb back up and put it back on?

Re: Missing tail (none / 0) (#4)
by marv on Mon Dec 01, 2003 at 05:17:30 PM MST

Hi Dan
It could have been the shape of the tail like you said, but I have since noticed that the tail stub had not been greased when it was put up.
So it could have worked it's way off because of the dry stub. I will also add a saftey strap this time.
As far as mounting it back on I have a ladder on the tower rite to the top.
A full body harness helps keep the danger to a minimum.

Here is a pic of the crane mounting the genni after lifting the tower up.
The speck near the top is me.
Marv

[ Parent ]

Missing tail | 4 comments (4 topical)

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