Pressing Apple Cider

[Jim Becker]

Bummer. Don't you have a pulley attachment on a Cub? One of the other tractors?

The last time I had to remove a gib key, the head finally popped off the key. As I recall, I finally drilled (and chiseled) the key out.

[Urbish]

Bummer. Don't you have a pulley attachment on a Cub? One of the other tractors?

The last time I had to remove a gib key, the head finally popped off the key. As I recall, I finally drilled (and chiseled) the key out.

I have a belt pulley on the B and the H. I'm not sure how fast they turn at an idle, but maybe I could go that route. I'm looking for 80-100rpm at the flywheel of the cider press. Maybe I'll try that out tonight.

[Jim Becker]

You may not be able to get slow enough. The pulley shaft runs 1,156 rpm at engine speed of 1,400. With the standard pulley (8 1/2 inch), That turns into 2,573 feet per minute. If you idle down to 600 rpm, you are still at 1,103 fpm. The H numbers are similar, 9 3/4 inch pulley at 1,019 rpm for 2,601 fpm.

I'm guessing the diameter of your pulley on the press. If it is 24 inches, the circumference is 75.4 inches or 6.28 feet. At 100 rpm, you need 628 fpm. That is about half what the tractor will run. This puts you back at your earlier problem of finding a much smaller pulley for the tractor end.

[Urbish]

Thanks for doing the math for me, Jim. The press flywheel is around 24". I think we will just hand crank as we have done in the past. I'm bummed as I have envisioned using this exact engine for this purpose for over 8 years. I was so close too!

[outdoors4evr]

Sounds like you need a Hub City PTO reducer for that 2.43:1 ratio. Then adapt a belt drive to it.

[Urbish]

Sounds like you need a Hub City PTO reducer for that 2.43:1 ratio. Then adapt a belt drive to it.

This is fixing to become some expensive cider!

[Stanton]

Don't let the mishap overshadow your pressing date. Hoping good weather will reign and everyone will have a great time.

[Bill Hudson]

This is fixing to become some expensive cider!

Oh, but think of how much fun you're having.

Bill

[john2189]

Those tapered keys are fun to get out! You need a small tapered wedge to get it out. Get some pressure on the wedge then tap on the hub,then the wedge again. But since the flywheel is scrap anyway, take a saws all and cut it off. I doubt you would want to braze those spokes? Would you?
John

[Urbish]

No, I'm not going to braze the flywheel. I have a line on another one and will cut/break the one I have to get it off. I still need to braze or replace the governor weight plate behind the flywheel.

[Urbish]

It's pressing time!

[Stanton]

Go for it! I'm seeing some sun and shadows in the background and no rain. I'm taking that is good October weather!

Let us know how it turned out.

[Urbish]

Rain ended overnight. High of 50 and mostly sunny skies. I'll take it! 7 gallon pot full of chili. Perfect.