Windmills have been used to pump prairie ground water for over 100 years. In fact, some of the existing windmills found on PFRA community pastures were originally purchased by local farmers before the conception of PFRA and the community pasture system. Overall, these windmills have proven to be both durable and economical for delivering ground water to remote areas. This article outlines some of the more common problems along with some ways in which these problems can be solved. The pump on most windmills has a brass or cast iron cylinder.
Replacement is expensive if the unit freezes and cracks.
This stick must lift the plunger in the cylinder and force it down on the down stroke. One other main criticism of windmills concerns the float. The criticism is that this float assembly does not release the brake soon enough and stockwater shortages can occur. Retrofitting Over the years, many PFRA staff have come up with several modifications that reduce servicing and also improve the overall efficiency of these old windmills. At the bottom of the working barrel is a 2 inch brass check valve with a spring loaded rubber seal.