Unable to find any machine shop willing to take project

[I-idiot]

I am merely a homeowner with a sprinkler with personal value.
I have been trying different search engines to find a machine shop. Most search results are regarding buying or operating a machine shop. Seems no one is interested in this project.
I left it with a local machinist for five years with the understanding he would work on it as he found time. He never found time.
Two machine shops told me they did not have the time or personnel to deal with the project. One man spent over an hour explaining to me I should buy a threaded rod from the hardware store and drill it out.
I am willing to ship parts to machinist to work on or from should someone be willing to take on the challenge.

 

[BT Fabrication]

Im surprised that nobody would take this.
Although the budget would get expensive into the hundreds easily.

 

[Conrad Hoffman]

Neat device! I'd think there are all sorts of people who could fix that. If I hadn't just twisted my knee and am unable to walk, I'd consider it. Go to your profile and put in your location, at least the general area, and I bet we can find somebody.

 

[I-idiot]

Neat device! I'd think there are all sorts of people who could fix that. If I hadn't just twisted my knee and am unable to walk, I'd consider it. Go to your profile and put in your location, at least the general area, and I bet we can find somebody.

Thank you! I'll do so immediately

 

[I-idiot]

Im surprised that nobody would take this.
Although the budget would get expensive into the hundreds easily.

That is the reason I described it as personal. My wife's niece loaned me a newer model by a different manufacturer. I have three times replaced the transmission in it because nylon gears losing teeth at fifty dollars a pop. A new replacement is only about $70.
The older model lasted over twenty in my hands (I don't know how long my late mother-in-law had it before she gave it to me). In those twenty years, I attempted many idiot repairs, but when the main drive shaft broke off at threads my attempts failed.
The older model is much better designed than the new disposable models and thus is worth rebuilding. The new model (on loan from my niece) has cost on average $50/year. This means I have spent $350 on lawn sprinklers in the last 5 years.

 

[mfisher]

It is the type of project to take on for the fun of it, if you have the time. Maybe a couple off the shelf bronze bushing from Ace Hardware instead of bearings (easier to replace, too much water and dirt for bearings, and you don't really need them?), find a large bronze bolt and drill it out for the shaft. Bore the gear, then put it all together, right? Hardest part would be holding the casting to drill for the bushings, but it looks like the sides are flat enough.
I have a number of that type of project of my own that I can't find time to do though. Maybe one of these years...

 

[I-idiot]

If the main shaft is replaced with large drilled-out bronze bolt, will this cause the threaded bolt to pass through top and bottom bushings?
Is this bolt intended to replace the worm, not the shaft? If so, the main shaft still needs a means to attach to sprinkler arm tee.

 

[amaranth]

That's a really neat sprinkler.

I'd use some standard bronze bushings you could get from Ace. Dirt and crud will make short work of a ball bearing and they will likely jam.

Do you have a maker space around you? Making up a new shaft would be a quick job. If you could come up with a dimensioned drawing, that would help.

So how many parts do you need? I think I see a threaded bored shaft and a hose adapter? Anything else?

 

[I-idiot]

I am neither engineer nor machinist only an idiot with need to a rebuilt sprinkler.
My mother-in-law gave me this sprinkler about forty years ago because I appreciated the design.
I will send all parts assembled as far as possible for duplication of needed replacements because I have neither drafting skills nor capabilities to make accurate measurements.
As for hose adapter, I will send the piece as is attached to the body assembly. It occurs to me you may be referring to the plastic tee that connects the main shaft to the sprinkler arms. This I purchased separately from Orbit thinking of attaching to the twisted-off main shaft. However a removable adapter (removable because the main shaft must travel through the bushings on the main chassis prior to attachment to tee) will need to be fabricated to attach tee to main shaft.
If the main shaft has a flange on bottom end to seal incoming water, main shaft has to be inserted from bottom of chassis through bushing, through worm, through bushing into adapter attaching tee.

 

[nt1953]

Just buy a new one:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=nelson+tractor+sprinkler&crid=1M0RUYUPB88EW&sprefix=sprinkler+tractor%2Caps%2C110&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_7_17

I have had several for more than 20 years.

 

[I-idiot]

Just buy a new one:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=nelson+tractor+sprinkler&crid=1M0RUYUPB88EW&sprefix=sprinkler+tractor%2Caps%2C110&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_7_17

I have had several for more than 20 years.

If the products on the market today were anything near comparable, I would have settled with a new purchase instead of wasting time and money seeking a machinist willing to take the challenge.
All these have the same "modern" transmission that breaks down within a year.

 

[David Ferguson]

it looks like you might have been able to get parts for the old "classic" walking sprinkers from this company:

Home - National Walking Sprinkler

National would like to thank all of our dedicated customers over the years. We are so grateful for your support and it is with great sadness that we are closing our doors permanently. Thank you for all the good years. National Walking Sprinkler Team

www.nationalwalkingsprinkler.com

 

[I-idiot]

Yup. Looks like that brand is closing, my neighbor has one of those. I am borrowing his, but the chassis is TOO heavy. It has a tenancy to dig a hole instead of walking. The band I have is somewhat lighter and I suspect a few years newer, though I included a picture of his to help demonstrate a complete assembly.

 

[Conrad Hoffman]

I see your problem. Not much in Bronte, with a population of about 1000! Have you looked in Abilene? Seems to be a few shops there; American Precision Machine Works might be worth a try.

 

[I-idiot]

I see your problem. Not much in Bronte, with a population of about 1000! Have you looked in Abilene? Seems to be a few shops there; American Precision Machine Works might be worth a try.

I looked in Abilene, San Angelo and San Antonio. Most of the replies I had were out of the state of Texas.
Years ago there was a machine shop in Abilene called Hermann's after the guy who owned and operated it. As far as I know, he is dead now. The shop sold and now is some other small business. Lots of welders around here.
General Dynamics had a plant here in the nineties. After they unionized the plant closed down. I suppose the machinists had to move to find work.

 

[guythatbrews]

I've got one of my own in pieces for about 5 years. Maybe one day I'll get it back together.

 

[memphisjed]

I can see igus bearings working well in this situation. I will be back home later this week and check on an option for a repair to be done 3rd weekend in October if you can not find a place before then.
It will not be me repairing it, just some highly skilled metals person likely assisting a student.

 

[I-idiot]

I like the potential rebuild. I look forward to your next post.