John Gruber Heckington Power Mill Model
Back to The John Gruber Model Windmill Collection
| Model Type | Tower Mill |
| Model | Heckington Windmill |
| Model Maker | John Gruber |
| Height | 61cm |
| Circumference | 81cm |
| Power | 1xAA battery |
| Switch | On Cap |
John Gruber's Heckington Power Mill Model depicts the tower mill with its eight sweeps.
A motor, powered by a single AA battery in a holder, is embedded in the cap assembly, with a switch set into the cap beside the fantail. The cap assembly surrounds a dowel that slots into the buck of the model.
The motor is on when the slide switch is in the down position - see photograph right, bottom.
How To Replace the Battery
- Lift the cap assembly from the buck of the model.
- Place the cap assembly on a flat surface with the sweeps facing downwards and the base towards you.
- Remove the two retaining plate screws.
- Separate the retaining plate and attached dowel from the cap assembly.
- Slide the battery compartment out from the cap assembly. You may need to remove the two screws from the bar to which the motor is attached and partly pull out the motor assembly.
- Replace the battery.
- Replace the motor assembly and bar.
- Replace the retaining plate and dowel.
- Replace the cap and dowel in the buck of the model.
It may be prudent to test the motor is working after step 6 and all subsequent steps to ensure that the operation has not been accidentally obstructed by reassembly of the cap.
If the battery holder needs replacing due to it perishing and/or breaking, then the sails can be removed from the windshaft by loosening a cross-head screw between sails and spider. Once the sails assembly has been slid off the windshaft, the shaft can be slid out from the motor. This allows the entire motor assembly to be removed once the retaining bracket is unscrewed, providing easy access to both the battery holder and the terminal blocks connecting switch, battery holder and motor.
Maintenance Records
| Date | Status | Action | Maintainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31/05/2022 | Battery holder broken | Battery holder replaced | Jeff Best |
| 31/05/2022 | Accumulated dirt | Cap gently swabbed with wet cotton buds | Jeff Best |
