I have wanted a low cost windmill for the yard for some time, I started reading the reviews to see what of the china windmills under $100 was best.
There are many ads for this style windmill on eBay and Amazon in the $80 to $100 price range.
Most complain on the number of screws and the Very poor instructions and also how there windmill blew over in higher winds and was badly damaged. Also many reports of fan bearings wearing out quickly....in as little as 60 days!
Then I found a mechanical minded reviewer that talked about the SMV. It's weight is 33.5 lbs where most are only 20 lbs! I am not going to call it heavy duty but it's over 40% heavier gage than the $80 model.
Amazon wants $120 for this one currently, but I found it locally for $95 at Blain's farm and home on sale.
It does have pretty low grade bearings but the guys that had bearings fail left them dry, a reviewer that greased his windmill once per month was going on 2 years with original bearings. When they fail, you can upgrade to better bearings.
The other tips are balance the fan, mine took 2 quarters and a nickel taped to the light side to get good balance. I will change this out to stick on lead wheel weights now I know how much I need.
Also not a bad idea to add lock washers to the screws.
The head pivots on a steel flat washer and this can wear out in 2 years, I added a bronze washer to my unit. With marine grease and the bronze washer + balance it spins in the lightest breeze and it is interesting to watch I have had wind here in Michigan today coming from all points of the compass except from the South West.
The last tip is to not stake it down with the short tent stakes it comes with! One reviewer staked his down with 24" Re-rod metal stakes and his survived a bad wind storm.
Just to be clear this is Not a premium windmill, just a little more bang for your china buck....a Galvanized American windmill this size would be closer to $400.
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