Top cap for a blower necessary?

[Words]

I found a Champion 400 blower on craigslist for $75. It is missing a top cap for the gears. Is this an important piece necessary for the well being of the blower? Also is this a good piece for a decent sized coal forge? And finally, does anyone know of a source of coal in the east Atlanta area, or within driving distance in a day? Thank for all your help.

[ironsmith]

grace fuel company in asheville sells stoker coal in bags, as far as the top piece, it's there to keep contaminants out of the gears, if it turned well i woiuld buy it and rig something up for a cap.

[Ken G]

These folks are in Jasper, GA. Maybe a couple of hours North of E. Atlanta. Easily a round trip in a day.
http://www.georgiafarriersupply.com/contents/en-us/d167.html

[Bob S]

I wouldn't worry about the cap. Just squirt a little oil on the gears every now and then. Be easy to bend up some sheetmetal for a cover if you wanted.

[r smith]

Think of the grit in your shop and then make up a simple cover to keep it out

[VaughnT]

Odd Duck, a member here, does his own iron casting and might be able to make you a new top cap. I'd definitely want some form of cover if for no other reason than to keep the bugs out of it.

[Words]

Thanks for the replies, I guess at best it would certainly get regular oiling. I am going to go check it out tomorrow.

I was just reading about Odd Duck's blowers today and I'm very curious to know if anyone has bought any from him.

[VaughnT]

Last I heard, OD hadn't perfected pouring/cutting the gears. He's a bit busy with family stuff right now, but I am in line to get one of his cast fire pots for my forge project. Great guy to talk with.

[Ridgewayforge]

That is a steal of a price! Get it and the firepot, quick! (also, try and talk him down a smidge!)

[pkrankow]

You can make a cover out of sheet metal. You can solder galvanized ducting with plumbing solder, the zinc makes the solder stick good.

Phil