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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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