Hammer mill and motor question

old · Apr 28, 2011

I have a small hammer mill that I would like to use an electric motor on but I need around 3/4 hp give or take a little bit but do not have a motor that big. So could a person take say 2 1/3 hp motors and hook them up in tandem and have them work or would one always be doing more work and the other dragging it down?? I like to use it to make mulch for my garden and the gas engine on it is a pain in the back sides plus with the price of gas an electric set up would be better
Thanks

Janicholson · Apr 28, 2011

AS long as they are the same rated RPM, they can be of any size. The HP adds. Reversing one, and hooking them to a common pulley works well as it allows better driving friction to the belt. Putting a double pulley on the shafts and only using one for the belt will give a longer inner hole to mount two together. Lovejoy couplings can allow a bit of misalignment. Jim

old art · Apr 28, 2011

a 3/4 hp electric motor will probley run the hammer mill well enough for you to watch it turn dont put much toilet paper in at one time good luck

old · Apr 28, 2011

So then your saying if I have 3 1/3 HP motors that spin 1500 RPM yes I know that number is not correct but using as a reference number. But any how if they all spin at 1500 RPM and I use a 2 inch pulley on each one having a single pulley and then the 2nd having 2 and the 3rd 3 and that in turn goes to a 3 inch pulley then in theory the hammer mill would spin at 100RPM. Yes I know most motors spin at 1750 or 3600 so if I use 3 1750 motors that are 1/3HP they should get a target HP of 1 and with 2 inch to 3 inch come very close to the target speed of 1500 RPM and yes I know a tad bit lower but not into doing the math

Janicholson · Apr 29, 2011

Your first outcome has a zero missing.
it would be ~1000.
Using a double 3 inch pulley on the mill, and two motors (one driving each of those pulleys with 2" pulleys on eac, will work, with less chanse of slipping. It is best to have at least 40% of a pulley wrapped with belt to assure good driving. Two motors using the same belt (as in your first example of motors driving motors, is thus putting two motor powers on one belt.
Motors are syncronized with the 60Hz voltage. and will load rather evenly as discussed. Jim

Anonymous-0 · Apr 29, 2011

If you plan on grinding feed with it you have better get a new plan .When I was a kid we ground hog and cattle feed with a small Wards hammer mill belted up to a JD "A".You had to feed it slow or the old A would really grunt and throw the belt off .As previously stated a 3/4 HP may make it go round and round but not grind feed.

Wilson · Apr 29, 2011

Yes in times past before many farms had bigger electric motors ag colleges recomened belting 2 motors to add power On some farms 10 hp was the limiting factor single phase. Some farms would belt 2 10 hp electrics to power big augars and dryiers

buickanddeere · Apr 29, 2011

Must be one tiny little mill. It will be cheaper to scrounge around Harbour Freight or the like for a new larger motor.
A two motor cobb job in tandem isn't going to save money or work satisfactory.

old · Apr 29, 2011

Yes it is small. Feed opening is maybe 18 inches square and outlet is maybe 6-8 inches square. As for cost an all I have 10 or so 1/3 or 1/4 hp motors laying around but no good working 3/4 or so ones so yep it would save me a few $$ if it would work

old · Apr 29, 2011

Note that I said I wanted it to make garden mulch which is made by grinding up old hay so it is fine enough to spread well and compost down over the summer but still help control weeds

IOWA NORTHEAST · Apr 29, 2011

I think you should consider 3 -- 4 hp motors instead of 3/4.

I personaly like to say I made it work, but Wal-Mart has mulch on sale, and you can probably save alot of money going to Wal-Mart instead.

o · Apr 29, 2011

This is very small plus I will not and never will buy mulch from any body since I have no clue as to what chemicals maybe in the stuff. I do 100% organic garden. That said this hammer mill was made to be run with a 1/2-3/4 HP electric motor or a 3 HP gas. Oh and why buy when I have tons of hay on hand

Wesley Stephens · Apr 29, 2011

I was at Harbor Freight the other day and they had 6.5 hp engines for 99.99. Might be something to consider.

buickanddeere · Apr 30, 2011

Best idea so far. Makes it portable too.
Just be careful of exhaust system sparks. Yet new
engines don't seem to spark as a much as old farm
equipment.

Hammer mill and motor question

old

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