Hey guys, it's been a few years since I touched base here at the forum. My health has been going down hill, but this year I have vowed to make some improvements to my colony, although I am downsizing from 224 to approx 176 gourds.
To be honest I am a person without one wit about mechanics or anything of that nature. One of my sons has vowed and promised that this is the year that he will come and help me get ready for the season. I will attach a link to a youtube video of my colony a few years back, but I actually have a question and not advice;
As far as I can tell from investigating online, the SuperSystem24 Rack System, which I have several of which I have attached 36 gourds on each, have a Dutton-Lainson Company (DLB350A) Brake Winch Plated - 350 lb. load capacity brake winch. Mine are so rusted from years of inattentiveness, they may need to be replaced. Hopefully some oil and tightening will fix any issues.
But in case I need to replace them, I have observed that the named brand brake winch, Dutton-Lainson Winch with Automatic Brake - 800-Lb. capacity, is listed at a common online store at a lesser price. What am I missing here? Will the lower priced winch with a 450 lb more capacity work with the set up I presently have with these systems without me buying other materials? I may not even need them, but these days I can order them, have them available, and if my son can oil and service the ones I presently have, great. And then I can simply return them. Money isn't really a question, but the time my son will be willing to spend on helping out his Pa may be, and why spend more when you don't have to.
So to be honest, I just want to know what brake winch to order from Amazon. I'll be ordering at least five. And I need to do it today.
Any thoughts and advice would be great.
My colony a few years ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRLqWSXVvys&t=3s
BTW, hello LOUISE CHAMBERS, I'm not dead yet!
Been a few years....
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Robert Richerson
- Posts: 211
- Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2010 9:08 am
- Location: Campbellsville, KY
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Hanover Bill
- Posts: 656
- Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 3:10 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania/Hanover Township
- Martin Colony History: 2009 & 10 - 0
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72
Hi Bob;
Sorry about your health issues, I guess it happens to all of us as we age. I viewed your You Tube video and that is a great looking colony. I hope, with your son's help, you are able to restore it this season.
I can't really help you with your question but I'm sure you will get some good advice here on the Forum. The best I can do is wish you good health, and a great Martin season.
Hanover Bill.
Sorry about your health issues, I guess it happens to all of us as we age. I viewed your You Tube video and that is a great looking colony. I hope, with your son's help, you are able to restore it this season.
I can't really help you with your question but I'm sure you will get some good advice here on the Forum. The best I can do is wish you good health, and a great Martin season.
Hanover Bill.
2009 & 10 - 0
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72
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Robert Richerson
- Posts: 211
- Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2010 9:08 am
- Location: Campbellsville, KY
Oh, the colony is going well, I have just been unable to monitor it like I once did. It is 100% SREH so it has that. My winch issue is that I haven't brought down my racks for a few years and I'm worried about rust. Years back I brought them down twice a week for checks. But those days are over. But I plan on being more hands on once my son gets these winches oiled and workable or replaced.
This year I'm yanking down all my natural gourds and will continue on exclusively with my Troyer gourds. That will eliminate approx 72 gourds. But that will eliminate a lot of maintenance I can no longer do.
It will just be nice to have the gourds cleaned out and racks operating at 100%, although the martins probably prefer us not to clean out their old nests. I have several pines so I can add needles to the cleaned out gourds.
But a well monitored colony always does better than an unwatched one. I have lost some numbers. Anyway, looking forward to this season more than I have been able to recently.
This year I'm yanking down all my natural gourds and will continue on exclusively with my Troyer gourds. That will eliminate approx 72 gourds. But that will eliminate a lot of maintenance I can no longer do.
It will just be nice to have the gourds cleaned out and racks operating at 100%, although the martins probably prefer us not to clean out their old nests. I have several pines so I can add needles to the cleaned out gourds.
But a well monitored colony always does better than an unwatched one. I have lost some numbers. Anyway, looking forward to this season more than I have been able to recently.
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Glynn B - LA
- Posts: 320
- Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:59 pm
- Location: Louisiana West Monroe
If I were you, I would go to a HEX DRIVE WORM GEAR WINCH
It's simple to use a drill to raise and lower. With your health in decline, you will not regret purchasing them. I'm in a wheelchair and this is what I use.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LUYqVE1R2KA
Glynn
It's simple to use a drill to raise and lower. With your health in decline, you will not regret purchasing them. I'm in a wheelchair and this is what I use.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LUYqVE1R2KA
Glynn
2019 26 pair 116 fledged
2018 20 pair 76 fledged
2017 19 pair 82 fledged
2016 13 pair 48 fledged
2015 3 pair 13 fledged
2014 1 pair 4 fledged
2013 2 pair 6 fledged
2012 0 pair
2011 0 pair
I don’t have the perfect site. One open flyway with trees within 80 ft. I do have a small pond they utilize during the heat of Summer. (2017) HEAVY HAWK PREDATION
2018 20 pair 76 fledged
2017 19 pair 82 fledged
2016 13 pair 48 fledged
2015 3 pair 13 fledged
2014 1 pair 4 fledged
2013 2 pair 6 fledged
2012 0 pair
2011 0 pair
I don’t have the perfect site. One open flyway with trees within 80 ft. I do have a small pond they utilize during the heat of Summer. (2017) HEAVY HAWK PREDATION
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4th Gen Martin Fan
- Posts: 1498
- Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
- Location: TN/Collierville
- Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.
Glynn,
My sister would probably change both of her K-Series 18 Gourd Rack winches to the Dutton-Lainson Hex Drive Worm Gear Winches if I forwarded that YouTube video to her.
She is crazy about her K-Series Gourd Rack except she wants a means to use a portable electric drill to raise and lower her gourd racks.
What a great recommendation!
Thank you,
Mark.
My sister would probably change both of her K-Series 18 Gourd Rack winches to the Dutton-Lainson Hex Drive Worm Gear Winches if I forwarded that YouTube video to her.
She is crazy about her K-Series Gourd Rack except she wants a means to use a portable electric drill to raise and lower her gourd racks.
What a great recommendation!
Thank you,
Mark.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.