Fran-Keene-steen 151 drywasher

[G-bone]

Yodels all,

I picked up an old Keene 151 dry washer and want to bring it back to life.


The bottom box is a little warped but workable -all polyethylene so easy to work with.
I am thinking of converting to 12V Bellows system.
Maybe even a conversion kit that will allow to be changed between blower or Bellows?

Maybe shorten the lower box little, add the bellows and motor system as well as trying to rotate the oscillating weight to spin in the vertical direction (up and down) versus the side-to-side as original.

This will be an "on the cheap" project and more for fun but also get a try and get a working Dry washer out of it for minimal cost.....til I can afford a whippet anyway

Ill post any significant advances.

Cheers

G

 

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[rodoconnor]

GBone I have had a couple of 151s and they are great I actually have one exactly like yours. I think it was from the 70s. Don't turn it into a bellows,bud. It is a great D/W as a blower . The only thing you might do to improve the old beast is to put in a dead air space on the cloth , slightly above the riffles. Good Luck

 

[G-bone]

Hey Rod!
Thank you for that input.
The more I look at it, the more I feel I will heed your advice on not altering her.

Keene has a kit available that will "Upgrade" her to newer standards.
Almost $400 bucks though....hmmmm.
Also - no blower yet either. There's another $400 roughly.

That's almost 2/3 down for a Whippet, which I ultimately want to get.

 

[rodoconnor]

Dang, $400 for an upgrade kit! I still use this good ol thing of mine and I find small , small gold.

 

[galenrog]

Loved mine. Now it sits in the corner. Very sad.