Windworker Studio
Installation Instructions for Windflowers
(Note: Use of a thread locking liquid on pipe joints is encouraged.)
Step One: Find a spot for your Windflower that provides some protection from the full force of the wind, but not where branches or shrubbery will interfere with the spinning of the bicycle rim or fall onto it.
Step Two: Install green fence post(that you purchased separately at the hardware store) with a post driver or sledgehammer. Make sure it is standing straight! Put post into ground past welded step plate. The fence post simulates the green stem of a flower, so make sure the fence post faces the direction to be viewed most frequently. (You can use two posts to achieve the effect of a completely round stem).
Refer to this diagram for further assistance:
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Step Three:Assemble the two 30”x ¾” long metal black pipe pieces together using the ¾” to ¾” connector.
Step Four: Place the floor flange on top of the ¾” assembled black gas pipe post and screw tight.
Step Five: The three assembled pipe post pieces snugly inside the groove of green fence post. Place the hose clamp around the black post/green post before setting the black post inside the fence post channel. That way, you won’t have to fully open the hose clamp to fit over the flange.
Step Six: Gently pound black pipe post into ground so that top of floor flangerests snugly inside top of green fence post (as shown).Be careful not to pound so hard that the flange/top of post connection is damaged. In softer ground, you can push the post into the dirt for much of the distance.
Step Seven: Strap pipe and fence post together tightly using hose clamp as shown above.
Step Eight:Insert 6” nipple on horizontal assembly (bicycle wheel on one end, tail at other end) into top of black pipe. Be sure 5/8” washer is placed through nipple so that assembly rests atop the washer and the floor flange.
Step Nine: Tighten as much as humanly possible the large nylon insert ½” zinc plated steel nylon locknut atthe base of the ½” x 4” threaded galvanized hex bolt set inside the vertical ½” x ½” x ½”tee. Thread lock is helpful here, or add a second, similarly sized nut. Before fully tightening nut, see IMPORTANT note immediately below.
IMPORTANT- The horizontal assembly should align approximately 20 degrees off perpendicular from the bicycle wheel. This will protect your Windflower from damage by making the Windflower move away from the strongest part of the breeze in very heavy winds, but will not affect how well the blades spin.Be sure that the 20 degrees alignment remains intact. If the nut at the bottom of the large bolt becomes loose, the tail could swing into the blades and cause breakage.
Step Ten: Assemble the tailpieces (large green vinyl siding leaves) onto the ½” x ½’ x ½’” tee using the 3/8” x 4” hex bolt, two large fender washers (placed on the outside of each leaf) and hand tighten with the 3/8” nut provided. Note: The shape of the vinyl siding allows you to place the leaves snugly into the sides of the tee. The darker green side of the vinyl siding faces out.
Step Eleven: Spread out tail leaves so they maximize the amount of wind resistance. Fully tighten the 3/8” nut. The tail makes the Windflower blades yaw in the wind- turning it to capture the most wind available.
Step Twelve: Stand back and enjoy!
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Notes:
Because Windworker Studio cannot control for wind conditions, it is recommended that the Windflower assembly be taken down in extreme conditions and in winter. Simply lift the Windflower from the post and place in storage.
Windworker Studio is not responsible for repairs or replacement due to owner’s failure to safeguard the sculpture from wind damage, misuse or neglect.
Repairs can be arranged at a cost of $35 per hour (one hour minimum).
Replacement vanes can be made based on availability of materials. Cost is $5.00 per piece.
Should a rivet loosen or fall out, they can be replaced with a 3/16” rivet (large rivets), or a simple screw, washer and a lock nutto fit.
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April, 2014