Repairs to the Bantam C35 Dragline Crane - Replacing the Sprockets - Machining, Welding, Shrink Fit

This video is dedicated to the memory of an amazing friend and mentor, Ron Erickson. You taught me many valuable skills and put up with my questions for the last 25 years. I will always have fond memories of our time together in the electrical cabinets of EMD locomotives. Rest in peace Ron.

***Obituary***
Ronald Gordon Erickson, 81 of Clermont, FL, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 25, 2023 after battling Parkinson’s for over 7 years.

Ronald was born on June 10, 1942, to Gordon and Elsie Erickson in St. Paul, MN. He is survived by his siblings, Janet (Donald) and David (Pu); nephews Neal (Cynthia), Keven (Krystyna); niece Amica; and great niece Charlie.

Ron was hired at The Great Northern Railroad in March 1962. He attended Dunwoody Institute and acquired his Electrician License in April 1967 through the Railroad. He worked his way up to Superintendent and spent as much time riding trains and troubleshooting as he did in the office. He continued his employment as it transitioned into the Burlington Northern Railroad. He chose to go back to the shops in the 1980’s instead of relocating his family to Kansas. Following that, he worked for the North Shore Scenic Railroad in Duluth, MN and then was hired and worked at the Mesabi Railroad, also in northern Minnesota, from where he retired.

Ron met Ila Johnson at Glacier National Park in 1962 where they both worked for the summer. They married on February 15, 1964. Ron and Ila had three children, Lisa (Steven), Andrew (Brenda), and Steven (Steven); and granddaughters Shannon, Hannah, Karlee, and Kenzie, and step-great granddaughter Makena.

They moved with Lisa, as a baby, with a railroad job transfer to Whitefish, MT in 1967 but a year later they were back in MN. They raised their children in St. Paul, MN and then moved out to the suburbs of N.St. Paul, MN where they built a home designed by his father, Gordon.

In July 1998, Ron retired and spent his time model railroading and working on his property where they had built a beautiful log home on the stunning shore of Lake Superior, near Two Harbors, MN. He continued to consult his passion with museums and various train operations and to assist anyone in need of air brake troubleshooting. They moved back closer to the Twin Cities in 1996 to Bethel, MN where they lived in a beautiful home on seven acres with a pole barn; perfect for accommodating his MC Crawler, Bobcats, sawmill, workshop and HO train set up where he always said “I don’t know when I had time to work!”

Ron was predeceased by his parents, Baby Girl Erickson, and beloved wife, Ila Erickson in 2020. After Ila’s passing, he spent his last few years in Florida with his daughter but was always a Minnesotan at heart and truly missed the winters!
******

I want to thank Lisa(Ron's Daughter) for helping me put this dedication together. And, for taking him in for his final years and allowing him to pass comfortably among family. You gave him the best final years anyone could hope for. Thank you.



In this video, I finally get to fix the biggest problem with the Bantam C35 Dragline Crane. The main sprockets were completely wore out. In fact, one only had 3 teeth left when I bought it, and we took them out unloading from the semi.

Watch as I come up with a solution, and execute it. With the lathe work of both pieces, then a shrink fit, and finally TIG welding the sprocket on. This repair is sure to last my lifetime.

Topper Machine LLC is an entirely manual machine shop located in Spooner, WI. Our videos will highlight some of our shop work.

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