I have no experience with M2 Orion rotators but I do use K7NV mast clamps
with prop pitch rotators. I abhor mast slippage so I believe in using
strong rotators with solid mast connections and this has worked perfectly
for me.
John KK9A
Anthony DeBiasi k2sg wrote:
I am presently using an older M2 Orion rotator. After 22+ years it has
failed and needs replacing. When I moved to Florida 3 years ago, instead of
using the supplied stock mast clamps I purchased a K7NV mast clamp which
some of you may be using. The K7NV mast clamp definitely prevents slippage
although in 18 years at my last QTH which was fairly windy the stock mast
clamps only slipped once during a hurricane which was easy to correct with
the Green Heron RT-21 controller and snugging up the clamp bolts. I should
mention the rotator is on a 86' Tashjian tower that nests to 23' and is
fairly easy to access.
I am trying to decide if it would be better to replace the K7NV mast clamp
with the stock M2 mast clamps that are more likely to slip. Why would I
considering the change, to possibly put less stress on the M2 rotator. On
the tower from the bottom up there is a JK-Mid Tri/40, a 5el M2 6m yagi and
on top is a WARC JK1217. Although I live in Florida, I am located about 15
miles inland and 35 miles north of Tampa. We do get a lot of Thunderstorms
in the summer but the wind has been far less than I experienced in Northern
NJ and Southern NJ.
Would appreciate the advice of anyone who has experience with either the
stock M2 clamps or the N7NV clamp. I know you can put a pin through the
clamps and mast but I wouldn't suggest that.
73, Tony K2SG
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