I have done extensive work on this problem for tilting my HDX5106.
I have the KW3000 and have tried various drills. BTW, on my web site,
there is a simple drill to winch shaft adapter made out of hardware
store parts--little or no machining.
(http://www.n6rk.com/drill_adapter_for_winch/drill_adapter_for_winch.html).
I configured the KW3000 so that clockwise is up. The way it
came, clockwise was down. It takes a lot more force going up
than down with a worm gear winch (unlike a brake type that
requires equal force going down). Now I can use antique non
reversible drills to tilt up the tower. Any decent drill can
lower it.
You MUST NOT use a fixed speed 300 RPM drill, because it will
overheat the winch! The most powerful drill I know of that is
variable is the Milwaukee right angle drill. Just below the
Hole Hawg in the line. What happens with the Milwaukee RA
drill is that it overheats after a minute or so. Right now
I take turns hand cranking and using the drill until the tower
is about 30 degrees. Then the drill is OK.
The next step I might try is to use either a Hole Hawg or an
antique drill (I have several that will break your wrist)
in conjunction with an external motor speed control. They
used to sell these 40 years ago, but I will probably have to
build my own.
OTOH, US Tower makes a motorized tilt winch for their trailer towers.
I think I might just throw in the towel and get one of those.
If anybody has any bright ideas on this, I am still looking
for a breakthrough. I am going to do some experimental modifications
to the MonstIR that will require a lot of trial and error, so I
need to be able to go up and down easily.
Rick N6RK
Dennis Vernacchia wrote:
> *Wondering if anyone has been thru this exercise before so I don't have to
> reinvent the wheel
> and waste more valuable time ( Time that could be used for working MORE DX
> or making MORE Contest QSOS !!! )
>
>
> Our contest group has tower trailer with a 40 ft tubular crankup that has
> the rotating base assembly
> so entire tower rotates. This is a very heavy system especially when the the
> antenna and mast
> are on the tower and we are tilting the tower and antennas up using Flip
> /Tilt Brackets on antennas )
> ( See http://www.n6rk.com/monstilt/monstilt.html or
> http://www.nn4zz.com/tiltplate.htm or if you are not familiar with Antenna
> Flip/Tilt Brackets )
>
> Originally there was a Fulton 1500 winch on the system, leftover from when
> the tower
> did not have rotating base fixture. With the extra weight of Rotating base
> system we decided to switch
> to a Fulton KW3000 winch . ( **borrowed - Try before we buy ! They are
> around $145 at Grainger right now )*
> *
> Now with the KW3000 52 to 1 ratio winch ( worm gear type ) we need to use
> a drill motor to turn the winch shaft or else crank forever with a hand
> winch.
>
> I had a "drill-to-winch shaft" adapter fabricated which works fine and
> does not slip on shaft when
> using **my venerable 50 year old THOR 1/2 inch chuck NON reversible D handle
> Drill*
> *but I can not find MODERN*** 1/2 inch chuck Variable Speed and Reversible
> drill that has enough torque to turn the winch
> and not stall.
>
> I went to a local Tool Supply Store that handles every major brand of Hand
> held Drills and after much discussion with some
> very knowledgeable people in the Repair and Sales arenas, they could not
> come up with a Variable Speed 1/2 inch chuck
> Reversible drill motor that would have as much power and torque as my
> ancient Thor drill !
>
> I even called Milwaukee, Mikita, Ridgid and a few more major drill
> manufacturer headquarters and none of them could
> supply me info on Low RPM VS Torque of their most powerful drills or come up
> with a drill
> they would guarantee to do the job !
>
> Anyway my only thoughts at this time is either to modify the Old THOR drill
> I have to reverse field wires on it to get it
> to reverse direction ( and hopefully enough room inside drill motor body to
> mount a DPDT HD Switch or possibly
> rent ( before buying ) and try a Milwaukee 300 RPM ( NO Variable Speed )
> Hole Hawg Drill and hope the speed isn't
> too fast ( or too slow when under load )
>
> No, I do want to have to rig up a Pulley and gearbox system as I know that I
> already have a drill ( The Ol Thor ) that
> works but just doesn't afford me a Reverse mode
>
> Yes, I can just use another 1/2 inch chuck drill to tilt it down, but very
> awkward swapping out two drills in during the
> tilt Up/Down exercise.
>
> Advise appreciated especially if you have been down this road before.
>
> Budget is $250 to $300 to buy a drill that can outperform the old Thor and
> no time to rig up
> a Rube Goldberg system.
>
> 73, Dennis N6KI
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *
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>
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