First, I'd like to reiterate my thanks to all the towertalk folks for the
help and advice you were so forthcoming with last year as I was planning my
tower project. Though I assembled most of the materials, laid out the
plans, and got the base and guy anchor foundations poured, our early dump
of 4 feet of snow in three days last November put the actual tower raising
on hold. Now that the sun is shining and the temperatures slowly raising, I
am fired up to get this tower up!
A few last questions come to mind --
I'll be using 3/16" EHS for guywire and the 3/16" preformed big grips at
the terminations and insulators. Can the 500D insulators be used with the
3/16" big grips, or is it necessary to use the bigger 502 size insulators?
I know the 3/16" big grips will physically fit through the holes in the
500D and the compressive strength of the 500D is, I think, 10,000 lbs, but
something is telling me I read to use the 502. I just can't remember where
or what the source documentation would be. Looking at the 500D with a 3/16"
big grip threaded through, the bend radius of the insulator that the big
grip runs over looks kind of small (without tension on the big grip, it
doesn't come close to conforming to the insulator radius).
Second question, again concerning 3/16" preformed big grips, and thimbles.
I have 5/16" heavy duty galvanized thimbles that are specified for use with
3/16" preformed big grips. Again, holding one of the thimbles inside the
eye of the big grip and squeezing the grip closed by hand so the legs of
the grip cross where they would when threaded onto the guywire, the fit is
sloppy loose to the point that I can't see what would keep the thimble in
the eye of the grip before tension is applied to the guy. Granted, the
shackle or eye of the turnbuckle passing through the big grip and thimble
would keep the thimble from falling completely out, but if the thimble were
to get canted or misaligned in the big grip before tension were applied,
and then a 400 lb strain were taken on the guy, I could see there'd be holy
ned to pay. The 5/16" thimbles I have on hand are 2 1/2 inches from the
tips of the open end to the outside diameter at the top of the closed end
and 1 3/4 inches across the widest part of the eye. They are, of course,
5/16 inches wide across the channel the big grip lays in. Is this the
"right stuff"?
Much ado about nothing? Pre-erection jitters (the bridegroom syndrome)? I
appreciate your input and advice. I have just about every other detail
worked out and besides schematics and plan drawings, I have also been
writing up a detailed sequence of steps to follow during assembly and
raising (my Navy nuclear propulsion training showing). I only have one or
two other small details to finalize, like which antennas and rotators to
buy! There has been ample information on this reflector to keep me in a
state of indecision all winter long! (TH7DX vs. KT34XA vs. Force 12 and
Tailtwister vs. Yaesu vs. Create). Has anyone ever side mounted a TH11DX on
a swinging sidearm on 45G?
Thanks for all your help!
Steve Zettel KJ7CH
Libby, MT USA
PS. Steve Morris, I still want that autographed 1st edition of the tower
book!
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