13 FEB - 1635 CST
To All...
I climb my crank-up (TRIEX DX-70) *ONLY* when it is fully retracted and
blocked. I have used the ladder against the bottom section technique
(tower fully retracted) and have come to the conclusion there is far
more hazard using a ladder which can easily slide off the side of the
tower. Yes, I tied the ladder to the tower after I got to the top of it
- but it is still an iffy proposition.
As for the blockers, I use two pieces of angle iron. It takes a few
minutes to work the tower slightly up and down to get the iron properly
placed. But when it is inserted and the tower "nudged" a wee bit lower,
they are locked into place and almost all of the strain is removed from
the cables. One piece of angle iron is probably enough - but I believe
in using both a belt and suspenders - and this spreads the load across
two sets of the diagonal braces.
FYI, my crank-up has "positive pull-down" and there is a mechanical stop
only for the first moving section. The other tower sections are
supported by the cables full-time.
73 - Dick Isely, WD9GIG
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