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Re: [TowerTalk] I finally figured a way to stop mast slippage

To: TowerTalk List <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] I finally figured a way to stop mast slippage
From: Alan Beagley <AB2OS@att.net>
Date: Tue, 04 May 2004 09:48:59 -0400
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
How about a picture? I'm having a hard time figuring this out.

Alan AB2OS


On 05/04/04 08:35 am FireBrick put fingers to keyboard and launched the following message into cyberspace:


My old Wilson rotatable has two small bolts that serve as set screws to clamp 
the mast in
the tube.
Tighten the two bolts is SUPPOSED to stop mast slippage.
But I was always reluctant to really crank down on them for fear of breaking 
them off or
stripping them out.

I really didn't want to drill out the chrome moly mast either.
The recent 40 mph+ winds in Chicagoland had me 'correcting' for windage 
frequently.

So I finally came up with a design that was cheap, easy to install, and seems 
to have
solved the problem of misalignment.

I got two small 'clip angles' from work.
These are 4" long 4X4 wide angle irons, about 1/4" thick.

I drilled two sets of holes for 2 1/2" U bolts in one and two sets of 2" U 
bolts in the
other.


The 2 1/2" clamp piece was put on the mast insertion tube. The 2" clamp piece goes around the mast.

There will be a slight difference in position due to the 'insertion tube on the 
tower'
being a larger size than the mast, but the two clips angles should line up in 
the
horizontal plane.
I then clamped them together and drilled two 3/8" holes through the horizontal 
plates.
Make sure the antenna is properly oriented and bolt the two plates together and 
tighten
all the U bolts.

Fortunately for me, my Wilson tower is right next to the large chimney on my 
roof so I
could stand on the chimney and easily do the final drilling and tightening.

Hope this gives someone an idea on solving a similar problem.
In my case, where the rotor is mounted at the bottom of the Wilson tower, this 
does not
add appreciable strain on the rotor.
In the case of a top mounted rotor, you may want to consider the slippage vs. 
rotor damage
before adding my clamp system.
_______________________________________________

See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.

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