I use a cable type comealong to pull in guy wires, and only use the
turnbuckle for fine tuning the tension. I place an "auxiliary guy
anchor eye" available from most utility supply companys on the anchor
rod (with a large "gorilla hook" type carabiner looped through it), and
a "Chicago pulling grip" on the guy wire well above the estimated
attachment point. (If you don't have access to a pulling grip, you can
use a spare Pre-Formed grip - just don't wind the last inch or so onto
the cable so that you can get it back off easily.) I do this on all
three anchors, then align the tower as close as possible to plumb using
a transit or a LONG level (6') on the legs as close to the guy
attachment point on the tower as possible. On bigger towers with
multiple guy sets it really pays to use a transit, which can be rented
at most tool rental shops. Once the tower is plumbed this way, without
a great deal of tension on the guys, I put the guys into the Pre-formed
grips and snug up the turnbuckles (which are extended with only an inch
or so of thread remaining inside the buckle). Once the load is
transferred to the turnbuckles on all three anchors, I go from anchor to
anchor increasing the tension on each guy by tightening each turnbuckle
by the SAME number of turns, checking the tension after completing each
round, until I reach the desired tension. Then I verify that the tower
is still plumb. Remember that if you must re-plumb the tower at this
point, always equally release the tension from the guys opposite the guy
you INCREASE to prevent overtensioning. I repeat this for each guy
set. NEVER try to pull a large amount of tension with a cable-type
come-along - if one were to fail while doing so you could loose the
tower. I've built over 10,000' of tower since 1976, and this technique
has never failed me yet. Hope that helps.
73
Dave Colter
Northmark Communications
J.P. Kleinhaus wrote:
>
> While we're on the subject of guys and tensioning, what is the
> method used to pre-tension the guys before attaching the turnbuckles
> to the anchor rod equalizing plates?
>
> I don't think I can pull them anywhere close to 670 pounds on
> my own :-)
>
> Also, how close to spec do you need to pull them before terminating
> the guys with the final big grip and turnbuckle? I can't see
> that the turnbuckle has all that much adjustment ability; or does
> it?
>
> I am completely unfamiliar with these things and my guy wire materials
> will be arriving some time next week.
>
> 73, J.P. W2XX
> --
> ======================================================================
> J.P. Kleinhaus, W2XX (fdba AA2DU)
> E-mail: w2xx@cloud9.net
>
> As we say in the software business: "You are hosed."
> ======================================================================
>
> --
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