I have always used the Klein grip for guy wire tensioning...the little "pork
chop" has always worked well....one time we had a crew of three guys all
setting guy wires but only two Klein Pork Chops (that is what they look
like - sometimes called a Chicago Grip) so I said no problem we each took an
anchor point and I was without the Klein Chop - how did I do
it..............
I used a preformed guy grip with a thimble in the eye - I did not fully
install it - but left about 2" of the wraps not twisted into place....it
worked good - I actually used two of them....one would get the initial slack
out of the guy and the second was placed higher up and away form the anchor
point for final tensioning....
We did have to share the Loos gauge but it was very fast having three guys
at the three sets of guys....each with a comealong....only way it would have
gone faster is if we had has three Loos gauges!
That day near Sarasota started early and the last tower section was placed
and the mast installed into the tower after the sun had set - headlights
illuminated the sight....we had installed two towers with guys....they were
ready for the antennas.
One of the other two guys who helped me was WC4E who is referee-ing this
weekend and the third guy was the station owner who had just moved to
Florida and we were putting up his towers with him - what a mistake - I
ain't seen a certificate since! He is returning WRTC co-champ K1TO.
WRTC and the IARU Radiosport start a few hours from now at 1200Z - be sure
to work the WRTC stations signing their OJ prefixes...for that matter work
anything with an OJ in its call - that is excellent contest practice!
Go Team USA!
73,
Jim, K4OJ
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Rhodes" <weightdn@adelphia.net>
To: "Tower Talk Reflector" <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, July 12, 2002 10:38 PM
Subject: [Towertalk] Guy Wire Tensioning-WAS Lost My Tower
> First of all, thanks to the many who replied. I am about to start ordering
> replacement parts and have decided to go with the bolt down mounting base
> rather than a pier pin or trying to bolt to the remaining stub of the old
> tower.
>
> The question of the moment is, what is a good way to grip 3/16 guy wire
with
> a come-along to get the initial tension on it? I plan on using preforms on
> the guys if that has any bearing on methods. Have been looking at
> McMAster-Carr ( http://www.mcmaster.com ) and find both smooth and knurled
> jaw grips. Not sure I like the thought of the knurling biting into my
brand
> new guy wire but maybe it is not a significant bite ?? There is also a
> smooth jaw model which, for some reason, costs about $15 more ($48 vs $33
> catalog price). Search for " Sure-Clamp Wire and Cable Grips " to see what
> I'm referring to. Maybe there is something as good or better for less $$ ?
> Homebrew methods? Your thoughts appreciated.
>
> Also, I picked up one of those 16 inch laser levels Radio Shack had on
sale
> last month ($20) and am thinking that would be a dandy way to
> straighten/align the tower - no worries about the wind moving a plumb bob
> around, etc. Haven't really thought about a mount for the level and a
target
> for it but shouldn't be too tough. Am I missing any obvious reasons for
not
> making a mount for the level (up the tower) and an identical mount for a 6
> inch or so target that would mount near the bottom of the tower? Would
have
> to have some sort of mount that would force the brackets to mount square
to
> the sections of tower they are fastened to (i.e., if mounted to the same
> section of tower, the alignment between the laser level and the target
would
> be right-on just by bolting them in place). Even if I'm off the target
> initially, the spot would be easy to see on the concrete. More thoughts?
>
> Tnx & 73 de
> Mike / W8DN
>
>
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