Two of my towers use TailTwister rotators which have a mast clamp that allows
the mast to be moved sideways a bit from the rotator in order to free up the
rotator. Actually what I do is to place a small scissors jack underneath the
boom to mast plate and jack the antenna and mast up by a couple of inches to
free it from the rotator. To prevent the bottom of the mast from moving too
far sideways, I install a piece of uni-strut slotted channel and a muffle clamp
to hold the mast in place. I can then remove the rotator and replace it.
For the big tower, I'm using an AlfaSpid rotator and for it, one must jack up
the mast about 5 inches to free it up. This system has a top thrust bearing
and then there's another rotator plate (no thrust bearing) which captures the
mast from excessive sideways movement. I have about 4 feet clear from the top
plate to this second plate. The plan here (which I will need to do soon) will
be to install a piece of uni-strut right under the top plate. Attached in the
middle alongside the mast will be a pulley(openable wicket marine/sailing
type). I'll then attach a mast clamp down near the second plate. Then I'll
install a come-along that will pull upwards from the clamp to the top pulley
and then down again. I do this since this way I'm not operating the come-along
near one of its ends of travel and the actual come-along lever assembly can be
outside of the tower allowing freedom to operate it. I've never done it (will
be soon this year) but did do a trial run prior to ins
tallin
g the tower (best place to learn is on the ground not up on the tower!!!).
Sri to kidnap the topic into a rotator removal one but mast height inside the
tower should also be considered along with mast height outside the tower.
Phil KB9CRY
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