Tommy: I am not familiar with your crank up but if it is similar to my TX472
UST you don't have to block each section. I raise and lower mine with a
tractor pulling on the single lift cable thru a floor block pulley. I then
slip a piece of 3 inch channel iron thru the bottom section just below the
bottom of the next section up and slack off on the lift cable letting the
channel iron take the load. The other sections are raised in a sort of
bootstrap manner by individual cables between sections. Hope your tower is
built in a similar manner.
73, Dan, N5AR
-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com]On Behalf Of FOC1652@aol.com
Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2008 8:59 PM
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Tower Cable Query
After a very slow and methodical assembly, the new MonstIR is at the
top of my 72 foot, Tristao, free-standing, motorized crank up, tower.
So far everything appears to be working according to specifications.
I went with the direct mount Tilt-Plate, (# 002), and the Orion
rotor, with a Green Heron controller.
The only glitch, and it is a fairly serious one, occurred as I was
extending the tower to its full height. Just as the tower extended to
its maximum height, I heard a loud pop and saw gear oil coming from
the end of the motorized cable windlass gearbox. It appears that one
of the worm gear shaft bearings was destroyed and I am now looking at
a very difficult and delicate procedure to repair it, if possible.
The problem being, I have to maintain the tower at its fully extended
height, secure the cable sustaining all of the vertical load weight
so I can unspool the balance of the cable off the windlass and remove
the entire gear box and unit for examination and possible repair.
Somehow I need to take the load off of the windlass and secure it to
another snatch point so I can effect the repair. I think a very
stout "come along" will handle the load, but I need some advice on
how to grasp the very taut cable in such a manner that whatever I use
won't slip or slide on the cable, but won't weaken or degrade it
either. There must be some sort of device that I can find that will
do the trick. I will make a proper, stout anchor and secure it to the
base bolts and use the come along to hold the load. The only other
viable, but very expensive option, I can think of, is to hire a big
boom bucket truck to come out so I can block each tower section so it
won't move south and take the pressure off of the cable. Right now it
seems I cannot even hand turn the gear box, so it is a serious
problem. I want to think this through carefully. The antenna is up so
I don't have to bring anything down in a hurry, but I do want to
effect the repair, safely and successfully.
The tilt plate was a dream, but getting the proper angle set, was a
trial and error process that necessitated cranking and tilting the
tower over three times. I am glad for the help of my big brother,
Chuck, W6AJW, and great friend, Bill, K6DUY.
I still have lots to learn about the MonstIR, but I worked a SM5 on
40 meters the other night with 50 W, so it does work.
Sorry for the bandwidth, and though this is slightly off topic, I
would appreciate some sage, (kind), advice from the
assembled multitude.
VY 73, Tommy, W6IJ
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