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Re: [TowerTalk] Pinning my mast in rotator clamp

To: TOWERTALK@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Pinning my mast in rotator clamp
From: Pete Smith <n4zr@contesting.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 06:52:16 -0400
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
I have two Yaesu rotators, both pinned.  The oldest has been up since 1995, 
the youngest since 2000.  No failures yet, though to be fair, they are both 
well within ratings - the G-1000 is turning a Force 12 40m yagi and a Force 
12 C-3E tribander, while the G-800 is turning another C-3 on a swinging 
gate sidemount.  I have had the rotator stall in high winds while turning 
the sidemounted yagi, but never seen any damage.

One downside of the pinning method that people may overlook is that you 
cannot make fine adjustments of the physical pointing of the antenna at the 
mast clamp.  On the other hand, it is so easy to adjust the Yaesu direction 
indicator that this really isn't much of a problem.

73, Pete

At 08:49 PM 3/11/2009, you wrote:
>It depends on what you choose to break should the turning force on the mast
>exceed the strength of the weakest element.  Something has to be the first
>thing to "give".  What would you like that to be?  What are the consequences
>of the possible failures you might observe?
>
>In my case, the mast slips in the jaws of the rotator clamp in high winds.
>The rotator clamp hasn't yet shattered or come loose at the rotator.  I have
>a fair amount of mast sticking out above the thrust bearing. If the clamp
>failed completely and ceased to restrain the bottom of the mast, I'd have a
>very strong bending force above the thrust bearing.  I would prefer that the
>clamp slip rather than risk the total failure of the clamp.
>
>Dick, K6KR
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
>[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of mrlogs
>Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 5:19 PM
>To: towertalk@contesting.com
>Subject: [TowerTalk] Pinning my mast in rotator clamp
>
>Hi All..
>   My Yaesu G-1000DXA manual say's to drill thru the mast & put a bolt thru
>the rotator & mast to keep it (the mast) from turning in the clamp. I was
>told to do a survey here & get everyone's input on doing this as it might be
>a bad idea..
>                          Thanks for your input!
>                             73'..Tom  N3ZC
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