Towertalk
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: [TowerTalk] AB-577 Surface Guy Anchors?

To: wc1m@msn.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] AB-577 Surface Guy Anchors?
From: Bob Allen <mcamp@gmavt.net>
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:42:12 -0400
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
I'll chime in here as I have used AB577 towers for Field Day for the 
last 8 or 9 years.
Read the manual and then read it again!!
Use 7 people to erect this if you can, 3 holding the upper guys and 
keeping it straight, two spotting the tower for straightness and two 
putting it up. You can have one person crank it up and one person spot 
but they run around a lot.
The spec. manual says that the test spec for the tower is the guys 
tensioned to 150 lbs each and there are four guys on each side so the 
450 lb. drum is a bit shy, use the vehicles _*and **disable*_ them or 
use  something that weighs a ton or more, large cement blocks, 4 drums 
*_(disclaimer time: I have not calculated the force on the guys for the 
max. rated wind speed (75 mph and 1/2" ice) so 1 ton is a guess pure and 
simple)._*
The brake is rated for 500 lbs but this is way above what should be on 
this as even 100 lbs is probably pushing it. We put around 65-75 lbs. on 
ours.
Make sure you get the frame plumb using a good level before raising it, 
not that idiot bubble on the frame.
Make sure that the frame is firmly shimmed at the bottom  if the ground 
is not level
As you raise it see if the tube is bearing hard against any of the 
rubber rollers as this is a sign that the crew isn't keeping it straight.
The winch will give you an idea as to how it is going, if it starts to 
bind take a look around.
We never used our extension kit so this is all based on the  50'  setup 
except for the comment about having 4 guys.
Our towers withstood a 50 mph squall that knocked tree limbs on the guys 
and they were rock solid.
Look here for our FD setup, it must work, we were the #1 2A station in 
1999,2000,2006 and 2008, yeah I know it is not a contest :)
http://www.ranv.org/fdrpt.html
Have fun and good luck

Bob
KB1FRW
73
_______________________________________________



_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>