Date: Fri, 2 Aug 2013 07:30:04 -0700
From: Bob K6UJ <k6uj@pacbell.net>
To: "TOWERTALK@contesting.com reflector" <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Crankup Danger
Me again,
How do you guys with the motorized towers block your towers ? I am thinking of
using 1 inch water pipe.
And where do you block it ? Since it telescopes, do you you put blocking
through every section ?
Bob
K6UJ
On Aug 2, 2013, at 7:22 AM, Bob K6UJ wrote:
> Following this thread made me realize I will now block my motorized tower
> before climbing.
> I have a US Tower HDX-589MDPL and I have been lowering it down till it stops
> then climbing.
> But as pointed out, it is supported by the lift cable even when all the way
> retracted.
> Thanks for the info guys !
>
> Bob
> K6UJ
## Some have used a piece of wood 4x4...and stuffed it through at least 2 of
the 3 corners.
I don’t think 1 inch water pipe would do the trick. Maybe if it was 1 inch
solid..and u did
all 3 x corners. Depending on the model of UST, in my case, it only has to be
blocked
below the 2nd section up from the concrete. IE: block it some where between
1 ft and
17 ft above the base. All my upper sections have a lift cable on each face..3
x cables per
section. Very unlikely that all 3 x cables on any of the upper sections
would snap
simultaneously. However my very top section only has 1 lift cable. This is
on an
old style HDX-689. So my very top section also needs to be blocked.
## when the almost 600 lb, 1 inch thick triangular steel base was suspended
over the 9 ft
deep hole, I used 2 x 10 ft long rectangular steel tubes for the job. Each
tube is 6 inch wide x 2 inch
tall x .25 inch thick. They also had to handle the weight of the 12 x 5 ft
long anchor rods. And each
group of 4 x anchor rods has a 9 inch sq plate on the bottom, .375 inch thick,
to increase the
pullout capacity. I will chop up one of the rectangular tubes to make 2-3 x
short blocking
devices. The weight on them when installed, will only be the entire weight of
the tower +
ants-rotor mast etc, MINUS the very bottom section + winch assy.
## Any blocking device has to sit on something..like any horizontal braces.
That’s a helluva lot
of weight on the welds for those Horz braces, hence using 2-3 pieces of steel
for blockers....just
to distribute the total weight better. Like over 4-6 welds..instead of just
2. Some 4x4 wood
would work fine, or some scrap steel thick wall pipe-tubing or square or
rectangular tubing.
## when fully nested, you would only have to lift the tower 1-2 ft to be able
to insert the blockers
at knee level...so its not that big of an issue for install-removal. 30 secs
max.
Jim VE7RF.
the very bowight
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