John,
The pull down end of the lifting cable is bolted internally to the bottom
of the 3rd section. The only way to get to it is to separate the sections.
On later versions of this tower and on the 100 ft model, the pull down
cable was brought outside and mounded at the top of that section with
another pulley. More cable is needed, but you could get to it w/o
disassembly.
I have decided to take the time and effort to replace the cable, but it is
a big job!
Tnx,
Ray,
N6VR
On Thu, Aug 22, 2013 at 10:41 AM, <john@kk9a.com> wrote:
> I am surprised that it would cost that much to have someone replace the
> cable. US Towers recommends replacing cables every three years, is it
> that difficult to replace the cable on an uninstalled tower? I think that
> you have two options, replace the cable or leave it nested and use it as a
> 28 foot tower.
>
> John KK9A
>
>
> To: TowerTalk <TowerTalk@contesting.com>
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Thoughts on Tower lifting cable broken strands
> From: Ray Benny <rayn6vr@cableone.net>
> Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 00:21:09 -0700
>
>
> I purchase a used TM-490 90 ft Sky Needle and recently found some of the
> 5/16", 7 X 19 aircraft cable lifting cable strands broken. The tower is on
> the ground and not been in the vertical position for a number of years. The
> problem, apparently there was some gas torch cutting done nearby and
> splatter landed on the cable. This molten metal landed on the pull up cable
> causing it to burn and sever 2 - 3 strands in one area, and another 3 - 4
> strands 6 inches higher up the cable. The cable overall is otherwise in
> very good condx with no wear marks. It might have been replaced prior and
> the tower has been laying on the ground ever since?
>
> The best and right thing to do is to replace the cable. But, I have been
> going through my options:
>
> #1 - Do the cable replacing myself. I have found the cable and cable
> pulling grip for less that $200. The major problem is that this is a 3200
> lbs tabular tower and not easy to move around. I would need to rent small
> boom truck or forklift and some other misc working hardware to pull the
> sections apart. It would not be easy, but feel I could do the job.
>
> #2 - Hire someone to come here and do the job. This can run into a 4 - 5
> thousand dollar cost.
>
> #3 - Transport the tower to California and have it restring by the tower
> company who made it long ago. I've checked commercial transport rates, r/t
> shipment and cable replacement cost is more than option #2.
>
> #4 - Do nothing and live with a few broken strands.
>
> *At this point I am looking for thoughts, experiences and/or
> semi-professional thoughts on option #4 - do nothing*. I've had a one
> experienced tower person say that 6 - 8 broken strands out of 133 is
> nothing.
>
> Again, I know the proper/safe thing to do is replace the cable, but how
> about doing nothing and using the tower as is?
>
> Tnx,
>
> Ray,
> N6VR
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
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