My first recommendation is to re-anchor the lose and the missing guy wires. I,
myself, use screw-anchors and have had no problems with them.
With the help of some "come-along" you should be able to straighten the tower
up again. An extra wire to the base, pulled in the right direction should be
able to correct the base too. You have to pull the base back so it doesn't
leave any bending forces on the tower. I don't think you have to worry about
the integrity of the base as its only function is to stop the tower from
sinking into the ground.
I'm sure you will get more advice later but this is what I wold do in the same
situation. I would, by the way, replace the maple tree with a screw anchor too.
I have several tree on my property but would not rely on them as guy anchors in
a permanent installation, maybe at a field-day.
Let us know how you make out.
Best 73 de,
Hans - N2JFS
-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Oksala <ni3p@comcast.net>
To: towertalk <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Wed, Mar 12, 2014 4:48 pm
Subject: [TowerTalk] Tower base "challenge"
I have a problem, and hopefully the experts on this forum will be able to
help.
My tower is 50 feet of Rohn 25, with a Force 12 C-3 on top. The tower has
been up for around 30 years. It has been guyed at 25 and 45 feet with
standard steel cable. The guys were anchored as follows: Guys A were into a
pine tree at about six feet; some years ago the tree died, and the stump was
left to hold the anchors. Guys B were also into a pine tree at about six
feet, and like Guy A the tree died and the stump was left with the anchors.
Guys C were about six feet into a large maple tree.
At the end of fall, I disconnect the lower guys as I planned to replace
them. However time was limited, and the tower was guyed only at the 45 foot
level. Earlier this winter, we in the Philly area had a severe ice storm.
The result was that - I think - that the ice load on the guys was very high.
The result was that the screw-in for Guy A pulled completely out of the
stump; the stump which contained Guy B pulled completely out of the ground,
with the screw-in still attached; and Guy C was still connected. However the
tower now has a distinct tilt. Just recently I was able to examine it, and
the cement base in which the tower was set has actually tipped somewhat, so
one side is about an inch up above the ground and the other side is a little
bit below. The base is tilted toward the maple tree where Guy C remained
intact, and I can only assume that the weight of the ice on the guy wire
pulled it into this new position. (The antenna held up fine.)
The question I have now is what to do next. I do need to climb the tower to
replace the rotor cable (unrelated issue) and install an inverted V around
40 feet. But I don't know if I should simple reguy it as is, or fix it - and
if I fix it, what does that mean? Do I need to dig up all around the base,
straighten it out (by pulling on the top guy wire, which is still attached
to the tower), and then filling in around it with new concrete? Demolish
all that concrete and replace (a huge job, I would think)? What other
options exist? I should also note that when I put it up I did not use any
rebar, just the hole and concrete I mixed and poured.
Any advice would be appreciated. If there is a consensus that this should be
left to an expert (I am 70 years old and used my brain for a living; no
construction skills)? If so, any recommendations?
Thanks in advance for your expertise.
Steve Oksala
NI3P
Ni3p@comcast.net
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