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Re: [TowerTalk] Slow/Stuck rotator in one direction

To: reflector Towertalk <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Slow/Stuck rotator in one direction
From: Dana Roode K6NR <dana.roode@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2018 21:41:36 -0700
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Hi all,

Thanks to everyone who responded to my email below.  I have resolved the
problem, which, long story short, was the thrust bearing.  The bearing on
the TX-455 has a "Eccentric Locking Collar".  When I got up on the tower
and looked at the bearing it was very dirty.  I loosened the allen screw,
freed the collar with a punch, raised the collar out of the way and tried
the rotator again.  It worked perfectly.  I cleaned it out best I could
with a degreaser, added new grease, and put the collar back down and it all
works fine now.

I was sure how to put the collar back in place; what I read online is that
you use a punch in the direction "the shaft rotates" - which is both ways
in the case of a mast but figured it would be opposite of the way I got it
off.  I wasn't sure how the collar fit downward on the bearing but think I
got it right.  Couldn't hammer the punch like I read since the bearing
turns.  Snugged it up and tightened the allen screw and it seems OK, but
must be a clearer instruction out there for these collars somewhere.

  Dana


On Sat, Apr 14, 2018 at 9:51 AM, Dana Roode K6NR <dana.roode@gmail.com>
wrote:

> Hi,
>
> My 4 Element 20m yagi is on a 15' mast on a Yaesu rotator in a TX-455
> US-Tower.  Over the last year, it has become slow to turn across the
> NorthWest direction, working fine in other directions.  As of a day or so
> ago, I could turn the rotator counter clockwise into the NW area but now I
> can no longer turn it clockwise to get beyond about 290 degrees.
>
> My tower et al is at my remote station about 80 miles away and I will need
> to go up there to take a look at what is going on.  I am looking for some
> general advice on correcting these sorts of problems, which would seem to
> relate to the vertical alignment of the bottom 5' of mast in the rotator
> and through the thrust bearing.  I forget how much adjustment play there is
> in the rotator shelf mounting and don't know if you can adjust the the
> thrust bearing.
>
> I don't think anything is binding - cable wise or with my dipole arm mount
> - but I will need to check that out too.
>
>   Dana, K6NR
>
>
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