Almost, but its not quite that easy, Jerry. The mast is generally in the way
and must be lifted upwards a bit to allow for room to remove the rotator
and/or rotator plate. There is an easy way to do this by using a small
hydraulic jack, and I've heard of guys even using an old bumper jack, by
putting a muffler clamp on the mast at the appropriate spot, loosening the
trust bearing set screw, and jacking the mast up as required. Another
muffler clamp will safely hold this position when installed above the trust
bearing. I also made a very handy "fixture" consisting of a 2" muffler
clamp, a piece of steel flat stock, and a 1 1/4" muffler clamp. By welding
the saddles to the flat stock with the proper spacing between the two clamp
saddles, this can be u-bolted to the mast and one tower leg, to prevent the
antennas from windmilling when the rotator is removed. It also stabilizes
the mast and keeps it centered. If you don't have welding capabilities, any
muffler shop can make this for you for just a few bucks. You just need the
appropriate dimension for spacing the saddles for your particular tower.
73, -=Rog-K9RB=-
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jerry Keller" <k3bz@arrl.net>
To: "Joe Giacobello, K2XX" <k2xx@swva.net>; "Paul Playford"
<w8aef@worldnet.att.net>; <kg5u@hal-pc.org>; <K6TFZ@aol.com>;
<tavan@tibco.com>
Cc: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, December 20, 2002 12:12 PM
Subject: RE: [Towertalk] Rotor Removal from tower: Is there an easier way?
> On the tower I just bought (used) I notice that the rotor mount plate is
> notched at the 3 corners in such a way that if the U-bolts that attach it
to
> the tower legs are removed, the rotor plate can turn and be removed from
the
> tower. Since the thrust bearing holds the weight of the mast and antennas,
> couldn't I remove and replace the rotor plate and rotor without disturbing
> the antennas?? It looks to have been designed to do so... does anyone have
> any experience with this type of rotor plate design?
>
> Jerry K3BZ
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-admin@contesting.com
> [mailto:towertalk-admin@contesting.com]On Behalf Of Joe Giacobello, K2XX
> Sent: Friday, December 20, 2002 10:47 AM
> To: Paul Playford; kg5u@hal-pc.org; K6TFZ@aol.com; tavan@tibco.com
> Cc: towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [Towertalk] Rotor Removal from tower: Is there an easier
> way?
>
>
> Dale, Rick, Paul and Geoff:
>
> First of all, many thanks for your helpful replies.
>
> Because I didn't provide sufficient detail, all of you assumed that I
> was going to try to remove the rotor with the tower in the vertical
> position. However, I had planned on tilting it into the horizontal
> position. (BTW, the antennas on the tower are a four element quad and a
> two meter vertical.) Nevertheless, your replies confirmed that there
> is no really easy solution.
>
> It looks like the best way to get the rotor out is to tilt the tower,
> loosen the rotor mast clamp plates, remove the pin (bolt) that prevents
> pin-wheeling, and unbolt the thrust bearing. I can then drive my pickup
> truck under the mast and while standing on a step ladder in the bed,
> slide the mast up enough (I suspect a little silicone is going to come
> in handy here.) to give me room to take the rotor out. I may wait till
> spring for this project and just grit my teeth for the rest of the
> winter as I continually adjust the rotor direction when the wind blows,
> which is almost always here.
>
> Happy holidays and, again, many thanks for your help.
>
> 73, Joe
>
> Paul Playford wrote:
>
> >I added a winch to the top of my LM-470 so I can raise the mast up far
> >enough to allow easy removal of my T2X (or lower the mast down far enough
> to
> >work on the antennas). I also installed a U bolt on the mast a couple of
> >inches above the top of the rotator to fasten the winch cable to. I run
> >stacked 4 element monobanders that make the winch almost a necessity.
The
> >winch and mounting is very similar to the one US Tower sells.
> >
> >Also, my thrust bearing carries the weight of the mast and antennas. I
> have
> >found that by suspending the rotator from the mast (rather than having
the
> >weight of the mast on the rotator) the brake wedge does not stick.
> >
> >I still tear up the gears in the T2X, probably because I reverse the
> antenna
> >before it comes to a full stop. I am working on a Rotormapic (recent QST
> >article) that the software author has included a "rotation reverse delay"
> at
> >my request. Never had the gear problem with my old Ham-M, probably
because
> >the motor doesn't have enough torque to strip them when I hit the reverse
> to
> >soon.
> >
> >de Paul, W8AEF
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Joe Giacobello, K2XX" <k2xx@swva.net>
> >To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
> >Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2002 5:43 PM
> >Subject: [Towertalk] Rotor Removal from tower: Is there an easier way?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >>Well, it looks like the brake on my T2X has finally thrown in the towel.
> >> I have ordered a repair kit from Champion. However, my main concern is
> >>getting the rotor out with the minimum amount of surgery.
> >>
> >>My tower is an LM-470 and I can do all the work at ladder level. The
> >>rotor is mounted on a rotor mounting plate a few feet below the top of
> >>the tower. As I see it, my only option is to either loosen the set
> >>screws on the thrust bearing or unbolt the bearing from its mounting
> >>plate and pull the mast out just far enough to allow me to pass the
> >>unbolted rotor out the first clear opening in the tower framework. Are
> >>there any other options? (I have a terrible habit of missing the
> >>
> >>
> >obvious.)
> >
> >
> >>Also, does anyone have any pointers for replacing the brake?
> >>
> >>73 and Tnx for your help.
> >>
> >>
> >>Joe
> >>
> >>_______________________________________________
> >>AN Wireless Self Supporting Towers at discounted prices,
> >>See http://www.mscomputer.com
> >>
> >>Wireless Weather Stations now $349.95. Call Toll Free,
> >>888-333-9041 for additional information.
> >>_______________________________________________
> >>Towertalk mailing list
> >>Towertalk@contesting.com
> >>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> AN Wireless Self Supporting Towers at discounted prices,
> See http://www.mscomputer.com
>
> Wireless Weather Stations now $349.95. Call Toll Free,
> 888-333-9041 for additional information.
> _______________________________________________
> Towertalk mailing list
> Towertalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> AN Wireless Self Supporting Towers at discounted prices,
> See http://www.mscomputer.com
>
> Wireless Weather Stations now $349.95. Call Toll Free,
> 888-333-9041 for additional information.
> _______________________________________________
> Towertalk mailing list
> Towertalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
|