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Re: [TowerTalk] recommended winch

To: rfcdma@spinn.net, towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] recommended winch
From: K7LXC@aol.com
Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2005 14:16:54 EDT
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
In a message dated 9/9/2005 8:39:36 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
rfcdma@spinn.net writes:

>  It will be attached to the base of a large tree (away from the tower) 

    QSL. How will it be attached? What is there on the chainsaw that'll allow 
that kind of weighted pull without allowing any movement of the chainsaw? You 
can't use the handle - it's not rated for that kind of operation and the 
winch needs to be totally locked down so it doesn't move. If the capstan moves 
at 
all, there's a good chance it'll throw the pull rope off. 

>  There will be a pulley at the base of the tower directly below the 
(heavy duty ginpole)(standard safety proceedure).  

    Sure. A snatch-block changes the direction of the rope from vertical to 
horizontal. 

>  The capstan should 
allow much better control of 100lb sections than several people on a 
rope or a tractor or jeep or even a normal winch as many suggestions 
here have beem posted.  

    You bet - I've used them many times but they've always been attached to a 
big trailer hitch receiver or chained to a tower leg or tree. 

>  The tension will be controlled easily with  the 
correct turns on the capstan and it will be impossible to overpull on 
the tower section like you could easily do on a cable winch.   I really 
don't understand why this is even remotely unsafe....we are only talking 
100lb sections here...not thousands of  pounds.  How is there going to 
be 200 lb tension on the haul line?  and so what if there is.  

    You've got a rope with a 100# section. The haul rope goes thru a pulley 
on the ginpole and there's 100# of force on it. 100# + 100# = 200#.

>  5000lb 
rope 200 lbs..... safety factor of 25!   The chainsaw winch can pull 
2000 lbs so we have a safety factor of 10 even if the sections weighed 
200 lbs..   Sorry but I don't see how we are being unsafe at all....

    Sure - the rest of the rigging sounds fine. The only thing I'm concerned 
with is any possible movement of the capstan. 

>  And don't worry if it doesn't work out safe we wont do it... Probably the 
worst part is the noise but we are taking care of that with radios and 
headphones.

    Yeah, what a racket! You've haven't lived until you've been working on a 
big tower with one of those 2 cycle capstan winches chained to a tower leg - 
the whole danged tower reverberates. Make sure you've got your handsignals down 
too.
    
>  A bunch of people told me that you can't put up 55 with a ginpole either 
but a lot of people on here have done it....sure you use a bigger 
heavier ginpole that fits the tower correctly but....what's the diff 
between 45 and 55 once those things are done....about 30 lbs if I 
remember correctly...don't remember what 45 weighs without looking it up...

    Yes, 30 pounds difference. The Rohn ginpole isn't rated for it from the 
manufacturer. I think the problem is the ginpole mast and not the leg fixture. 
You can always get a thicker walled piece of aluminum. Or use something like 
the WB0W leg fixture - it ain't going anywhere!

Cheers & GL,
Steve    K7LXC
TOWER TECH -
Professional tower services for commercial and amateur
Cell: 206-890-4188
_______________________________________________

See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather 
Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions 
and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.

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