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[TowerTalk] 'climeable crankups' and wire rope maintenance

To: <vr2bg@harts.org.hk>, <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] 'climeable crankups' and wire rope maintenance
From: "Jim Jarvis" <jimjarvis@verizon.net>
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 09:08:21 -0500
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
VR2BG wrote:

"I have a Hills two-section roughly 50-footer.
Once extended, one climbs to top of bottom section
to pin the two together with one bolt on each of the
three faces.  It is guyed & yes, it is meant to be climbed 
whilst extended (at least to top of bottom section)."

Brett, my brother....you're gonna be known as 'toeless Brett'
one day, if you keep this up.  Unless there is a positive stop
to keep the upper section from dropping whilst you're on the 
lower...your toes and fingers are in a guillotine. Before you
get those locking bolts in, you are wholly dependent on the 
integrity of 50' of wire rope which is likely not lubed, nor 
protected, nor inspected.  

An extension ladder alongside the Hills tower is probably
the only safe way to install those locking bolts, 25' in the
air. 

DO NOT EVER, EVER, EVER CLIMB A CRANKUP TOWER WHICH IS UP.
IF YOU MUST CLIMB, LOWER IT.  PLACE 2X4 OR LARGER BLOCKS BETWEEN
SECTIONS TO PREVENT EVEN MINOR SLIPPAGE.        AND KEEP YOUR HANDS CLEAR.

...     AND TO THE CHAP WHO PROPOSED TO CLIMB TO SERVICE HIS WIRE
ROPE.....DO IT IN THE DOWN POSITION, WITH SAFETY BLOCKING, PLEASE!      

I have a friend who has an electric winch to raise and lower his tower.
reached into the tower for some reason...clearing a cable or something.
The winch control box was 6' away on its cable.  While his hand was in 
there, the tower settled another half inch, trapping him.   And the winch 
control was out of arm's reach.  Oh...and he was working alone.  
He was fortunate, as it turns out, but trapped for some time. 

N2EA
jimjarvis@ieee.org 
jimjarvis@verizon.net

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