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Re: [TowerTalk] Mast slipping

To: Keith Dutson <kdutson@sbcglobal.net>, K7LXC@aol.com,towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Mast slipping
From: <donovanf@starpower.net>
Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2007 10:57:15 -0400 (EDT)
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Hi Keith,

Suggest u correspond with Kurt, K7NV.  He's the expert on prop pitches these 
days.

k7nv@contesting.com

73!
Frank
W3LPL

(p.s.  ask Kurt what the owner of SteppIR uses to turn his MonstIR ...)

---- Original message ----
>Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2007 09:30:44 -0500
>From: "Keith Dutson" <kdutson@sbcglobal.net>  
>Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Mast slipping  
>To: <K7LXC@aol.com>, <towertalk@contesting.com>
>
>Thanks for posting the flaws again.
> 
>Looks like one of the recent improvements is removal of the dimples.  Both
>surfaces (front and back) on the mast clamps are now ground off at the
>factory.
> 
>Since the mechanism has also been strengthened, this rotator may finally be
>up to the task to rotate large arrays.  However, thanks to comments from
>Frank W3LPL, I do not intend to be the first to find out.  Instead of using
>it to turn the top-of-stack 4el 40 meter Yagi, I think it will do nicely
>turning the top-of-stack 5 el 20 meter Yagi instead.
> 
>Now to look into a prop-pitch and suitable controller...
> 
>73, Keith NM5G
>
>
>  _____  
>
>From: K7LXC@aol.com [mailto:K7LXC@aol.com] 
>Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 7:05 AM
>To: towertalk@contesting.com; kdutson@sbcglobal.net
>Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Mast slipping 
>
>
>In a message dated 4/22/2007 7:11:18 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
>towertalk-request@contesting.com writes:
>
>>  Frank,
>
>>  Are you saying the Orion has a basic design flaw that no amount of
>strengthening or improvement will correct?  If so, please elaborate.
>
>         Did you miss my recent 4-20 Orion post where I spelled out exactly
>what the design flaws were? Here it is again:
> 
>>      It's an Orion design flaw, the mast clamp has 2  problems. First, the
>
>surface where the nuts and bolts seat are dimpled - not  flat. Over time,
>the 
>wind motion causes the washers to pound the dimples flat,  thus loosening up
>
>the 
>nuts; then the mast is loose and starts moving. The  problem can be
>eliminated 
>by milling or grinding those surfaces flat. 
> 
>>   Secondly only 2-3 teeth per surface of the clamp actually  contact the
>mast, 
>resulting in very little clamping. Then you get the teeth  being worn down
>as 
>the mast moves back and forth and it loosens some more.  
>
>>  You can re-tighten everything and it'll probably  be good for a couple of
>
>years. For a 4L SteppIR, you can also pin the mast.  Pinning works for 
>everything except a MonstIR which tends to shear them off.
> 
>Cheers,
>Steve   K7LXC
>TOWER TECH  
>
>
>
>
>  _____  
>
>See what's free at AOL.com <http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503> . 
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>
>
>
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