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Re: [TowerTalk] LM470 base dimensions

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] LM470 base dimensions
From: "Roger (K8RI) on TT" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
Date: Sun, 20 Oct 2013 04:14:06 -0400
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
On 10/20/2013 12:49 AM, K0DAN wrote:
I don't think you will (or should) need washers with the base.

I was referring to between the base ears and the raising fixture.

If the legs
of the Tilt Assembly and tower are installed per specs there will be a
little clearance between them, which you will need when you hoist the tower
to vertical. When you put the bolts (5/leg?) in, they will pull the steel
together and you will have no need for washers, altho if you have room for
lockwashers, plus a couple stainless washers if you want to bond copper
grounding to galvanized.

In fact, when you're tilting the tower from horizontal to vertical,
sometimes the alignments will not be as good as you planned or hoped for,
and you will need to use a big pry bar (I use a truck tire iron), drift pin,

I have drift pins and a railroad pry bar, although a man needs to be in pretty good shape to use a pry bar that size. I used it to move a one ton Bridgeport milling machine the length of the shop, but I had two working arms then. <:-))

etc., and bring the legs & bolt holes into alignment by inserting &
tightening one bolt at a time. I think that washers will just be another
obstacle and complication. IIRC the towers I have been involved with have
less than 1/4" spacing but I think with proper bolt installation they will
pull together,.

If the base is properly positioned for mating with the tower base then I will need spacers between the base and raising fixture which doesn't have near the stress even when tilting the tower with a good sized tribander as dopes the tower to base..


I assume you have the current manual from BAMA? While things have changed a
bit from the older to newer towers, the basics are essentially unchanged.


I have the original manual as well as the current digital manual from the manufacturer.

There are drawings of the footings which show the rebar cage, tower, etc., these should give you the construction details you need.

The manuals do not give the dimensions of the ear to ear spacings. They show the rebar cage dimensions, but not the main leg placement. You are left to infer several dimensions and clearances. They show where they go, but not the dimensions. They give the placement of the #3 and #5 rebar, but that can be just as good with a "that looks about right" Placement of the rebar can vary 3 or 4 inches with no problem. It's only duty is to hold the concrete together which is why it's wired together instead of being welded.

73

Roger (K8RI)


GL es 73

dan
k0dan



-----Original Message----- From: Roger (K8RI) on TT
Sent: October 19, 2013 19:30
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] LM470 base dimensions


I'm getting ready to do the final welds on the base.  Unfortunatel there
are no specific dimensions given in the paperwork.

The outside distance on the tower "ears" is 23".  I'm using the raising
fixture to hold the base "ears" for building the rebar cage.  When
bolted to the raising fixture the "inside" dimension between the ears is
23 1/4" That leaves an 1/8th of an inch space between the tower ears and
the base ears on each side , or 1/4" total.

I'm assuming I should space the base ears in from the raising fixture
with washers, to give no more than 1/32nd of an inch clearance so when
the bolts are tight the tower and base ears will mate flush and tight..
This should allow for a snug fit, but not interfere with raising the
tower and give face to face contact for a good holding force when the
bolts are tight ( snug plus 1/2 turn)

Comments?

73

Roger (K8RI)

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