You haven't supplied and details about the tramming setup you used
previously, so pardon me if these tips are redundant:
1. Make sure the pull rope, tram line and pulley (or trolley) are adequate
for the job. Some use very heavy rope and a large pulley. Others use EHS and
a pulley with a steel sheave (don't use plastic or aluminum sheaves with a
steel cable!) I use 5/16" wire rope and a trolley with two steel sheaves.
2. Make sure the anchor point at the ground end of the tram is secure and
won't move or buckle under the load. Make sure the attachments at both ends
are secure (I use heavy nylon straps and carabiners at the tower end and a
come-along with Klein grip at the ground end.)
3. For large, off-balance loads, I've found it best to use a tiller. Some
people hang the tiller off the back of the boom and let it ride on the tram
line with a pulley. I prefer to put the tiller on the tower side of the boom
and attach the pull rope to it. That way, the tension of the pull rope keeps
the antenna from rotating or twisting. In either case, the tiller is used to
set the angle of attack. I use a 2-foot piece of aluminum angle stock for
the tiller, attached to the boom with a large u-bolt and to the pull rope
with a carabiner. You can't get the antenna quite as close to the tower this
way, but that won't matter if you have enough room on the mast for the
antenna to drop against it when you slack the tram line. In my case, the
antennas are always dropped against the side of the tower and hauled up to
final position with a come-along. That's because I have 15-30 feet between
antennas in the stack and a short aluminum mast at the top.
4. Be careful! This is dangerous work. I use an electric winch to haul the
antenna, which means the job can be done with two or three people (Usually
two -- I prefer to be spotting the angle from the ground, not on the tower,
while the tram is in progress. It's takes longer to complete the job, but I
feel it's safer.)
Hope this helps.
73, Dick WC1M
> -----Original Message-----
> From: K7LXC@aol.com [mailto:K7LXC@aol.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 1:21 PM
> To: towertalk@contesting.com; dxhawg@windstream.net
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] tramming preparation
>
>
> In a message dated 6/2/2009 10:29:49 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
> towertalk-request@contesting.com writes:
>
> > I am preparing to use a tram method to remove an M2 15M6 from my tower
> when
> the wx cools down this fall.
>
> > I have some experience as I have successfully trammed two M2 10M4s up
> and
> down from my tower, but nothing as big as the 15M6.
>
> > I have a plan, but am inquiring for safety tips and procedural tips
> from
> anyone gracious enough to provide them.
>
>
> Well, if you've done it successfully before then you're basically
> good to go. You didn't go into any details so I'd surmise it'll work FB.
>
> Bigger antennas tend to be more off-balance at the boom-to-mast
> bracket than smaller antennas so rig it as best you can balance-wise. It
> might not be possible but you can slide your boom slings back and forth a
> little to compensate. Otherwise just bring it down as best you can. By
the
> time
> it hits the ground, it'll all be history anyway.
>
> The easiest mistake to make is to have the haul rope on the wrong
> side of the boom. It needs to go BEHIND the boom - on the mast side of
the
> boom - and you won't have any problems.
>
> Cheers & GL,
> Steve K7LXC
> TOWER TECH
> **************An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours in Just 2 Easy
> Steps!
>
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