I have an aluminum Universal tower which has splits in the lower leg
sections. Has anyone had any success in repairing this anomaly? Or should
I just leave well it alone - I fear that heat due to welding may change the
current strength in this area.
I recently removed this tower from service and the sections were fastened
with carbon steel bolts. I was surprised to see that the bolts were in
pretty good shape! ... must have been the good drainage! I too noticed
the 'reduced' diameter of the bolts but not too bad. Rig was in service
over 10 years.
Before it goes back up I want to repair the splits and will surely use SS
fasteners. I will also utilize the 33+ at all the joints - excellent
suggestion by Tom (N4KG).
Keep up the good work!
Vince WD8MIC
----------
From: n4si@pobox.com[SMTP:n4si@pobox.com]
Sent: Saturday, February 08, 1997 6:54 AM
To: TOWERTALK@contesting.com; T. A. Russell
Subject: Re: TOWER TRAgEDIES
> ALUMINUM TOWER FAILURE
>
In addition, every aluminum tower I have worked on, if it has been up
more than a couple of seasons, develops splits in the legs (people in
the south can stop reading here) due to the freeze/thaw cycle because
of water collecting in the legs.
Whereas our more popular steel towers nest with the lower leg
being inserted into the upper leg, the aluminum towers nest the upper
into the lower, providing a natural path for water to the inside of
the tower legs.
A further manifestation of this is in disassembly, observing that all
of the cross bolts will be heavily (as in loss of significant amounts
of material) rusted.
73, Rod N4SI
The DXer formerly known as N9AKE
(c) 5 November, 1996
--
FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems: K7LXC@contesting.com
Sponsored by Akorn Access, Inc & N4VJ / K4AAA
--
FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems: K7LXC@contesting.com
Sponsored by Akorn Access, Inc & N4VJ / K4AAA
|