Dennis Vernacchia wrote:
> *Wondering if anyone has been thru this exercise before so I don't have to
> reinvent the wheel
> and waste more valuable time ( Time that could be used for working MORE DX
> or making MORE Contest QSOS !!! )
>
>
> Our contest group has tower trailer with a 40 ft tubular crankup that has
> the rotating base assembly
> so entire tower rotates. This is a very heavy system especially when the the
> antenna and mast
> are on the tower and we are tilting the tower and antennas up using Flip
> /Tilt Brackets on antennas )
> ( See http://www.n6rk.com/monstilt/monstilt.html or
> http://www.nn4zz.com/tiltplate.htm or if you are not familiar with Antenna
> Flip/Tilt Brackets )
>
> Originally there was a Fulton 1500 winch on the system, leftover from when
> the tower
> did not have rotating base fixture. With the extra weight of Rotating base
> system we decided to switch
> to a Fulton KW3000 winch . ( **borrowed - Try before we buy ! They are
> around $145 at Grainger right now )*
> *
> Now with the KW3000 52 to 1 ratio winch ( worm gear type ) we need to use
> a drill motor to turn the winch shaft or else crank forever with a hand
> winch.
>
> I had a "drill-to-winch shaft" adapter fabricated which works fine and
> does not slip on shaft when
> using **my venerable 50 year old THOR 1/2 inch chuck NON reversible D handle
> Drill*
> *but I can not find MODERN*** 1/2 inch chuck Variable Speed and Reversible
> drill that has enough torque to turn the winch
> and not stall.
>
> I went to a local Tool Supply Store that handles every major brand of Hand
> held Drills and after much discussion with some
> very knowledgeable people in the Repair and Sales arenas, they could not
> come up with a Variable Speed 1/2 inch chuck
> Reversible drill motor that would have as much power and torque as my
> ancient Thor drill !
>
> I even called Milwaukee, Mikita, Ridgid and a few more major drill
> manufacturer headquarters and none of them could
> supply me info on Low RPM VS Torque of their most powerful drills or come up
> with a drill
> they would guarantee to do the job !
>
> Anyway my only thoughts at this time is either to modify the Old THOR drill
> I have to reverse field wires on it to get it
> to reverse direction ( and hopefully enough room inside drill motor body to
> mount a DPDT HD Switch or possibly
> rent ( before buying ) and try a Milwaukee 300 RPM ( NO Variable Speed )
> Hole Hawg Drill and hope the speed isn't
> too fast ( or too slow when under load )
>
> No, I do want to have to rig up a Pulley and gearbox system as I know that I
> already have a drill ( The Ol Thor ) that
> works but just doesn't afford me a Reverse mode
>
> Yes, I can just use another 1/2 inch chuck drill to tilt it down, but very
> awkward swapping out two drills in during the
> tilt Up/Down exercise.
>
> Advise appreciated especially if you have been down this road before.
>
> Budget is $250 to $300 to buy a drill that can outperform the old Thor and
> no time to rig up
> a Rube Goldberg system.
How heavy is that tower? Is it any heavier than the HDX555? I replaced
the original K1550 on my HDX555 by a K2550 and don't find tilting it up
or down by hand too bad at all. I have a 3-el. SteppIR near the top of a
20ft mast with about 3ft down in the tower.
Alan N8A
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