I was working on my tower yesterday and noticed a potential
problem. The tower is 100 ft of Rohn 45 with a Mosley Pro-67 on
top, guyed at 3 levels (33, 63 and 93 feet) with 6700 lb Phillystran.
The guy points consist of 4 ft long screw-in anchors (the big ones
sold at the farm & home store for tying down mobile homes). I dug
holes and poured concrete since I couldn't get them to screw. The
holes are roughly straight down, bigger at the bottom, but the
anchors themselves are at a slant, roughly parallel to the axis of
the guy cables. The concrete cylinders are each about a foot in
diameter. This installation has been in place for almost exactly
5 years.
I think that 2 of them may be starting to pull out a little.
The concrete pad for one of them now sits about 2 inches above the
ground level, and the other is about 1 inch above. There are spaces
just big enough to fit my fingers into that go at least 6 inches into
the ground on the side away from the tower. I noticed the 2 incher
last spring but it didn't occur to me at the time what was happening.
I don't think it has changed much since then.
The ground in my area is mostly clay and rock without a lot of topsoil.
My questions are these:
1. Is there anything I can do to salvage the installation, such as
putting something into the holes to fill the spaces?
2. Should I do something right away or could it wait until the spring?
I'm going to be hard pressed for time to plant new guy anchors before it
gets cold.
I realize that the best solution is to put down new anchors. I also
understand that it isn't possible to give reliable answers without
having seen my situation. However I'd appreciate whatever thoughts
anyone might have. Thanks and 73 - Alan NS0B
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Alan Braun MD, NS0B/V31EV *Internet: albraun@socketis.net *
* Jefferson City, MO *Packet: NS0B@N0LBA.#cemo.mo.usa.noam *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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