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[TowerTalk] Storm Repair Report

To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Storm Repair Report
From: w5ec@digitalexp.com (Hawkins, Bill)
Date: Sun, 4 May 1997 22:24:39 -0500
Ain't it fun!
Bill W5EC


At 10:48 PM 5/4/97 EDT, you wrote:
>Low TH7DXX on 36' tower had a 20 meter reflector tilting 35 degrees from
>horizontal as a result of the horrendous (3d largest in New England
>history) April 1 storm.  Had help from Marc Willis NC7M, who works for
>LSI Logic and is visiting these parts for a few weeks of training. 
>Figured we'd tilt it, loosen the six nuts , straighten, tighten the six
>nuts and tilt back up. No sweat.
>
>Yeah, right.
>
>Discovered that the storm had sheared two of four bolts holding the
>rotator to rotator plate.  Had to remove rotator and bring it into shop
>to replace bolts.
>
>Discovered that two long bolts direct from HyGain factory were NOT
>stainbless steel, not galvanized steel, but rather grey plated steel. 
>Had to take boom to mast clamp down and into shop to cut them off, as
>they had "frozen" in place. 
>
>Discovered two trees had grown up and were being hit by longest element
>as it rotates -- had to climb trees with trusty bow saw and do physical
>damage.  Tree climbing not as easy over 50 as it was when I was under 30.
>
>Discovered five trees (average five inches in diameter) had been
>seriously damaged by the storm, were now tilting or broken over into area
>endangering guy wires of this short tower.  Had to remove and cut up.
>
>During tilting process, managed to slice off piece of PVC outer covering
>on RG-213 jumper from hardline to beam.  Must now replace jumper.
>
>All this effort just for low antenna to work Georgia in SS and WPX. 
>Ain't life grand?
>
>Can't wait to start repairs of damage on the big tower.
>
>Fred Hopengarten  K1VR                                           
>617/259-0088
>Six Willarch Road
>Lincoln, MA 01773-5105
>permanent e-mail address:  fhopengarten@mba1972.hbs.edu
>
>
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>


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