Hi,
Many thanks for all your comments concerning the G-1000SDX rotor.
The following is a list of what was said to me, and my answers if
appropriate:
1. "Did I use lock washers with the nuts?" Yes, I used the ones
supplied by Yaesu. (These are the split washers which are
supposed to indicate proper tightening when they are flat.)
2. "Using two nuts on each bolt will prevent the nuts from
backing off the bolt." Yes - a great idea, except that I
didn't want to carry my collection of spare hardware up
the tower to make a match. (Oops, now that I think about
it, I could have used the parts list to figure out what I
needed...)
3. "By all means, pin the mast with a Stainless Steel bolt."
I pinned it with the bolt they supplied, but your suggestion
has made me decide to look for a Stainless bolt. The hole
was supposed to be some metric size (9 mm?), but I used an
English size which was a close match.
4. "Sounds like a sheet of rubber will solve the problem." I
cut a piece of truck tire inner tube, but put it in the space
between the vertical splines on one side. It slipped more
easily than without it. (Perhaps I should have put it where
the splines contact the pipe?) Another person suggested
using belting for hay bailer drive belts. I think I will
see if my local Agway has this stuff - it might be a good item
to have hanging around.
5. "What antennas am I turning?" A 4-el Cushcraft 20m and a
2-el Cushcraft 40. If my memory serves me properly, the sq
ft wind area is about 15. This comes well within the 1000's
rating. (It's rating is in square meters, but I believe it
converts to about 21 sq ft.)
6. Bill (W4AN) has never had his mast twist with smaller antennas.
What size mast are you using Bill? Mine is about 2 inch (maybe
1.9). It was represented to me as "schedule 80, 2 inch pipe",
and although it is not supposed to be adequate, it has not bent
in 2 storms over 100 mph and one of 80. Anyway, only 2 of each
set of three splines actually grip the pipe. It has occurred
to me that perhaps I should have yelled "Eureka" when I first
noticed that.
7. "Threadlocker by Loctite is another good way to keep the nuts
from backing off." Thanks - I'm also going to buy some of that.
73, Dave Clemons K1VUT
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