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[TowerTalk] Summary of responses "to pin or not to pin "

To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Summary of responses "to pin or not to pin "
From: k3nd@yahoo.com (GALE STEWARD)
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1999 13:27:37 -0700 (PDT)
Sorry about the multiple msgs.  PC went nuts here,
had to shoot it!

73...

--- GALE STEWARD <k3nd@yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> Instead of gluing two pieces of sandpaper together,
> you can use the
> sanding mesh that has the grit on both sides.
> 
> 73, Stew  K3ND
> 
> --- "Donald E. Stiles" <goodnews@mail.cmedic.net>
> wrote:
> > 
> > Gents,
> > 
> > I see an option to the pinning question. 
> > "SANDPAPER".  The gripping power of this
> > inexpensive and easily installed option will give
> > good results.  Use a large grit
> > sandpaper and snug the clamps down.  To provide
> > traction glue two pieces of
> > sandpaper back to back with a waterproof glue
> i.e.,
> > contact cement or hot melt
> > blue.  It will work as an alternative.
> > 
> > 73 de n8csp k
> > 
> > jack colson wrote:
> > 
> > > Summary of:  "To pin or not to pin"
> > > -------------------------------------
> > > What's the weight and turning radius of your
> > proposed antenna? The
> > > G-800 is a pretty medium duty rotator and 14+
> > sq.ft. may exceed its
> > > capacity.
> > >
> > >      In answer to your question, I don't
> recommend
> > pinning the mast.
> > > First of
> > > all, drilling your 4130 will be a pretty tough
> > job. That's the first
> > > reason
> > > NOT to do it.
> > >
> > >      Second is that when you take a big gust of
> > wind, not having the
> > > mast
> > > pinned will allow the mast to rotate slightly.
> If
> > it's pinned, what you
> > > find
> > > out is what the next weak link in the system is
> -
> > and it's usually the
> > > gear
> > > train. It's much easier and cheaper to
> recalibrate
> > the antennas
> > > occasionally
> > > than it is to swap and repair rotators.
> > >
> > >       As you're probably aware, the Yaesu mast
> > clamps will crack at the
> > > slightest provocation. Be sure to follow their
> > instructions.
> > >
> > > Cheers,   Steve    K7LXC
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > > But, Steve, Yaesu's instructions are very
> explicit
> > in telling us to pin
> > > with
> > > the bolt provided! When I, as a believer in
> > non-pinning, called Yaesu's
> > > tech
> > > support, I was told I must pin. Actually,
> > considering that the 800SD(X)
> > > has
> > > no brake, this might be the proper thing to do.
> We
> > can either crank the
> > > hell
> > > out of the clamps with no pin, and risk cracking
> > them, or snug-em up
> > > gently
> > > per Yaesu's directions and pin. Wind blown
> > rotation in the case of these
> > >
> > > rotators will just change its azimuth since
> > there's no brake ("braking
> > > torque" is a result of gear-reduction and
> > friction). With no brake,
> > > there
> > > should be less risk of gear failure. So...I
> > pinned. When the wind blows
> > > it
> > > around, I just turn it back where it belongs.
> Just
> > trying to follow the
> > > 'Prime Directive' ;>).
> > >
> > > Chuck, N4NM
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > The antenna will tend to turn in the clamps
> > otherwise, and if you
> > > tighten
> > > them enough to hold without the pin, they tend
> to
> > break.  Yaesu USA told
> > > me
> > > that they tried to get the factory to change to
> > steel, but without
> > > avail.
> > >
> > > On mine (-1000SDX), I went with a pin, but I
> > purposely used one that is
> > > smaller than the standard.  My theory is that in
> a
> > really extreme
> > > situation
> > > the pin might shear before the rotor died.  So
> far
> > I haven't had to find
> > > out!
> > >
> > > There have also been threads on Towertalk about
> > materials that can be
> > > used
> > > between the clamp and mast to increase friction.
> 
> > The one I liked best
> > > was
> > > high-friction industrial belting scraps -- you
> > might check the archive.
> > >
> > > 73, Pete Smith N4ZR
> > > n4zr@contesting.com
> > >
> > >
> >
>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > > Jack,
> > > I would pin it for sure.  My experience is that
> > when a pin I had broke,
> > > the antenna just spun within the clam shells of
> > the SDX 1000.  In fact,
> > > I
> > > had two pins from Yaesu break, so I replaced
> > theirs with a stainless
> > > steel
> > > pin and have not had any trouble.  The clam
> shell
> > clamp will not hold
> > > your
> > > antenna, it is not strong enough, you need the
> > pin.
> > > 73, Bruce K1XR
> > >
> > >
> >
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > > Okay, okay - I'll concede the point.
> > >
> > >      The original poster asked about *his*
> > situation. I stand by my
> > > advice to
> > > 'not pin' since he's dealing with 4130 which
> will
> > be a bear to drill.
> > > It's
> > > more of a practical consideration to me. I guess
> > with the Yaesu
> > > 'prone-to-break' clamps, they're just ensuring
> > that the mast won't slip
> > > inside the clamps.
> > >
> > > Cheers,    Steve   K7LXC
> > >
> >
>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > > Hi all,
> > >
> > > I use Yaesu rotors and big KLM antennas, and
> have
> > tried it both ways.
> > > Obviously, there is no way to keep the KLMs from
> > turning in the puny
> > > Yaesu
> > > clamps, so I've opted to pin. However, if you
> use
> > Yaesu's supplied pin,
> > > it
> > > will simply shear off on both ends at the first
> 
=== message truncated ===

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