Wow, a great bunch of response (both on and off the list) and quick too.
Thanks guys! Forgive me for not thanking you all personally, there were
just too many.
There were some very ingenious ones too; the round-ball hoop and the counter
weight were very interesting.
As I suspected, forget about the helicopter. Also as I suspected, the best
idea is to build the tower around the mast. Nope, it's not built yet, but
as a couple of you suggested, it's not completely impossible to partially
disassemble the tower and slip the mast inside, even after it's built.
Actually, the best idea I picked up wasn't really an answer to my question
but just another helpful suggestion. Installing a shackle under the top
plate and a winch at the bottom to pull on block and tackle, and a shackle
or hook on the mast, really does make servicing the antennas and/or rotor
much easier. One could even install a small powered winch part way up the
tower, and use a remote control cable to run the mast up and down as needed.
Hopefully I won't need to do it often enough that cranking by hand will
become tedious. Another thought would be to install just a block
(pulley-wheel thingy) at the bottom of the tower to transition from vertical
cable to horizontal cable and use the four-wheeler to pull on the cable.
Now, one other question. How important is that second thrust bearing some
of you mentioned? I definitely plan on two rotor plates (with holes in the
center of course) but with an Orion 2800 rotor down near the bottom of the
top tower section and a thrust bearing at the top do I really need another
bearing on that middle plate (assuming the hole diameter is close to the
mast diameter)? I hope to install two antennas on the mast. Approx. 7 sq.
ft. about 12' above the tower and approx. 10 sq. ft. about a foot above the
tower. Possibly some sort of UHF/VHF vertical at the top. I could possibly
reduce those dimensions a bit and use a 20 ft. vs. a 24 ft. mast. Save some
weight and a few bucks.
Thanks again for all the help. We plan to start digging the foundation as
soon as the TX-472MDP (which appears to be sold) is moved off the concrete
pad so the backhoe can get into the back yard.
73 - JC, k0hps@amsat.org
-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com]On Behalf Of JC Smith
Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 12:02 PM
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] installing monster masts in towers
OK, so lets say I've got my new, super HD, 70', freestanding, Trylon or AN
Wireless tower up in place. Now I've got to get that 24' Chrom-Moly mast
up there and through the thrust bearing somehow. How the heck do you do
that (no cranes allowed, it looks like I'm going to have to stick build the
tower)? The antennas I can tram up on temporary guy wires, but even if I
could do that with the mast I've still got to stand it up to get it through
the center of the tower. Big gin pole? Seems like you'd need a gin pole to
raise a gin pole big enough to handle one of those monster masts.
Helocopter? Maybe... gee, might as well have them pick up the tower as
well, but how much does that cost? Anyone have experience with that and can
give me a ballpark number? It's gotta be big bucks, and doing it over a
residential neighborhood? Maybe not even possible. So, how the heck do you
do that? Build the tower around the mast and pull it straight up the
middle? Any other suggestions?
Thanks & 73 - JC, k0hps@amsat.org
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
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http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather
Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions
and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
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