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Re: [TowerTalk] Procedure to lower a mast

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Procedure to lower a mast
From: Dino Darling <k6rix@earthlink.net>
Date: Fri, 08 Jul 2005 11:25:01 -0700
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Do you have the ability to bolt on a winch at the top of the flat-top?  If 
so...

=======================================
Set the antennas to NORTH (or south or east or west) and MARK IT!

Use a shaft clamp (or muffler clamps) to hold the mast from falling down 
through the tower.
(McMaster Carr 
<http://www.mcmaster.com/itm/find.ASP?tab=find&context=psrchDtlLink&fasttrack=False&searchstring=6436K27>6436K27
 
or equivalent)

Connect/secure the winch cable to the bottom of the mast, just above the rotor.
(assuming you have a rotor and not a rotatable tower)

Depending on what type of thrust bearing you have, you will need to loosen 
them enough to allow the mast to slip through.  They will also help support 
the mast as it goes down.

Bring the mast up with the winch, just enough to remove the rotor.  You can 
tie the rotor out of the way or lower it down for inspection since it is out.

Get back up to the flat-top, loosen the shaft clamp and lower the mast with 
the winch.  The winch does all the work!

MARK THE BEAM LOCATION ON THE MAST!

Loosen the TH7 and continue to lower the mast.  The mast should slip 
through the boom-to-mast clamp.

When you get the mast down far enough to reach your antenna, re-install the 
shaft clamp and go to work!

======================================

I do not have the advantage of seeing your set up.  Every tower is 
different and therefore have different ways of attack.  Use what I've given 
above at your own risk and modify as necessary.  When in doubt, hire a 
professional!  Be safe!!!


At 12:20 PM 07/08/2005 -0400, you wrote:
>I have a 24ft chrome moly mast on my 100ft Rohn 45 tower.  10ft of the mast
>are in the tower and held by two thrust bearings.  14ft are above the flat 
>top
>section with a Hygain TH7 mounted about a foot above the top section and a
>Cushcraft 402CD mounted about 12ft above the top section.
>
>I need to get to the 402CD and therefore will need to lower the mast.  Since
>this mast is quite heavy, I'd like to know a safe procedure to do so.
>
>73, Greg  AG5W
>_______________________________________________
>
>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

Dino...k6rix@earthlink.net 
_______________________________________________

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.

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