On the other hand consider the experience NK7U and I have had with our F 12
C31XR's which were put up with no additional rivets at all. Three years of
rain, wind (over 100MPH on one occasion, frequently over 50 MPH) snow, ice
and not one problem with the antennas. Only problem either of us here in
Baker City have ever had is getting the boom to stay balanced/level. We had
to add a window sash weight to the front of each boom to make that happen.
Jerry Boyd
N7WR
----- Original Message -----
From: <garyejones@cmaaccess.com>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2005 6:59 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] FORCE-12 C4XLD YAGI
> Well, Steve, here, is giving the standard recommendation, and I want to
> note that I own 3 big Force-12 antennas and will soon buy a fourth.
> Several of my friends also run big 20/40 Force-12 combinations.
>
> The thing that I want to say here however, is that the single side,
> single, double, or even triple rivets are sometimes not enough, in my
> opinion. There are tubing telescopes that have enough "play" or
> looseness in them that rivets will indeed wear through given the
> constant flex and vibration of those elements, and simply fall out. A
> friend of mine found element tips laying on the ground after his
> antenna was up a year. The rivets has simply worn through. I know my
> friend and his meticulousness in everything he does, and I can assure
> you that thre was no problem in his riveting or technique. There was
> just a little looseness in the fit of the telescoping sections with
> rivets only on one side. My strong recommendation is on virtually all
> elements, that you double the number of rivets and put in an opposing
> set of rivets to those put in in the milling process. By that, I mean,
> if the factory has three holes along one side for the rivets, manually
> drill three rivet holes on the side directly opposite of the original
> holes and put three more Force-12 pop rivets in those holes. I have
> found that the three opposing rivets really steady the telescoping
> tubing sections much more than single sided rivets. The rivets in
> opposition really clamp in the inner tube solidly against the outer
> tube.
>
> On my big elements (20, 30, and 40 meter elements), I go beyond that
> process and wrap the tubing transitions with Scotch 55 and then coat
> that wrap with Scotch liquid tape.
>
> Several of my friends have followed this logic and have had good
> success with the telescopes stay in rock solid. I think that it is
> worth the time, and worth the effort to reduce the chance of any
> problems. If you put in a single side set of rivets, remember to move
> the rivets to the top of the element so even if they do some wearing,
> they will not all out.
>
> Again, I am a big fan of Force - 12 antennas. I talked all of this over
> with Dick prior to doing it, and my modification has he agreed with the
> logic of this modification.
>
> 73
>
> Gary W5FI
>
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, 27 Jul 2005 00:35:38 EDT <K7LXC@aol.com> wrote:
>
>> In a message dated 7/26/2005 5:47:21 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
>> towertalk-request@contesting.com writes:
>>
>> > To All,
>>
>> > I am finally at the point where I will be assembling my C4XLD
> yagi. My
>> tower is a Hy-Gain HG54-HD. While pop rivets are supplied, I have
> heard that some
>> users have resorted to using stainless screws, nuts, and lockwashers.
> Which
>> method is best and why? Thanks, in advance, for your input.
>>
>> Let me suggest following the LXC Prime Directive and "DO what the
>
>> manufacturer says". The rivets are a nifty solution for element
> attachment - a
>> definite improvement over hoseclamps.
>>
>> Only caveat - put 2 or 3 rows of rivets at each point if you live
> in a
>> high wind area and they won't work loose.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Steve K7LXC
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>> 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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>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> 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
>
_______________________________________________
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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