Towertalk
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: [TowerTalk] US Tower Problems

To: towertalk reflector <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] US Tower Problems
From: Alan NV8A <nv8a@att.net>
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2007 12:29:36 -0400
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
On 04/20/07 12:03 pm jcowens1@comcast.net wrote:

> Dick (K5RR):
> 
> I have had the same problem you are having with the stall upon raising the 
> tower and have resorted to doing the same thing you do. If I briefly lower 
> the tower and then switch to raising, it usually takes off and raises the 
> tower. Once it is under way, it doesn't hesitate or stall the rest of the way 
> up. There is friction between the various sections and they told me to use 
> bees wax on the tower areas where there is abnormal friction. I bought some 
> and put it on and it did help the situation. 

I don't have the docs. in front of me at the moment, but I thought they 
said to use automotive grease.

> I guess it is kind of a tradeoff situation. You can't have an overkill on 
> power to move the sections as that might put unreasonable stress on the 
> cables and result in a breakage. Before I put the bees wax on the tower 
> innter surfaces, it used to bind slightly towards the end of travel up. It is 
> better with the bees wax. 
> 
> Regarding oil, I changed mine last year and I am pretty sure I used regular 
> automobile differential oil (90 wt?).  The Hub City (gearbox mfr) literature 
> I have says GL-90 for temps between 15 and 60 DEGF, or GL-150 for temps 
> between 50 to 125 DEGF. It says to change it after every 100 hours of use. 
> For me, that is about every 20 years.  I chose GL90 because of the lower 
> viscosity. I talk with Gary Smith at UST when I have questions (559)733-2438. 
> He has been there a long time and seems to be the most knowledgeable. 

Again, I thought they said "gear oil." I know that differential oil 
could be different, but whether it's worse I don't know.

> By the way, you don't have to buy their replacement v-belt as a Dayco 4L350 
> from Schucks Auto (or equiv) works just fine at about  1/5th of their price. 
> These should be replaced periodically as you never want to have one of these 
> come off or break. All of my expoeriences and information relate to my HDX 
> 572 MDPL which should be equivalent to yours in these areas

Although a belt failure with a worm drive gearbox doesn't allow the 
tower to come crashing down.

73

Alan NV8A
_______________________________________________



_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>