If you can find the Tesso masts, I think they are of better quality.
The 50 footers I have had holes drilled on both sides for the bolt to
go through so the section above would rest with the weight distributed
equally on each side of the lower section. I was unable to find the
pins for mine so I bought some steel eyebolts and used them. The
Tessos also have threaded L screws for quick tightening when the upper
section is up above the bolt hole and you have rotated it to find the
upside down U in the bottom of the upper section that the bolt should
go through. They all have that threaded L screw but the Tessos have
the threading built into the mast wall instead of using a strap clamp
around the mast. Rohns may be made that way too, I don't know as I
have never seen a Rohn H50 mast. I happened upon my two 50 foot masts
at a two way radio store in Memphis TN a few years ago. They were the
last ones they had and they wanted to get rid of them so they sold
them to me for $90 each, a mark down of $30. The problem with getting
one if you can't find them locally is they have to be shipped by motor
freight as they are too long for UPS. The freight cost can be as much
as the mast. Also, they'll usually just throw the mast on the truck
but they are actually easier to damage than most people think, and if
a section gets a bit dented or bent it won't extend and the whole
thing is no good or won't go as high as it should.
If you extend them on the ground you might want to apply some axle
grease on each telescoping section so they move in and out of the one
below more easily but don't put on too much or they will be hard to
grip when pushing them up.
Another thing to watch for is that the guy ring does not ride up when
pushing up the mast but stays down on the top of the section below.
If it rides up because it is too tight on the mast, you have to work
it down by pulling on a couple of guy ropes.
Wear heavy gloves -- you would be surprised how easy it is to slide
the sections back into each other on the ground and get your palm
caught between one going into the one bigger and get hamburgered up.
I told you they were nasty to work with.
How much big wind do you have there in the Valley in Calif.? Those TV
masts may be just waiting for a November gale storm like we have in
the upper midwest to blow them all over.
73
Rob
K5UJ
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