Not sure if anything has changed electricly but there are important
mech. changes. Mine is apx 25 yr.s old & folded at the base in a storm.
Broke all 3 base insulators & bend the aluminium tubes in the concrete.
I thought I'd just replace the old warped base plate too. No can do. I
was told by MFJ the current base plate is slightly larger & the leg
spacing is apx 1/2'' larger. So I ended up using a 10' section of pipe
to 'gently' bring the aluminium legs vertical. I heated the base plate &
hammered it back into shape. Rather than use a propane torch my son
suggested MAAP gas. Hotter & worked FB. A friend suggested some very
gud non-metalic guy rope. Very gud UV rating & 4400# rated. I felt it
easier to use that than suffer another disaster. The HT is rated 75 MPH
survival but the late Dec. storm was that powerful or more. In the Mid
South Nov & Dec storms can be the worst. Tn often has Nov & Dec
tornados.
I replaced some of the stinger standoff insulated strips too. The new
ones are exactly as the ones pictured in my old manual. Not much has
changed.
As to finding a used HT. It can be difficult. This one came from
central Fl to NW Tn on top of my car on roof racks. Lots of stares from
other drivers. Not everyday you see a Ford Focus wagon with 3 tower
sections & two 4'' PVC tubes holding the stingers cruzing the hi-way.
I was almost home & stopped to gas up the car. A pick-up truck with
Wisconsin plates pulled next to me to get gas. The driver walked over to
me & said: 'Hey that's a HyTower'. I almost fell over! He was a ham on
vacation & he had a HyTower up at home. Small world.
K9IL
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