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Re: [TowerTalk] Mast froze in cold temps and would not turn

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Mast froze in cold temps and would not turn
From: Tim Jellison <kl7wv@kl7wv.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2015 15:10:59 -0400
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Tailtwister type rotors (even when new) do not have very much starting torque. It's not uncommon for ice in the thrust bearing to cause rotating failure during cold weather. I've had good luck solving this problem by fabricating and installing a rubber boot to keep the water (and therefor the ice) out to the bearing. If the bearing has a zerk, keeping it greased goes a long way towards displacing the water as well.

73,  Tim

Tim Jellison W3YQ/KL7WV
KL7WV Tower Service
304 704 1196
kl7wv@kl7wv.com
www.kl7wv.com

Message: 8
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2015 00:17:42 -0400
From: "Gary Marks" <gmarks@neo.rr.com>
To: "Tower Talk" <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Mast froze in cold temps and would not turn
Message-ID: <4D750207E2DD4C459B8282A6354CE59E@marksz2ougipy2>
Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="iso-8859-1"

This past Winter, and as the year before, my mast froze in place when the 
temperatures dropped below freezing. I had previously thought that the problem 
was moisture getting into the rotator (Tailtwister II) and since it had been up 
for 25 years, I decided last Fall to rebuild it.
This past Winter it froze and would not turn again when temps dropped below 
freezing. The tower is a Hy-Gain HD-70.

Is there some area that requires lubricating between the mast and tower or 
possibly the thrust bearing although it is a bronze bearing that shouldn't need 
lubing.  Could water be laying somewhere and not draining.
Any suggestions as to what the problem might be ?



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