I guess that I need to be more specific.
1. I am assembling the entire tower on the ground and marking the tower
legs so that I can easily match them when I do assemble the tower.
2. Yes, sometimes the bolt holes do not match. This has not been a
problem. I have a 18" round tapered piece of steel that I insert into the
bolt holes and get the bolt holes properly aligned.
3. The bolts and nuts are factory supplied Rohn nuts and bolts. They have
been hot dipped in zinc (same as the tower sections). I've tried to use a
vise (on the ground of course) along with plenty of oil to try to put the
nuts onto the bolts. It can be done, but requires a very large ratchet and
very large wrench. When I am on a tower, safety is my first priority! I
use a safety harness and I always keep one hand on the tower. Keeping one
hand on the tower will be difficult to do with the size of the ratchet and
wrench necessary to tighten the Rohn supplied nuts and bolts.
4. The question is - I can use a tap and a die to clean out the threads on
the bolts and nuts so that when I am in the air, the bolts and nuts will not
be so difficult to tighten. This will only remove the excess zinc which in
some cases has completely filled the valleys of the threads of the bolts.
5. The second question is - the tower and the nuts and bolts are all hot
dipped in liquid zinc. Over the years, the torque on the tower from wind
and rotating the antenna might cause a bolt and nut to work loose. Would it
be a good idea to add a split lock washer that is also hot dipped in zinc?
-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of
Richard Lightner
Sent: Thursday, September 03, 2015 11:17 AM
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Rhn 45 bolts
Later this year I am going to erect a Rohn 45. Before I start this job, I
have been checking everything on the ground to be sure all is good. I
discovered that the bolts that connect the tower sections have been hot
dipped in zinc. They are very tight, and I think that it might be too
difficult to tighten them on the tower when I am 30 feet or higher. Should
I take a tap and die to clean out the threads? Lock washers were not
included. Should I get some zinc ones before I start this job?
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