Hey Bill,
Well...... I can tell you a long story of woe with my K0XG system ....
getting support is near impossible, actually was until I needed to replace
ALL the cam followers on the used system I bought. They were ALL sticking to
one degree or another a good share totally jammed. I did get replaced by
K0XG (who replied then). Prior to that emails and vmails went unanswered. I
was told by several that "I've never heard of that happening before" ... and
yet I had all 18 of mine (had another ring - it too had jammed ones, making
24) ... and now I guess you're only the second person to experience this
(?!).
I'd replace them. For $25 a piece I don't think its worth the risk. The
design of this system is so unlike the RTS system. I don't know of any good
way to replace a bearing if it goes in situ. Unlike the RTS system where ALL
bearings including the major one are replaceable. The only plus it has over
the RTS is the ability to mount it anywhere but if I had it to do over again
and had seen what I've seen I'd have gone the other way. I know the 'slots'
that are there for adjustment, which make zero sense since they are for
rings that are already designed (the only explanation being they're
non-concentric and/or circular) made it darn near impossible to get 2 rings
together and even now is it turns a slight bit tight at points in rotation.
Also note if you haven't already the whole structure is turned through 3 -
1/2" bolts that are exposed for over 7"! I replaced those that it came with
and bought grade 8 bolts for these.
write to me direct if you have any other questions I might be able to help
with.
Gary
K9RX
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Thorne
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2017 2:56 PM
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] K0XG ROTATION SYSTEM ADVIC E
Bill,
I purchased and refurbished a used rotating tower a year and a half ago.
For what ever reason I ended up having a few bearings stick (and they
were new) a few months after installation. I realized I had a problem
when the guy wires were bouncing around. I determined that a couple of
the bearings were sticking. I replaced them with free wheeling
bearings, problem solved.
I purchased 18 bearings (I have 3 sets of rings) on ebay so I didn't
have any recourse but to replace the 2 bad bearings. I purchased the
replacements and a couple spares from a local bearing company.
Mine is an original Dick Weber design which uses 6 cam followers per
ring set, 3 on each ring.
I would suggest replacing them before they go up it's a lot easier on
the ground, hi hi.
Rich - N5ZC
On 2/27/2017 1:24 PM, Bill via TowerTalk wrote:
About a year ago I bought a Rohn 55 rotation system from K0XG. After over
a year I finally got granted a permit to put the tower up. The tower is
scheduled to go up in 3 or 4 weeks and I was checking the rotating rings
and was in the process of using the grease gun on the fittings when I
found several of the bearings in the rings were not rotating like the
others. Of the total of 12 bearings, 3 were not moving as they should. 9
were able to be rotated by hand, but the 3 were tight. I used the grease
gun on all the fittings including the three bulky ones. I am now able to
rotate the three by gripping with pliers with not much effort, but can not
do it by hand.
Is this an issue? I called Richard at K0XG systems but have no heard back
from him yet.
The three bearings do not appear to be damaged in any way and look just
like the others that rotate freely.
My thinking on this is it may not be an issue. With 1100 pounds of torque
on each of the guys (5/16 EHS), plus the weight of the tower and antennas
(another 1000 lbs) the sheer weight will "force" the sticky bearings to
rotate.
Has anyone had an issue similar to this? Anybody with advice, including
how difficult is it to replace these bearings, brand, where to find them
etc.?
Thanks in advance for the help, and with a little luck KH7XS should be
back on the air by mid April.
Bill K4XS/KH7XS
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