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Re: [TowerTalk] Tower winch failure

To: Al Williams <alwilliams@olywa.net>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Tower winch failure
From: Joe Giacobello <k2xx@swva.net>
Reply-to: k2xx@swva.net
Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2007 13:23:28 -0400
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
I'm using 2550s on LM-470s here too and wasn't aware of the 
free-wheeling mode.  I'd appreciate hearing the details too.

73, Joe

Al Williams wrote:
> The holes in the k2550 mounting plate do not match the holes in the K1550 
> mounting plate.  When I replaced a k1550 with a k2550 I had to ream out some 
> (I forget how many) of the holes by up to about 3/8 inch.  That wasn't a big 
> task.
>
> What bad things are true of the Fulton 1550 winch?
>
>  I believe that its braking system is similar to the Fulton 2550.  I 
> replaced the k1550 with the k2550 because the k1550 being used in the 
> tiltover portion of LM470 squealed so strongly that it was a wonder that 
> neighbors didn't come running to complain. I calculated that because of 
> weight and cable angles involved that the winch was being overloaded.  This 
> occurred when tilting the tower back down using the initial sling setup i.e. 
> not changing tower to tilt at the ears at the top of the tilt fixture.  The 
> k2550 tilts the tower quietly.
>
> What do you mean by "...puff, the Fullton 1550 winch broke."
>
> On an earlier posting I reported that there is a free wheeling mode that the 
> Fulton winch can get into.  This occurred to me with the k2550 when the 
> crank arm started running away as I began tilting the tower from vertical 
> down.  I grabbed the handle as it was spinning slowly and stopped it.  There 
> appears to be a spring loaded "cocking" of the clutch that needs to be 
> completed before the clutch is engaged.   I would appreciate if any 
> towertalkers can explain how brake winches work.  I know that it is the 
> clutch but it seems strange that a little dinky friction can withstand the 
> force of the towers pull!
>
> k7puc
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "KT2Q" <dxdx@optonline.net>
> To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2007 8:02 AM
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Tower winch failure
>
>
>   
>> All:
>>
>> Was cranking my US Tower HDX555 up after last
>> nights ice storm when puff, the Fullton 1550 winch
>> broke.
>>
>> I thought there would have been damage to the
>> tower and antennas, but it came down much slower
>> than I thought it would; guess it was probably due
>> to the mechanical drag of the unwinding winch and
>> caked ice and snow.
>>
>> The only thing I'm worried about now are those
>> parts of the tower that stop the inner sections
>> from slamming into the foundation. It landed in
>> packed ice and snow at the base when it came down.
>>
>> Looks like all the bad things are true about the
>> Fullton 1550 winch; anyone know if the 2550 is a
>> direct bolt-on for the HDX series? Where can I get
>> one?
>>
>> 73 Tony KT2Q
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>>
>>
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>>     
>
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>   

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