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Re: [TowerTalk] Removing a Rotator

To: <k1ttt@arrl.net>, <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Removing a Rotator
From: "Dick Green WC1M" <wc1m@msn.com>
Reply-to: wc1m@msn.com
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:53:55 -0400
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
I thought about dropping the rotor plate. But I worry about matching the
exact height and level it had previously, possibly causing alignment
problems.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Robbins K1TTT [mailto:k1ttt@arrl.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 4:41 PM
> To: towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Removing a Rotator
> 
> Depending on the rotor you can do it by prying up a quarter inch or so
> with
> a screwdriver under the mast.  Or attach a clamp to the mast above the
> lower
> thrust bearing and lever it up with that.  Also, don't forget that
> sometimes
> its easier to lower the rotor plate a bit than to raise the mast...
> that can
> also give you added room to tip the rotor if it's a tight fit.
> 
> 
> David Robbins K1TTT
> e-mail: mailto:k1ttt@arrl.net
> web: http://www.k1ttt.net
> AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or telnet://dxc.k1ttt.net
> 
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com [mailto:towertalk-
> > bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of K7LXC@aol.com
> > Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 20:33
> > To: wc1m@msn.com; towertalk@contesting.com; hoth2o@netecin.net
> > Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Removing a Rotator
> >
> >
> > In a message dated 6/18/2008 10:36:36 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
> > wc1m@msn.com writes:
> >
> > >> You need to jack up the mast just far enough to remove   the
> rotator
> > and
> > >> you'll be good to go.
> >
> > >  OK, that  brings up something about which I've been curious:
> exactly
> > how do
> > you jack  up the mast? Someday I'll have to do that to get my Orion
> rotor
> > out
> > for  service, and I can't quite picture the process.
> >
> > >  I'm assuming  you attach a come-along cable to the mast and hook
> the
> > come-along on a  tower rung. But where and how do you attach them?
> >
> >
> >     Well, one end goes as near the top of the tower  (rung or nylon
> sling)
> > and the other end attaches to the mast with a nylon  sling. I use
> nylon
> > sling
> > chokers to grab masts and other odd shaped items.
> >
> > >  I have two thrust bearings, one in the top plate and one in  a
> plate
> > between
> > the top plate and rotor shelf. There's about 5 feet of mast  in the
> tower,
> > with about 3.5 feet of it above the middle thrust bearing  plate.
> The
> > come-along cable would have to be attached between the top and
> middle
> > thrust
> > bearing plates. That doesn't leave a lot of room to attach  the
> come-along
> > to
> > the tower above the point of attachment.
> >
> >     You're right. It'll still work okay - you're not  trying to lift
> the
> > mast
> > very far. An inch or two is all  you need to do a  rotor swap.
> >
> > >  Seems to me a better idea is to run the cable  up from the mast
> to a
> > pulley
> > attached to a rung, and from there down to the  come-along. The
> higher the
> > cable can run before encountering the pulley the  better. Otherwise,
> the
> > cable will be pulling sideways more than up.
> >
> >     I'm not sure how your scheme relieves the slight  sideways pull
> but it
> > sounds okay. It's a good idea if you don't have much room  at the
> top of
> > the
> > tower plus it gives you some additional mechanical  advantage.
> >
> > >  It's not a problem in my installation, but if  you had a heavy
> mast
> > with a
> > lot of antennas, wouldn't attaching the  come-along and pulley to a
> rung
> > risk
> > bending a rung? Would it be better to  u-bolt a piece of angle steel
> > between
> > the legs and hang the come-along from  that?
> >
> >
> > I use nylon slings and carabiners for just  about everything so I
> wouldn't
> > use a fabricated piece of steel. It's more  weight to deal with plus
> you
> > have to
> > fabricate it.
> >
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Steve     K7LXC
> > TOWER TECH -
> > Professional tower services for hams
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > **************Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for
> > fuel-efficient used cars.
> > (http://autos.aol.com/used?ncid=aolaut00050000000007)
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > TowerTalk mailing list
> > TowerTalk@contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> 
> 
> 


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