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Re: [TowerTalk] Tailtwister not turning, still

Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Tailtwister not turning, still
From: "Roger (K8RI)" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
Date: Sun, 08 Feb 2009 02:37:34 -0500
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>

W0MU Mike Fatchett wrote:
> Sounds like the rotor should be rebuilt regardless. New bolts, new
> connectors etc.
>   

Probably so.
The last time I had one apart was a very long time ago and IIRC they use 
a very low torque motor that you could stop with the tip of a single 
finger...IF you didn't get it caught in the gears.   The gears are 
simple stamped sheet steel that are relatively thinn.
Although I saw some one say they run at several thousand RPM my guess 
would be closer to 680 to 800.    The easy was it to count the number of 
poles and do the math.  At any rate as I recall it's a tiny motor on the 
back of a multi step spur gear train.  It wouldn't take much to warp or 
misalign the gear teeth, but as I said, it's been a long time since I've 
had one apart.   They and even the HDR-300 have their lifetimes measured 
in days or weeks here. Weeks if we don't get any wind.<:-)) I think I am 
going to take the top VHF/UHF arrays off the stack to reduce the wind 
load and prolong the life of the thrust bearing.

73

Roger (K8RI)
> Good luck!
>
>
> "A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may
> never get over." Ben Franklin
> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
> [mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Ray Benny
> Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2009 9:56 PM
> To: al_n6ta@comcast.net; towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Tailtwister not turning, still
>
> AL,
>
> I have a Tailtwister, that had frozen bolts from so much salt water
> corrosion. I soaked the bolts with a penetrating oil, but the bolts never
> moved even after 3 - 4 applications of oil. 
>
> Finally, I applied heat with a small propane torch to the T2X near the
> bolts, then use a small hand arbor press and pushed them out with the nuts
> still attached but backed out. It wasn't easy, but it did work. I used one
> of those cheap bench arbor presses from Harbor Freight.
>
> I guess if you sheared the heads off the bolts, you could use a good size
> punch and drive them out that way too. Be sure to back up the flanges of the
> T2X on a vice opened enough for the bolts to exit the rotator.
>
> Ray,
> N6VR
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
> [mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of al_n6ta@comcast.net
> Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2009 6:27 PM
> To: towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Tailtwister not turning, still
>
> Thanks for the various suggestions.
> Problem is not at full CW or CCW but still tried the 'rocking' technique.
> No go.
> Disconnected from the mast so no loading and still won't turn.
> Took it down and put it on the bench intending to split the bells.  
>
> Now a new problem since I cannot get the bolts out.  Don't know if the bolts
> even need to be removed???  Nuts came off no problem but all but one bolt is
> real tight.  So, drenched them WD40 for a couple of hours, re-applied and
> still tight.   Re-applied again and will try later tonight.
> So, thought I would just make a jumper to try to run it on the bench.
> Managed to strip out one of the connections on the rotor.  So, I'd really
> like to get this open to see what is going on and consider the suggestions
> below from Bob. W5AH.  And may need to replace the terminal strip somehow.
>
> This T2X is an old one that has zero problems for the last 32 years.
>
> Any suggestions on getting the bell split or the bolts loosened?
>
> Tnx to all the OMs.
> Al
>
> Al,
> I had exactly the same problem with my T2X.  Replaced the cap just like you
> did with same results.
>
> I finally took the two halves apart and checked out the gear drive
> mechanism.  With the brake released, I could turn the large gears at the top
> and see the motor shaft turning, so it was not frozen up.  Put it back
> together and it still did not turn.
> The jam up was at around 45 dgrs... no where near the limit switches
>
> I took it apart again and this time I removed all the gears and reinstalled
> them.  Its now back on the tower and working properly.
>
> However, I expect it to fail again because this was the second time I had
> the same problem.  The first time, a new cap got it going so I did not take
> it off the tower
>
> Considering our similar results, it sounds to me like there is a tolerance
> problem with the cast pieces.
> Please let me know what you determine on yours
>
> 73, gud luck
> Bob, W5AH
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