Hello Awsinger - I totally agree with Steve (K7LXC) regrarding the need to
replace cables on a crank-up tower. I have used the same cables on my US Tower
TX-472 crank-up for well over ten years and they are in great shape because I
lubricate them twice a year with Pre-Lube 6 Preservative Cable Lubricant (which
you can buy from Steve).
You do need to grease the motor drive system periodically to keep smooth
operation especially during tower raising and also don’t forget the thrust
bearing at the top of the tower. You don’t need to replace the cables unless
upon close inspection you see one or more of the problems as indicated in
Steve’s email.
Best 73, Fred (W4PKU)
> On May 13, 2016, at 12:24 PM, K7LXC--- via TowerTalk
> <towertalk@contesting.com> wrote:
>
>> I am also looking for someone who can change the cables on my US Tower
> TX-472 MDPL in Charlottesville, VA sometime in the next few weeks. Will pay
> a reasonable fee and tvl costs.
>
> I guess the obvious question is why do you think the cables need
> changing? In the crank-up chapter in my UP THE TOWER book, I list 3 reasons
> why
> you would need to have them changed.
>
> 1. Excessive broken strands. With 7x19 cables such as the ones
> typically used in crank-ups, that would be 6 broken strands.
>
> 2. Serious rust. Cancerous rust - not surface rust.
>
> 3. Damage. That would be a kink or flattened part of a cable.
>
> In my over 25 years of tower work, I've only seen one crank-up tower
> that I would have recommended on having a cable change.
>
> Tower manufacturers are insurance driven enterprises. US Tower says
> you need to change the cables and pulleys every 2 years. This is a 'weasel
> clause' - that is, if you don't do that and something happens to your
> crank-up, UST can weasel out of any responsibility. They are very risk
> averse.
>
> This is NOT an exception to the LXC Prime Directive to "DO what the
> manufacturer says." That's because UST is NOT the manufacturer of the wire
> rope cables.
>
> I doubt that your cables are in such serious shape that they need
> replacing and I just wince at things people do or money they spend that they
> don't have to.
>
> Cheers,
> Steve K7LXC
> TOWER TECH -
> Professional tower services for amateurs
> US Tower factory authorized installer
> _______________________________________________
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