Chris gives a good summation of the choices and consequences. In San Jose, I pinned my T2X rotor and the 3/8 bolt sheared but the rotor survived just fine. Now that tower has a G-1000 pinned and no problems for several years. But then I don't have serious winds to worry about. What snapped the bolt was slippage. After a while, the bolt hole in the mast gets larger, the slipping gets worse but you don't know it until the bolt snaps. Depending on how much aluminum you have up there, the rotational momentum can be a serious issue.

One point I want to add:  Consider installing the Yaesu GA-3000 rotor absorption plate. 
https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/ysu-ga-3000

This will save the rotor if your rotational momentum is large. Call it an insurance policy. Here, I have a G-1000 that rotates a US Tower MA-770 pole. Rotor is at the bottom which is great for access, but the whole tower rotates and has serious momentum. I broke one G-1000 already before adding this to the new G-1000. 

73, Alan  AD6E / KH6TU



On Wed, Nov 15, 2017 at 8:03 AM, Chris Tate - N6WM <ctate@ewnetinc.com> wrote:

Jim I would think you are going to get a bunch of mixed opinions on this, mine included.

 

If you are at a lower location that does not get hammered with wind, -- and – your tower is relatively easy to climb, --and – you want to minimize the amount of time folks are up your tower, consider the pin… maybe.

 

But, if you are not willing to accept the carnage and replacement costs of a rotor taken out by the wind,  and would rather just adjust an antenna out of alignment, then I would suggest skipping the pin.  We had a new rotor up at LRG pinned, and within 1 good storm, the rotor was toast thus inflicting both a new rotor and a more complex climb/replacement.  The rotor that was in before that was up 8 years with a pin until it failed.  That tower is difficult to climb and requires expertise and correct stature to get someone up there. and I go back and forth with this one personally, right now its pinned. 

 

As they say.. think it through and try and pick the choice that makes the most sense, but weigh all the options and consequences. In most cases,  its certainly easier to re-align an antenna than to replace a broken rotator.

 

~Chris

N6WM

 

From: Mldxcc [mailto:mldxcc-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Jim Venneman
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2017 9:54 AM
To: NCCC Reflector <nccc@contesting.com>; MLDXCC Reflector <mldxcc@contesting.com>
Subject: [Mldxcc] Rotator Mounting Question

 

Greetings,

Here at WX6V, I’m getting the antenna system up and running again, with the invaluable help of George - KI6CG and Dennis - WU6X.

 

Now that the new Yaesu G-1000DXA rotor is installed in the tower - I’m wondering about the wisdom of following Yaesu’s instructions to pin the mast to the rotor. I did that but am having second thoughts. Seems like that may put undue stress on the rotor during windy conditions. 

 

I appreciate any insight others may have on this subject based on experience pinning masts to rotors. 

 

Thanks!!

de Jim -WX6V-


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