[TowerTalk] sheared bolts

[dan hearn]

re your 3rd problem, if the bolt ends are about flush w the case, you can use a
handy grinder w a thin abrasive cut off blade turned on its side to make a slot
in the bolt end. Then, use a screwdriver to remove the bolt end. A second way,
frequently used by machinists, is to center punch the bolt end, then drill a
hole in the bolt end with a small drill. Ream with a larger drill to 1/8 or
3/32. Buy an "easy out" at the hardware store. This is similar to a tap in
appearance but is tapered and has coarse left hand spiral ridges on it. Insert
this into the drilled hole and turn CCW. It will wedge into the hole and back
out the bolt end ( if you are lucky), Hi. In either case, before you try either
of these things,squirt some liquid wrench solution into the threads. Unless the
bolt ends are really corroded, you will be able to get them out. 73, Dan, N5AR

gbay wrote:

> Bummer.  I put up a TH-11DX antenna this fall and have been having a ball
> with it...it's terrific.  Unfortunately, we had a bit of a storm this
> weekend with winds gusting into the low 40's.  The load on the rotator
> sheared three of its bolts off.  The antenna was sitting on a retracted
> crank-up tower and the rotator is a Ham-IV.  According to the specs, it
> should be able to handle this wind loading.  Sooo...I have the following
> questions that, perhaps, someone can help me with.
>
>     1.  Is the Ham-IV, indeed, strong enough to handle this antenna?
>     2.  Shouldn't these bolts have been strong enough to hold up?  For
> whatever it's worth, they have held OK for 9 years while I had my KT-34A up.
> The only thing I can think of is that maybe they loosened up and then
> sheared.
>     3.  Any idea as to how to back out the sheared-off bolts?  They are not
> sticking out of the holes.
>
> Thanks for any help you can give.
>
> Gerry, W1XY
>
> --
> FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
> Submissions:              towertalk@contesting.com
> Administrative requests:  towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
> Problems:                 owner-towertalk@contesting.com
> Search:                   http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm




--
FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
Submissions:              towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests:  towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems:                 owner-towertalk@contesting.com
Search:                   http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm