[TowerTalk] Crank-UP Tower Cables.

[Gary McDuffie, Sr.]

On Sun, 17 Dec 2000 15:11:46 EST, K7LXC@aol.com wrote:

>     Well, new towers come with some sort of tenacious grease inside the legs 
> where the sliding points are but eventually it disappears too. I haven't been 
> able to find out what it is but will let you know when I do.

I'd appreciate it.

>     That's probably something else to do semi-annually (or annually) when you 
> PM the tower. There's a significant amount of friction in the slide contact 
> area (and also when trying to pull it down in a wind with the sections are 
> pretty jammed) so it's probably a really good idea too. 

Yes, lots of side pressure on those pads.

> >  I'm still looking for something to help that situation out.  Forecast
> >  was for 25-35 MPH.  When it hit 51 MPH, I went out and started coaxing
> >  it down.  Took a half hour to catch enough lulls to let it slide, but I
> >  got it down.  That's the first time I've been at the bottom and seen it
> >  actually flex during gusts.  I'm going to try to install my cheater rope
> >  at the top today.  That way, I can pull on the upwind side when
> >  something like that happens again.
> 
>     Your tower doesn't have positive pull-down?

Nope, HG54HD (see the page).

> I don't think a rope is going 
> to do anything (the forces are REALLY BIG) and I would not recommend it at 
> all. You don't want to be pulling sideways and down on an extended tower in a 
> strong wind. 

Well, the intent is to pull just enough on the upwind side to allow the
top section (the one that is in the most bind) to let that top section
overcome the friction enough to drop.  Once you get the first few inches
down, it comes much easier. See below.

>     A better plan is to have the tower lowered slightly all the time.

I normally do just that.  I drop it to about 45' most of the time.  I
figure it can take about anything at that point.  That also puts it
below, or even with, the top of the tree on the prevailing upwind side.

Gary

ag0n at arrl dot net
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