[TowerTalk] EMERGENCY US Tower cable broken

[dan hearn]

David: I hope we can all learn something from your experience. Would
appreciate more information. 
1. Was there any significant wind blowing at the time?
2. Did the cable show any external evidence of rust and is it the
original cable?
3. What sort of load was on the top section, mast and antenna weight?
4. Was there any lateral load on the top section at the time that might
have caused binding?

I have been using a TX472 for about 15 years. I raise and lower it by
running the lift cable through a floor sheave and attaching it to my JD
850 tractor front bumper. I block the bottom when extended, by slipping
a piece of channel iron thru the tower at the level of the second
section lower end. Using this technique, I have a pretty good feel for
the amount of force needed to raise the tower under different
conditions. Any time the wind is blowing, the lifting force is greatly
increased and there is quite a tendency to stick when lowering it. 
  I am sorry that I have no suggestions for taking care of your problem
at this time but will continue to think about it. Please keep us
informed. 
73, and GL, Dan, N5AR

D. Rodman, MD wrote:
> 
> Have MDPL589 tower about 13 yrs old.  Nice day today.  Cranked down to
> relace bad coax on Inv Vee.  Job done, motored up.  Went about 10 ft,
> horrible noise, snapped cable.  Turned motor off.  Lucky done in local
> mode, not remote.  Otherwise would not have heard breakage.  Inspection:
> cable attached to bottom of third section broken about 18-20 higher near
> pulley of next section.  No other damage.  Left tower.  Did not climb.
> Left message on US Tower answer machine (Saturday).  Just don't know how
> much of a hazard this is right now?  Should it be braced?  Certainly don't
> want to lose arms, feet or life doing climb.  Suggestions please.
> 
> David J. Rodman, MD
> 
> Assistant Clinical Professor
> Department of Ophthalmology
> 
> Research Assistant Professor
> Department of Chemistry
> 
> State University of New York at Buffalo
> 
> FAX 716-859-4565
> Office 716-854-1137
> 
> e-mail: rodman@acsu.buffalo.edu
> 
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