[TowerTalk] What Should I Pay for Alliance HD-73-I Rotor?

[Michael Tope]

David,

Back in the mid-80s I used an HD-73 to turn a Cushcraft A3-S at 55'. The
rotator worked very well for me, but admittely my qth back in Ohio didn't
get a whole lot of wind. Not sure how the Alliance will hold up while
turning
a bigger antenna (c. 10 sqft), but for $30 probably won't hurt too much to
run the experiment.

Mike, W4EF............


----- Original Message -----
From: DavidC <eDoc@netzero.net>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2000 4:43 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] What Should I Pay for Alliance HD-73-I Rotor?


>
> Thanks to all for the many helpful comments!  Sounds as though
> the HD-73 is a decent rotor for $30.
>
> I understand from the specifications that the Force C-3 at 5.6sq ft,
> the KMA-1330 log-periodic at 8sq ft, Mosley Classic at 6sq ft,
> all of the Tennadyne logs except perhaps the T10 & T12, and many
> others in these same classes of beams should all be OK ... or am I
> missing something about the 10sq ft wind load rating of the HD-73?
>
> According to Norm's the HD-73 has a brake and is rated to
> 10sq. ft.  http://web.compusnet.com/shiacawn/rotors/alliance.htm
>
> Anyone aware of mods that may strengthen what is reportedly
> a weak cork-pad brake design?
>
> When I think about a side mount I do have a good thrust bearing.
> I presume I'd need one side arm for the rotor and then a second arm
> about five feet up the tower side with a plate welded to it to which
> the thrust bearing may be mounted.  Then the mast for the beam
> could feed down through the thrust bearing, through a hole in the
> plate, and then down five feet to the rotor -- eliminating lateral stress.
> Does that make sense?
>
> BTW:  Can someone tell me what the "-I" following the HD-73 means?
>
> - Thanks! & 73, DavidC  K1YP in Hudson, FL
>
>
> *** HD-73 Comments Summarized Below:
>
> > The HD-73's go for $25-45 here in Minneapolis.    They are a light duty
> rotor
> > and will hold about 5-6sq ft max.    A very light braking mechanism.
> > So I would say if it works OK your $30 price if a good one!
> > I used the same rotator to turn a Classic 36 Mosley
> > with a rotatable dipole for 40m above it. Used that
> > combo for years. Yes $30 is a bargain.
> >
> > I would make sure the meter movement in the control
> > box was protected from spikes with back to back diodes.
> > Especially living in Hudson, near the lightning capital
> > of the World.
> >
> > I turned a KT-34A for 15 years before moving last year.
> > I lived on Panama City Beach 100 yds from Gulf.
> > It was still working when I took them down.
> >
> > K1VR:  I use a small rotator like that to turn a 160 meter receiving
> > loop.
> >
> > That's a great price.... Problem is it's an orphan rotator.... dunno if
> any
> > parts or repair can be had.... Maybe... check with C.A.T.S. or Normie's
> > rotor repairs first. But, for $30, what can you loose? We all piss away
> more
> > than that on crap from the convenience stores on a weekly basis.  I used
> my
> > HD-73 on a TET HP43SP 4 el tribander, then on a TH7 for well over 5 yrs.
I
> > did use a substancial trust bearing to take all vertical loading off the
> > rotator.
> >
> > Norm's Rotor Service: Good and Bad News About ALLIANCE !
> > Let's get the bad news out of the way first. The bad news is: ALLIANCE
> > is out of the rotor business completely.
> > The GOOD news is that Norm's Rotor Service has bought all parts,
> > all materials, and all technical data from Alliance. NRS now owns all
> rights
> > to and a complete parts inventory for the HD-73 series rotors and
control
> boxes.
> > For service and for parts for the HD-73 rotors and control boxes, as
well
> as the
> > U-100 and U-110 rotors and controls, call Norm's Rotor Service.
> > We're now your one-stop shop.
>
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