[TowerTalk] Advice on Cushcraft 40 meter repair
James H. Fitzpatrick, Jr.
jhfitzpa@facstaff.wisc.edu
Fri, 15 Sep 2000 16:29:12 -0500
>Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2000 16:49:34 -0500
>To: <n4kg@juno.com>
>From: "James H. Fitzpatrick, Jr." <jhfitzpa@facstaff.wisc.edu>
>Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Advice on Cushcraft 40 meter repair
>Cc: towertalk@contesting.com
>
>At 04:38 PM 9/13/00 -0600, you wrote:
>>Why are you so opposed to tramming the antenna down?
>>Should take 10 minutes once the ropes are in place.
>>Fix the antenna and haul it right back up. SIMPLE.
>>Two people can do the job. Three if you want extra
>>insurance.
>>
>>de Tom N4KG
>>
>>On Wed, 13 Sep 2000 15:09:30 -0500 "James H. Fitzpatrick, Jr."
>><jhfitzpa@facstaff.wisc.edu> writes:
>>>
>>> Hello all:
>>> I am seeking advice on repairing my Cushcraft shorty 40 beam. The
>>> problem is
>>> simple. In some high winds this spring one of the tips of the driven
>>> element
>>> came loose and fell to the ground. The tip is undamaged. I merely
>>> need to
>>> place it back in the element and really tighten the clamp. My
>>> question is:
>>> Can anyone think of a reasonable way to do this without tramming the
>>> whole
>>> antenna to the ground? The antenna is mounted 1 foot above the flat
>>> top
>>> plate on 90 feet of Rohn 45. The tower is guyed at the very top,
>>> just below
>>> the antenna, and at the 60 and 30 foot levels. And yes Steve, I do
>>> know my
>>> guy wire tension with my magical Loos tension gauge. Because my
>>> station is
>>> located 250 miles north of where I live, major repairs are a bit
>>> problematic. It would be much esier if somehow I could do this near
>>> the top
>>> of the tower or part way down. I have a gin pole at the top of the
>>> tower and
>>> an electric winch for raising and lowering loads. My usual ground
>>> crew is 1
>>> other person. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
>>>
>>> Jim WI9WI
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/towertalk
>>> Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
>>> Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
>>> Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
>>>
>>
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>>
>Thanx for the reply. Tramming the antenna down is very labor intensive. I
am a one man tower crew. My station is in northern Wisconsin about 250 miles
north of my residence. I prefer to tram on steel cable. I've used rope and
cable in the past. Because of the topography of where my tower is any slack
in the cable makes it hard to get the antenna over sidemounted antennas. I
do not presently have on hand sufficient steel cable to make a tram line and
backstay for the mast - I used some of what I had in another tower project
and would have to order about 200 ft more. Tramming involves one trip up and
down the tower to set the tram lines. A second trip up and down to lower the
antenna and fix it. A third trip up and down to reinstall the antenna and
remove the tram lines. And probably at least one extra trip because
something would go wrong. Because of side mounted antennas and guy wires,
each trip up and down takes 15 minutes each way - I've timed it. I do not
free climb - I'm an anesthesiologist in a trauma center and I've seen too
many dead and crippled people who have fallen. It would take at least an
hour or more for me to rig the tram lines - I'm not a tower pro like Steve,
I want to do it right, so it takes me more time than him and consequently
I'm not in a big hurry. Bringing the antenna down and fixing it and
reraising it would take a minimum of 30 to 45 minutes. Reinstalling the
antenna and derigging the tower a minimum of 1 hour - remember, you've got
to put all that stuff away. We're now looking at a minimum 4-5 hours, plus
200 ft of cable. My personal rule of thumb for tower projects (and surgeon's
time estimates for operations) is calculate how long it'll take and double
it. I'm usually pretty close (in both cases :>)). Now we're looking at 8
hours. I will have one other person to help me - my wife, who is a ham but
does not climb. She helps run the winch and handle the tag lines. The
alternative if I can do it is to try to tip the antenna in a sling on the
tower. If this works, it will take one trip up and down. Even if I have to
spend 2 hours on the tower, I'll save 6 hours of time and I won't have to
buy cable. Also my tower is in the woods, not in the clear. Tramming can be
somewhat dicey if there's any wind over a very gentle breeze. I've cut lots
of trees down, but I can't cut my neighbor's trees on the edge of the lot
line. So I prefer to avoid it if I can.
>
>Best wishes
>
>Jim WI9WI
>
--
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