[TowerTalk] Bent Mast

[Fred Hopengarten]

On Mon, 23 Apr 2001 06:37:52 -0400 "Roger D. Johnson" <n1rj@pivot.net>
writes:
> Last year a local ham put up a stacked array on a water pipe mast.
> During a winter storm, it bent about 20 degrees just above the 
> snorkel
> on the Rohn 25. He seems to think he can attach a line and bend the
> mast back into line so it will drop through the top section. I 
> don't
> think this stands a chance of working and have advised him to spend
> the bucks and hire a crane. What is the collective wisdom on how to
> handle this situation without getting someone killed or injured.

K1VR:  Been there. Done that. It was 1971 at W1AF, and we had a Classic
33 plus 2 el Moseley 40 on Schedule 40 water pipe above the snorkel on
Rohn 25. 

Attach Gin Pole at top of Rohn 25. Attach Gin Pole Rope as high as you
can reach. Tie mast to gin pole. Tie at least two ropes to mast and drop
them to the ground. Cut schedule 40 water pipe with hack saw while ropes
to ground are held tight. When you make the final cut, you don't want
anything to move at all.

Lower mast and detach antennas one at a time. When all mast above cut and
all antennas are on the ground, pull remaining mast below the cut up and
out of the tower. Lower that to the ground.

Never use water pipe again.


Fred Hopengarten K1VR                        
hopengarten@post.harvard.edu
Six Willarch Road * Lincoln, MA 01773-5105
781/259-0088 *eFax 419/858-2421
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