[TowerTalk] Sinking Tower...

[Ford Peterson]

I have a 68' Rohn Tiltover and mast at 80'.  Each year, (three years now)
the guys appear to lose their tension.  I notice it in the spring after the
thaw (Minnesota).

I control the turnbuckles so they don't move by threading guy material
through the loops so I don't think it is the steel guys twisting themselves
loose.

Now I am considering the base.  It is to spec according to the prints--2' x
2' x 3'.  The soil is quite loamy.  In fact, each spring the base of the
tower sits in a few inches of water for a few weeks.  When I dug the hole,
the soil was very black and full of material as if in a very old swamp.  Is
it possible that the weight of the tower and the tension on the guys (375# -
400# x 4 top and 4 middle guys) plus the viscous nature of the soil is
allowing it to sink?  After all, 3/16" of sinking would spread to release
all the tension on the guys, which is what I am experiencing.

More important, if it is sinking, what now?????

Ford-N0FP
ford@cmgate.com



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