[TowerTalk] Re: Fw: Crank-up

K7LXC@aol.com K7LXC@aol.com
Sun, 6 May 2001 12:54:21 EDT


In a message dated 5/6/01 5:39:45 AM Pacific Daylight Time, JSheinb785 writes:

>  I have a UST HDX555/MDP750 abt 2 yrs old.  Since I live in the corrosive 
> atmosphere of the Texas Gulf Coast, & have had a previous UST's cables rust 
& 
> break, ruining the tower & all the antennas, I'm thinking abt restringing 
the 
> cables with stainless steel.  However, UST won't give me the diagram on how 
> to recable it. Any suggestions?  

    First of all, you CANNOT use SS wire rope. It is unsuitable for a moving 
cable over a pulley like a typical crank-up application. About the only thing 
you can do is to use PreLube 6 cable lubricant (available from the list 
sponsor) at least a couple of times a year. It'll displace any moisture in 
the cables and help to keep junk out of the strands. The only other 100% cure 
would be to get rid of the crank-up and go with a regular tower. 

    This just occurred to me: how about spray painting the cables with some 
cold galvanizing spray paint? That would help the strands with another 
coating and wouldn't trap any contaminants like a grease would.  
    
    I agree but they don't have any real restinging diagrams that would 
either be of interest or usable by you and me. You would have to know their 
nomenclature and have some experience to begin with. I went down there 
specifically to learn how to recable their towers and it is not something you 
learn in a few days or from a diagram.

    It's a real Catch 22 - they want you to replace the cables every three 
years but don't provide any instructions and there ren't any people out there 
to do it. You've got to understand that if they provide much in the way of 
"help", that would increase their liability exposure and they don't need more 
of that when it comes to insurance cost and lawsuits.

>  When you visited there were they cordial?

    Sure. They were real busy though.
>  
>  The grease they sent me was a "clear motorcycle grease," as they called 
it. 
>  The lube for the cable was mfd. by Whitmore & is clear. However, one may 
> obtain a similar product mfd. by Jet-lube in Houston Texas, (my son's 
company 
> sells it) & the part number is WRL  (how unique!).

    You could probably use any number of lubricants on the legs since its 
purpose is primarily to help the sections slide around during assembly and 
they don't make any specific recommendations for leg lubricants after 
assembly that I'm aware of. 

Cheers,   Steve    K7LXC
Tower Tech 
Champion Radio Products

List Sponsor:  Champion Radio Products - We'll be at the Dayton Hamvention
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