[Towertalk] Tailtwister won't turn.

[Steve Katz]

Have to admit the below is a "brute force" solution that can be a bit
expensive and a bit of work, but I have also pretty much given up on Tail
Twisters.  Powerful, yes.  Good design, no.  My next "big rotor" will have a
worm gear drive and no brake at all!

WB2WIK/6

"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough." -
Mario Andretti

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Jerry Kincade [SMTP:w5kp@swbell.net]
> Sent:	Tuesday, August 06, 2002 4:57 AM
> To:	towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject:	Re: [Towertalk] Tailtwister won't turn.
> 
> At the risk of offending some, I haven't seen anybody post the obvious
> solution of retiring this thing and putting up one of the bigger Yaesu or
> other similar units. Over the past few years I've read literally hundreds
> of
> posts on how to get around the myriad of KNOWN problems with Tailtwisters.
> Not so with the large Yaesu units, a couple of which equal or exceed the
> Tailtwister's capacity. I used a little Ham IV for several years with no
> problems, but went to a Yaesu instead of a Tailtwister when I put up a
> much
> larger, higher antenna. Sure haven't been sorry (at least so far). I could
> maybe understand it if HyGain prices were significantly cheaper than
> Yaesu,
> but it seems to be the other way around. Regardless, I'd pay the extra
> freight if necessary for the reliability and lack of hassle, unless you
> have
> a source for free Tailtwisters and unlimited patience.
> 73, Jerry W5KP
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David L. Thompson" <thompson@mindspring.com>
> To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 06, 2002 1:03 AM
> Subject: Re: [Towertalk] Tailtwister won't turn.
> 
> 
> > I have the same problem that Dave K1HT is experiencing.  Right now my
> rotor
> > is stuck on 20 degrees (I was trying to hear 9N7AS on 17).  Rocking it
> back
> > and forth doesn't work but it will turn after a day or so but its
> sluggish.
> >
> > This happened about 6 or 7 years ago and a local who works on the rotors
> > took it apart and the grease had turned to chauk.  I replaced the
> starting
> > cap but the replacements available are much bigger and Telex/Hy-Gain
> sent
> me
> > a sheet on how to install (mount) the new aerovox cap..I had to use
> > electrical tape to hold it down.
> >
> > Anyone have any ideas why the grease degrades (Hy-Gain iold me they had
> > never heard of such a thing).
> >
> > I agree that for 100 feet or more you need bigger cable.  I upgraded to
> the
> > bigger Belden cable about 14 years ago.  With the clunk of the solenoid
> I
> > suspect that both K1HT and I need to get the rotor serviced.
> >
> > 73 Dave K4JRB
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Self Supporting Towers, Wireless Weather Stations, see web site:
> http://www.mscomputer.com
> > Call 888-333-9041 to place your order, mention you saw this ad and take
> an
> additional 5 percent off
> > any weather station price.
> > _______________________________________________
> > Towertalk mailing list
> > Towertalk@contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> >
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Self Supporting Towers, Wireless Weather Stations, see web site:
> http://www.mscomputer.com
> Call 888-333-9041 to place your order, mention you saw this ad and take an
> additional 5 percent off
> any weather station price.
> _______________________________________________
> Towertalk mailing list
> Towertalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk