[Towertalk] Water Stubs of Universal Towers

[WA2BPE]

When tilting my Universal towers over (up or down), I initially replace the
bolts that will be the pivot points with grade 8 bolts - hardened Allen cap
screws work nicely.  For tilting by hand, anything much over 30' is almost
impossible unless you have some NBA all-stars handy!  In the past, I have used a
22' gin tower with a cable passing over a large (10"dia) "A" pully held on a
plate with pillow blocks placed at the top of the gin tower (temporarily guy it
into position; the base **must** be firmly secured.  An electric winch or a boat
winch (worm drive preferred) secured to ?? (I had a  large tree available) with
3/16 or 1/4" steel cable (not guy wire) then can easily move it up or down.  I
put up a 60' Universal this way *with* antennas attached to the mast but
nested.  Raised mast & installed rotator after the tower was secure.  BTW, I guy
my Universal towers despite any "self supporting" specs - lots of wind on a
hilltop + paranoia insurance.  ;-)  .

Tom - WA2BPE


nkeane4 wrote:

> Regarding the water in the stubs of the Universal Towers I put gravel in the
> bottom of the hole as recommended by Universal at the time some 20 years ago
> but my soil is pure clay with no drainage whatsoever. Anyway I was off the
> air for about 14 years as one of the stubs and the steel insert on the leg
> rusted out and in a pre-storm wind all of my antennas and tower came down.
> Secondly I would recommend that any work that needed to be done should be
> done by somebody climbing the tower. I know they sway quite a bit but that
> is built in to the tower. Thirdly yes you can tilt the tower over by
> removing the 2 bolts on the one leg but you better have several, tall big
> brutes ready to catch it when it comes over or it will bury you. I know
> there isn't a lot of weight there in the tower but when it is all hanging
> behind you 40', 50, or 60 feet when it reaches that point where it is going
> on its own it comes down like a bullet. I have also witnessed this but not
> on my own tower. I suppose you could have some people on the other side with
> ropes to ease it over as the people walking it down moved backwards. These
> are my observations over the years so I am just passing it on for what it is
> worth. I think there is a Heights Tower adapter with a large Acme screw that
> can be used with a Universal Tower. This would allow it to be tilted over at
> a point about 4' from the ground. Just my observations over the
> years.........Norm W8KNH
>
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