[Towertalk] Climbing Masts

[Bob Nielsen]

My wife won't even look when I climb on the (single-story) roof....

On Tue, Nov 26, 2002 at 01:26:48PM -0800, J. Edward (Ed) Muns wrote:
> >     This is one of those high "pucker factor" tower maneuvers so
> > be warned. I
> > suggest that about 10% of hams can actually work at altitude and
> > only 10% of
> > those can climb masts so this is a pretty specialized technique.
> 
> I guess I'm in an even smaller group of hams.
> 
> I lost half an element on my 20 meter beam in Colorado 25 years ago.  The
> antenna was at 120' just above the thrust bearing.  Unfortunately, the
> broken element was about 9' out from the tower.  I asked my buddy W0UN what
> was the easiest way to do the repair.  I was hoping he had some magic that
> would avoid bringing the Yagi to the ground.  Without a pause, John said,
> "Sure, just haul up a section of Rohn 25 and lock it's legs on the top rung
> of your Rohn 45, parallel to the 20 meter boom and about 3' below it.  Run a
> guy from the outer end of the Rohn 25 up to the mast and secure with a
> U-bolt.  Double-tie your climbing belt onto the Rohn 45 and sit, straddling
> the Rohm 25, sliding out to the damaged area and do your repair."
> 
> Well, I did this, relying on the high confidence I have in John and his vast
> experience.  My wife took pictures and almost threw up.  I wasn't real
> comfortable with the operation, but just didn't look down and concentrated
> on my work.  It was actually a snap and when I was all done I called John to
> let him know how well it worked.  He said, "Glad to hear it, now I know
> another technique to use some day!"
> 
> 73,
> Ed - W0YK
> 
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-- 
Bob Nielsen, N7XY                          n7xy@n7xy.net
Bainbridge Island, WA  
IOTA NA-065, USI WA-028S