[TowerTalk] anchor failure from corrosion?

[Chuck O'Neal]

Yes, I caught significant corrosion with the 5/8" dia. Rohn supplied guy anchor rods
about 3 years ago during an inspection of  a tower I installed about 20 years previously.
About 6" below the earth the galvanizing was partially gone and there was noticeable
pitting of the remaining steel, reducing the diameter by perhaps an 1/16" of an inch after
I
wire brushed all the rust off.  I then put on a cold galvanizing paint and now inspect it
yearly.
I did this inspection because this guy anchor was in a damp area. It was in an area of
lots of
vegetation and the soil was acidic, due to a lot of oak trees and their leaves.

No problems since, but I see evidence that suggests that the galvanizing doesn't hold up
as
you would like.

I would also like to see if anyone else has observed  this.  How many of you are living
with
towers you put up 20+ years ago?

73,
Chuck..K1KW





----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Frenaye" <frenaye at pcnet.com>
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2003 1:24 AM
Subject: [TowerTalk] anchor failure from corrosion?



I hadn't ever heard of guy anchors on ham radio towers failing because of corrosion  I'm
wondering if it's something all of us need to worry about - anyone with firsthand
experience?

                -- Tom


>  HELPFUL ADVICE ON GUY ANCHOR INSPECTIONS (CGC #570)
>
>  Over the years there have been numerous instances of towers
>falling due to guy anchor failure, with guy wires hanging on to
>as little as 1/4" of remaining shaft before failure.
>
>  As a Tower Safety and Rescue trainer for our company, I have
>taken trainees to a guyed tower to see the "point of daylight."
>This is where the guy anchor meets the dirt, and is the most
>likely place to reveal corrosion just below the surface, as shown
>in the diagram of CGC #570.  Dig down about 6-12 inches and you
>may likely find the beginnings of corrosion.  This inspection
>should be performed regularly if you own a guyed tower.
>
>  The best way to prevent or delay the corrosion process is
>through the use of a "Sacrificial Anode" - or Cathodic Protection.
>You can see the process of corrosion and how it can be prevented
>in these instructional animations courtesy of www.anchorguard.com:
>
>  Corrosion: http://www.anchorguard.com/images/Corrosion.gif
>  Protection: http://www.anchorguard.com/images/protection.gif
>
>  Timothy H. Lynch, mailto:tlynch at w-t-s.com
>  Western Technical Services

>                      THE CGC COMMUNICATOR
>                            CGC #572
>                    Tuesday,  April 29, 2003
>                             ________
>
>               Robert F. Gonsett, W6VR, Publisher
>                       <rgonsett at ieee.org>
>
>           Stephen H. Blodgett, W7RNA, Letters Editor
>                  mailto:steve at earthsignals.com
>
>    Copyright 2003, Communications General® Corporation (CGC)



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------
e-mail: frenaye at pcnet.com    YCCC --> http://www.yccc.org/
Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444



_______________________________________________

See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather Stations",
and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions and ask for Sherman,
W2FLA.

_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk at contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk