[TowerTalk] Crank-up won't crank

[K3BU at aol.com]

In a message dated 11/15/03 5:58:54 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
thompson at mindspring.com writes:
>>Carefully check the tower and If you get a name of a local tower person use
him as crank ups are dangerous and not climbable. <<

Crank up towers can be climbable with "climbing tools."
The problem is, you don't want to insert anything (feet, fingers) inside the 
tower, in case sections come crashing down and cut your feet or hands. You can 
make S (Z) type hooks for feet and hands (with straps to your limbs), that 
will just hook onto the crosspiece (tip J like hook thick enough to go over the 
crosspiece - brace) and have a flat bottom (L like hook) for your foot or 
hand. This would allow you to claim the tower without anything protruding inside. 
There is enough clearance between the cross braces not to catch the hooks. 
With safety belt around the tower and resting on the "BU hooks" you should be 
able to insert the safety crosspiece and do the work on the tower.

Yuri, K3BU