[TowerTalk] Why did my Tailtwister stop turning?

[Julio Peralta]

Another problem that can cause interment brake function is low voltage on
terminals 1 & 2 at the rotor. This is sometimes due to voltage drop on a
long cable run to the tower or a deteriorating connection. If the voltage is
marginal weather conditions could cause the voltage to drop below that
needed to cycle the brake wedge.

Julio, W4HY

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul Playford" <w8aef at worldnet.att.net>
To: <w2up at mindspring.com>; <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, November 29, 2004 3:46 PM
Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] Why did my Tailtwister stop turning?


> My experience indicates you have a sticking brake wedge.
>
> My Ham M had a V shaped wedge and the brake never stuck.  Several years
ago
> I rebuilt the rotator and for some reason replaced the wedge with the
> current product, which has a square face.  And the wedge would sometimes
> stick.  I went back to the old V shape and no more problems with that
rotor
> (still in use after 40 years).
>
> My T2X would quit turning.  I brought the rotor into the shop and
everything
> was fine.  After several up and downs I noticed the brake was not sticking
> anymore and thought I had finally fixed it.  The next time I had antenna
> work to do and went to remove the rotator I observed that the mast,
antennas
> and rotator were supported by the thrust bearing - the rotator mounting
> plate was a good 2" above it's resting point in the tower (the LM-470
plate
> floates in the tower).  When I reinstalled the rotator I made sure it was
> carrying the weight of the mast and antennas and the sticking brake
> returned.  So it's back to everything hanging on the thrust bearing now.
>
> Every once in awhile the brake does stick again but I have found that by
> running my tower down a bit and then back up the brake releases and I'm
back
> in business.
>
> Next time I re-lub the rotator I will grind down the brake wedge a bit to
> give it more clearance.  I assume the clearance between the brake wedge
> surfaces and the teeth in the housing is very close to prevent antenna
> movement in the wind and the subsequent grinding of housing teeth but I
will
> take that chance.
>
> The Ham M has turned many different antennas - the heaviest load was a
> 204BA, 153BA and 103BA stack.  The T2X turns long boom 4 element
monobanders
> on 20, 15 & 10.
>
> FWIW, the capacator in the control box will age and require replacement.
> The symptoms of a defective capacitor is the rotor just slows way down
when
> turning, eventually the rotator will not turn at all.  I find that MFJ is
> very reasonable on priceing for replacement parts.
>
> de Paul, W8AEF
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
> [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Barry
> Sent: Monday, November 29, 2004 1:35 PM
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Why did my Tailtwister stop turning?
>
> Had a problem over the weekend with my T2X.  It wouldn't turn.  It was
> working fine, then all of a sudden it was stuck at about 300 degrees.  I
> tried the usual rocking back and forth to free the sticky brake, but no
> luck.  All the indicator lights were normal.  I tried several times over
the
> next 30-45 minutes and it just wouldn't move.
> I gave up the contest in disgust, and the next day checked the rotor and
it
> worked fine, as if there was no problem earlier.
>
> The rotor was refurbished about a year ago and looked brand new inside and
> out.
>
> I don't think it was a thermal cut-out as I was not turning it a lot.
> Would an aging motor starting capacitor act intermittently like this?
>  The control box is about 14 years old.  Any other ideas?
> Tnx,
> Barry W2UP--
> Barry Kutner, W2UP              Internet: w2up at mindspring.com
> Newtown, PA                     Frankford Radio Club
>
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> _______________________________________________
>
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Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
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