[TowerTalk] Belt Slippage on LM-470 Towers

[Joe Giacobello]

Well, I changed the belt this morning to one 1/2" shorter.  Frankly, it 
still slipped until I removed the residue remaining from the Belt 
Dressing on both pulleys with alcohol.  The temperature was about 25F, 
and I was able to fully extend the tower without any problems.

I seem to be getting the opposite effect with the Belt Dressing.  Maybe 
I just put too much on.  I can't explain it otherwise.

73 and thanks for all your help.

Joe

paul at w8aef.com wrote:

>It could also be that the belt is too narrow and rides in the bottom of the pulleys.  The belt dressing is a good idea.  Even if it slips when first applied it will (should) reduce slippage in the future.
>
>There doesn't seem to be a brand name on my belt.  There are two sets of numbers on it: 321 E 12 and 43517.  I think the 43517 is the manufacturers part number.  This is a belt that I purchased to replace the worn belt that came with the tower.  Sorry, can't remember where I obtained it, maybe an auto parts store.  This belt also has 'teeth', for lack of a better word.  It does not have the same continuous cross-section, it has teeth.
>
>Also, the Tri-ex bill of materials calls for either a Dayco 4L410 or Gates 2410 belt.
>
>de Paul, W8AEF
>  ----- Original Message ----- 
>  From: Joe Giacobello 
>  To: k0dan 
>  Cc: paul at w8aef.com ; Tower Talk ; k6ll at adelphia.net ; KJ6Y at aol.com ; K9RB at bellsouth.net ; wa3gin at erols.com 
>  Sent: Thursday, November 24, 2005 7:27 PM
>  Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Belt Slippage on LM-470 Towers
>
>
>  Thanks, Paul, Dan, Skip, both Daves and Roger.
>
>  To answer several questions, I had recently changed to a new belt, applied grease to the drum via the fitting and changed the gearbox oil.  Frankly, I may have been a little lax about oiling the pulley bearings on one tower, but I know I had done it recently on the other tower.  I really don't think the issue is the pulleys or obstructions to the movement of sections.
>
>  Usually, I can get things to work properly by simply retightening the belt.  In fact, I got it running yesterday and while it was going up sprayed Belt Dressing on the pulleys.  The slippage immediately began again.  I think that Belt Dressing is more of a lubricant and seems to make the problem worse.  The can says it is for the elimination of squeaks.
>
>  The idea of reducing the belt size by a half inch makes a lot of sense.  In the past I had blindly replaced the belts with the identical size that came with the towers.  I bought a shorter belt yesterday and will try it out on Friday.
>
>  Frankly, I had no idea that there was some kind of clutch mechanism associated with the large pulley.  I knew that the mounting hardware was unusual, but that information was a revelation.  I'll pay more attention to it in the future.
>
>  I'll let you know how the shorter belt works tomorrow.
>
>  73, Joe
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>
>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
>
>  
>