[TowerTalk] Sick Tailtwister-Update

[Bernard(wtrone)]

     I would like to thank everyone who responded to my inquiry with hints
and suggestions!

    As I had mentioned, I had made a complete set of voltage and resistance
measurements.  They were all "right-on."  I could hear the brake click when
the brake release was pushed and the limit switches did not appear to be
open.  I want to especially thank those who suggested that I listen for
motor hum with my ear to the tower and those that suggested that the rotor
may be "stuck" at the end of one of the stops.

    To make a long story short, the rotor was at the end of the clockwise
rotation and I could hear a hum when either of the CW or CCW buttons was
pushed.  I waited until we had some wind, which was this past Saturday, and
tried pushing the brake release several times followed by pushing the CCW
button(was at the end of the CW rotation) for about 15 seconds.  It took
several series of this, but the rotor finally started turning.  Maybe the
wind was just right.

    Anyhow, it is working now and I would like to give a BIG thanks for all
of those that helped!!!!


            73s,


            Bernard, WA4OEJ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "NØATH" <N0ATH at Charter.net>
To: "Bernard(wtrone)" <wtrone at comcast.net>; <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 16, 2005 6:01 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Sick Tailtwister


Barry, while the brake is released, can you detect any hum from the motor 
indicating it is trying to turn? If yes, then you probably have a brake 
problem.
All there is are the 4 springs and the pin that could be wrong. ( I think ) 
otherwise I would check my wiring - two or three times very carefully. The 
motors are normally fairly resistant to failure. G,luk / Dave / NØATH


From: "Bernard(wtrone)" <wtrone at comcast.net>
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 16, 2005 2:26 PM
Subject: [TowerTalk] Sick Tailtwister


    I have a sick tailtwister.  It won't rotate either CW or CCW.  I checked 
the fuses, OK.  I measured the voltage at the control unit with the cable 
disconnected as per the manual, Voltages=OK.  I measured the pin to pin 
resistances as per the manual, resistances= OK.  I tried a new motor start 
capacitor, Nothing/ No Rotation.  I can hear the solenoid click when I 
depress the brake switch.  With cable attached, brake button pushed and CW 
pushed, I read about 18.4 VAC on the two terminals.  About the same voltage 
on the other two terminals with the bake button pushed and the CCW button 
pushed.

    I'm beginning to wonder if the brake mechanism might be broken.  But, 
before I take the tower down (it is a fold over), I would like to be sure 
that I have checked everything that I can from the ground.

    Any ideas?

        73s

        Bernard, WA4OEJ
_______________________________________________