[TowerTalk] Crankup tower gearbox lube question

[k4zrj at bellsouth.net]

Thanks for the replies - looks like SAE 90 lube oil is the right thing to use.

Charles

> 
> From: <k4zrj at bellsouth.net>
> Date: 2006/08/07 Mon AM 11:00:20 EDT
> To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
> Subject: Crankup tower gearbox lube question
> 
> I have an old Tri-Ex HZE-354 motorized crankup tower with a 40:1 ratio gearbox turned by a 1 HP motor. When I bought the tower, the gearbox was empty - no oil or grease of any kind inside - I guess from the staining on the gearbox, it had leaked out over the years. I have filled the gearbox with a mixture of SAE 90 gearlube oil and black lithium grease. It turns quietly and smoothly and leaks very little. There is a pressure relief fitting on the top of the gearbox.
> 
> My question is this: what do others recommend in this situation, and what do the manufacturers of towers fill the gearboxes with - lube oil like SAE 90, lighter weight oil like SAE 30, gear grease? The gearbox does get warm when lifting the tower and I'm a bit concerned that the lubrication could be improved. The tower goes up and down quite often, four or five times a week depending on how many thunderstorms we have. 
> 
> Thanks guys for your comments - always appreciated.
> 
> 73, Charles, K4ZRJ, Woodstock, GA
>