[TowerTalk] NEED ADVICE RE SNAPPED TOWER ANCHOR BOLT

[K7LXC@aol.com]

In a message dated 1/13/2006 3:37:53 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
towertalk-request at contesting.com writes:

>  In the last storm one of the four  one inch diameter 27  inch long anchor
bolts holding my MARB base for  my self supporting  (unguyed) US Tower MA 550
snapped just below the leveling nut. I have  lowered the tower and braced it
with a 6 x 6 and a hydraulic jack opposite  the snapped bolt. The remaining
leveling nuts can not currently be turned.  The tower has been in place for
approximately 12 years. The concrete base  is approximately 3 feet by 3 feet
by 6 feet deep and steel reinforced in  accordance with US Tower
recommendations for the MARB 550 base and the  MA-550 self supporting tubular
tower.

>  Does anyone know of  any contractors I can contact in California 
(preferably
in the bay area)  for advice and help who specialize in tower work?

>  Can I  simply take the tower and antennas down, remove the MARB support 
base,
cut  off the remaining three anchor bolts, have four new 27 inch holes
drilled  in the concrete and then have four new 1 inch diameter by 27 inch
long new  anchor bolts epoxied in........or do I need to hire a couple of
guys with  jack hammers to take out the 2 ? cubic yards +/- of steel
reinforced  concrete and start over?????? ARRGGHHH!


        The simplest thing would be  to look in the yellow pages for a mobile 
welder and just have him stop by and  weld the anchor rod and nut together. 
Simple and cheap. 
 
        OTOH if you wanted to re-do  it, epoxying in new anchor bolts is 
pretty simple but pretty involved since you  have to take everything down. Me? I'd 
get it welded.
 
        If you want to pursue  the second option, let me know.  I'll be in 
the greater SF Bay  Area at the end of this month doing tower work if you want 
to get  together.
 
Cheers,
Steve    K7LXC
TOWER TECH -
Professional tower services for commercial and amateur
Cell: 206-890-4188