[TowerTalk] 90' sky needel

Mon Sep 11 13:28:41 EDT 2006

Well after doing some detective efforts here ,  it looks like the best and 
as well financially best plan would be to go ahead and schedule the crane 
and un-stack the top two sections  [ # 4 and 6 ]  then stop and take a 
accurate measurement of the 2 cables, call my local cable maker with those 
measurements,  and send a friend down into San Antonio and by that time the 
two cables will be ready,  the shop manager estimates 1 hour fab time for 
the 2 cables,  while that is happening, I can continue to un-stack the # 8 
section and start to re-string that cable, as it can already be on hand,  as 
that distance is known at 175' plus or minus a bit , and it only has one end 
preformed, the other end is random and not preformed , but rather it is 
terminated with a wire rope clip, as determined after all other adjustments 
have been made ... this plan leaves little if any real dead time for the 
crane while it is here in place ... As a point of interest wire rope that is 
required  5/16"  in galvanized for a 180' length is $83.00  while in 
stainless it is $280.00   with little or insignificant tensile /breaking 
points... in real prices this works out at .35 for galvanized, and $1.43 for 
stainless steel,  I turn 60 this week,  I think galvanized will hold me for 
my remaining operating time ...  if it doesn't , then it means I have 
continued a good life and will have to deal with the situation all over 
again ..  This group has been a big help..I remain unsure how I sheared the 
main lift cable,  but that will be determined as I take it all apart,  I 
think as I reflect back,  the early towers only went to the 86-87' height, 
where later and present ones do 90'  but until I find my original notes made 
by the original buyer Dan Webber in Maine, I wont be sure ...  but anyhow 
thanks to all who helped with suggestion and thoughts.. I think I have a 
plan to get things back on the road again ... incidentally, I think the 
total time from cable shear to reach the fully retracted position was about 
1.5 seconds ...  it didn't take long .. that's for damn sure ...  because I 
had no time to get my lead ass moved away from the drive motor area ... 
thanx  mac/mc  w5mc

Located 46 miles due North of the Alamo, and 121 miles due South of the 
Western White House.   see my website at  www.collinsandharrisradios.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Pat Barthelow" <aa6eg at hotmail.com>
To: <richard at karlquist.com>; <w5mc at austin.rr.com>; <rehman at surveil.com>; 
<Towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, September 11, 2006 11:26 AM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] 90' sky needel

> Re:   Where to get,  and with what to Crimp Tower Cable:
>
> I visited a Marine Supply house that had the copper or other metal swage
> fittings,
> Typical: ( http://www.imakerope.com/products.asp?catid=680 )
> and a selection of cable.  They offered to loan the $150 crimpers to me if 
> I
> needed them, a good move, to encourage purchase of the cable and swage
> fittings from them... Great Service...
>
> 73, DX, de Pat AA6EG aa6eg at hotmail.com;
>                  Skype:  Sparky599
>
>>From: "Richard (Rick) Karlquist" <richard at karlquist.com>
>>To: "Mac McCullough" <w5mc at austin.rr.com>,"Doug Rehman"
>><rehman at surveil.com>, <Towertalk at contesting.com>
>>Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] 90'  sky needel
>>Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2006 09:06:02 -0700
>>>
>>Depending on when your tower was made, and which pulleys
>>they happened to be using then, etc, the cables could be
>>various lengths.  You really need to get the old ones out
>>and clone them.  You can get a poor mans crimper that consists
>>of jaws you squeeze in a vise if you don't want to buy
>>the boltcutter type crimper that costs $150.  Of course if
>>you're paying waiting time on the crane, the $150 is well
>>spent.
>>
>>Rick N6RK
>>
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
>> > [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com]On Behalf Of Mac McCullough
>> > Sent: Monday, September 11, 2006 7:07 AM
>> > To: Doug Rehman; Towertalk at contesting.com
>> > Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] 90' sky needel
>
>> > good idea...  i'm experienced at making small nicopress loops and ends
>> > ...but never anything this size ...being out in the Stix has it's
>> > advantages
>> > and disadvantages .. but the cost of all things considered , this
>> > just might
>> > prove to be a viable solution ..  thanx Doug for the suggestion ..
>>mac/mc
>> > w5mc
>
>> > Located 46 miles due North of the Alamo, and 121 miles due South of the
>> > Western White House.   see my website at 
>> > www.collinsandharrisradios.com
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "Doug Rehman" <rehman at surveil.com>
>> > To: <Towertalk at contesting.com>
>> > Sent: Monday, September 11, 2006 8:27 AM
>> > Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] 90' sky needel
>
>> > > You might consider buying your own equipment and supplies to make the
>> > > cables  up on site. McMaster-Carr and other industrial suppliers 
>> > > carry
>> > everything  you need. (Make sure you buy the proper size crimps rated
>>for lifting.
>> > > Also  make sure you buy the right flavor of wire rope.)
>> > >
>> > > You'll need to buy a decent quality wire rope cutter, otherwise it's
>> > > almost  impossible to get the cut end into the crimp twice (for 
>> > > making
>> > the loop at  the cable end). A 28"-36" wire rope cutter works fine for
>>me.
>> > >
>> > > If you follow the simple directions, you'll get a perfect crimp every
>> > > time.  If you're paranoid like me, double up on the crimps (two 
>> > > crimps
>>on each
>> > > end)  and you've got twice the holding strength. The Nicopress tool
>> > comes with a  jig that allows you to check that your crimping is
>>adequate.
>> > >
>> > > Once you get the hang of it, you can make a cable in just a couple of
>> > > minutes.
>> > >
>> > > A spool of wire rope, a wire rope cutter, a Nicopress tool, and
>> > Nicopress  crimps cost me about the same as buying the replacement
>>cables
>> > > pre-fabricated.
>> > > Doug
>> > > K4DDR
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> 