[TowerTalk] US Tower Problems

[jcowens1 at comcast.net]

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: Alan NV8A <nv8a at att.net> 

> On 04/20/07 12:03 pm jcowens1 at comcast.net wrote: 
> 
> > Dick (K5RR): 
> > 
> > I have had the same problem you are having with the stall upon raising the 
> tower and have resorted to doing the same thing you do. If I briefly lower the 
> tower and then switch to raising, it usually takes off and raises the tower. 
> Once it is under way, it doesn't hesitate or stall the rest of the way up. There 
> is friction between the various sections and they told me to use bees wax on the 
> tower areas where there is abnormal friction. I bought some and put it on and it 
> did help the situation. 
> 
> I don't have the docs. in front of me at the moment, but I thought they 
> said to use automotive grease. They do NOT recommend automotive grease. They specifically recommended against using oil or lube, but recommend bees wax which is why I used it in the first place and it does help. Bees wax can be bought from a good hobby shop (used in floral aarrangements) and the block I bought for around $10 will last me a lifetime. Grease will collect dirt and only make the problem worse over time. 
> 
> > I guess it is kind of a tradeoff situation. You can't have an overkill on 
> power to move the sections as that might put unreasonable stress on the cables 
> and result in a breakage. Before I put the bees wax on the tower innter 
> surfaces, it used to bind slightly towards the end of travel up. It is better 
> with the bees wax. 
> > 
> > Regarding oil, I changed mine last year and I am pretty sure I used regular 
> automobile differential oil (90 wt?). The Hub City (gearbox mfr) literature I 
> have says GL-90 for temps between 15 and 60 DEGF, or GL-150 for temps between 50 
> to 125 DEGF. It says to change it after every 100 hours of use. For me, that is 
> about every 20 years. I chose GL90 because of the lower viscosity. I talk with 
> Gary Smith at UST when I have questions (559)733-2438. He has been there a long 
> time and seems to be the most knowledgeable. 
> 
> Again, I thought they said "gear oil." I know that differential oil 
> could be different, but whether it's worse I don't know. Differential oil is gear oil that is designed to lubricate the gears in your automobile differential gear box. 
> 
> > By the way, you don't have to buy their replacement v-belt as a Dayco 4L350 
> from Schucks Auto (or equiv) works just fine at about 1/5th of their price. 
> These should be replaced periodically as you never want to have one of these 
> come off or break. All of my expoeriences and information relate to my HDX 572 
> MDPL which should be equivalent to yours in these areas 
> 
> Although a belt failure with a worm drive gearbox doesn't allow the 
> tower to come crashing down. I am sure you are right about this. I didn't mean to suggest that a broken belt would cause runaway tower lowering. Belts that are worn or slipping should be replaced.

John Owens - N7TK> 
> 73 
> 
> Alan NV8A