[TowerTalk] TX-472 was stuck...

[John Ammeter]

I've just installed a used TX-472 tower here.  So far, I have a 2M/440 
omni and an inverted V 80 meter wire antenna on it.  A couple days ago I 
attempted to lower it in anticipation of installing my new SteppIR 3L 
antenna plus installing a worm gear winch for raising/lowering the tower.

As I was retracting the tower the top section stuck at about the 50 foot 
level. The lower sections would continue to retract but the topmost 
section wasn't coming down with them.  I tried shaking the tower by 
pulling on the 80 meter wire with no luck, still stuck...

Today, I put a 32 foot extension ladder against the tower and was able 
to get within a couple feet of the point where it was stuck.  A crowbar 
broke it free and, even though it did stick twice more on the way down, 
I was able to completely retract it.  I found that the plate on the 
bottom of the innermost tower section where the cable was fastened had 
been bent outward enough that it was catching on the bars of the next 
tower section.  A "come-along" and some careful application of an 8 
pound sledge hammer cured that problem.

My plan is to fasten a length of chain onto the innermost section so 
that if it sticks again I'll be able to carefully apply a positive 
downward force on the tower.  I'm also going to liberally spread some 
grease on the bearing surfaces of the tower.

Any thoughts or ideas on my situation and plans? 

John KE7JGB