[TowerTalk] Ma550 groaning

[Jim Jarvis]

I started writing this response, then thought better of it.
Then read the latest post, and decided to contribute, despite my earlier,
better judgement.

First, it depends on what wench you're using to raise the tower.
And when the groaning commences whether you're pointing it true north,
Or have an owl on top, for dropping control.

OK, so Happy New Year, all.  THAT's out of my system.

-0-

Bruce wrote:
Anyone out there have any experience in de-groaning an MA-550 tower?
Mine is attached to the house and groans pretty loud when it gets windy,
tnx, 73, Bruce, N6NM

-0-

Bruce,

I DO.  And it's all bad.
Three things mitigated it, but didn't eliminate it.
Grease shifted the noise up from Tenor to Soprano.
Extending the tower to its maximum height, with pressure on the winch,
helped. Using a tag line to limit array rotation helped.

None of these is a permanent solution.  What is needed is sound isolation
from the house.  I've found no shock absorbing motor-mounts which would
handle the tower loads.  I've tried making some from rubber tube, and used
tires.  

Getting it off the house definitely helps.

Putting it at the other end of the house, away from YOUR bedroom will get
you a night's sleep, at least.  It'll still be noisy, but it's the kids and
visitors who have to deal with it.

Jim/n2ea