[TowerTalk] Pucker Power

[Phil Clements]

>My technique is a lot less "pucker factor".  Put up a gin pole and take 
>the antenna off of the mast, swinging freely on the rope.  Swing the 
>antenna closer to the mast and throw a temporary rope around the 
>element at the mast to element point.  Make adjustment, swing back.
>
>The gin pole assembly and the angle iron assembly are about a push for
time.
>No pucker factor required on the gin pole method.  Enjoy!
>
>Ed N1UR

I have used a faster method successfully for over 50 years without even a
broken finger nail.

I use two muffler clamps, the kind with a "U" shaped backer plate to clamp
down on my come-along cable to the mast a few feet above the antenna to be
worked on. The other end of the come-along is secured to the boom of the
antenna. The slack is ratcheted out, and the boom-to-mast clamps are
loosened. I then maneuver the antenna into the desired position and secure
it with a rope.

I can be almost done with a balun change before one could get a gin pole
rigged. It is much easier to haul up a come-along and two clamps than a gin
pole/rope.

For rotor changes, I always mount my rotors 3 feet or so below the thrust
bearing. I can then use the muffler clamps/come-along to raise the mast a
few inches in order to have free unimpeded access to the rotor area.

I have never had to "pucker" due to the use of these methods.

(((73)))
Phil Clements, K5PC