[TowerTalk] Inexpensive thrust bearing?

[Rob Frohne]

Thanks everyone for the ideas on thrust bearings.  

They have been very helpful.

73,

Rob, KL7NA

On Wed, 2007-03-21 at 14:23 -0500, mryan001 wrote:
> Oh,oh...I feel a "..we're going to beat this subject to death..." coming on.
> Anyone want to talk about seabirds again instead?  - Mike
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
> [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com]On Behalf Of K8RI
> Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 2:08 PM
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Inexpensive thrust bearing?
> 
> 
> You can build a thrust bearing for pennies or maybe a few dollars that is
> far superior to most commercial thrust bearings particularly if it is used
> to keep the mast centered and does not serve as a support which they
> shouldn't in most cases.
> 
> I'm getting rid of my ROHN thrust bearings (lot more than $50) and replacing
> them with a piece of pipe about 18" long,  albeit the finished product will
> be a bit more elaborate than most think of when a piece of pipe is
> mentioned.  As far as binding, or freezing you simply get a sheet of
> silicone rubber long enough to go around the mast and pipe at least one and
> a half times. I prefer a bit over two times.wrap it around the mast so it
> extends down over the pipe by at least 3 or 4 inches. Use a SS hose clamp to
> hold it in place on the mast.  If need be a bit of Lithium grease can be
> added where it slides on the pipe/thrust bearing.
> 
> The wood bearing or "Amateur Block" when constructed properly also has the
> advantage of being adjustable. For that I'd use oil impregnated hard wood.
> 
> > You get what you pay for.  An inexpensive (aka cheap) thrust bearing or
> > substitute device (not recommended) may in the long run cost you more in
> 
> It depends on how elaborate you want to get, but from what I've seen, most
> inexpensive thrust bearings are more reliable and serve the function of a
> thrust bearing better than the commercial ones.
> 
> > time and frustration than if you spent the $50 in the first place.  A
> > cheap
> > bearing that freezes up, rusts out, binds, etc especially in the middle of
> > winter when tower climbing, mast and antenna pulling, etc. is impossible
> > or
> 
> It only takes a little thought to prevent these things from happening.
> 
> > unsafe can make the money you should have spent to do it right in the
> > first
> > place not seem excessive.
> > Jerry
> > N7WR
> 
> Roger Halstead (K8RI and ARRL 40 year Life Member)
> N833R - World's oldest Debonair CD-2
> www.rogerhalstead.com (Use return address from home page)
> 
> >
> >
> >>From: Rob Frohne <frohro at wwc.edu>
> >>Reply-To: frohro at wwc.edu
> >>To: towertalk at contesting.com
> >>Subject: [TowerTalk] Inexpensive thrust bearing?
> >>Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2007 10:06:59 -0700
> >>
> >>Hi Everyone,
> >>
> >>Does anyone have a source for an inexpensive thrust bearing?  I have a
> >>plate on the top of my tower with a hole through it, and was thinking of
> >>putting a thrust bearing on, but the ones I found were around $50 which
> >>for my frugal self is a bit spendy for a thrust bearing.  It seems that
> >>there is probably a cheaper way to do this with some kind of automobile
> >>bearing or a sleeve of pipe and some set screws, etc.  Does anyone have
> >>any advice?
> >>
> >>73,
> >>
> >>Rob, KL7NA
> >>--
> >>Rob Frohne, Ph.D., P.E.
> >>E.F. Cross School of Engineering
> >>Walla Walla College
> >>100 SW 4th Street
> >>College Place, WA 99324
> >>(509) 527-2075
> >>http://www.wwc.edu/~frohro/
> >>
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-- 
Rob Frohne, Ph.D., P.E.
E.F. Cross School of Engineering
Walla Walla College
100 SW 4th Street
College Place, WA 99324
(509) 527-2075
http://www.wwc.edu/~frohro/