[TowerTalk] Was Guyed vs. free-standing, now aluminum towers

[Cqtestk4xs at aol.com]

In a message dated 10/16/2007 2:48:49 P.M. Greenwich Standard Time,  
finger at goeaston.net writes:

I had a  9-50 up for years with a KT34A on top.  Moved it once to a new  
location.  Tower was okay but won't last "forever" as the bolt holes  at 
the leg junctions elongate over time and sections become  useless
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Same experience here.  I had two aluminum towers, one from Heights and  one 
from Universal.  Both developed "eggholes".  I also found and  sold several 
aluminum towers with the same problems.  
 
Past opinion on this reflector was "do not drill out the eggholes and  
replace them with larger bolts".  The solution to counter the egghole  development 
was to guy these usually self supporting towers.  That was also  a thumbs down 
on this reflector.
 
One other caveat...be careful how tight you tighten the bolts on the  
aluminum tower.  If you tighten them like you would normally tighten  Rohn 45/55, it 
will be very challenging to get them apart since the aluminum  bends together. 
 This, coupled with oxidation from the joint makes taking  them apart "fun".  
You can't hammer and beat the sections apart like Rohn  45/55.  If you do, 
plan on making a trip to the local welder.  Or  worse, to your local scrap metal 
dealer.
 
As always, YMMV.
 
Bill K4XS/KH7XS 
 

 



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