[TowerTalk] Thrust bearing versus rotator pin bolt

[Tom Singleton]

Hi all,

My Yaesu rotator (DXA1000) specifies that the mast be pinned 50mm 
above the base.  I am also using a yaesu GS-65 thrust bearing.  The 
retaining plates that they have with this rotor are very nice, by the way.

If I pin the mast using the supplied bolt per instructions, there is 
precious little slack in the 9mm hole which allows the weight of the 
mast to be taken off the rotator-none that I can tell in fact.  Does 
the use of the pin bolt mean that the antenna/mast weight has to be 
carried by the rotator and not by the thrust bearing?

Do you think it would be a good idea to drill a larger hole in the 
mast so that there is noticeable room to pull the mast up off the pin 
as I tighten the thrust bearing bolts?  Or should I follow the 
rotator installation instructions, figuring that is how it is 
engineered?  My understanding is that having the weight of the mast 
and antenna (TA53M with 40M add-on 65lbs) would be better for the rotator.

Tom
K8TOM