[TowerTalk] Rotor Removal

[Kenneth R. Goodwin, Jr.]

I used an old TB3 and some angle iron (actually unused tower braces 
cut to the necessary length) to tie a TB3 to the tower legs with 
u-bolt clamps. I drilled the holes in the 'angle iron' for the 
u-bolts in place after affixing the TB3 to the mast and the other 
ends of the 'angle iron'.  I placed the TB3 onto the mast as the 
crane was lowering the mast into the upper thrust bearing on the top 
platform and down into the rotator on the lower platform.  With the 
lower thrust bearing in place, it should take some of the load normal 
the axis of the mast off of the rotator.  Of course, I have yet to 
utilize the configuration but I assumed all I needed was some means 
of keeping the mast secure when raised above the rotator with the 
upper thrust bearing on the top platform taking the dead weight of 
the mast/antenna and with the lower thrust bearing keeping the mast 
vertical when removing the rotator.  I am not even sure if I need to 
raise the mast at all since the rotator clamp assembly on the T2X can 
be disassembled allowing to pull the rotator out to side with the 
mast in place.  (The mast is not resting on the rotator but borne by 
the upper thrust bearing.)   I have pictures of what I call the K4TD 
Memorial Thrust Bearing since Rick told me I needed more than just 
one thrust bearing for keeping forces normal to the mast axis off of 
the rotator.  This arrangement also keep me from having to build a 
third platform.  Everything but the 3-element 40 meter beam came thru 
Hurricane Ike with no problems.  Ken K5RG