[TowerTalk] Replacing cable on crankup

[Barrie Smith]

Steve:

I'm certainly glad to hear that news!

I've looked at the cable several times as I've been cranking the tower up and down, and I see no sign of damage or rust.

Excepting, perhaps, me, things don't rust much here in Montana.

The only reason I had contemplated changing the cable is that I had read, or heard that it should be done every few years.

Thanks & 73, Barrie, W7ALW
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: K7LXC at aol.com 
  To: towertalk at contesting.com ; barrie at centric.net 
  Sent: Friday, November 19, 2010 9:37 AM
  Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Replacing cable on crankup 


  In a message dated 11/17/2010 1:52:35 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, towertalk-request at contesting.com writes:
    >  Is there an easy way to replace the cable on a standing, crankup tower?

    >  It seems to me that it may be possible to attach the new cable to the old and then thread the new cable through the pullys.

           Yes, with proper blocking that's the way to do it. Proper blocking being pieces of pipe or 2x4's or something else pretty substantial under the bottom of each tower section. 

          I guess my question is why do you think the cables need replacing? If you have deep rust, excessive broken strands or obvious damage to the cables, then they do need replacing. I'll bet a nickel that you have none of those conditions. I've worked on dozens of crank-ups and have almost never seen cables so bad they needed replacing. This is a function of a UST weasel clause; that is, if you don't replace the cables per their recommendation, they can weasel out of any liability.

  Cheers,
  Steve    K7LXC
  TOWER TECH -
  Professional tower services for hams
  and 
  US TOWER factory authorized installer