[TowerTalk] Likely repairs for a US Tower HDX589MDPL crank-up tower?

[K7LXC at aol.com]

In a message dated 10/25/2010 9:34:26 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
towertalk-request at contesting.com writes:

>  I purchased a 6 year old US Tower HDX-589MDPL crank-up  from  an SK's 
estate last year. It has been sitting horizontal since it  was delivered from 
US Tower - it has never been put into service -- but it  appears to be in 
great shape with no rust. I have had it at my cabin location  near Romney, WV 
the past year covered by a tarp.

>  I expect  that I will need to replace the cable and perhaps the pulleys. 
 I also  think the motor may need to be replaced and perhaps limit switches 
 too.


    How do you know that any of this needs to be  done? I doubt that any of 
this is necessary. I'm a UST factory authorized  installer and having spent 
time at the factory learning how to work on them.  I've installed several 
dozen of them and worked on many more and in general  the cables and pulleys 
will last for many years with little or no maintenance.  There's a chapter 
in my UP THE TOWER book (_www.championradio.com_ 
(http://www.championradio.com) ) just on  crank-ups and their maintenance. 
 
    Reasons for cable replacement are 1) excessive  broken strands, 2) 
damaged cable or 3) fatal rust. I doubt that you have any  of those. 

>  My thought is that if this project is going to be  a huge effort, it 
might be better to sell the tower and go with a simpler  tower like an AN 
Wireless freestanding tower. Because the tower isn't located  where I can get to 
it very often, refurbing this thing is going to take quite  awhile if the 
effort is at all significant.
 
    A real tower is much more reliable than a  crank-up. That might be the 
best way to go. 
 
Cheers,
Steve    K7LXC
TOWER TECH -
Professional tower services for hams
Cell: 206-890-4188