[TowerTalk] Speaking of the HAM Seriesofrotators...How doyoutell the difference.

Tue Oct 26 16:26:14 PDT 2010

On 10/26/2010 6:15 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:
>   >  Almost certainly not a T2X. Wrong wiring for one although it could
>   >  be a really old one without the pigtail.
>
> T2X uses same wiring as HAM II/III/IV/V.  The difference is a
> larger casting (with through bolts) and a third bearing race.
According to Hy-Gain they come with the pig tail instead of a terminal 
strip, but two bearing races rule out the tailtwister any way.

> The only difference in the controllers between T2X and HAM IV/V
> is the additional LEDs for CW/CCW (and possibly paint color
> depending on the era).  Compare parts lists in the manuals at
> various stages of production and you will find part numbers
> leapfrogging one another as improvements were introduced in
> first one then the other series of rotors.
>
> ... and yes, the original T2X included the terminal strips ...
> I have two of them with terminal strips from the late 70's.
I don't think this one is near that old.

Actually according to the pig tail conversion the wires are of different 
color between the two.  However I think the connectors are the only 
difference in the pigtails.

The next rotator I purchase will be an Alpha Spid. Only slightly more 
than the Ham V and much, much stronger with no ability to free wheel.

Thanks and 73

Roger (K8RI)
> 73,
>
>      ... Joe, W4TV
>
>
> On 10/26/2010 5:29 PM, Roger (K8RI) wrote:
>>
>> On 10/26/2010 4:53 PM, n8de at thepoint.net wrote:
>>> Roger,
>>> One thing you might try is this:
>>>
>>> connect the rotor to a control box, and then push the 'brake' lever.
>>>
>>> Listen closely to the 'noise' it makes.
>>>
>>> If the sound appears to come from the BOTTOM of the lower housing, it
>>> may be a HAM-M or similar family.
>> Already been there<:-)) It's from the side.
>>
>>> If the sound appears to come from the SIDE of the lower housing, it
>>> might be a HAM-III, HAM-IV, or T2X, but I'm sure all the T2X rotor
>>> housings have definite markings you can't confuse with the others.
>>>
>> Almost certainly not a T2X. Wrong wiring for one although it could be a
>> really old one without the pigtail. I don't know if they made
>> TailTwisters without the pigtail.
>> This is sorta like working on a fairly simple circuit without a
>> schematic although I don't see any problem putting this back together
>> without a diagram or photo. The only tricky part is the double bearing
>> race with the one set of bearings setting directly on top of the other.
>> It takes some good grease to keep them in place.
>>
>> The last time I had one of these apart was not long after they came out
>> with the latest and greatest ...Ham M.<:-))
>>> NOW ... if you'd like to dispose of any of them,  I'M INTERESTED!!
>> Sorry, they really aren't mine. I said I inherited them, but when I said
>> I needed a rotator I was offered one "to use" that might need a bit of
>> work as it had set around a long time. The wording was I could store it
>> on my tower for him. (He doesn't foresee needing it for a longgg time).
>> This way, when I no longer need it he can have it back albeit the thing
>> now looks like new, inside and out and it was a reasonable way for me to
>> get a rotator to use for a while.
>>
>> I have to admit this has reminded me why I really like the PST61 and
>> Alpha Spid, Dual worm gear rotators.<:-))
>>
>> 73
>>
>> Roger (K8RI)
>>> 73,
>>> Don
>>> N8DE
>>>
>>>
>>> Quoting "Roger (K8RI)"<K8RI-on-TowerTalk at tm.net>:
>>>
>>>> On 10/26/2010 4:18 PM, Roger (K8RI) wrote:
>>>>> On 10/26/2010 5:34 AM, Todd Coulter wrote:
>>>>>> Roger,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Maybe this page from Norm's Rotor Service will help.
>>>>> A little, but I already know it's a ham series due to the extended brake
>>>>> housing that adds about 4" to the height.
>>>>>
>>>>> What I can't find are any designations stamped on the base of the
>>>>> housing. I'm assuming that means the bottom outside of the base?  There
>>>>> is no mast extension to cover the base. There is a single digit followed
>>>>> by a dash and IIRC 3 digits,
>>>> Those numbers are 5 604 (space between the 5 and 604) and are the only
>>>> thing on the base.There is nothing on the outside of the base cover
>>>> which is the brake and nothing on the bell.
>>>>
>>>> It appears to be a Ham IV, but could be a older Ham M and I do not know
>>>> how to tell them apart based on appearance and parts.
>>>>
>>>> 73
>>>>
>>>> Roger (K8RI)
>>>>> but nothing that resembles the codes
>>>>> depicted on norms page which BTW if you wear bifocals is very difficult
>>>>> to read with the text overlaying the charts.
>>>>>
>>>>> Even then, there is nothing to tell me what's different between the
>>>>> different models even if I do find a designation which seems to be
>>>>> missing. The controller is just the generic "ham" controller.
>>>>>
>>>>> 73
>>>>>
>>>>> Roger (K8RI)
>>>>>> http://rotorservice.com/serv3%20identify.htm
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 73's
>>>>>> Todd
>>>>>> N4JRZ
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
>>>>>> [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Roger (K8RI)
>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2010 2:07 AM
>>>>>> To: TOWERTALK at contesting.com
>>>>>> Subject: [TowerTalk] Speaking of the Han Series of rotators...How do you
>>>>>> tell the difference.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I recently inherited a couple of basket cases. They appear to be ham
>>>>>> IV's but how do you tell the ham IV rotator minus control box,  from the
>>>>>> other models?  Other than having to clean out a lot of dirt and replace
>>>>>> the bearings...I replaced the terminal strips with the TailTwister
>>>>>> pigtails and connectors. Welll... I really didn't have to replace the
>>>>>> bearings, but I like shiny bearings rather than old dull black ones.
>>>>>> That and I discovered you can purchase them from Hy-gain including the
>>>>>> retainers for between 1/3 and 1/4 the price at the hardware store which
>>>>>> used to be an inexpensive place to get things like that.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 73
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Roger (K8RI)
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>
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