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

[Mat Eshpeter]

Steve - I have not had the chance to inspect the tower very closely. But after reading all the helpful posts, I suspect I have no real reason to be worried, I am now comfortable that the tower will most likely need very minor maintenance given the way it has been stored.
 
Thanks to: 
Steve
Don
Bob
Perry
Bill
John
Craig
Jim
 
for your replies to my question.
 
Ciao,
Mat

 


From: K7LXC at aol.com
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2010 10:48:19 -0400
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Likely repairs for a US Tower HDX589MDPL crank-up tower? 
To: towertalk at contesting.com; kk1c at live.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) 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