[TowerTalk] Recabling US Tower TX-472

[Mike]

Some of my top section cables are rusty colored on the outside and I sleep
at night because I check them regularly, my measure of how bad it is:

1. Is the cable with rust still as flexible as a new cable
2. I look at the worst section of cable through a magnifying glass looking
for rust damage pits in the strands, I use two pairs of pliers to unravel it
a bit to see the strands underneath (gently).
3. If there is rust on the cable and also a broken outside strands then I
would change it, I would not wait for six to break. 
4. You can tell by the feel/flexibility if the cable is shot and needs
changing and of course if you are in any doubt change it. 

I also agree with Steve, many people change cables for no good reason except
that it has surface rust, back to number two, check with a magnifying glass.
Even when you saw through a really rusted and pitted cable three quarters of
the inside strands are clean and in good shape.

I always check the cable where the eye has been mechanically splice crimped
on.  Always check the part of the cable that sits on the Sheaves all the
time that the tower is extended.

I have never seen broken strands on a cable that were not caused by some
external damage, if the external damage caused strands to break you would
have to think that even more damage that you can't see may have been done to
the cable internally, so I would defiantly change it.

To be honest I would be more worried about the Sheaves and the rusty bolt
through Sheaves that nobody seems to check, oil or replace.  If the
Sheave/bolt collapse or break down comes the tower section.

Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of KJ6Y at aol.com


I know Steve is considered the "GURU" of towers.  But I have to  disagree.  
I've seen many towers in my over 33 years of tower installations  and 
service and have seen many that definitely needed the cables replaced.  As I
tell 
my customers, "Better to change them too early than too late"
 
 
Skip,  KJ6Y
_Communications Service  Co_ (http://www.communicationsserviceco.com/) 
818-887-3569

 
 
In a message dated 2/11/2011 1:40:56 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
K7LXC at aol.com writes:


In a  message dated 2/11/2011 12:01:24 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,   
towertalk-request at contesting.com writes:

> I have a Motorized US  Tower TX-472 that I would like to  recable. Is 
there anyone out there  that has recabled their TX-472 and might  have 
advice and 
or  suggestions on this project.? A good cabling diagram would  be a help.? 
 
I haven't tried US Tower for advice as of  yet.



Okay,  I'll bite. Why do you  think the cables need replacing? I've worked  
on dozens of crank-ups over the  years and haven't seen one where the  
cables 
were bad enough to need replacing. 

>From my UP THE TOWER book  (_www.championradio.com_  
(http://www.championradio.com) ), the 3  reasons why your would need  
replacing are 1) fatal 
rust (not surface rust), 2)  damage (kinked or  flattened) or 3) excessive 
broken strands (you're allowed  six).  Which of these conditions do you 
have?

Cheers,
Steve   K7LXC
TOWER TECH -
Professional tower services for  hams
and 
UST factory authorized  installer
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Skip,  KJ6Y
_Communications  Service  Co_ (http://www.communicationsserviceco.com/) 
818-887-3569

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