[TowerTalk] Thrust Bearing Protection

[Pete Raymond]

To protect the thrust bearing atop my US Tower I bought what looked like a 
special rubber membrane that they use under shower stalls.  I cut a large 
circle a bit larger than the imaginary diameter of the top tower section. 
Then in the middle of this circle I draw a 2" diameter circle and cut an X 
through the center and extending about 1/8" beyond the 2" circle.  Then I 
slide this down the mast over the thrust bearing and with #33 I tape it in 
place by taping over the rubber that now has formed four little pyramids, 
the results of cutting an "X" through the center of the 2" circle.  Florida 
sun has had no effects on this rubber for 4 years.  It also allows easy 
access to the zerk fitting and keeps the bearing dry and out of the weather.

Home Depot has this rubber on a large roll and is gray in color, they sell 
it by the foot.

73 Pete N4KW



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Perry - K4PWO" <k4pwo at comcast.net>
To: <TowerTalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 15, 2011 3:33 AM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Thrust Bearing Protection


>I used a standard rubber roof vent seal for a vent stack.  I just cut the
> "bell" part out of the base and used that.  It looks a little lop sided
> since it was designed for the roof slope but it covers the bearing very
> well.
>
> 73 de Perry - K4PWO
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
> [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Dan Hearn
> Sent: Friday, October 14, 2011 9:59 PM
> To: towertalk reflector
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Thrust Bearing Protection
>
> When my 131 ft UST crankup arrived it had a 2 7/8 chrome moly mast with a
> nice top bearing. The bearing has a zerk fitting and I was concerned that
> water would stand in the top of the bearing. In order to prevent that I
> picked up a rubber feeding bowl at a local farm store. As I recall it was
> about 8 inches or so in diameter and possibly 4 inches deep. I cut a hole 
> in
> the center which would pass the mast but was a tight fit. This can be 
> lifted
> up and will stay gripped to the mast when I want to grease the bearing.
>  Unfortunately I was not wise enough to do this before the mast was
> inserted into the tower so I cut a slit from the center to the outside of
> the bowl and was able to twist the bowl to slip it onto the mast. I had
> installed a strip of aluminum where the cut was made held with some 
> screws.
> Possibly one could use silicone rubber cement to seal the cut or something
> else. It has been up for 10 years with no problems
>
> -- 
> Dan Hearn
> N5AR
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