[TowerTalk] Tri-Ex W-51 Vs. Tashjian WT-51 specs?!

[Gary Slagel]

Chris,
 
I've got the old wt-51 manual from Tri-ex, dated May 20, 1983.  Specs are:
Windload - 'approximately 9 sq ft of antenna area at 50 mph indicated by engineering analysis'
Deadload - 150 lbs maximum
weight - 417 lbs in steel
 
Nothing about the size of the section walls (1/8" vs 1/16") but you can compare the overall weight to the new one to get some thoughts.
 
I had the old wt-51 up with a KLM beam... think it was about 10 sq ft... can't remember the model.  The guy I got it from had it up for 15 years in Colorado with no problems but I had it fold over at the 2nd section in a freak storm here in South Dakota.  The wx guys said we were having gusts up to 70 mph but I was here at the house and I'd swear we had a microburst of way more than that.  I've not been in many storms but the burst that hit us made me think the house was coming down.  
 
Anyway... I already had the wt-51 base in the ground so I bought a new wt-51.  I currently have a little a4s beam on it but am planning on a steppir db18 in the future.  I'll be interested in comments from the guys on the list about it.
 
I've got a lot of paper work on the old tower.... drawings, instruction manual, etc.  Its a big pile of stuff so hard to copy but I can answer any questions offline if you'd like.

Gary Slagel
Hot Springs, SD
N0SXX
http://marina.fortunecity.com/sanpedro/351


________________________________
From: Chris Merchant KA1LMR <ka1lmr at yahoo.com>
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2011 9:16 PM
Subject: [TowerTalk] Tri-Ex W-51 Vs. Tashjian WT-51 specs?!

I have seen reviews with these towers lumped together but after some research  after I bought a used W-51 and was told to use instructions and specs on the current production of the WT-51. 
 
Well I talked on the phone to someone at the company voicing  some concerns after finding a picture of this tower  bent in half google WT- 51 tower under images this was K8MN tower.  the guy at the company was shocked to see there bent over tower.  
then the distinction  this was the older  Tower. 
 
So, I asked for the specs on the older version of the tower  to see if it was the same . He could find no specs for me  Just some diagrams parts list dating back 2nd 1972 I didn't realize the towers dated back that far.
 
I confirmed one major difference the top section on the new towers are 1" with 1/8 wall but the older W - 51 has only  a 16th wall! 
 
If anyone has some Specs on the old tower  please pass it along the new tower  specs says 14 sq ft  at 85 mph winds.  But the tech on the phone  is saying with top section being 1/2  the wall thickness of the new  would  cut the  the wind sq ft rating down to only 5-6 sq ft!  so before you put up a large HF beams  and few vhf boomers if you have the older W 51 , I don't think 1970's specifications have it rated at 14 sq ft @ 85 mph wind as the ones are?
 
So I will be guying my "free standing"  W - 51 at the top and middle sections and a large frame bracket to the house at the 20 Ft level , 2.5 x 2.5  x  5 Ft concrete foundation  with re-bar cage  and pray it does not come down.
I plan to have  3 ele steppir with addon 8 sq ft total and 10 ft  steel mast with antenna at the top  with 3 feet of mast in the tower plus the rotator.  thoughts on whether this will be adequate and  specs on the older tower will be appreciated.
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