[TowerTalk] 2nd Rotor Shelf TX-455

[John Hudson]

Let me clarify the antenna location. The antenna is not at the top of the
mast. The NN4ZZ tilt plate is just above the top of the tower so the boom is
apprx 2' above the tower, so there's 15' of mast above the antenna. All I am
trying to do is lower the mast into the tower to reduce some of the pressure
while laying the tower over without cutting the mast.
To explain a little more When I first installed my tower I had a old Triesto
tower. I homebrewed a raising fixture 3" square tubing 1/4"thick wall. It's
6' in the concrete with 7' out. I filled it full of concrete and stuck a
couple of rebars pieces in there to help stiffen it. I have a Fulton 2550
winch and used a pulley attached to the tower. Tilting the Triesto with a
Mosley PRO57 was easy and it worked fine. After a wind storm damaged the
tower I replaced it with a TX-455..used the same base (another story) and
raising fixture. Lifting the tower was fine but after adding the STEPPIR and
the chrome Molly, the 3" square tubing now bows, A LOT. I do not want to try
and lift it and break the square tubing or bust the concrete around the
square tubing so right now to tilt the tower I have to deadman off a truck
hitch to the top of the raising fixture. It's absorbing the excess pressure
and works fine.. no more extra stress on the 3" square tubing.

So my purpose for this question of lowering the mast into the tower was to
take some of the excess pressure off without cutting the mast. I may have to
but I want to look at other options first

Sorry for the long post but trying to clear up the antenna is not at the top
of the mast

-----Original Message-----
From: john at kk9a.com [mailto:kk9a at bellsouth.net] 
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2012 6:56 AM
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Cc: jd_hudson at comcast.net
Subject: re: [TowerTalk] 2nd Rotor Shelf TX-455

A mast 5' into the tower is very sufficient.  You don't have to mount your
antenna at the top of the mast!

John KK9A

To:  <towertalk at contesting.com> 
Subject:  [TowerTalk] 2nd Rotor Shelf TX-455 
From:  "John Hudson" 
Date:  Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:20:00 -0600 
 

I just purchased a new TX-455 in August 2011 and it's installed with a 4L
30/40m Steppir with a Tilt Plate and a 22' chrome molly 2" mast. The rotor
shelf is apprx 5' into the tower and I have 17' sticking out. Now this adds
a pretty good load on the tower when raising and lowering. I want to drop
the rotor about 5 more feet into the tower but US Tower offers no accessory
shelf. The TX-455 bracings are slanted and not horizontal like Rohn tower

 

Has anyone added a 2 shelf other than wielding something place? 

Thanks

 

73

John

KO4XJ