[TowerTalk] Mast slipping

[Alan NV8A]

On 07/23/12 01:32 am, K8RI wrote:

>> I'll second the motion that the DX Eng saddle clamps are the way to go.
>
> I use many of their saddle clamps, but I'd not use those for large
> antenna to mast clamps or rotator to mast clamps.  There just isn't
> enough surface area.
>
>> Lots of surface area of the saddle in contact with the mast and
>> stainless u-bolts are provided. Use a SS nylock nut backing up the
>> (provided) regular heavy hex nut.
>
> The same for Nylock nuts.  The nylon does not stand up well to the
> elements.  I get 2 or 3 years out of them at most and I use a lot of
> them. Usually after a couple of years I can take them off with my
> fingers. More than that and they are just loose on the bolt.

Somewhere in the dim and distant past I recall coming across nuts with a 
similar shape to Nylock nuts, but instead of a nylon insert they had 
that top section split and formed in such a way that it gripped the bolt 
very tightly.

I see that the general term is "split beam nut" and that the specific 
kind I had encountered is "Aerotight."

73

Alan NV8A