[TowerTalk] OR-2800DC questions
Jay Kesterson K0GU
k0gu at verinet.com
Wed May 30 14:24:14 PDT 2012
On 5/30/2012 1:52 PM, K8RI wrote:
> On 5/30/2012 4:33 PM, Jay Kesterson K0GU wrote:
>
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> Need some advice on an OR-2800DC that is about 12 years old. Over the
>> years apparently the soft metal welded to the top plate, that attaches
>> it to the hard steel output shaft, wallowed out creating a lot of play.
>> This apparently caused the 1/4" guide bolt to unscrew and damaged the
>> inside of the rotator. I replaced the top plate and that got rid of a
>> lot of play. But I just opened to rotator to find a mess.
> I'm not familiar with this specific rotator, but "in general" I'd be
> very concerned why the above happened. Possibly there was an antenna
> mounted "on the rotator" rather than on a mast through a thrust bearing?
No the rotor was inside the tower, had a thrust bearing at the top
and there was very little mast above the tower. It rotated a H-Frame
with four 7el 6m yagis (~20 sq ft) for 10 years. Not a huge amount of
wind load but a fair amount of torque when the frequent CO winds blow.
http://i509.photobucket.com/albums/s339/K0GU/6m1a.jpg
>> The big gear on the output shaft has lowered down somewhat into the
>> rotator. The limit switch pin on the gear has dug into the torque plate:
> What normally holds the large gear in the proper position. I assume
> it's not the pin sticking out the bottom that operates the limit switch
> lever. Due to the long drive gear it appears the position of the large
> gear is not important or precise, but it should not ride on other parts
> that are not designed to support it.
There is a 1/4 inch bolt that screws into the top of the shaft.
Perhaps all that is really wrong is the bolt unscrewed itself and the
shaft/gear dropped. But I would like to verify the measurements just in
case. However the more I think about it after your comments it's likely
the only problem is the bolt worked loose because of the slop in the top
plate. I bought a new top plate so I will just clean everything up and
put it back together. Guess I just needed to think out loud with someone
else. :-) At least I hope so.
thanks,
73, Jay K0GU
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