[TowerTalk] Crank-ups.....do NOT lubricate your cables

[Jim Thomson]

Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2012 17:22:15 -0700
From: Jim Lux <jimlux at earthlink.net>
To: Steve Maki <lists at oakcom.org>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Crank-ups.....do NOT lubricate your cables
from US tower

I suspect that rigging companies and crane ops also do regular inspection and cleaning of those cables too, just like the ones on gondola and chair lifts.
On Sep 3, 2012, at 17:05, Steve Maki <lists at oakcom.org> wrote:

> I wonder why crane companies keep their cables (on million dollar cranes) lubed religiously?
> 
> On this particular topic, I would not place much faith in the manufacturer's edicts, unless you're looking for a reason to keep busy replacing the cables more often than otherwise needed.
> 
> -Steve K8LX

##  all the local ship yards around here  have  55 gallon drums   of  pre-lube 6, 9,  + 11.  This stuff is literally
poured onto those cables, right at the drum, via an oiler device.   Its  just penetrating oil, to lubricate the inner strands.
Nobody is changing cables every 3 years.   UST also wants me  to check the oil in the gearbox every month, and also
change it out every 2 years.   Turns out those hub city gear boxes were never meant to be used for lifting applications.
They were  designed for stuff like conveyor belts, etc.   They are actually called ....speed reducers.   They were never intended for
a hoist application.   The  UST control box on the tower is not water proof nor is enclosed in anything remotely  close
to a nema box.   Whoever designed their anchor bolt configuration + rebar cage  on the HDX-689 was clueless.  Neither
meet any spec here in town.   If you put a 14 foot mast out the top of their tower, you can kiss that 70 mph rating goodbye. 
I wouldn’t be using the UBC-97  exposure B  specs either, use exposure C,  or use the  RS-222  rev g specs....if you can find em.

The story I got from the crane and ship yard folks is...   without the use of the various grades of prelube  slopped  onto the
cables, the inner strands can rub together..and break.   You cant see  internal damage  from the outside. 

It would be nice if  UST provided detailed instructions on  how to re-cable their towers.  They insist you recable their 
towers, but then wont provide the info.   Check out their info on how much torque required for both the anchor bolts  +
leg bolts..... answer,  snug fit.   What kinda  BS  answer is that.    

Jim  VE7RF