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

[K7LXC at aol.com]

>  As someone else mentioned, location will have some effect  on optimum 
maintenance, but at least in rust prone areas, some form of  penetrating 
lubricant is definitely indicated. I can't think of an  application 
involving steel cable, where the owner wishes to measure cable  life in 
decades rather than years (broadcast tower guys, suspension bridge  
cables, etc.), where regular inspection and application of an engineered  
penetrating lube (or paint) is not done.
 
    There are commercial tower companies that sell guy  wire lubricating 
services. The have a device that rides down the guy wires  and lubricates the 
guy wire as it moves down. Or they have a person in a device  that rides 
down the guy wire and he manually does the lubing. Obviously these  wires 
aren't moving BUT nonetheless lubrication is recommended to maximize  service 
life.
 
Cheers,
Steve     K7LXC
TOWER TECH