[TowerTalk] Older Hytower

[r miles]

Not sure if anything has changed electricly but there are important 
mech. changes. Mine is apx 25 yr.s old & folded at the base in a storm. 
Broke all 3 base insulators & bend the aluminium tubes in the concrete. 
I thought I'd just replace the old warped base plate too. No can do. I 
was told by MFJ the current base plate is slightly  larger & the leg 
spacing is apx 1/2'' larger. So I ended up using a 10' section of pipe 
to 'gently' bring the aluminium legs vertical. I heated the base plate & 
hammered it back into shape. Rather than use a propane torch  my son 
suggested MAAP gas. Hotter &  worked FB. A friend suggested some very 
gud non-metalic guy rope. Very gud UV rating & 4400#  rated. I felt it 
easier to use  that than suffer another disaster. The HT is rated 75 MPH 
survival but the late Dec. storm was that powerful or more. In the Mid 
South  Nov & Dec storms can be the worst. Tn often  has Nov & Dec 
tornados.
I replaced some of the  stinger standoff insulated strips too. The new 
ones are exactly as the ones pictured in  my old manual. Not much has 
changed.

As to finding a used HT. It can be difficult. This one came  from 
central Fl to NW Tn on top of my car on roof racks. Lots of stares from 
other drivers. Not everyday you see a Ford Focus wagon with 3 tower 
sections & two 4'' PVC tubes holding the stingers cruzing the hi-way.

I was almost home & stopped to gas up the car. A pick-up truck with 
Wisconsin plates pulled next to me to get gas. The driver walked over to 
me & said: 'Hey that's a HyTower'. I almost fell over! He was a ham on 
vacation & he had a HyTower up at home. Small world.

K9IL