[TowerTalk] Thoughts on Tower lifting cable broken strands

[Rex Turvin]

Ray
Get the parts, pick a weekend, and I'll drive up and help you replace it.
I'll also bring my welder s and do your welding.
I like to drink Mtn Dew :)
73 NR6M
Rex

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 22, 2013, at 8:33 AM, Mickey Baker <fishflorida at gmail.com> wrote:

> Ray,
> 
> The ONLY thing to do is to replace the cables. Get yourself an assortment
> of wooden blocks and wedges and use a lever (fiberglass shovel handle,
> crowbar) to arrange the tower as you need it. You and a helper should be
> able to get the tower ready for lift if you're careful and plan the
> installation.
> 
> If the damage was caused the way you describe, it is difficult to know for
> sure if the remaining strands are intact. A cable break while the tower is
> extended would destroy your tower and most everything on it.
> 
> Good luck and 73,
> 
> Mickey N4MB
> 
> 
> On Thu, Aug 22, 2013 at 3:21 AM, Ray Benny <rayn6vr at cableone.net> wrote:
> 
>> I'm in a dilemma.
>> 
>> I purchase a used TM-490 90 ft Sky Needle and recently found some of the
>> 5/16", 7 X 19 aircraft cable lifting cable strands broken. The tower is on
>> the ground and not been in the vertical position for a number of years. The
>> problem, apparently there was some gas torch cutting done nearby and
>> splatter landed on the cable. This molten metal landed on the pull up cable
>> causing it to burn and sever 2 - 3 strands in one area, and another 3 - 4
>> strands 6 inches higher up the cable. The cable overall is otherwise in
>> very good condx with no wear marks. It might have been replaced prior and
>> the tower has been laying on the ground ever since?
>> 
>> The best and right thing to do is to replace the cable. But, I have been
>> going through my options:
>> 
>> #1 - Do the cable replacing myself. I have found the cable and cable
>> pulling grip for less that $200. The major problem is that this is a 3200
>> lbs tabular tower and not easy to move around. I would need to rent small
>> boom truck or forklift and some other misc working hardware to pull the
>> sections apart. It would not be easy, but feel I could do the job.
>> 
>> #2 - Hire someone to come here and do the job. This can run into a 4 - 5
>> thousand dollar cost.
>> 
>> #3 - Transport the tower to California and have it restring by the tower
>> company who made it long ago. I've checked commercial transport rates, r/t
>> shipment and cable replacement cost is more than option #2.
>> 
>> #4 - Do nothing and live with a few broken strands.
>> 
>> *At this point I am looking for thoughts, experiences and/or
>> semi-professional thoughts on option #4 - do nothing*. I've had a one
>> experienced tower person say that 6 - 8 broken strands out of 133 is
>> nothing.
>> 
>> Again, I know the proper/safe thing to do is replace the cable, but how
>> about doing nothing and using the tower as is?
>> 
>> Tnx,
>> 
>> Ray,
>> N6VR
>> _______________________________________________
>> 
>> 
>> 
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> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Mickey Baker, N4MB
> Fort Lauderdale, FL
> *“Tell me, and I will listen. Show me, and I will understand. Involve me,
> and I will learn.” *Teton Lakota, American Indian Saying.
> _______________________________________________
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