[TowerTalk] Thoughts on Tower lifting cable broken strands

[Doug Scribner]

That's an offer I wouldn't turn down...

Doug - K1ZO

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rex Turvin" <turvin2009 at yahoo.com>
To: "Mickey Baker" <fishflorida at gmail.com>
Cc: "Ray Benny" <rayn6vr at cableone.net>; "TowerTalk" 
<TowerTalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2013 12:21 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Thoughts on Tower lifting cable broken strands


> 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
>>> _______________________________________________
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> TowerTalk mailing list
>>> TowerTalk at contesting.com
>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>>
>>
>>
>> -- 
>> 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.
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> TowerTalk mailing list
>> TowerTalk at contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
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