[TowerTalk] The inertia of rest and the tilt over

[Alan NV8A]

On 01/22/13 02:41 pm, Larry Loen wrote:

> I had a lot of difficulty getting started on tilting over my tower.  Before
> I installed the tower, I checked out the base and the contractor did an
> excellent job.  The thing was stone cold level.  I haven't checked since,
> but  I doubt if this has changed (did I mention my eight foot deep base?).
>
> So, when I took out the bolts (as you'd expect me to do) and put some slick
> in the tilt-over appliance, absolutely nothing happened.
>
> It took some difficulty and a little crudity I don't want to repeat to get
> that first inch or so of tilt and THEN the tower folded over fine.
>
> Is this a problem for anyone else?  Right now, there's no antenna on top,
> so there's basically nothing to "pull" the tower backwards after the bolts
> are released.
>
> How does this problem gets solved in a way that is safe for the operator
> and the tower?  Mine is a HDX 572.

I have an HDX-555. If you think about it, the center of gravity of the 
tower and whatever is mounted on it is "behind" the pivot point and so 
is tending to keep the tower upright; so, yes, it does need a little 
help to move the center of gravity "in front of" the pivot point. I let 
the tilt-over winch cable out just a small amount, then use a hefty pry 
bar between the bottom rear of the tower and a hunk of wood resting on 
the concrete base. Then I can step on the pry bar and tilt the tower a 
little more as I let the cable out. BTW, I don't know what winch is 
standard on the HDX-572; mine came with a K1550, and I replaced it with 
a K2550 -- much easier in both directions and doesn't screech like the 
other one.

73

Alan NV8A