[TowerTalk] How to apply lube to HDX589

[Jon Pearl - W4ABC]

Hi Andre,

On 6/13/2013 1:38 PM, Andre VanWyk wrote:
> Well I never heard of a crank up tower that failed because the cables were not lubricated PROVIDING manufacturer guidelines are followed and cables are changed when required.
There are two instances of wire rope failures (one, with catastrophic 
results) this week over on the CrankupTiltoverTowers list - 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CrankupTiltoverTowers/

Were they lubricated, Y/N?  Not known.

Are you incorrect in your assertion, above?  Nope!

I guess if one were to follow or exceed *some* manufacturers 
recommendations by removing and replacing un-lubricated cables per their 
schedule or at a more expeditious rate, we might never realize a 
failure.  But why (as we have read that *some* manufacturers state) 
remove and replace un-lubricated cable every three years when there is 
more than anecdotal evidence that the use of proper wire rope lubricant 
significantly extends the lifespan of wire rope?

Is the argument that the timely application of a proper wire rope 
lubricant somehow does damage, -vs- the costly replacement of of 
un-lubricated wire rope as often as every three years?  If so, is it due 
to the fact some tower manufacturers (by their recommendation not to 
lubricate their cables at all) have created a stigma (and thus a divide 
in the tower community) that the application of lubrication is somehow 
harmful to the wire rope?

I think someone might have hit on the crux of the argument, earlier.  If 
US Tower recommends that their cables not be lubricated then the obvious 
result is a shortened cable life and an expedited schedule of 
replacement. $$$

Here are two easily found web based examples, illustrating some of the 
reasons why wire rope fails and the many good reasons to 
lubricate/protect it:
http://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/372/wire-rope-lubrication
http://www.hecoslings.com/rope_lubrication.htm



73,


Jon Pearl - W4ABC
www.w4abc.com


>
> I think we as hams tend to both try to reinvent the wheel too many times. If it ain't broken, don't fix it!
>
> NJ0F
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jun 13, 2013, at 11:41 AM, Steve Dyer <w1srd at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> K7LXC breaks the prime directive for lubricating crank-up cables. He sells Prelube 6 on his site and recommends using it. And yes, any professional user of wire rope always lubricates their cables on a regular maintenance/inspection schedule.
>> It baffles me why anyone would not lube the cable with the *proper* lubricant since the cable is THE critical link in a crank-up.
>> It's a testament to how well the cable holds up that more failures haven't occurred. That and it's way over-sized to the load.
>> 73,
>> Steve
>> W1SRD
>>
>>
>>
>>