[TowerTalk] Ground Level Rotators

[Djordan (personal)]

The thrust bearing is mounted mid-way down the tower... 

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On Sep 8, 2013, at 3:31 PM, Grant Saviers <grants2 at pacbell.net> wrote:

> Roger makes a good point about many rotator bearings needing some axial load and the high axial loads they are rated for.
> I would add a concern about the dead weight load imposed on the tower if a thrust bearing at the top supports the heavier mast sizes/materials discussed.  All tower specs I've seen have a dead load spec in addition to wind load.  Self supporting towers either fail in buckling,  compression or tension of some structural element and excessive dead load may be a problem.  IMO, put the mast weight on the rotator and use a true radial bearing (wood, plastic, etc) at the top.  Then it is also easy to hoist the mast up a bit to remove the rotator.  (aren't the goals to make it easy to work on the rotator and take loads off the tower??)
> 
> Grant KZ1W
> 
> 
> On 9/8/2013 12:04 PM, Roger (K8RI) on TT wrote:
>> On 9/8/2013 1:08 PM, WA3GIN wrote:
>>> I used this method on the HDBX48 and its been up for over 30 years....