[TowerTalk] T2X Tail Twister rotator freezes in place below 32 degrees ?

[Grant Saviers]

You wouldn't do this to a "real" bearing, but I've had success sanding 
out the divots, or at least making them less bumpy.  The balls are cheap 
to replace and stainless steel ones are available from McMaster.  The 
original Rheo-lube Hy-Gain grease is not cheap from MFJ and available 
only in large quantities from the UK, so I use Synco "Super-Lube" a TFE 
fortified fully synthetic grease with good success.   available on ebay, 
amazon, grainger, etc. Synthetics generally have much large useful 
temperature ranges than clay etc. fortified greases.

Grant KZ1W


On 7/21/2014 8:44 PM, Jon Pearl - W4ABC wrote:
> Hi Dick,
>
> As a follow-on to what you've said... not only will the bearings most 
> likely be rusted and pitted, but the upper and lower races will 
> probably be galled beyond use if the races are constructed in a 
> fashion similar to the rest of the Hy-Gain bell type rotator line.
>
> Because the steel ball bearings are in intimate contact under load 
> with the much softer aluminum brake housing & bell casting races - and 
> due to the fact that the antenna, mast and rotator are continuously 
> rocked back and forth against the brake wedge in the wind, the 
> bearings tend to wear a series of short furrows in the aluminum around 
> the entire circumference where they rock.
>
>
>
> 73,
>
>
> Jon Pearl - W4ABC
> www.w4abc.com
>
>
> On 7/21/2014 9:51 PM, Dick wrote:
>> In line with Mike's comment concerning the ball bearings; after being 
>> in the
>> elements for 30 years, you most likely will find the ball bearings in 
>> pretty
>> bad shape.  A new set is not going to set you back an "arm and a 
>> leg"; you
>> might well find they need replacing too.  My personal experience in over
>> hauling rotors is to remove and replace anything that at all looks 
>> like it
>> is worn.  You want the rotor to be in tip top shape when you lug it 
>> up to
>> the top of the tower and re-install it!!
>>
>> Dick, K8ZTT
>>
>>
>
>
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