[TowerTalk] [Bulk] Attaching winch cable to Universal Tower

[J. Gordon Beattie, Jr., W2TTT]

Kirk,
1. A stainless eyebolt on an aluminum gusset plate that is U-bolted/bolted
to the tower in such a way to spread stress.
2. Use multiple raising cables at various points on the tower.
3. I reinforced my tower legs with aluminum angle and made a pivot plate
across them at 11 ft tilt my Alumna T-140.  The base is a pair of 16ft 8x8s
three feet in the ground.  You could build a raising point using one or two
of these poles to elevate the winching point heading to your tower.
73,
Gordon, W2TTT
201.314.6964


-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Kirk
Kendrick
Sent: Monday, December 28, 2015 3:33 AM
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: [Bulk] [TowerTalk] Attaching winch cable to Universal Tower

To those of you who have used aluminum towers:

QUESTION:  What's the best method to attach a raising cable to an aluminum
tower?

I'm looking for ideas on how to attach a winch cable to raise and lower an
HD 21-50 Universal Tower with about 100# of antenna gear at the top.  I'm
worried that the forces during tilt up/down could damage or deform the
aluminum tower near the attachment point. Anyone have a design of an
attachment method/fixture that minimizes this risk?

I'm NOT looking for a "temporary" solution (that is, no "lifting straps"
that would deteriorate in the weather). The gin pole, winch, and cable will
remain attached so the tower can be lowered (by one person) whenever needed.
My hope is that the tower and raising fixture will be up for years of
service.

NOTE:  My plan is a raising fixture consisting of a 20' gin pole with back
stay, winch bolted to gin pole, cable from winch through pulley at top of
gin pole to an attachment point 20-25' up the tower.

I'm sure some of you have already solved this attachment issue...and can
share successes (& approaches to avoid)

Tnx in advance,
Kirk KK2Z
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