[TowerTalk] Attaching winch cable to Universal Tower

[Patrick Greenlee]

I have the same home brew design as you.  I use it on my Hy-Gain 
Hy-Tower multi-band vertical (52 ft tall and mounted on a metal bld roof 
peak.)  I don't leave the tubing with the winch, pulley, and cables 
(winch cable and back strap) in place all the time as the tower is an 
active antenna. Right now the raising fixture with pulley is threaded at 
the bottom and screws into a threaded fitting mounted to the roof.

Everything about using it is easy except getting the threads started 
when putting the fixture into place for use. Otherwise it works super 
and it makes one man maint easy.  I will be replacing the threaded 
connection with a few inches of tubing sized to "telescope" with the 
vertical  tube of the fixture making assy and dis-assy dead simple.

I'm not a mechanical engineer but we have some on this reflector. If I 
were concerned that the force concentration at the attachment points 
might deform the tower legs I would reinforce the legs with aluminum 
angle or C channel  for a couple feet at the attachment points to 
distribute the load. Night not be needed, might be overkill, but it 
shouldn't hurt anything even though redundant. (Except where fully found 
lacking by competent authority such as a mech eng.) YMMV, Void where 
prohibited by law, No warranty as to merchantability or fitness for any 
specific purpose.

I wish you all the success with your project and a happy and prosperous 
new year.

Patrick        NJ5G


On 12/27/2015 3:22 PM, Kirk Kendrick wrote:
> Looking to you Tower Elmers for guidance:
>
> 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 folks have already solved this attachment issue...and can share
> successes (& approaches to avoid)
>
> Tnx in advance,
> Kirk KK2Z
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk