[TowerTalk] [Bulk] Lifting a mast off the rotator

[Grant Saviers]

Les,

IMO, the best idea is to attach a u-bolt with a hoist point bracket to 
the mast and use a come-along inside to the tower top plate, although 
come-alongs can be too long to fit.  The shortest headroom lifters I've 
found is are 500# and 1000# capacity lever chain hoists, < 8".  This is 
my strategy for a safe very heavy mast lift off the rotator, even if a 
foot or more of clearance is needed.  A forged eye is fitted to a hole 
drilled in the top plate of the tower as an attachment point.  Once 
installed, the attach points can be left for the "next time".

Other ways to go:  the die pry bar set from Harbor Freight and the 4 ton 
hydraulic frame straightener have been very handy for me to 
lift/separate/straighten things.

#68339   or #1654  (the porta power from HF is now 2x the price from Amazon)

http://www.amazon.com/Goplus%C2%AE-Porta-Power-Hydraulic-Repair/dp/B017H8R9E2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1461551404&sr=8-1&keywords=hydraulic+frame+repair+kit

the jaw separator might be useful for lifting once a pry bar gives some 
space for it, but needs a good purchase.  Or use the small extension 
cylinder to a u-bolt fastened lift point above the tower top.  Or use a 
small scissor jack, which I bought for taking apart rohn 25.  The 
cylinders are also good for straightening bent tower parts.

On a used 2800 I acquired the prior owner had secured a cut off box end 
wrench on the center bolt with a screw through the wrench handle and 
threaded into the Orion plate about 2" out from the bolt, oriented so 
the split mast clamp clears the wrench.   Now I know why he did that.

Grant KZ1W

On 4/24/2016 19:11 PM, Les Kalmus wrote:
> I came home from Visalia to find my antenna system freewheeling. The 
> mast holds 4 yagis, one of which is very large, and is rotated by an 
> Orion rotator.
> If my suspicions are correct, the problem is the little 1/4" bolt 
> holding the shaft up into the bottom of the mast clamp has loosened 
> and allowed the shaft to fall.
>
> The tower is lowered and the antennas are tied off to a tree. I have 
> removed the mast clamp and now I have to raise the mast about 1/2" to 
> free the centering block so I can remove it to inspect that bolt.
> I have a come along with an additional block with which I can lift the 
> mast, but the carabiner I have won't fit into the small space between 
> the centering block and the inside of the mast.
>
> Any suggestions on a way to either hook the mast from the bottom or to 
> clamp to it so I can raise it? We're talking maybe 400 lbs in the 
> complete antenna system.
> I have done this in the past but I think I didn't have the centering 
> block at that time so it was easier to get something hooked into the 
> bottom of the shaft.
>
> Les W2LK
>
>
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