[TowerTalk] Lifting a mast off the rotator

[Joe K2UF]

Les,

 Although my mast and beams only weigh about 250 lbs.  I use a clamp on the
mast and jack against the clamp with a modified car scissor jack that fits
in the tower and jacks off of the cross bars.  I can raise the mast enough
to get the rotor clam shell off.

Good luck

73  Joe K2UF  

-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Les
Kalmus
Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2016 10:11 PM
To: TOWERTALK at contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Lifting a mast off the rotator

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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