[TowerTalk] Adjustments to Tower Base Pier J-Bolts

[Steve Maki]

One other thing:

I'm sure some folks worry that they might find, after plopping a self 
support tower down on *level* bottom nuts, that their pride and joy is 
not plumb. Not to worry, if the tower is a Pirod, or Nello, or Valmont, 
or Rohn, or whatever well know tower - that does not happen.

-Steve

On 7/22/2017 20:36 PM, Steve Maki wrote:

> OK, but since Pirod's design spec, or instructions as it were,  (and I 
> love Pirod, believe me) is already faulty as you know, we are seeking 
> after-the-fact solutions.
> 
> First, there is no need for the bottom nut to be 1.5" above the concrete 
> for leveling purposes. Unless your concrete is slanted severely for some 
> reason. Put all your nuts down to the concrete. Find the highest one. 
> Bring the others up to that level. You know where I'm going, right? 
> That's going to save you at least an inch or more.
> 
> Next, get rid of the lock washers. They are useless.
> 
> Next, disabuse yourself of the need for the 3" of threads showing on top 
> of everything for *leveling*. Not needed. If your bottom nuts are level, 
> you can get by with a 1/2" on top.
> 
> The critical task is to get the bottom nuts level. A laser level, or 
> just a long straight edge and bubble level is all you need.
> 
> -Steve K8LX
> 
> 
> 
> On 7/22/2017 20:06 PM, Paul Christensen wrote:
> 
>> Several folks want to know why there's 12" of exposed bolt above the
>> surface.  That's Pirod's design spec., but also keep in mind that a
>> self-supporting tower base foot does not rest on concrete.  It actually
>> rests on a nut as a leveling device.  The nut under the foot is 
>> adjusted to
>> level a self-supporting tower.  So, here's the actual length needed:
>>
>> First, the nuts are all 2" in height and the bottom nut is spun to 1.5"
>> above the concrete surface -- again to allow for leveling. Next, add a 
>> high
>> strength flat washer, lock washer, followed by the height of the tower 
>> foot
>> which is 3.0".  We then add more hardware and another nut to the top.  
>> All
>> the washers together are 0.5" in height.  So we end up with:
>> 1.5+0.25+2.0+0.25+3.0+0.25+2.0 = 9.0 inches, leaving 3 inches at the top.
>> Probably the most I'd ever cut is maybe 1 inch off the top and that means
>> cutting 1 inch off of four extra-high-strength steel bolts is almost
>> certainly not worth the effort.