[TowerTalk] Slow/Stuck rotator in one direction

[john at kk9a.com]

The Yaesu mast clamp is completely adjustable making it easy to center any
sized mast within the clamping range. Unless you are using multiple thrust
bearings it should not bind. Perhaps something will be obvious when you look
at it. Maybe the coax is binding. I had a TIC Ring motor with similar
symptoms and solved it by replacing the DC motor, I am guessing that the
brushes were worn.

GL,
John KK9A
 


K6NR wrote:

Hi,

My 4 Element 20m yagi is on a 15' mast on a Yaesu rotator in a TX-455
US-Tower.  Over the last year, it has become slow to turn across the
NorthWest direction, working fine in other directions.  As of a day or so
ago, I could turn the rotator counter clockwise into the NW area but now I
can no longer turn it clockwise to get beyond about 290 degrees.

My tower et al is at my remote station about 80 miles away and I will need
to go up there to take a look at what is going on.  I am looking for some
general advice on correcting these sorts of problems, which would seem to
relate to the vertical alignment of the bottom 5' of mast in the rotator
and through the thrust bearing.  I forget how much adjustment play there is
in the rotator shelf mounting and don't know if you can adjust the the
thrust bearing.

I don't think anything is binding - cable wise or with my dipole arm mount
- but I will need to check that out too.

   Dana - K6NR