[TowerTalk] "Stake all nuts"; what does it mean?

[Grant Saviers]

Antennas are usually not high vibration environments, unless they 
buzz/vibrate in the wind.  Then it matters much more how secure are the 
fastening parts.  Another factor I consider is the downside of a failed 
connection.  An element falling off is different then a tower coming 
down.  Perhaps there are life safety connections such as wire locked 
safety nuts in aircraft, but I haven't gone that far.

Nylocks seem to work fine for all of my antenna connections from tip to 
mast.  For tower legs I'm using Nord-Locks on the plate connections of 
Rohn 65 where a failure is not so good.  The Nord-Lock test video is at 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKwWu2w1gGk

IMO, tightening to the torque spec for the grade of fastener and then 
re-torquing a day or two later is the best way to keep stuff together.  
Consider that structural steel framing bolts have no locking means, they 
are just torqued to the max.  A problem though is so many antenna 
fasteners can't be so torqued properly since the elements deform.  In 
that case I think UV resistant nylocks are the choice (or at least all 
nuts on the underside)

Grant KZ1W

On 9/17/2018 9:17 AM, Speer, Douglas via TowerTalk wrote:
> I used a lock washer, torqued a first nut then installed a second nut on my equalizer plate bolts.  Is this an acceptable practice?   After two years in service,  I have not seen any evidence of any loosening.
>
> Doug, W5WTX
> Amarillo, TX
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 16 Sep 2018 11:12:04 -0700
> From: "Richard (Rick) Karlquist" <richard at karlquist.com>
> To: towertalk reflector <TowerTalk at contesting.com>
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Rohn EP instructions: "Stake all nuts"; what does
> 	it mean?
> Message-ID: <6e0c6ba1-a582-87b7-add7-bc43ff987ed8 at karlquist.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
>
> The instruction sheet that came with my Rohn guy equalizer plates states:
>
> "Stake all nuts after assembly"
>
> The kit of parts includes bolts, regular hex nuts, and "PAL nuts".  Assembly order is that the regular nut goes on first, then the PAL nut with the edge lip out.  IE, the flat side of it faces the regular nut.
>
> Questions:
>
> Do I torque the regular nut nice and tight with a wrench, then install the PAL?  Do I tighten the PAL nut finger tight, or gently tighten it just a little with a wrench.  I have no experience with these PAL nuts, but they don't look like they would withstand much torque.
>
> Finally:
>
> What does "stake all nuts" refer to????
> I am imagining whacking them with a hammer or something ... but that can't be right?
>
> Note:  the Rohn drawing is dated "1964" :-) Been licensed since 1965 and have never seen PAL nuts before.
>
> Rick N6RK
>
>
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