[TowerTalk] US Tower 72 ft crank up grinds to a standstill

[Steven Katz]

Another thought:

If the tower is not perfectly vertical -- and it must be darned perfect -- it is very difficult to extend, although a bit easier to retract because gravity helps with that.

I've seen the "won't extend" issue with the UST 72' towers before and in each case found the tower to be just slightly off-vertical: Not enough to "see," but enough to measure.

WB2WIK

-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Alan Swinger
Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2020 10:49 AM
To: FritzOAQ <fritz at k4oaq.com>; towertalk at contesting.com
Cc: 'FritzOAQ' <fritz at k4oaq.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] US Tower 72 ft crank up grinds to a standstill

Sounds like something is jammed and preventing the tower from extending . . . so block the sections and suggest climb up an look. Verify that the rotor cable and/or rotor body is not protruding such that it fouls the next tower section, and also check the cut-out switches to be sure they are clear. 
Alan K9MBQ


-----Original Message-----
>From: FritzOAQ <fritz at k4oaq.com>
>Sent: May 26, 2020 12:08 PM
>To: towertalk at contesting.com
>Cc: 'FritzOAQ' <fritz at k4oaq.com>
>Subject: [TowerTalk] US Tower 72 ft crank up grinds to a standstill
>
>Hey guys,
>
> 
>
>I have a US Tower 72 ft crank up. I just put a Steppir DB36 with 
>NN4ZZ's Tilt Plate on it. I cranked it up to vertical & turned on the 
>motor to raise it to 72 ft. The motor turns a few times with the tower 
>not moving up & then grinds to a stop. I haven't climbed up to see if I 
>left anything stuck in the tower to keep it from moving. I feel like 
>the problem of that is pretty slim.
>
> 
>
>Let me add a few more details that my give a hint to the more knowledgeable.
>The tower has been tilted over on its side for abt a year. A couple 
>weeks ago, after I had the Tilt Plate & Steppir connected, I discovered 
>I had put the rotor (located inside the tower) on, turned so the cable 
>connection wud not clear the tower when it telescoped up. I had to run 
>the tower out abt 6 ft with the Steppir on it so I cud get to the rotor & turn in.
>
> 
>
>Any thoughts, suggestions wud be most appreciated.
>
> 
>
>73,
>
>Fritz K4OAQ
>
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