[TowerTalk] Mast Lifting

[Jon Zaimes]

Ed,

We use a capstan winch at the ground and 1/2" double braid polyester rope
(rated for 7000 pounds) to lift a mast. At the top of the tower we place a
2.5" rescue pulley several feet above the attachment point to the mast, just
above the rotor. In tight quarters I have a smaller pulley in the bag.

Two 3/8" saddle clamps are placed on the mast just above a bearing or
bushing or the tower top, as a safety measure. Lifts are done in short
increments with the clamps being moved every foot or two. 

A saddle clamp also is used just above the rope attachment so the rope can't
slip up the mast.

Three kayak straps are used to keep the mast centered in the tower, unless
there's an extra bearing plate above the rotor to take care of this.

Using the winch at ground level (with my son Adam N3TTT there) is better
control than using a come-a-long  locally at the top of the tower, and keeps
the climber's hands (mine) free for other things. We use GMRS radios to
communicate so there's no chance to be drowned out by the neighbor's lawn
mower (they seem to know when we're coming).

73/Jon

Jon P. Zaimes, AA1K
Tower climber for hire
http://www.aa1k.us/
Cell: 302-632-2353

Reviews of AA1K tower work on eham website:
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/12922

Hug your favorite tower every day, and always stay connected to it.

-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of
ed_richardson at shaw.ca
Sent: Sunday, May 23, 2021 5:29 PM
To: TowerTalk at contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Mast Lifting

Needing to service the rotator and want to lift the loaded mast up and out
of the rotator bracket.  I have used a cheap com-along in the past but I am
now reading that come-alongs are not suitable for lifting and lowering
loads, they are intended for horizontal movements only.  

 

A lever hoist would seem to be the appropriate tool.

 

So what are the tower experts using for this task? The dead weight would be
approximately 350 lbs plus any resistance/friction.

Any recommendations?  Safety outweighs cost.

 

Ed ve4vt

 

_______________________________________________



_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk at contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk