[TowerTalk] Mast slippage

[k7lxc at aol.com]

>    Last year, I reported mast slippage with my PST-71D clamshell mast clamp.Well, after replacing the clamshell clamp with the nice K7NV 3 inch mastclamp, no more mast slippage. However, the weak link now seems to be therotator itself. In a strong wind, I hear a creaking sound as the rotatorslips a couple of degrees one way then the other. Is this actually turningthe gears all the way back to the worm gear or is there a clutch pad in thePST-71D that could be slipping?     The Prosistel rotators use worm gear drives which means that you don't need a brake since there's no way you could induce the worm gear to turn in the wind. Creaking in the system is typical and it doesn't necessarily have to come from the rotator.      I'm surmising what you're hearing is cumulative general tolerances in the drive system which is normal and not to be concerned about.      How do you know that the rotator slips a couple of degrees? Does it move a couple of degrees and then move some more couple of degrees or it's the same couple of degrees you're seeing? If you can see it on the control box, it's probably just slop in the indicator system unless it moves progressively and additively.  Cheers,Steve     K7LXCTOWER TECH