[TowerTalk] Tower bolts: drive out or unscrew?

[al.n6ta at gmail.com]

I got all the nuts unscrewed from the tower bolts with significant effort.  I do not have that power tool so used aerokroil and an 18” breaker bar on the nut and a box wrench on the bolt head with the wrench being held by the tower itself.  1/6th of a turn on each pull on the bar, hardware screeching and getting hot from friction.  Yesterday, I was on the tower for 1.75 hours and got 6 (six!) nuts off the bolts.  Am I glad that is done and another lessen learned about dealing with hardware that is less than first rate.  I hope use of the TowerJack will let the bolts slide out easily.

Tnx es 73 de

Al

N6TA

 

From: Keith Dutson <kdutson at sbcglobal.net> 
Sent: Thursday, September 9, 2021 4:31 AM
To: al.n6ta at gmail.com; Mpridesti <mpridesti at yahoo.com>
Cc: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Tower bolts: drive out or unscrew?

 

I would likely use a battery powered impact wrench on the bolt, and box end or Vise-grip wrench on the nut.  Be sure to have an extra battery available to haul up when the impact wrench slows down.  Of course, you will also need a good burlap bag to hold the old bolts.

 

If you are going to use the tower sections again, I highly recommend re-galvanizing.  Price here is less than 50 cents per pound of finished steel.  At 70 pounds per section, that is 420X.50 = $210, which is well worth the treatment.  May have to clean the old sections before re-dipping.  I would add another $200 for that task.

 

73, Keith NM5G

 

On Thursday, September 9, 2021, 05:28:08 AM CDT, Mpridesti via TowerTalk < <mailto:towertalk at contesting.com> towertalk at contesting.com> wrote: 

 

 

Al

Since you plan to reuse the tower and assuming the bolts are old, don’t bother saving the old ones. Nicer to have new hardware and it’s a minimal expense to you or a new owner.  

So drive them out by whatever means. 

Regards,

Mark, K1RX


> On Sep 9, 2021, at 1:16 AM,  <mailto:al.n6ta at gmail.com> al.n6ta at gmail.com wrote:
> 
> I must take apart my guyed 60' Rohn 45 and some of the bolts are not going
> to come out without some encouragement.  I could drive them out with a
> hammer and punch or unscrew them through the thru holes in the tower's legs.
> The tower will be used again so I do not want to mess it up unnecessarily.
> Of course, I do not care about the bolts which go to the scrap metal
> recyclers.
> 
> 
> 
> Thanks in advance!
> 
> Al-N6TA
> 
> 
> 
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