[TowerTalk] Rotator clamp help

[Anthony DeBiasi]

I am presently using an older M2 Orion rotator.  After 22+ years it has failed and needs replacing.  When I moved to Florida 3 years ago, instead of using the supplied stock mast clamps I purchased a K7NV mast clamp which some of you may be using.  The K7NV mast clamp definitely prevents slippage although in 18 years at my last QTH which was fairly windy the stock mast clamps only slipped once during a hurricane which was easy to correct with the Green Heron RT-21 controller and snugging up the clamp bolts. I should mention the rotator is on a 86’ Tashjian tower that nests to 23’ and is fairly easy to access. 

I am trying to decide if it would be better to replace the K7NV mast clamp with the stock M2 mast clamps that are more likely to slip.  Why would I considering the change, to possibly put less stress on the M2 rotator.  On the tower from the bottom up there is a JK-Mid Tri/40, a 5el M2 6m yagi and on top is a WARC JK1217.  Although I live in Florida, I am located about 15 miles inland and 35 miles north of Tampa. We do get a lot of Thunderstorms in the summer but the wind has been far less than I experienced in Northern NJ and Southern NJ.  

Would appreciate the advice of anyone who has experience with either the stock M2 clamps or the N7NV clamp. I know you can put a pin through the clamps and mast but I wouldn’t suggest that.

73, Tony K2SG