[UK-CONTEST] Versatower Rope Lubricant

[Ian]

Hi,

All the time I've had a versatower I've used stuff called "Versa-Lube chain
and cable penetrating lubricant" manufactured by Stag-Chem Ltd of
Edinburgh. Its a dark brown substance that foams up when its sprayed and
seeps into the cable. "increases the life of chains and cables" or so it
says on the tin. This stuff dries to a semi greasy oil.. but not really
sticky so the cable remains clean. I'm sure the name "Versa-lube" is purely
coincidental!

73

Ian GM0TGE




> Date: Mon, 26 May 2003 15:00:59 -0400
> From: Nigel Cawthorne <G3TXF at compuserve.com>
> To: UK Contesting <uk-contest at contesting.com>
> Subject: [UK-CONTEST] Versatower Rope Lubricant
> Message-ID: <200305261501_MC3-1-3A28-EC10 at compuserve.com>
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> Message: 3
>
> Hello UK-Contesters,
>
> I've been reading the recent thread on rusty cables and
> Versatowers with great interest. I had my own first Versatower
> 'twang' experience a  couple of months ago. I was winching
> an unloaded (apart from the centre of a 160m wire dipole)
> M80 (80ft Versatower on a trailer) when the winching cable
> snapped clean in two. The Versatower (fortunately with
> the second section no higher than three feet off the bottom)
> collapsed back down with an almightly thud and twanging
> sound. Not an experience quickly forgotten. However this
> was nothing to what it might of been, had there been a heavy
> antenna on the tower and had it taken place with the tower
> much higher up.
>
> The tower in question is nine years old and has spent all its
> life within a few hundred yards of the sea. Most of the cables
> are long-since discoloured with rust. However I am now in the
> process of replacing the cables on all the towers at the Devon.
> QTH. I've been lucky not to have had a more serious problem.
>
> The Versatower at home (in the leafy surburbs of London) on
> the other hand, shows no sign of rust on the cables.
>
> The "wire rope and chain" lubricant supplied by Versatower
> (at great expense) is made by Viking Chemicals, Stock House,
> Seymour Road, Nuneaton Tel : 024 7632 2155. The product
> number is UN1250. This lubricant certainly matches the
> description of Roger VE3ZI, in that it's revolting looking stuff.
> It bubbles up as you spray it onto the cables and ends up
> being a goo-ey mess. It remains to be seen if it does its stuff.
>
> Having had the recent nasty 'Versatower twang' experience
> with a tower in Devon, I intend to use this lubricant product,
> or something similar, in generous quantities in the future.
>
> 73 - Nigel G3TXF
>
> Message text written by "Don Beattie"
> >It used to be "Shell Alvania RA". Not sure if that is current.
>
> Don, G3BJ
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Roger Parsons" <ve3zi at yahoo.com>
> To: <uk-contest at contesting.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2003 12:49 PM
> Subject: [UK-CONTEST] Rope Grease
>
>
> > There is a type of grease specifically intended for
> > ropes. I'm afraid I don't know the details, but I do
> > know that as used on mine shaft winding ropes it is
> > extremely filthy and gets everywhere!
> >
> > 73 Roger
> > VE3ZI
> >