[UK-CONTEST] Guying a "lugless" Versatower?

[Ian White GM3SEK]

Forwarded from G3RAU....


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Ian White GM3SEK wrote:
>What is the best way to attach permanent guys to the middle and lower
>sections of a  Versatower that doesn't already have the welded-on guying
>lugs?
>


Ian, In general 80ft towers were usually lugged and sold with guys, 
whereas 60ft were only lugged if guys were specified at time of order. 
However, as  the sections are interchangable it was quite possible that 
random sections with  lugs were dispatched at times although not needed. 
It all depended on yard  stock.

The idea that telescopic masts are not to be guyed is totally erroneous 
in relation to Versatowers, quite the contrary, it is mandatory for the 
100ft and  vital for the 80ft and 60ft STD at any great load / wind. 
Only the 60ft HD & 40ft get away with no guys.

After facing the problem myself, the best advice is to utilise the open 
tops of the legs in the same manner as the factory produced coax stand 
offs. These hammer into the leg tops and form an extremely  secure 
locking, which is quite incapable of falling out.  The word  hammering 
involves filing & reaming the holes to be clean enough, and the  hammer 
needs to be a sledge hammer.  They almost cold weld in.

You are then left with a steel loop to use for guying, the design of 
which depends on its vintage.  The last types produced were quite 
useless  for the intended purpose as they had sharp / rough edges that 
frayed the coax  and its guide rope, but they were a strong as hell. 
Earlier types were incomplete circles to allow the coax to be wriggled 
in & out, and although smooth and coax friendly,  they are much weaker.

So the advice is either, obtain later type coax stand offs (were £18), 
or have some made up and galvanised.

Trying to weld lugs onto the mast means the prospect of stripping the 
galvenising, welding lugs then re galvenising which requires a huge 
galvenising tank and the problem of getting the mast sections to  it! 
Horrendous cost!

The guying levels for 80ft towers are 1, 2 & 4, section 3 does not  need 
lugs. Level 1 should be pretty tight, as no rope bears the  downthrust. 
Adjust the guy tension balance so the locking bars at the  bottom 
(holding the locking pin) are equi spaced round the rear tower  leg. 
Upper guys are best adjusted by experience, the top of the mast is 
designed to move an inch or two.  BUT If you have a long boom beam, say 
40 or 50ft long, be aware of the death wobble if the guys are too slack. 
After installation get two or more strong volunteers to try to get the 
mast rocking violently, and keep tightening the top guys till the beam 
can't  get into a self destructive oscillation no matter how hard you 
try!

73
Derek G3RAU

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Thanks, Derek!

-- 

73 from Ian GM3SEK
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek