[UK-CONTEST] Mast Winches

[Dave G3RXP]

Hi Guys,

Im sure one of you can give me some advice on winches for masts.

I have a 60ft tower (with a 3 ele steppir and an ali scaffold pole -yardarm) used to support 2 ele inverted V wire beam for 40m) which has a winch for lower /raise which also works to tilt the mast over.

I have been using a winch with worm and wheel gearing (40:1 ratio -with 4 pulley wheels at the base of the mast, so another 4:1 ratio - bit of a bind but easy to wind up.) which has the safety feature of not needing a break so when you stop turning the handle the winch just stops. 

Well the worm / wheel gearing has now become distorted as it is 20 years old so I need to buy another winch.   

Im looking for a winch which has worm and wheel gearing (No loud clicking of the break stops) but Im not sure of the loading that is required how do I measure that without letting the mast fall over? I can get another winch that has a loading of 250lbs but how good is that -  do I need more? The greateast loading is when the mast is tilted over -  I would think.

Or I could always buy an electric winch but are they expensive.

Thanks 73 Dave