[VHFcontesting] TT rotor question

Paul N1BUG FN55mf paul at n1bug.com
Sun Jul 30 15:53:24 EDT 2023


I had frequent problems with Ham IV and T2X rotator clamps slipping on 
my VHF stack (two or more yagis with ~30 foot booms) and an HF/6m stack 
with TH-11DX and 13 element 2m on a 26 foot boom. Note that I was using 
aluminum masts at the time.

One day N1RR suggested I tighten the nuts and then add SS nylock nuts 
tightened against the plain SS nuts. Neither slipped again. Of course 
next time the gears got smashed on the HF/2m stack T2X, but that's 
another story. I always use anti-seize compound on SS hardware which 
does a lot to prevent galling but also makes it easier for hardware to 
work loose.

My Ham IV with the described double nut arrangement has not slipped 
since the 2021 antenna farm rescue and rebuild, turning a four yagi 
stack, one each 6m through 432 with booms from 33' to 26'.

Paul N1BUG



On 7/30/23 15:38, Bill Olson wrote:
> Don I use a TailTwister here. It turns a 2" carbon steel mast with
> the appropriate 1/32" shims. I have a stack of moderate sized VHF
> Yagis, don't use the thru-bolt and have never had a problem with the
> mast slipping in the rotor.
> 
> bill, k1DY ________________________________ From: VHFcontesting
> <vhfcontesting-bounces+callbill=hotmail.com at contesting.com> on behalf
> of Donald Fox via VHFcontesting <vhfcontesting at contesting.com> Sent:
> Sunday, July 30, 2023 5:24 PM To: vhfcontesting at contesting.com
> <vhfcontesting at contesting.com> Subject: [VHFcontesting] TT rotor
> question
> 
> Along with the new towers here at the new QTH, I've upgraded from Ham
> 3 to Tailtwister rotors. You might recall that the smaller Ham/CDE
> rotors had a threaded hole and bolt in the center of the clamping
> plate to help keep the mast pipe from turning independently of the
> rotor.
> 
> The TT has a hole for a 3/8s ish bolt to "pin" the the mast. I had
> not done that, thinking it would not be an issue with the larger
> clamp hardware. We have some pretty good winds here, and the MP does
> not want to stay put! I do crank on the SS clamps a fair amount, but
> am concerned about stretching/galling them. We all know what a mess
> that is, especially 40 feet in the air.
> 
> Feedback from TT users and what you experienced are appreciated. Feel
> free to reply directly if you wish.
> 
> TIA
> 
> Don  N8ECH _______________________________________________ 
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