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Locked ALMOST FREE TOWER & ANTENNAS

Bill Craft
 

A recent Silent Key's Family has donated a ~45' tower, rotator and HF & VHF antennas. The VHF antennas are both horizontal & vertical polarized. The rotator is custom made and is heavy duty.
It will require you to take it down the tower & antennas yourself- there is a narrow window of time (1 month) since the house is being sold.
Attached are pictures of tower & antenna's. Note this is a job that requires some knowledge and physical abilities. It is not a single person job. Some club members may be available to help.
Contact Silent Key Chairman Rodney Brown @210-286-4480  if you are interested. 
A modest donation to SARC will also be requested.
Greg@hillcountrysawdust.com
 

As a member of Hill Country REACT Team 4804, I was one of two people who evaluated this donation . The Team declined the opportunity because lack of need and space to store.
It needs some loving care but in my opinion will make someone a great project.
I will be most willing to volunteer my assistance if needed.

Greg Collins K5KYR


On Feb 19, 2022, at 4:35 PM, Bill Craft via groups.io <billc851@...> wrote:

A recent Silent Key's Family has donated a ~45' tower, rotator and HF & VHF antennas. The VHF antennas are both horizontal & vertical polarized. The rotator is custom made and is heavy duty.
It will require you to take it down the tower & antennas yourself- there is a narrow window of time (1 month) since the house is being sold.
Attached are pictures of tower & antenna's. Note this is a job that requires some knowledge and physical abilities. It is not a single person job. Some club members may be available to help.
Contact Silent Key Chairman Rodney Brown @210-286-4480  if you are interested. 
A modest donation to SARC will also be requested.

--
73
Greg Collins K5KYR

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Paul Guido
 

All,

I have worked on many towers over the years and after seeing the photos, I have to say that this one would be a big challenge to take down.

The center mast for the antenna stack extends all the way down to the base of the tower.  That is a great feat of engineering but I worry what it would take to remove.

I would think that at the top is a thrust bearing and a joint in the mast.  Looking at the age of the equipment, I would worry about rust from the insides of the tower legs and mast weakening the structure.

One method of removal would be to use a Gin Pole to lift the mast and antennas as high as possible on the mast and connect a rope as low as one can on the mast and cut the mast off.  Then lower the whole assembly.

That also could be an issue since the area might lack the room to set it all down. 

After that one could saw the tower off above the guy wires and remove it in 10 to 12 foot long pieces with the Gin Pole.  A tower this old should not be reused.

Another first step would be to remove the HF Beam first (the rusted bolts would likely sear off) and then remove the top of the mast using the method above.

Paul, N5IUT
Gary Harmon
 

I am no antenna expert but I bet a cherry picker would be a safe way to take it down piece by piece.

 

73,

 

Gary H. Harmon, Jr. - K5JWK

HAM Radio, HEATHKIT, and ATARI Archaeologist

6003 Archwood

San Antonio, TX 78239-1504

(210) 657-1549 <home>

(210) 884-6926 <cell and text>

gharmon@...

 

"Retirement = Every day is a Saturday except Sunday"

"Real radios glow in the dark"

"Too many projects, not enough time"

 

http://www.grissomroadcoc.org

 

From: main@saradioclub.groups.io [mailto:main@saradioclub.groups.io] On Behalf Of Paul Guido
Sent: Saturday, February 19, 2022 9:42 PM
To: main@saradioclub.groups.io
Subject: Re: [W5SC] ALMOST FREE TOWER & ANTENNAS

 

All,

I have worked on many towers over the years and after seeing the photos, I have to say that this one would be a big challenge to take down.

The center mast for the antenna stack extends all the way down to the base of the tower.  That is a great feat of engineering but I worry what it would take to remove.

I would think that at the top is a thrust bearing and a joint in the mast.  Looking at the age of the equipment, I would worry about rust from the insides of the tower legs and mast weakening the structure.

One method of removal would be to use a Gin Pole to lift the mast and antennas as high as possible on the mast and connect a rope as low as one can on the mast and cut the mast off.  Then lower the whole assembly.

That also could be an issue since the area might lack the room to set it all down. 

After that one could saw the tower off above the guy wires and remove it in 10 to 12 foot long pieces with the Gin Pole.  A tower this old should not be reused.

Another first step would be to remove the HF Beam first (the rusted bolts would likely sear off) and then remove the top of the mast using the method above.

Paul, N5IUT

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