Hello Howard, thanks for your input. I can easily fabricate a motorized
winch by buying a 1 or 2 HP Grainger motor and a 90 degree transmission from
Hub City in Oowa and some pieces of steel. Stick weld the whole contraption
together and bingo, a custom built electric winch. I have done that very
thing before, but I have gotten lazy in my 64 years on this planet, Hi. I
will check prices with US Tower, and make up my mind. I could certainly put
up the tower with the manual winch, then fabricate the electric winch
afterwards and make the switch.
Best 73
Alan
Alan R. Downing
Phoenix, AZ
-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Howard, W A 9 Y B W
Sent: Sunday, September 28, 2014 4:44 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: US Tower TX-489
Alan,
I don't have that specific tower from US Tower, however, I have the HDX-572.
Actually my tower was manufactured by Trusteo Tower which was purchased by
US Tower sometime in the mid to late eighties I believe.
The HDX-572 is 72 feet fully extended and is four sections instead of the
five for the TX-489.
When I purchased the tower in 1978 I couldn't afford the electric winch and
went with the manual Fulton.
We have a lot of wind and storms here in central Illinois and if I did it
again, I would purchase the electric winch. I'm not sure you can buy this
tower with a manual winch any longer, only the electric.
As for cranking it up and down, it isn't really that bad. Obviously coming
down is easier than going up. I haven't really timed it but I can probably
go full height in under thirty minutes with a few short one or two minute
breaks.
If it wasn't such a hassle to get all the antennas down, remove and pour a
new foundation, I would consider replacing the tower with the motorized
HDX-572. I don't even know if there is a company I could hire to do it or
not.
If you have no need to raise or lower more than one or two times a year,
probably not worth it.
73,
Howard #3, W A 9 Y B W
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan R. Downing" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, September 27, 2014 7:32 PM
Subject: US Tower TX-489
> Does anyone on the list have a TX-489 tower by US Towers? If so, I'd like
> to know if you use a manual winch, or the optional motorized winch. I
> plan
> to put this tower up when the WX turns cooler, but I need to decide now
> whether to buy the motorized winch for it or not. I don't raise and lower
> my tower very often, so I am not concerned about how long it takes to
> fully
> lower or raise it, just how much work it takes.
>
>
>
> Thanks for any suggestions.
>
>
>
>
>
> Alan
>
>
>
>
>
> Alan R. Downing
>
> Phoenix, AZ
>
>
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