Hello again Howard.  You describe precisely what I employ on my present 75
foot motorized crankup.  I had a sighted friend run the tower up to the
point where the first moveable section, namely the second section of the
tower, was 12 inches from hitting the upper stop.  We then tied a rope from
the bottom rung of that second section of tower, to a rung on the bottom
section at about waiste high.  I simply feel the rope being pulled thru my
left hand, and when it is almost tight I stop the winch and run it up the
last several inches by turning the pulleys by hand.  I am only giving up
about 1 foot in over all height by doing it this way, and no excessive
stress is applied to the 5/16 inch stainless aircraft cable..  I can do this
US tower the exact same way.  I have the makings of two limit switches, but
the effort needed to make it all work isn't worth it to me.  Call me lazy,
HiHi.

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 12:21 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: US Tower TX-489

Alan,

One disadvantage of the home made motorized winch is the lack of limit 
switches, however, I'm sure with a little ingenuity something could be 
fabricated.

In lieu of limit switches, one could attach a piece of rope to the bottom of

the top section, crank the tower most of the way up, stopping perhaps three 
or four feet short,put a knot in the rope at a point, say at the height of 
the winch and when the knot gets to that point, you would stop the motor 
having the three or four feet of safety room.  On an eighty-nine foot tower 
the four feet of safety height would only amount to about twelve inches 
before the second section from the bottom would hit the stop.  This stop 
offers plenty of resistance that can be felt when using a manual winch, 
however, with a motorized winch without safety switches, it would be hard to

detect that you have hit the stop thus now stressing the whole system 
including possibly breaking the cable or winch.  That is why I suggest the 
three to four feet of safety room which might be better if six to eight 
feet.  Eighty-one feet of antenna height verses the eighty nine wouldn't 
make any difference and you have plenty of safety room to stop your motor.

Just some thoughts.

Howard #3, W A 9 Y B W

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Alan R. Downing" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, September 28, 2014 9:05 AM
Subject: Re: US Tower TX-489


> 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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