| Author |
Message |
    
Dale
Advanced Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 772
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 10:09 pm: | 
|
my friend and myself have acquired a 50 foot tower with a a-99 and coax.thing is we gotta take down and haul away.heres what we got to work with not alot of room and basically only 1 direction to take it down same way it went up.
good news is no power lines in the direction that we have to take it down.anther main problem
that i need some opions on is.the tower is NOT on a hinge plate just buried in ground and attatched to house.so what would be the best way to take it down.heres a few ideas were working with
1]pull/dig tower out of ground first before unbolting the 2 connections on side of house
2]thought about sawing/welding off at base but
thats just a little too risky.
3]once out of ground and unbolted thount about having someone on roof with rope but not to sure about that
another thing is how many guys would everyone reccomend doing this job i never took down a tower of this size much less NOT on a hinge plate
any and all suggestion apprecated.is this too
much to do.or can this really be done
dale/a.k.a.hotrod
cef426
cvc#64
|
Starface
Senior Member
Username: Starface
Post Number: 1227
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 12:19 am: |
|
ok a few Q's for you.
1. what kinda tower is it crack up or in sections?
2. how high?
3. is any of your help able to climb the tower with a safty belt/harest?
4. if one can climb the tower safely and the tower is in sections then the use of what is called a Gin Pole make the job safer and easier.
THE GIN POLE
, many people ask: What is a gin pole? Why use a gin pole to do tower work? How do you use it? Well, lets talk about it. The foremost consideration when performing tower and antenna work above ground level is HUMAN SAFETY. A gin pole, or raising fixture, provides this safety by giving the tower climber the needed heavy lifting ability the ground person provides. A gin pole consists of 3 basic parts: (1) a pulley assembly to provide mechanical advantage when lifting, (2) a pole to gain height needed for the lift, and (3) the clamp assembly to attach everything to the tower. Typically the ground person does the heavy lifting, while the tower person above has the freedom to guide and fasten the tower and antenna components together. To use a gin pole, assemble the clamp and pulley on a 2 inch o.d. pipe 10 to 15 feet long. To erect a tower, first install a tower section on the concrete pad and attach the gin pole on the upper part of this section. Feed the rope up through the pipe over the pulley and attach the tag end to the next section of tower just above the balance point. Raise this section up over the first section by pulling on the gin pole rope and attach it to the bottom section with fasteners. Repeat this process until the tower is erected, then use the gin pole to lift the rotor, mast, and antennas into place. The pulley can be adjusted to any desired height by loosening the clamp t bolt and sliding up or down the pipe to help install these components. Always pull the load up against the side of the tower to minimize the stress on the tower and the gin pole. When a high lifting angle is used to raise the load (to clear trees, obstructions, ect) , the stress put on the tower and gin pole pipe could become severe and possibly uncontrollable. This method is as dangerous as using a power winch or vehicle to raise tower sections or antennas and have a binding situation occur that goes unnoticed until the force becomes excessive and a failure in the tower, gin pole or lift line. gin pole kits are designed to lift loads using human power and should never be used with any type of mechanical power. Proper use of a gin pole provides a controllable and safe method to erect and maintain a tower and antenna assembly, use it!
This is also used when taking down a tower too, just backwards.
Be Smart and Safe and I know you said no power lines in the way you like to bring it down but be sure you stay away from any that are around.
Hope this works out for you.
73 de George
STARFAİE
KI4NBE
CEF476
HAM181
CVC014
|
Tech237
Moderator
Username: Tech237
Post Number: 745
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 8:42 am: |
|
If possible take it down in sections. THis makes the job much safer and usually easier. Follow Starfaces suggestion - works everytime commerically.
Simon
Tech237
KD7IEB
|
Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 1660
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 11:59 am: |
|
That's right.
If you are uncomfortable with this, call a tower company and have them do it. It would be a lot cheaper than repairing damage you may cause if you make a mistake.
Call the local radio stations in your area and ask them who they use for their tower maintenence. The common company will no doubt be the best. Broadcasters use tower companies a lot, and will have the inside track on who is good/reliable/insured, and who is not. |
Vanillagorilla
Advanced Member
Username: Vanillagorilla
Post Number: 995
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 7:58 pm: |
|
Do you know if there is a GOOD sized hunk of cement below the base? If so that will help you tilt it over SLOWLY. If I understood you correctly its 50ft and NOT a crank up OR tilt base. This means to me that its relatively light...that is light enough to handle but still heavy enough to kill you.
If you could get your hands on a bobcat I'd raise the bucket against the tower and back it down that way. Even if you had enough guys to help there are only so many that could support it as you lean it over...again, thats hoping the concrete base is deep and heavy...it would acutally be somewhat hard to lay it over...ever try to drop a big tree while saving the root-ball?...then you know where I'm going with this.
After its on the earth you could either bust up the concrete OR simply cut the loss and sawsall the legs at the base and walk away with it. Three guys should be able to handle it...again provided its NOT a crank (telescoping) tower. A simple one piece 50' IS manageable with a few healthy hands...I've done it. My 30' before I added to it was carried by myself during construction and raised via hingplate with a spotter but totally manageable...even after it grew to 40'.
On the other hand my friends 60 telescoping tower was BARELY movable at all with the two of us! We used a Bobcat to raise it after using a flatbed to get it home (a story in itself  )
It can be done...I like your #3 suggestion as I WAS the guy on the roof once! All I can say is I'm glad it wasn't tied to me!  ...ever see that Montey Python Holy Grail movie? I would have landed in the next yard!
Maybe you could talk to the current owner and ask if he'd mind if you rigged a pulley to where the tower is mounted now? Better yet ask him how he got it up there to begin with.
It is do-able but without actually being there to see the setup I'm a little hesitant to go much further here.
However..ALL THAT being said you DID get it for free so maybe hiring professional help wouldn't be a bad idea.
Hank~CEF559/CEFHAM242
11mtr Northeast Net Control
Eastern Long Island NY
|
Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 2073
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 9:04 pm: |
|
Starface and Tech 833 have some great suggestions.
Best of luck!
--------------------------------------
RoadWarrior
Cef 375 PA |
Dale
Advanced Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 775
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 9:22 pm: |
|
sorry guys it took me so long 2 reply but i hope i answer everyones q,s
starface
1]sections
2]50 foot plus mast and a-99 and bottom section in ground
3]yea probaly but i dont know anyone with a belt
4]gin pole thought about but same as 3 cant find someone with one
vanillagorialla
the tower is not cemented in ground i can shake
the base of the tower.another idea were working with is using a small garden tractor and heavy chain.also thought about using a wench about again just cant seem to find one.i hope i answered everyones questions
dale/a.k.a.hotrod
cef426
cvc#64
|
Starface
Senior Member
Username: Starface
Post Number: 1229
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 - 5:51 pm: |
|
Ok I still say the Gin pole is the Best and Safer away to go.
Belts can some times be found a Pawn Shop.
Also try a local Ham Club, Maybe one of they're members has a gin pole?
Bust of luck
STARFAİE
KI4NBE
CEF476
HAM181
CVC014
|
