Maintenance on the East Tower at ZL1ZLD continued on 6 Nov 2018, with Harry ZL1BK, Steve ZL1FS, Martyn ZL3CK, Jim ZL1TGS and Merv ZL1SK on hand. (See Part 1.)
Summary by Martyn ZL3CK
Photos by Ann ZL1BFB
The rusted pivot bolts on the East Tower have been successfully replaced with marine grade stainless steel ones. The tower should now stay upright for quite a while yet!
The non-functioning rotator was retrieved by the “climbing team” of Harry, Steve, and Jim. It has been consigned to the bin as it has stripped gears, a damaged braking mechanism, and the feedback pot is worn out.
Thanks to the “climbing team” the tops of the towers can be worked on without tilting them over, potentially a difficult operation.
The 3-element beam on the East Tower has fortunately been designed to sit on the tower on its supporting pipe, allowing the rotator to be removed without taking the beam off – what a good idea! The beam is currently roped to prevent too much freewheeling until the new rotator is in place.
On Monday, the rotator generously gifted to us by the late Ray Chandler was successfully retrieved from his antenna. It is in good condition but will need to be checked out, and a mounting to suit our antenna mast will need to be made.
The two 330 ohm 150 Watt terminating resistors for the Vee Beam obtained by Dave ZL1DL are now assembled and await fitting to suitable weather- and UV-proof boxes. Jim has volunteered to find suitable boxes.
The ideal plan is to have these ready to go and be put up the East Tower at the same time as the rotator is installed, and if time and energy allows (!) on the same day the climbing team might go up the West Tower to install the new terminating resistor there too.
We will then have two functioning 3-element beams and a Vee Beam for 80/40 meters. What a combination!