ROHN 25 setup help/tips??

[CB590]

To get a clean start I made this fresh post..

Anyone with a ROHN tower feel free to chime in.

ROHN 25 non-guyed. Total height of 30' and then the 5' base section down in concrete.

Can't decide on AG3 rocket top with 2" ID top mast outer sleeve or some other type of top.

Going with proposed Yaesu G450a rotor for it.

Maco 103c 3.99 sq ft. or Sirio 27-3 3 element beam with my A99 on top of that.

Getting conflicting suggestions on whether to use a bearing/bushing or just run the AG3 rocket top with a 2" mast pipe poking up..

Cost of the 30' with AG3 is $570 and $170 s/h.. NormsFab rotor shelf is $40 and $20 s/h..

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

Sounds like it is going to be a nice setup. I am looking at getting a tower in the near future too so I will be following this closely. Using a bearing will allow you to use a smaller rotor. A big rotor might not need one but I would always be thinking in the back of my mind "I should have used a bearing" because wind is relentless and is always working. (Kind of like rust never sleeps)

 

[TheRealPorkchop]

 

[CB590]

My next question is the Maco for exaplex has 1.5" mast attachment.. how would I successfully step that to be a 2" instead.. do I just drill the plate and use 2" muffler type clamps??

For the A99 I see a simple 1.5 - 2" back to back double U clamp adapter.. Like a Shelly clamp or this:

Would the Shelly type be better or this type??

 

[TheRealPorkchop]

Flip that crap. I had one of those things and it’s not worth buying. If you do, the clamp pieces are alright but the threaded rod sucks.

It was a marvelous sight watching my A99 tumble to the ground when they popped.

And sadly and a little bit scary thinking about it, I heard “I’ll tumble for you” playing in the back of my mind as it crashed to the ground. Why does my mind reference so many 80’s songs? Get out my head Culture Club...

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

I would use stainless steel muffler clamps from some place like Summit Racing.

 

[TheRealPorkchop]

Yeah or just TIG the frighin’ A99 to a steel pole and call it a day. Haha.

 

[CB590]

Flip that crap. I had one of those things and it’s not worth buying. If you do, the clamp pieces are alright but the threaded rod sucks.

It was a marvelous sight watching my A99 tumble to the ground when they popped.

And sadly and a little bit scary thinking about it, I heard “I’ll tumble for you” playing in the back of my mind as it crashed to the ground. Why does my mind reference so many 80’s songs? Get out my head Culture Club...

Glad I'm doing this post.. anyone have suggestions for the A99 up top??

The Shelley clamps look better.. maybe just go back to back with double sets and use the bigger bite area..

Again ideas???

 

[snow bird]

Ok I ben Bulding custom homes all my Life. Have buld towers too .Why not just use a few peaces of angel iron . Two each u bolts the size it takes on tower and on the mass pipe? Cheaper than buying clamps just use good u bolts .

 

[oldtymer]

Use pipe that can be threaded like hardened conduit then use a coupling to step the
diameter down. Those clamps are useless in high winds or when everything is loaded with ice & windy. They get brittle & snap.
Spend the money once & make it as sturdy as possible, if you don't you will be doing it
over & spending twice as much. Think dirty feet DIRTFT do it right the first time.

 

[TheRealPorkchop]

A piece of pipe that you split and slide the A99 down into and then clamp where it’s split. That’s what I did.

And get a 102” whip and cut that down to replace that fiberglass tip on the A99. First ice storm or strong wind and you’ll be thanking me, I sat during an ice storm and watched mine break, lesson learned.

 

[CB590]

I did read about the 102" whip for the top online.. good idea..

What type of pipe can I slice to slip the A99 into??

 

[TheRealPorkchop]

I used pump pipe. I would imagine you could use any pipe that you can easily split and is rigid enough to hold up. I used this to guy it off with using paracord.

https://www.solidsignal.com/m/product.aspx?p=ez-43-a

Works rather well.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

It's not rocket science. A couple of the proper sized U-bolts and a piece or two of 1/8 steel or 1/4 inch aluminum plate and a drill bit is all it takes. If you cannot figure it out from there...............

 

[CB590]

I also found this 16ga 2" OD mast pipe. $20 for like 6'. Thinking this may work for the Yaesu rotor up to the 3-4 element beam.. thoughts on 16ga??

My plan was to put the beam as close to the rocket top as I could.. like 6" above the top hole.. to keep the length above the steeple as small as possible for rigity sake.