chaniarts wrote:
Pete C. wrote:
Steve B wrote:

"stryped" wrote in message
...
I have an antenna tower in concrete behind my garage that has my
local tv station antenna. It is a big yagi type antenna. It has
been there, both the antenna and tower, for 12 years. I am getting
a little older and dont have any help and to be honest, dont like
climbing up it. I think the tower is 25 feet ot so from it's top to
the ground.

Would it be possible to make a hinge for this thing so I could
bring it down to replace the anteena? Can I do it now that it is
already errected, maybe loosening at one of the sections and
pulling it off, installing the made hinge then putting back on?
Would I be able to lift the tower and antenna by myself once it is
pulled off to install the hinge. I appreciate any help.

I have considered similar for raising owl boxes, and raptor perches.
My thoughts come down to three pad eyes, the center one being on the
base of the tower, the other two, set into a concrete base, all
three match drilled through, and secured by a heavy bolt. A pad eye
is a D shaped piece of metal, but can be long, with the hole drilled
in the D. You've seen them as lifting points on machinery. The one
on the base of the tower would fit between the two set in the
concrete.

Lifting and lowering would have to be done with a winch or a
vehicle, and a three point guy system would make it steady.

Lowering the antenna in the first place for installation of the
hinge part would be the biggest process.

Raising would consist of leaving the two guy wires in place, and
pulling on the third, but using some sort of helping member to make
the pulling cable pull upward slightly rather than just
horizontally. The two permanent guy wires would hold the antenna
safely in place while lowering and raising with the third detachable
one, once you have them to the correct length.

It would be some work at first, but then very easy to raise or lower
it. Align the hinge to bisect the line of the two stationary guy
wires, and the third perpendicular to that on the other side, all
the same length. They could be all the way to the top, or just 2/3
of the height, and be steady.

Take some pictures and share. Perhaps someone who has BTDT can give
you better advice, or another way if you post some pics.

Steve

There are a lot of ways to do it and a lot of types of towers that
dictate the correct way to do it for that tower. Honestly, 25' is an
extremely short tower so climbing it really shouldn't be a concern.
Just buy the correct safety harness and "Y" 100% tie-off lanyard
(~$100 or so total) and get on with it with far less hassle than
trying to re-engineer the tower.

25'? try a tall ladder and a teenager.

the mast of my catamaran is shorter than that. it has a base hinge. a couple
of guy wires attached to a pair of small boat trailer winches, a pair of
mast base hinges, and releasable pins on the other legs would do this.