For those waiting for the on going rotor drama at the LRD compound. Tipped tower over, removed all antennas, rotor etc. took in shop opened case, one big ice cube inside. The gears can not move through ice! I will clean it up, dry it out, does anyone have any experience with sealing this thing up, making gasket etc ? It is the Yaesu G-5500 elevation rotor. It does rain here a bit (Seattle) hihi 73 Bob W7LRD
Bob,
You can find heating tapes for pipes at most hardware stores. You can wind them on pipes to keep them from freezing. I have also seen adhesive pads for similar tasks at technical specialty stores. Over the years I have known a couple of hams in the northern areas who use them to keep rotators from freezing. It just gives you another wire to run and keep from binding. :)
73s,
Alan WA4SCA
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bob- W7LRD Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2013 12:40 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [amsat-bb] G-5500 frozen
For those waiting for the on going rotor drama at the LRD compound. Tipped tower over, removed all antennas, rotor etc. took in shop opened case, one big ice cube inside. The gears can not move through ice! I will clean it up, dry it out, does anyone have any experience with sealing this thing up, making gasket etc ? It is the Yaesu G-5500 elevation rotor. It does rain here a bit (Seattle) hihi 73 Bob W7LRD _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Even though we don't get real weather down here in SoCal, Bob, I put a small plastic trash can over mine.
I found one large enough to fit over the elevation rotor, and cut some holes in it that lined up with the cross-boom. Then I made some slots from the holes down to the edge of the trash can so I could slide it over the cross-boom.
To keep the rain off the azimuth rotor, I cut the square base off a a traffic cone, and opened up the top enough to slide over the mast.
Doesn't look real pretty, but it keeps the rain off!
73, Jim .
On 01/12/2013 06:40 PM, Bob- W7LRD wrote:
For those waiting for the on going rotor drama at the LRD compound. Tipped tower over, removed all antennas, rotor etc. took in shop opened case, one big ice cube inside. The gears can not move through ice! I will clean it up, dry it out, does anyone have any experience with sealing this thing up, making gasket etc ? It is the Yaesu G-5500 elevation rotor. It does rain here a bit (Seattle) hihi 73 Bob W7LRD _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Bob
Liquid gasket pro seal would probably do the trick.
Dave W0DHB
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bob- W7LRD Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2013 11:40 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [amsat-bb] G-5500 frozen
For those waiting for the on going rotor drama at the LRD compound. Tipped tower over, removed all antennas, rotor etc. took in shop opened case, one big ice cube inside. The gears can not move through ice! I will clean it up, dry it out, does anyone have any experience with sealing this thing up, making gasket etc ? It is the Yaesu G-5500 elevation rotor. It does rain here a bit (Seattle) hihi 73 Bob W7LRD _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
I got a flat-sided plastic dustbin deep enough to shield both AZ and EL rotors, when placed upside down over them. Two holes were cut and the cross-boom fed through. It is not enough to keep the rotors completely dry, but sufficient to keep 98% of the lashing, tropical deluge off. Added bonus: by tucking the AG-25/35 preamps right up under the AZ rotor, it offered them some protection as well.
73, de Gus 8P6SSM
On 01/12/2013 02:40 PM, Bob- W7LRD wrote:
For those waiting for the on going rotor drama at the LRD compound. Tipped tower over, removed all antennas, rotor etc. took in shop opened case, one big ice cube inside. The gears can not move through ice! I will clean it up, dry it out, does anyone have any experience with sealing this thing up, making gasket etc ? It is the Yaesu G-5500 elevation rotor. It does rain here a bit (Seattle) hihi 73 Bob W7LRD _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
participants (5)
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Alan -
Bob- W7LRD -
Dave Beumer WØDHB -
Gus -
Jim Jerzycke