Anyone ever take a 60' tower down?

[zzvyb6]

60' ROHN tower. One end on the ground, the other suspended from a crane scale. Can anyone want to venture a guess as to what the tower dead-weight is ?
I also use this scale to measure my square, 4x5 and 5x6 round hhay bales. Very handy.

 

[RammerJammer]

Looks like a nice tower.

I'd use a couple of two-by boards and a bottle jack. Drill two holes in each board, add a rope/wire loop to secure them to the tower. The jack can sit on the lower board in the center of the tower while the other contacts the section to be removed. Once the bolts are removed, a bump or two on the jack will have the upper section ready to go. As far as the ell at the top of the gin pole goes, with smaller towers, it's just not much of an advantage. The angle is so small.

Having three people would be an advantage in that the third person could handle a tag line attached to the removed section to "ever so gently" keep it away from the tower on the way down. Could even be a female. No need to "walk" the sections down.

Alternatively, a pulley mounted to a tower leg, near the ground, might be used to redirect the gin pole rope to allow one person to do both. Provided he was talented! The pulley is not a bad idea, no matter what, because it allows that person to be away from the descending section.

It's a good idea to check the weight of the sections beforehand so you will know what you're dealing with.

Also, if that unguyed tower seems a bit too "wiggly," some temporary rope guys can be your friend. If you add them just below the top two sections, they won't interfere much and can be removed for the final three.

Check the welds, joints and bolts on the way UP the first time!!! A couple of ratcheting wrenches have always served me well. Don't forget the tools needed to get the bolts out: Hammer, block of wood, punch?

Barring any stubborn joints, that tower should be an easy one.

Good luck and be careful out there. Moving slow provides more time to abort!

 

[RayIN]

60' ROHN tower. One end on the ground, the other suspended from a crane scale. Can anyone want to venture a guess as to what the tower dead-weight is ?
I also use this scale to measure my square, 4x5 and 5x6 round hhay bales. Very handy.

How much weight is on the ground???

 

[zzvyb6]

TheHow much weight is on the ground???

The scale is holding 1/2 and the ground at the other end is holding the other 1/2. Pallet weight is 286 lbs.

 

[TT45]

When I bought my retirement place, the original owner had Line-of-site internet, using a 60' antenna. I tried it briefly and it was horrible. We were able to swap to fiber and now I have an unused tower. My buddy wants the tower, so we're going to take it down ourselves. We're both comfortable working at heights and have the necessary tie-off equipment. We'll take our time, think each step through and make safety the number one priority.

I've been researching it and it looks like we need to build a gin-pole. I found this plan on-line and it looks simple enough, (Gin pole fab) I've also seen some plans using a length of uni-strut and some pipe clamps, which also seems feasible. It also looks like we need a modified scissor jack or similar jack, to help unseat the sections, if they're stubborn.

Anybody tackle this themselves? Any pointers or words of wisdom?

My Son and I took down and put up several.

Yes you should use a tower Gin Pole. For 60 foot we put a rope pulley at the top of Gin Pole and lowered the loose section by hand from the ground (by Ground Man). Tower Man should use a Safety Harnes!

Most towers are pretty good quality and should not be too difficult to separate for removal. We gave each section connection a good sip of Knocker Loose, a good rap with hammer and out they come.

When we built my tower for WISP internet, we fabricated a tilt base plate on a good size concrete base and raise and lower all together with a rigging to support top and bottom during the raise/lower process. My Internet Guy still climbs it for antenna work.

Good luck.

 

[airbiscuit]

My Son and I took down and put up several....
We gave each section connection a good sip of Knocker Loose, a good rap with hammer and out they come....

How does Knocker Loose compare to PB Blaster, Liquid Wrench, etc?

 

[balloonman]

When I bought my retirement place, the original owner had Line-of-site internet, using a 60' antenna. I tried it briefly and it was horrible. We were able to swap to fiber and now I have an unused tower. My buddy wants the tower, so we're going to take it down ourselves. We're both comfortable working at heights and have the necessary tie-off equipment. We'll take our time, think each step through and make safety the number one priority.

I've been researching it and it looks like we need to build a gin-pole. I found this plan on-line and it looks simple enough, (Gin pole fab) I've also seen some plans using a length of uni-strut and some pipe clamps, which also seems feasible. It also looks like we need a modified scissor jack or similar jack, to help unseat the sections, if they're stubborn.

Anybody tackle this themselves? Any pointers or words of wisdom?

 

[balloonman]

Rent a 35' or 50' trailer boom lift. You can run it from the ground. Strap a jib crane beam on the basket, insert it into the tower above 1/2 way up. unhitch the base. Then you can gently set it down. Put it back up the same way. I do it all the time with windmill towers using my JLG-T350 lift. Mine can pick up 500# if I'm running it from the ground. The outrigger sensors will prevent you from tipping over.

His doesn't have a tilt base. Good way to tip over a manlift and get killed!

 

[balloonman]

This got me thinking about my unused very old TV tower, I put it up about 45 yrs ago. It's all rusty, bolt holes are wallowed out so much now it leans to the East considerably.
I wanted to save the expensive antenna and CB antenna atop the total length of 70', but now I'm just going to cut one leg and push it down as it's likely so rusted it cannot be reused.
The last time I climbed it I had to drill new bolt holes because of the wallowed out original holes. Those newer holes are now wallowed out again. I've watched in gusty wind, it sways about 2' at the top. I keep hoping it will fall because of high wind so the ins. co. will pay to clean up the mess, but I'm not that lucky.
No-one ever got hurt falling, it's the sudden stop at the bottom that hurts.

People put anti seize on the joints, that's is what causes movement plus not guyed correctly. You actually want the joints to freeze up during assembly.

 

[balloonman]

Do you want to save the tower or scrap it?

If scrapping, and there's enough room to drop it on it's side, I'd just tie a cable 3/4 of the way up in one face, cut a couple wedges out of the front legs with a sawzall, then cut the back leg from the back and pull it down. It'll hinge at the wedges. WHUMP! and you're done.

Of course, and you know this.... watch for power lines. We had a guy get killed in our neighborhood many years ago when a family hired him to take down a tower, and he dropped it on power lines and electrocuted himself.

I had a friend that unbolted the standoff on his TV tower that held it to the side of his house, thinking he was going to take the tower down to his right. As soon as he unbolted it, the tower, which unbeknownst to him was rotten inside where it met the ground, slipped down a few inches and fell to the left, bouncing off of power lines, arcing, and setting his garage on fire.

I knew someone else that dropped a tower on power lines and took out the lines to several houses. No injuries or serious property damage, but he had to pay to have the lines put back in working order.

I put up a 30 foot tower, but I used hinges and walked it up myself. Don't think I could have done 40' by myself.

As I recall, when watching towers assembled, they are in 10' sections. They's use U bolts to anchor a 10' pole to one leg about 6' higher than the top of the first section. It had a pulley on the top. They'd tie the rope to the second section just a few inches past the center of gravity of the second section and pull it up. It would hang down. When they got it to the top, they'd swing the bottom legs over the top legs of the first section and set it down and bolt it on. You don't need to pull it up from the top, just a couple inches past the center. If you've done tree work, you know that.

Don't remember if they had a leg sticking off the top of the pole or not to ease with centering.

When I took my 30' tower down, I just walked it down myself. I had quite a bit of difficulty getting the legs apart between sections. 2x4 and a hand sledge hammer was used, as I recall.

Anyhow, good luck with your project.

If you read this question he said His buddy wanted to reuse it!!!!

 

[balloonman]

When I bought my retirement place, the original owner had Line-of-site internet, using a 60' antenna. I tried it briefly and it was horrible. We were able to swap to fiber and now I have an unused tower. My buddy wants the tower, so we're going to take it down ourselves. We're both comfortable working at heights and have the necessary tie-off equipment. We'll take our time, think each step through and make safety the number one priority.

I've been researching it and it looks like we need to build a gin-pole. I found this plan on-line and it looks simple enough, (Gin pole fab) I've also seen some plans using a length of uni-strut and some pipe clamps, which also seems feasible. It also looks like we need a modified scissor jack or similar jack, to help unseat the sections, if they're stubborn.

Anybody tackle this themselves? Any pointers or words of wisdom?

Your Tower is a Rohn 25G good to 50 foot unguyed. I would climb it a little over half way and attach temporary guy ropes for safety. use a piece of pipe instead of uni-strut it will fold on you. Enclosed is a gin pole setup I have made for several people. I wouldn't have two people climbing that grade of tower unless it's well guyed and not guyed with ropes. Used some PBlaster or Aerokroil or know as Kroil penetrating spray light taps with a hammer and shaking it after removing the bolts usually does it. If yo have a harness that has a but seat really helps as ROHN's are hard on your feet. Just take your time you can do it. If you have any questions that I can help you with email me at burnair@aol.com. Mike

 

[kmesr9]

When I bought my retirement place, the original owner had Line-of-site internet, using a 60' antenna. I tried it briefly and it was horrible. We were able to swap to fiber and now I have an unused tower. My buddy wants the tower, so we're going to take it down ourselves. We're both comfortable working at heights and have the necessary tie-off equipment. We'll take our time, think each step through and make safety the number one priority.

I've been researching it and it looks like we need to build a gin-pole. I found this plan on-line and it looks simple enough, (Gin pole fab) I've also seen some plans using a length of uni-strut and some pipe clamps, which also seems feasible. It also looks like we need a modified scissor jack or similar jack, to help unseat the sections, if they're stubborn.

Anybody tackle this themselves? Any pointers or words of wisdom?

Hey gsganzer,
I have 40+year building and 30yrs as Supt. on commercial HVAC jobs. I’ve done a lot of similar things to this. Looking at your picture I’d lean toward renting or hiring a boom truck and rigging to simplify this. You may even be able to do a 4hr rental, take the top half off, lay it down, lift and lay down the bottom half then send the crane away and complete the disassembly on the ground rather than at height. Just my 2 cents and good luck, stay safe out there!

 

[zzvyb6]

His doesn't have a tilt base. Good way to tip over a manlift and get killed!

You don't need a tilt base. Grab it slightly above 1/2 way and cut the base loose. It will balance itself without tipping. Why not read thu the entire thread and see how we do it. Sounds ike you're not familiar with built-in manlift safety features.

 

[AnotherBueller]

When I bought my retirement place, the original owner had Line-of-site internet, using a 60' antenna. I tried it briefly and it was horrible. We were able to swap to fiber and now I have an unused tower. My buddy wants the tower, so we're going to take it down ourselves. We're both comfortable working at heights and have the necessary tie-off equipment. We'll take our time, think each step through and make safety the number one priority.

I've been researching it and it looks like we need to build a gin-pole. I found this plan on-line and it looks simple enough, (Gin pole fab) I've also seen some plans using a length of uni-strut and some pipe clamps, which also seems feasible. It also looks like we need a modified scissor jack or similar jack, to help unseat the sections, if they're stubborn.

Anybody tackle this themselves? Any pointers or words of wisdom?

While I've never taken one down, we did use a gin pole to put them up. Our jib pole was purchased, but it looked pretty much like your example and worked much like your example as well. Putting them up first we dug a 4' hole, filled it with concrete and pushed the first section in and squared it up and secured it so it couldn't shift, then only after the concrete set up did we lift and attach the next section. After that the rope was attached to the bottom of the jib crane, with a loop around both the jib and the installed section (to prevent the jib from falling over), One man climbed up the first section and the jib pole was lifted to the mid-section of the bottom section where it was attached to the first section and the hoisting rope was removed and lowered to the ground where ground guy attached it to the top of the next section.
The guy on the ground pulled the next section up while the top side guy guided into place and bolted them together (had to use a rubber mallet sometimes) then climbed up, attached the hoist rope to the jib pole and then waited for the next section and the ground guy hoisted the jib pole up.
Wash, rinse and repeat until you're done.
In your case I would do it the same way except in reverse.
If I left some step out, well it has been over 20 years since I did one, and I'm 76.
I tried to remember everything and went over, and over what I wrote and then made revisions, but I might have forgotten something so use your best judgment, and it's all on you. I am not responsible for anything you do. This is just a general outline of how I remember from a long time ago.
THINK each and every step through BEFORE doing anything and remember your LIFE is on the line (if you're unlucky you're crippled for the remainder of that life).
There's a reason that pros MUST go to a school before they can get any insurance to do this stuff.

 

[AnotherBueller]

In my opinion, some things are too risky to do for too little value.

In this case "In my opinion, some things are too risky to do for too little value."

 

[AnotherBueller]

How did it get up to double the weight persection. Plus, the weight limit is at max horizontal reach fully extended. This is a straight up reach with only a lateral rotation needed to lower it. Just the facts....

Look at the attachment in post 38 by 4570MAN, for the manufacturer's design to see the weight.

 

[gsganzer]

Well, it looks like this tower will probably be coming down with a sawzall.

Funny story, I talked to the original tower installer, Rountree, today to get an idea of costs to remove, antenna value etc. Apparently, one of you TBN brethren already called them with all the details and asking questions. We had a chuckle about it. He said after he hung up, he realized he just spent nearly an hour talking to someone, about someone else's antenna.

Bottom line, the towers aren't that expensive, it's the labor to put them up and take them down. If he decides it's worth it, my buddy's son (1 hour away) has an equipment rental business, so he'd haul a 60' boom lift over and we'd dismantle it that way.

Otherwise... TIMBER!!!!

 

[airbiscuit]

I'm thinking it might be possible to hinge it down sloooowly, and salvage 50' of tower, A few years ago, I would have been interested in 20' of tower. When TV went digital, we were too far from UHF towers. Had to go to DISH. We almost couldn't get a signal because trees got in the way of a clear sight to satellites. I had to trim tree tops with a Rugger 44 magum.

A 20' Tower would have been the cat's pajamas!

 

[tracdoc]

This thread just happened to catch my attention and once I started reading it I had to go through the entire thread. I never cease to be amazed at the plethora of practical experience and knowledge of the members of TBN. It seems that no matter what problem is that one of us may be faced with, there are members who have encountered the same or similar and have successfully dealt with it.
Antenna towers aren’t in my wheelhouse, so I’ll just echo the sentiment of others— be safe out there.

 

[zzvyb6]

I'll bet the bracket on the side of the building holding the tower in place was also used to raise it using a winch cable heading off of it.