Moving a BUD

[Thun]

Hi,

I have the chance to get a 10' used BUD but I'm trying to plan out how to get this done. It's on a pole about 15' high. It's a mesh dish and I need to get it down. I would like to know:

1. What's the best way to get this thing down? Cut through the pole? Dig out the foundation? The pole is about 6 inches in diameter. I have a reciprocating saw or should I get something else?

2. Transporting this beast. I figure it's going to have to come apart and if the panels don't fit on the roof (I have a wagon) I'll need to get something else. I'm looking at about a two-hour drive to get it home. Comments?

Thanks,

[Costactc]

You'll definitely have to take the dish apart for transport. I've never had to remove a bud from a pole that high but I'm sure Terry would have an answer on that one. If 2 of you went up on ladders and loosened all the screws attaching it to the pole you could lift it off the pole and ease it to the ground. The only real heavy part would be the polar mount.

[Thun]

So how much would the dish portion of a 10 footer weigh?

[Gold]

You could probably saw part way through & then bend it over. It would be best to have help. dont change the angle on the polar mount when you get it down. If you are only two hours Away your angulations will be very close to where they are now.

[Terryl]

So how much would the dish portion of a 10 footer weigh?

Much more then one guy can handle with out some help.

We use to use what is called a "GIN" pole (no not a gin and tonic) to lift the dishes that high, you can make something up using some 2' ridged conduit and a couple of pulleys (at least rated to 500 pounds) one pulley can be mounted at the top of the pole, the other can be mounted at the base of the dish mounting pole, use at lease 3/8 to 1/2 inch nylon rope to lower the dish.

You can mount the pole to the dish mounting pole using 3 (or more) "U" bolts, (big enough to fit around the dish mounting pole) a 2x4 can act as a spacer.

Get some help to lower this thing as working at that height can be very tricky.

If you know someone with a boom truck, buy them a 6 pack (or case) if they will lower it for you.

You could transport it in one piece if you have access to a truck with a lumber rack.(use lots of rope to tie it down)

If not then use some masking tape to mark what panel goes where.

Be safe we don’t want to hear about any accidents.


Gin pole parts can be found here.


http://www.w9iix.com/ii00008.htm

[Thun]

Hi,

So in summary:

-Dish is far to heavy to unbolt from and lift above the pole and to the ground for one person, yes? That being said, is it possible to unbolt it another way and lower it (or let it drop?) Preserving the angles is really an afterthought that this stage.

-Is it possible to cut the mast and let it drop to the ground slowly? I have a feeling this might be a tad dangerous as it's like cutting down a tree and the top part shoots out backwards...

Perhaps this picture would help with thinking up some additional removal techniques. If you're wondering, it's free to take if I can remove it:

10139

10140

[Gold]

Hi,

So in summary:

-Dish is far to heavy to unbolt from and lift above the pole and to the ground for one person, yes? That being said, is it possible to unbolt it another way and lower it (or let it drop?) Preserving the angles is really an afterthought that this stage.

-Is it possible to cut the mast and let it drop to the ground slowly? I have a feeling this might be a tad dangerous as it's like cutting down a tree and the top part shoots out backwards...

Perhaps this picture would help with thinking up some additional removal techniques. If you're wondering, it's free to take if I can remove it:

10139

10140

Can you rent a left?
You don't want to let it drop

[Terryl]

Can you get a pickup truck with a lumber rack on it up next to the dish?

If so then a platform made out of 3/4" plywood and 2x4's can be used as a work platform, this way 2 (strong) guys can lift it off the mounting pipe and set it down on the truck.

GIN pole is the best way.

[satchick]

you can also remove the dish from the polar mount, though that is risky business and you need a way to support the dish and lower it in a controlled manner. The gin pole is a good suggestion if you have access to a good one and someone that knows how to use it. If there's a ham radio club in your area maybe someone there would know?

My 10 footer was removed from it's original home with a tractor and heavy duty ratchet straps, but it wasn't 15 feet in the air either.

[Solsantenudist]

Hi
I took down a dish on Good Friday it was mounted 14 feet high on the side of a house trailer attached on a piece of oil
drill pipe which weighed about 300 pounds with 3/4 '' wall thickness that was heavy.
I undid the 4 bolts holding the dish to the mount cut the cables and attached a rope to the dish slowly pryed it from
the four U shaped brackets and lower it to the ground. The aluminium frame and mesh weighs about 100 pounds
max I was working from the top of the edge of the trailer but did not find it beyond one man's means and I'm 61 years old,
did I let that slip out! Anyway you can get some rental scafling and strap it to the back side of pole and be safe get a friend
to help if necessary. I had the hole thing dismantled in 3 hours , tools needed visegrips, 2 1/2 " box end wrenchs, 1 3/4''
box end , one large screw driver pry bar, a can of wd 40 penatrating oil a few other odds and sod tools.
Most of the bolts will snap off from corrosion. Hope this helps I have 5 more to take down most of the actuators will
turn out to be junk it's not even worth the time to take them apart. They are cheap.
Well that's the basics from me .
Good Luck:thumbsup:

[Bowhunters]

Looks like everyone has most all the bases covered with ideas, congrats as it looks like the dish is in great shape.

[Costactc]

Looks like a great dish. If you have help, you can ease that bud to the ground without any problems. Take her apart and transport, as Gold mentioned do not do anything to the polar mount except removing screws which are attached to the dish.

[Terryl]

Another idea.

If you know someone with a back hoe, (or can hire someone) that will work as a crane, just be careful as it could snap things off if all bolts mounting it to the pole are not loose, also a good way to get the pole out of the ground, just need something to fill the hole back in.

[Terryl]

Or another........(I'm full of them today)

5 or 6 guys with ropes, cut the pole at the lower base almost all the way threw and tip it the direction you want it to go, the remaining metal on the pole will keep things steady, the guys on the ropes will help guide it down, grab it before it gets too close to the ground.

If you cut the pole at the bottom, drill a 3/8" hole first as it may be full of nasty smelling water.

[Gold]

Here's another way:jawdrop:
hxxp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEChs89NkTk

Seriously check out Youtube there is some very informative vids there. Might give you a few ideas

[Bowhunters]

Its a UFO, LOL.

[catthepatch]

maybe a good read? try checking out page 6 or 7 from me? did it myself and had fun and trouble. just a thought? happy testing...

[Terryl]

maybe a good read? try checking out page 6 or 7 from me? did it myself and had fun and trouble. just a thought? happy testing...

You didn't provide a link to your page? Cant read what I cant find. (getting too old to look around for things...LOL)

[Bigredneck]

I Assume you've got this down by now. How did it go?