Wind/diesel installation....

[frotter]

Weeellllll, to 'fess up properly - we did actually start a while ago and i am posting an intensive 'catch up' session. After another couple of sets of pics i will be up to date and things will seem to slooooooww right down!   
More pics later.........

[frotter]

Sorting out the enormous erection. (mast). The base position is sorted, guy line points measured so time to biff in the Terralock anchor thingies. I am using two at each securing point (NO concrete!) and keeping fingers crossed. Lol! These are 1m long.



They really take some whacking in - sledgehammer ahoy! Hope we've measured it right, wouldnt want to try and whip 'em out again!



They look kinda neat though dont they? I'll let you know how good i think they are after the first gale......



Er... is this how it goes? The base is 'nailed' into the ground with metal rods. NO concrete! What am i like?? I'll let you know how far it sinks in the winter....



Blimey! Long innit?? 8 Metres of steel joy. It'll never fly! Hopefully...




Hehe......   

[martin]

nice use of terra-locks! - truly "temporary" mounts (should anyone be asking!)
We've used them on "tiddlers" (yacht-size turbines) with great success - will be intrigued to see how you get on!

[Amaterasu]

Martin - how much of a hole in the deck do these turbine fixing screws make ?

[martin]

about a 2" hole! - literally the width across the spiral!
You bash them in, and then tighten the nut, locking it solid (it can't turn!) - if you need to remove them, there's a simple removal tool - have a gander at their website - http://terralock.com/

[Amaterasu]

Doh !

I was trying to be funny - I was visualising you hitting one through the deck of a yacht !

[martin]

the only problem seems to be waterproofing the deck where they go through!

[frotter]

Hehe - you could just use one as an anchor.. straight thru the hulll into the mud!

Ok - few more piccies....
As i ordered an extra tower section, the cable supplied with the kit wasnt long enough. Amazing the things that just dont occur to you innit? Had to make a trip to local rope shop and extend using some extra cable loops and clamps....... They'll be fiiiiiine!




Couldnt be faffed to make a gin-pole so rickety ladders pressed into service as props.......... this did get a bit hairy as the pole even without lumpy bits on weighs a bleedin ton!




We had the splendid £65 4x4 Hi-jet pickup scrabbling for grip for a while......... and after some concern over integrity of manky nylon rope - ooop she goes!




As darkness falls, Stoveboy and present Mrs Frotter start checking the levels. I am looking forward to Nice Cup of Tea




Atmospheric sunset shot........ er, a pole in a field.



XX

[PEMTEK]

I would recommend some lock nuts on your cable adjusters,

I had a nasty tower fall due to one vibrating itself undone 

Phil

[Ivan]

I pity poor stoveboy - he really shouldn't be under that tower as it is hoisted up, just in case....
That's the problem with slave labour...

[frotter]

True - threoretically he was to one side of it at all times. We were acutely aware of the likely effect of gravity having its wicked way.... still are!

[frotter]

Chucking the big shiny tower up.... the job would have been unthinkable without it.




Go on boys - up ye go! Hehe...





Dont look down....! I hate heights....





Good view of Frot Acres from up here. Really ought to do summat with that roof.... 





XX

[Paulh_Boats]

frotter,

That's a damn clever solution building the tower around the pole. Bought my tower for painting the house... would not be without it now and its much, much safer than fighting gravity (which always wins).

-Paul

[nicnaim]

Great thread Frotter, keep it coming. 

Regards

Nic

[frotter]

Sorry - i only usually get chance to do this quite late in t'evening.
Ok - tower is up and tensioned/levelled. Now for the big lumpy bits...
Gotta luv that Batricar - i think you can just see its got a stereo too. Twin speakers under the seat - lets rock!





Ok, this is where things start to go a bit pete tong..... teetering 8 metres up lifting a 50 kilo lump onto the top of a greased flange is NOT the time to discover only ONE of the holes will line up in any orientation. Doh! We had to run a super duper long power lead up the tower to drill the holes out by 1mm. The bit kept catching in the hole threatening to slice the cable and my fingers off. Nice one ye Chinese gits! It also just started raining at this point....  





Ok - well that got sorted (apart from one hole with casting anomaly not allowing the bolt to go in fully thus the whole darn thing is held on by FIVE bolts... ) and heres SpeccyBloke bolting on the jaunty tail. Two smileys in one.  Everyone should cultivate a tame speccybloke by the way. Mine is an absolute gem! Puts in a sterling job with the Frot coffers only down by some nice cups of tea and a lunch-time fry-up! 
Please note the newly planted Great Kindling Forest in the background. Free firewood yay! Just give me ten years or so......




Here comes the big choppy thing now - all hands on deck! This was a tad awkward to hoik up the tower.... Keep your eye on the red stripes - the balance weights are stuck under them. 





SpeccyBloke leaning on the giant spanner - if it comes off and butchers livestock in field next door i shall have words to say to him i can tell you.




Yeah, yeah SpeccyBloke again... No, I did actually do SOME of the work - really! Someone had to take the pics though didnt they?




Ok friends, stay tuned for the turning on and running for cover in the next installment.