US Tower Corporation - Did you know?

[n4bnm]

I purchased an 89ft motorized tower from a dealer about 2 years ago. The manufacturer of the tower is US Tower Corporation, based in Woodlake, California.

About five weeks ago, the motorized assembly developed a problem which stripped the treads on the top all thread drive. This part guides the cable when the tower is being raised and lowered.. I have been unable to rise my tower since that time. I contacted a representative of US Tower to buy a replacement drive but I was advised that I could not buy this part. I could however, send the tower back to them and then they would repair it.

I even contacted a well known nationwide amateur radio dealer to purchased the part but so far they have refused to sell to their own dealer.

This makes no sense to me. I would have to remove my antennas, take down the tower and then ship it. After it is repaired, pay again for shipping, then reinstall the tower and then again reinstall my antennas.

I have ask to speak to the owner, Bruce Kopitar, at lease five times. I am told by employees that he is unavailable and there is no way I can reach him directly.
I have been ask by Gary Smith, position unknown, to send pictures of the defective parts and of the overall tower as well. This I have done.

I have written several emails to Gary during the past 4 weeks. Almost none are answered and if one is answered the only reply is he is trying to see if the owner, Bruce Kopitar, will review my situation to determined if he is willing to sell the part so I can replace the defective piece.

These motorized towers are still sold and manufactured by US Tower but It appears that the company does not plan to support or to sell any related parts to the motorized winch assemply that is a part of the tower.

Any thoughts fellow hams?

Rit - N4BNM

[KB1NXE]

Well, I now know who I won't buy a tower from...

[n4bnm]

KB1NXE,

I certainly was not told that US Tower would not support / nor sell any parts to the motorized winch assembly. I would not have made this purchase if I was aware of this fact. The motorized winch is like the heart of the tower. If it does not work the tower is essentially dead.

By the way, this defective part(s), is custom designed and made by US Tower. It cannot be purchased anywhere. Not even through a third party vender.

I am not sure if their dealers are aware of these facts. I hope no one has to experience this dilemma.

Rit - N4BNM

[wx1f]

Post Deleted

[N4ATS]

WX1F , Great point , I have done this not once but twice. It amazed me that the part was not only a duplicate as far as dimentions , but they made it out of stainless instead af a drop forge. I also have had plastic obsolete parts made at a plastics house on several ocasions.

[n4bnm]

Thanks for the info regarding the machine shop. I'll let this group know how things work out early next week.

My last email from US Tower, Gary Smith, on Monday 15, 2008 ,advised that my file with the pictures of the defective part(s) was in the owners inbox for his review. I guess we will see how long long it will take before I get a reply. You would think that this would be on the top of his list.

Rit - N4BNM

[n4bnm]

A nearby machine shop advised that they could duplicate the part from the defective piece that I have. I considered their cost to be somewhat high so I will check with a couple of others in the area.

Since my last report, I emailed Gary , at US Tower again, on Dec.22, 2008. No response so far. And, no one from US Tower has responded to their distributor, nameless for now, who is trying to help secure the part(s) also.


Rit - N4BNM

[N1QOQ]

The company that makes the worm drive for my raising unit on a hdx555 is Hub City. They are out of South Dakota. The phone number is 605-225-0360


Good Luck

Paul- N1QOQ

[n4bnm]

I thought I would provide an update since my last. After making at least 3 calls a week for at least 3-4 more weeks to U S Tower Company , the President and his staff , refuses to return our calls. No one there will discuss the sale of parts to replace the defective items belonging to the motorized winch assembly.

I have received some on-the-air calls from hams that have read this post and they are very disturbed by what is happening. They advised that they will be sure share this information with other friends to make them aware of this situation.

I will keep everyone posted of any changes.


Rit - N4BNM

[wa8mea]

Awful quick to damn a ham radio company to economic failure after hearing just one side of a SINGLE story.

Let's see.....

>>"About five weeks ago, the motorized assembly developed a problem which stripped the treads on the top all thread drive."<<

I'd like to know more details about this. What was this "problem"? Was it inflicted by the weather? Was it inflicted by the device itself? Or did the owner of the tower inflict a problem on this device?

After checking the eHam reviews, I see 90% of the people who buy products from U.S. Tower give them a 5 out of 5.

Hmmmm.....

Bill

[n4bnm]

Bill,

The night before I discovered the problem, I had simply raised the tower with the remote in my shack. To raise the tower with the remote you simply flick a toggle switch either "up" or "down".

The next morning when I wanted to lower the tower, it would not come down. The house curcuit that powers the moter had tripped the curcuit breaker. After resetting it, the tower still would not come down. It was stuck at the 55ft level and the all thread upper assembly was badly stripped. I was finally able to get it to move downward stripping the upper all thread even more.

The lower all thread assembly appears to be OK. The entire winch assembly is enclosed in a protective housing to prevent anyone from tampering with it.

Rit - N4BNM

[wa8mea]

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[n4bnm]

To All,

U S Tower has agreed to sell me the parts needed to repair my tower. The parts are expected to be shipped by 3/02/2009. In exchange for U S Tower selling me these parts, I was required to sign a Release of Liability.

Rit - N4BNM

[wa8mea]

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[n4bnm]

Bill,

You are correct. This is a sue happy nation. Why attorneys take cases when they surely should not boggles my mind. Thank you for caring enough to comment.

Rit - N4BNM

[n4bnm]

I have received the parts from U S Tower to repair the motorized winch. Thanks to all who voiced your opinion to this group and to U S Tower.

It is a bit too cold for any work now. I hope to have it repaired soon.

Rit - N4BNM

[WW0JD]

Did you contact a local Tool & Die Maker To get a price?
Or even a machinist? Your situation is not impossible just a hassle.

Good Luck,
N5BAM Bam Bam

[K4ICL]

It might be prudent to take the replacement part you receive from the company to a machine shop and have it duplicated in the best grade materials.

Me thinks, if the part failed once, it could fail again. I am relatively certain you would be better off with another better replacement, rather than go through all the loops and hoops you have just experienced.

Good Luck...

AL

K4ICL