Hauling a dish

[armadillo_115]

Still looking for a 10 or 12 foot mesh dish in my area.Thinking ahead to when I find one.

Question is: Could a mesh dish be hauled standing up right,with all the weight resting on the lower edge of the dish? Or would that warp it? I'd remove the mount ring first to reduce the weight.

Any ideas appreciated.

 

[KE4EST]

Best way is to haul with a trailer, face-down. If you don't have one you can rent one.

 

[Titanium]

Or stand vertical and support the mount. I wouldn't haul with the reflector edge supporting the dish weight.

 

[Magic Static]

The majority of mesh and perforated dishes were quad-panels and really no reason not to take them down to the 4 panels. They are light and easy to move that way. The Pinnacle came into 8 sections, but I still broke it into 4 pieces to move. A couple of 10' dish rescues with pictures in the threads below,
http://www.satelliteguys.us/xen/threads/zenith-rescue-pinnacle.341388/

http://www.satelliteguys.us/xen/threads/kti-rescue.337337/

 

[FaT Air]

Or just into halves. Stand em up on a trailer resembling a clam. (Freeway speeds are no problem if anchored)
If it's on a NPRM, slide the whole thing up on trailer.

 

[armadillo_115]

If I had broken my 7.5 KTI into sections when I got it...most of the wire mesh would have fallen out of the slots I'm afraid. 3 or 4 popped out while mounting/working on it.And brother,that was a PITA.Those old wire clips have not aged well.
I'll not attempt to haul one 'standing upright' per y'alls advice. Thanks guys!
Hopefully when I find another dish,it will have ten zillion screws holding the mesh,instead of relying on slots and wire clips.

 

[Lone Gunman]

Hopefully when I find another dish,it will have ten zillion screws holding the mesh,instead of relying on slots and wire clips.

SAMI dishes have the mesh held in with semi-round head screws and it does make it much easier to work with them. You can remove those with a cordless drill with a phillips bit in it.

 

[armadillo_115]

Score! Found another dish today.10 foot Unimesh...not another buttonhook.One small repairable hole in the 'mesh'.Actually,I believe this one is perforated instead of mesh.Looks to be in very good shape.Unfortunately the actuator is missing.Dish is swung all the way over toward one side...Luckily in a spot that prevented strong winds from flopping it back and forth.Nose cone is missing as well but might be findable.It came off recently and the owners wife threw it down the hill somewhere to get it out of the yard.

Dish is low to the ground except it is about 8 feet up a steep hill.It will be a bit challenging to remove it while standing on the hillside.Maybe I can tie the parabolic to a tree up above to prevent it from rolling/sliding down the hill.The lady of the house had one thing to say: "Don't tear up my flowers and shrubs". And of course the foliage has to be downhill from the dish.

Anyway,the guy said I can have it for free if I come get it.Best part is,I don't have to remove the pole or even saw it off.The guy even offered to help if needed.

So I will be hauling another dish soon.Reckon I'll be digging a new hole before winter comes back around.

IF I get this dish home and IF it tests out ok...I may let the 7.5 KTIdish go.I'll give you guys first option if I do.

<Pictures to follow>

 

[armadillo_115]

Dish is home and sitting on my truck. 10 foot Unimesh perforated with 4 lnb support arms.Press locked,not screw attached panels.Panels don't pop out like the mesh did on the KTI dish.
Bolts were severely rusted and many had to be wrung off...took longer to dismantle than the 10ft Channel Master prior.Former owner helped the wife and I...really a great guy!

Should I stich up the holes like stiching mesh,or is there a better way? Maybe solder?

I meant to snap some pics before we took it down but forgot the camera.Anyway,here's a few pics showing the one section with damage.(Other panels are stacked behind) First pic is an overview,following pics are close-ups of the same 3 holes:

Another small hole not shown in the first pic.Looks kinda like torch melted rather than a punch thru? :

Finally the Chap feedhorn.Lnb is a Drake something,but photo of it was too blurry to post.No plans to use them anyway:

 

[FaT Air]

I'd stitch the holes, but more for cosmetics, and not performance.
Give them a shot of paint, also for cosmetics.
If the perf panel is Aluminum, use aluminum wire. if steel, steel wire.
(Don't need electrolysis eating at it)
Nice dish BTW.

 

[Jason S]

Very nice. I like the perforated panels!