Sutphen SL75 - Slide Blocks; Waterway And Seals

SUTPHEN TOWERS, INC. 2012
Manual-2012 _SL75-SA75-SP70.docx Page 29 of 55 8/31/2012
of the sections being pulled down by gravity is supported by the extend cables. Because of
this, the extend cables are more likely to experience stretching and require adjustment. The
retract cables are actually pulling only at elevations near or below horizontal.
SLIDE BLOCKS
These devices are attached to the ends of the tower at both the upper and lower positions on
each section. There are 24 slide blocks in the tower. They support each section of the tower so
no metal-to-metal contact occurs.
The material is "UHMW POLYETHYLENE" compound. It is designed to withstand heavy loading.
Lubrication is required in the path in which the slide blocks travel on each section. The slide
block paths are lubricated at the factory with McLube dry lubricant. The slide block paths
lubrication needs to be checked every 25 hours of operation, or annually. Any bare spots
should be cleaned and McLube reapplied.
There are exceptions to this schedule that should be considered. Should the tower be operated
at a fire and exposed to excessive dirt and grime, it is recommended that the slide block travel
paths be cleaned, and the lubricant be reapplied.
WATERWAY AND SEALS
This is the telescopic tube device inside the tower which carries the water to the tower nozzle.
It has seals which ride on the internal honed surface of the tubes. These seals are made with an
impregnated lubricant. In cases when the tower is operated many times without pumping
water through the waterway, it is necessary to provide additional lubrication to the seals
through the waterway. The procedure is as follows:
Never extend or move the tower in any way while persons are on the tower.
The person oiling the waterway should wear a life belt while on the tower.
Stabilizers must be set before performing this operation.
This service should be done following any extensive use of the tower without pumping water,
or monthly. The outsides of the tubes are provided with nylon bearing collar assemblies built
into the mounting collar of each section. The outside of these tubes should be kept free of dirt
and grime to protect the bearing collars.
Should the tower be used under extremely dirty conditions, the waterway should be wiped off
promptly with Naptha or similar solvent to assure that the surface of the tubes are free of
abrasive particles.