Got tired of straining my back

[Rover]

My short test mast is used to hold up small mills, and in the past with light ECMs etc, it hasn't been a problem to hook a rope to the mast and raise it will standing on the roof of the shed.

This changed when I beefed up the mast to 2" schedule 40 steel , and mounted a treadmill motor. Top of the mast weight is ~ 50 lbs. Took me 4 or 5 attempts to pivot it back up , and some pain pills later.

Thi time, I used garage door springs to take some of the load, and it worked. Reduced the perceived weight by half and had no trouble pulling it back up. I used 2 springs inline, but probably would have been better with one.

I did run a safety cable through te springs.

Photo with it down.

..and back up

[Norm]

Well...or you could have used counterweights...

3 or 4 5gallon buckets...bout 6ft up fill em with water initially till it almost raises the

pole.

  Nice shed....were are you at with no snow and

nice green grass....?

[TomW]

rover;

I certainly hope a gust does not flip the shed over! That type here usually is not attached to the ground just  sit on piers or skids.

Interesting setup. Too bad you have so many close tall trees.

Tom

[Rover]

Grin, I built the shed... how many you see with a deck?

Its anchored and properly framed, where rhe mast is the interior wall is 8 2x4s against each other.

Norm... Norfolk VA

[Rover]

Wind is not one of my bigger worries.. this is hurricane Isabel

[TomW]

Here we would just say it was now a houseboat!

Tom

[Rover]

Notice.. it did not float... properly anchored in the true sense of the verb