[SMCARA] How do I...

Mon May 10 12:26:43 EDT 2010

Hi Tom,

Another thing to try that has worked for me in the past, both putting them in and getting them out, is hydraulics.  Take your garden hose and put it over the top of the rod and start the flow.  After a few minutes, it should loosen up enough to gorilla it out. Try the clamp method with a 2x4 to lever it up.

If that doesn't work, Pete's brute force method is probably sure-fire!  I have seen fence contractors use that Amica device to install chain link fence posts.  Works like a champ down in sandy Florida, but might be a little tougher up here in our clay.

FYI, the NEC says that anything less than an 8 foot ground rod is ineffective and not IAW code.

73 de Tom/W4OKW

Tom Clarke
Wyle, Inc  Aeronautics
P3 Product Lead, PEO(A)
USN/USMC National Airworthiness Office
Naval Air Systems Command, AIR-4.0P
(301) 995-3793/DSN 995-3793
Fax: (301) 342-3776
Cell (301) 904-2053
frederic.clarke at navy.mil

"Do not let spacious plans for a new world divert your energies from saving what is left of the old."

Winston Churchill

-----Original Message-----
From: smcara-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:smcara-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Butt, Peter CIV NAVAIRSYSCOM 5.4.1
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 10:54 AM
To: Tom Shelton
Cc: SMCARA at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [SMCARA] How do I...

Tom,

  There are a wealth of ways to get these out of the ground...

  The easiest way is one that I've used a few times.  Install a standard ground clamp near the top, borrow any hydraulic-assisted device (backhoe, small tractor with a three-point hitch, bucket loader, etc. and tie the two together.  Up it comes... but there usually is some costs associated with this solution (unless you have a friend who owns one of these devices who likes beer).

  Another way is to 'leverage' the power of mechanical advantage.  See the picture at this site (http://www.amicatech.com/amicaroddriver.html) to see what I'm talking about.  Basically, using the ground clamp I mentioned above, tie to a long steel pole (5-6' or longer) with attach point about 1' from end.  Use the longer portion to pull up.  You may have to grunt a little depending on how long (or short) the longer portion of the pole is.

  Let me know if it works.

  Vr, Pete (WA3UMY)

-----Original Message-----
From: smcara-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:smcara-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Tom Shelton
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 10:32
To: SMCARA Reflector (E-mail)
Subject: [SMCARA] How do I...

I have two 6-foot long copper ground rods in the ground and I have since moved my antenna and need to get them up and out of the earth.  Only about 4&1/2 feet are in the ground and I've tried everything.  I hit them with a sledge hammer to loosen them up.  I can spin them around with a pipe wrench.  But as far as pulling them up, they won't budge.  Any ideas or special tools I need.  Tammy already said that driving them all the way into the ground is not a viable option - they've got to come up...

Tom Shelton 

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