stupid monopole bolts :(

1170 Views 10 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Johnnie5000, Oct 13, 2008

David MacLeod

Discussion Starter · Oct 9, 2008

boy those monopole clamp bolts are weak! I swear I didn't crank on it but the last one snapped.
luckily I had a carriage bolt I could trim down so finally they are installed. been waiting for a break in the weather for last week or so to install them.
I yanked, and I mean yanked, on that pole and did not see any movement on the dish. now time to dither it in.
I could not use roof mount due to heavy amounts of snow drifts (3+ feet each storm usually) and had to mount vertically to siding. I did not like the looks of the siding mount so I used three (1 for poles) 20 inch 2x4 lagged in 4 spots each skipping 1 level of siding. even without poles it takes 40 mph with no issues. now it should handle blizzards striking it ok.

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Matt9876

· #2 · Oct 9, 2008

I suggest putting a small self tapping screw in the center of each mono-pole near the clamp.

I've had call backs due to the bolts falling off days after the install was complete,That bolt and clamp assembly is simply garbage.

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David MacLeod

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 9, 2008

Matt9876 said:
I suggest putting a small self tapping screw in the center of each mono-pole near the clamp.

I've had call backs due to the bolts falling off days after the install was complete,That bolt and clamp assembly is simply garbage.

I was wondering about something like that. since its where its staying I could drill right through clamp and into both sections where it slides right?

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Matt9876

· #4 · Oct 9, 2008

David MacLeod said:
I was wondering about something like that. since its where its staying I could drill right through clamp and into both sections where it slides right?

Correct

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David MacLeod

Discussion Starter · #5 · Oct 9, 2008

pretty much anything to turn it from a friction clamp into a mechanical clamp would work I was thinking.
glad to know it does work, I'll pick up some small screws this weekend.

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houskamp

· #6 · Oct 9, 2008

"Tech screws" are great

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RobertE

· #7 · Oct 9, 2008

Up until recently the bolts were a no grade cheap bolts.

The current revision on the monopoles are much better. Grade three (or maybe five) bolts. The mast clamps have been redesigned to actually allow you to get them tight now. No need for those self tapping screws. Ditto with the center clamp. The foot is now stamped instead of cast, now you won't snap off half the attachment when you tighten down the bolt there.

The current monopoles are much, much better.

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David MacLeod

Discussion Starter · #8 · Oct 10, 2008

I'm pretty sure these were cast,did not look that close. $9 a pair with shipping.
they were all grade 3 bolts, so not sure why this one snapped so easy. no evidence of them ever being used. its possible I did not have it seated correctly causing a side torque.
they should be ok, but I might do the screw due to center clamp design.
it takes me hanging off it ok, but screws are cheap

edit: just walked out with flashlight, they are cast so must be older style. bolts are grade 3, except the 1 I broke which is now a galvanized 5.

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kauf2938

· #9 · Oct 10, 2008

The bolts suck. I break them all the time.

I'm also in a heavy snow area.

Did you mount the dish on the side of the home where snow will slide off the roof?

Most people don't realize the power that snow has when it comes off the roof.

I can't tell you how many service calls I go to in the winter where the dish is hanging by the cables or the LNB arm is bent down. Its even worse with a metal roof.

Something to think about...

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David MacLeod

Discussion Starter · #10 · Oct 10, 2008

no, its on the end to avoid this. last year it was on the side and I had to be careful of this, but it was only there for 1 season. everything was already frozen when I mounted it and I needed to use an existing mount spot.

http://www.dbstalk.com/showpost.php?p=1829718&postcount=75

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Johnnie5000

· #11 · Oct 13, 2008

kauf2938 said:
The bolts suck. I break them all the time.

+1

Always bring at least 4 self-tappers when installing a ka/ku dish onto a roof with me.

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