preventative maintenance ??

[gypsydog]

Hi All , my system has been up for nearly 2 years, it is perfect for my requirements, and I’m on the arc from 30 e to 30 w. the only things that I have done in that 2 years is change the Lnb and on occasions I rescan the channels. My question is this, should I be doing something now that will help prevent me climbing ladders this winter....I would rather do a bit of preventative maintenance now than in the middle of winter. I have been up and checked that all bolts are tight and not rusted. I have no Idea of the average lifespan of the Lnb or the motor.

 

[Lazarus]

LNB well over five years ............. more likely to be overtaken by technology than to fail.

Motor hard to say as it depends upon how heavy and how exposed the dish is.

All I do it spray WD40 on all fasteners, leave to penetrate and dry, then paint with KuRust.

Ditto paint any signs of corrosion on motor brackets etc with KuRust (Top edge of one of my dishes gets the same treatment too).

 

[hexah]

Yes, that Hammerite Kurust is magic.

I always have a spare LNB and cheap diseqc switch, plus cable, f connectors and self-amalgamating tape handy.

I also have a permanent mounting point a few feet up the wall that can be used in emergencies, when the main dish fails and there are storm strength winds and / or snow and ice for days. I have a few battered old dishes that can be used.

 

[gypsydog]

Thanks thats very reassuring. 1 Tin of Kurust on the shopping list. I don’t know why but I thought there would have been a bit more to it. That’s my next dry weather job sorted. I hate ladders at the best of times but when your cold and miserable and cant get a lock on the right satellite , its soul destroying. It took me 2 weeks of fine tuning to get my dish aligned (its far from perfect but works for me ) the thought of having to do that in mid winter chills me just thinking about it .

 

[Lazarus]

Kurust comes in a plastic bottle from most Motor Factors.

It's quite aggressive, so would not store well in a tin!

Also, once opened, it tends to weld up the screw cap so I tend to slightly overtighten it then back it off a little shortly afterwards before re-tightening.

If you don't, it's the very devil to release some months down the line!!

 

[gypsydog]

" Kurust comes in a plastic bottle from most Motor Factors. "

Thanks for that ... I would have been looking in DIY stores for a tin ( and probably give up because I couldn't find it) ...lol

 

[Lazarus]

Halfords, eBay ................

 

[Channel Hopper]

Basic maintenance

Autumn - Check on polarmount bearings and connections, grease and re-waterproof as necessary.
Spring - Remove spiders from feed and realign if the wooden roof has moved/sunk.
Summer - Cut back excess foliage that might interrupt the signal before it happens

 

[deleted]

Apart from the above mentioned, Dont fix what is not broken !!

 

[gypsydog]

Thanks for all the help .. all I need now is a cheap chainsaw for next doors apple tree ....

 

[Lazarus]

Thanks for all the help .. all I need now is a cheap chainsaw for next doors apple tree ....

After you with that, please

 

[wium]

Next Spring replace your coax cable with the best possible that one can get.

 

[satelliteman]

I always apply a little grease on the nuts and threads. Makes life easier if you need to undo.