Lowering Flag Pole for Maintenance

[Ployd]

I recently purchased a house that has a 40' galvanized flagpole in the yard. The pipe is in 10' lengths attached with a coupler so the pipe gets smaller as it raises. It has a bit of rust and flaking paint, plus the ball at the top needs polished or painted. The rope is broken and the hardware should be replaced. It is attached to two metal channels that come out of the ground. There is an upper and lower bolt. So I imagine that if I remove the lower bolt and loosen the upper bolt I should be able to pivot the pole down.

The issue is the fact that I imagine the pole is going to be very heavy. I want to pull it down, paint it and get it ship shape. If anyone has any experience, resources or advice on this matter I would appreciate your input.

[Ployd]

After a week all I get is spam in my email!

[Cimerron]

Hi Ployd;
You probably got no answers because nobody knows what to tell ya.I would venture that you are correct about removing the bottom or top pin from the pole and pivoting the pole on down to rest on some sawhorses or something like that. Fourty feet of galvanized pipe can be pretty heavy so I would say to get several friends to help you and just lower the thing down nice and slow. Move out toward the top as the pole decends and if it breaks on the way down then it's not very strong to start with and will probably break anyway with a flag on it and a good breeze. You will have to bring it down anyway to change the rope and to be sure the pully on the truck is working ok.
Another tip would be to get a ten foot long 2x4 and notch the end of it to fit the pole. Have somebody standing away from the base to engage the pole with the 2x4 as soon as it comes down within reach and use the 2x4 to help support the pole as it comes down.
Main thing is not to try and do it by yourself at least for the first time till you find out how heavy it is and if you can handle it alone. Let us know how you make out. Pete

[olgoatone]

Is the flag pole counterbalanced?I saw a set of plans for a wooden pole(four sided) that pivoted on an a shaft that was counterbalanced to make maintenance possible.
James