GEMINI SYSTEM

Winger · Fri Oct 15, 2010 7:34 pm

I NEED ADVICE. I AM INSTALLING A 3 INCH,16 FT TALL GEMINI RACK. I HAVE IT READY TO GO UP ON A 2 FT ABOVE GROUND POST WITH A LOT OF CONCRETE. THE ARMS ARE TO BE INSTALLED AFTER THE POST IS SET OVER THE GROUND POST. QUESTION-CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW TO GET THE BODY OF THE 16 FT POST UP AND OVER THE 2 FT BASE? I HAD MY WIFE LIFT ME IN THE LOADER BUCKET ON THE TRACTOR TO GAIN HEIGHT ADVANTAGE BUT THE P0ST IS TOO SLICK WITH NOTHING TO HOLD ON TO SO THAT DIDN'T WORK. IF THE GROUND POST WERE GROUND LEVEL I COULD SNEAK UP ON IT AND RAISE IT. IS THERE ANY WAY SHORT OF GETTING ALL THE CHICAGO BEARS TO HELP? I FEEL STUPID ASKING THIS BUT I AM ANYWAY. THANKS FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE.

Sandy - NC · Fri Oct 15, 2010 7:42 pm

I put one up with no problem. I just had one person help me. I lifted and guided the pole and all he did was balance it. NO extra effort and no extra equipmet. In fact, it was the easiest pole I have ever put up. Make sure that you haven't anything on the pole but the slide and the top piece with the perching rods.

eah415 · Fri Oct 15, 2010 8:00 pm

You might try to two or three "C" clamps on the poll which will give you handles. Just a idea.

Linda Reynolds · Fri Oct 15, 2010 8:08 pm

Chet & Tammy, I am not familiar with the specific installation of the Gemeni rack, but Sandy is, and probably offers you very good advice.

Is this an actual post, or is it a ground socket???

All of our racks are installed in ground sockets, and the sockets are flush with the ground, so we never have to lift and hoist our racks.........If you are using one, have you considered placing your ground socket lower so you would not have to dealt with the *lift and insert* factor??

Is there a specific need to have the ground socket above ground, or are you mounting this system to a post?

Sandy - NC · Fri Oct 15, 2010 8:21 pm

LLL, it is a post that goes 2' into the ground and sticks 2' out above the ground for a total length of 4'. All I did was follow the provided instructions to install the one at work. I was getting ready to put the pole up myself and the fellow that helped just happened to walk by and offer a hand. It is long, but lightweight pole, so I asked him to just balance it. I will be ordering another Gemini system for work next week.

Linda Reynolds · Fri Oct 15, 2010 8:49 pm

They are beautiful and functional systems for sure, but I am not sure I would be happy with a ground socket sticking 2' out of the ground. Having help to install it or not, I prefer ground level sockets for many reasons.

Sandy - NC · Fri Oct 15, 2010 8:59 pm

You can get a ground socket for the 4' section, but I opted not to since I don't forsee taking the racks down at work. With that ground socket, the 4' section can be removed from the ground.

Winger · Sun Oct 17, 2010 9:16 am

ON INSTALLING THE GEMINI POLE,THANKS FOR THE HELPFUL HINTS. I BELIEVE MY MISTAKE,AND I DO MEAN MISTAKE, WAS TO TRY TO LIFT A 16 FOOT POLE TWO FEET IN THE AIR ALONE. NOT POSSIBLE. CHEERS.........CHET AND TAMMY WINGER.........

John Miller · Mon Oct 18, 2010 1:56 pm

Chet

I have not set up this rack, but have helped set up several martin housing poles on mounting posts. My first step is to find a strong man. I'm no wimp, but at 58 figure there are stronger backs around than mine.

I then carefully placed a very sturdy step ladder beside the mounting post and the strong guy lifted the pole straight up and set it on the first step, with me holding the pole to keep it from tilting. Then the second step and then sideways less than a foot or so over to the top of the mounting post. Seemed to help to get it done one step at a time...have used a golf cart too instead of the step ladder. But definitely need two people.

John M

Winger · Mon Oct 18, 2010 3:39 pm

THANKS JOHN..IT SOUNDS SO SIMPLE THAT WAY,ESPECIALLY AFTER NEARLY FALLING OUT OF THE LOADER BUCKET ON THE TRACTOR I WILL NOW GET A HELPER,SOME C CLAMPS AND MY LADDER. CHET WINGER

Bob Allnock · Mon Oct 18, 2010 10:12 pm

The way I do it by myself with a front loader is to set the pole against a building or something. Drive your tractor bucket up to it and rotate the bucket and put the top and bottom of the bucket against the pole. I then tie it tightly to the bucket with a heavy duty ratchet tie down strap and install clamps on the bucket to keep the pole straight. Then you can lift it in the upright position and place it right on to the ground socket.

I do it all the time. If you have any questions e-mail me.

Winger · Wed Oct 20, 2010 12:36 pm

THANKS BOB...IT SUPER HOW FOLKS ON THE FORUM ARE ALWAYS QUICK TO HELP WITH GREAT IDEAS. THE GEMINI WILL RISE TODAY. MAY BUY ANOTHER ONE.........CHET WINGER

Bob Allnock · Wed Oct 20, 2010 3:41 pm

Good Luck. Let me know how you make out.

Winger · Sun Oct 24, 2010 8:35 pm

Thanks for all of the input! The Gemini is UP!

Linda, it was recommended that we not use the traditional ground socket due to our "sandy loam" and living on a hill with gusty winds off of the lake.

John, the ladder was a great idea & we actually tried it. Just could not work for us due to the "hill" and our fear of height! Chet & I are both "cry babies" when we climb a ladder!

Bob...You won this one! Worked GREAT! Thank you so MUCH!

2010 was our 1st successful year as Landlords. 4 pair. Not sure how many fledglings due to our lack of knowledge/nest checks! We have "lurked" on the forum all of late spring, Summer & Fall. We have LEARNED so much from so many of you. If you have posted on the Forum in 2010, we have read it! We have read & studied the archives and the on line editions of The P.M. Update magazine. When we received our fist copy this summer I did not put it down until I had read it from cover to cover!

We are looking forward to 2011 and it is very reassuring to know that when we run into trouble, we have all of you all to call on for help!

Sincere thanks to all of you!

Tammy & Chet

Winger · Mon Oct 25, 2010 1:27 am

Special thanks to Birdiegirl! When we had a "jumper" this last season and posted "help" on the "Forum" we had a responce within minutes! Note: this was our 1st year to have PM's....we were CLUELESS! Birdiegirl"talked" us through our dilemma! & Provided a great amount of general information! We went back & forth with her through private messages many times. Kudos and many high 5's to Birdiegirl! A true asset to our birds and this forum! I can only hope that I can repay this kind act by somehow in the future passing on knowledge that I learned from her to someone else who is "clueless"! Thank you B. Girl!!

Note: this time last year a "jumper" was a style of dress that I wore as young girl! Wow...I have come a long way baby!

Thanks to you all!
Tammy

CMF · Thu Nov 11, 2010 11:06 pm

Ground sleeving for my Gemini: I bought a 24' length of 3" aluminum square tubing. I cut off 3' and cemented it into the ground with 160lbs of sakrete with 2" above ground. Then I bought a 16" piece of square aluminum tubing that was close to inner dimension of the mast. This had to be machined down just a few thousands to slide into the mast/ground socket. Now some may think that a short ground sleeve is not adequate for keeping the mast up in wind with the rack and a full load 24 gourds but it all comes down to the joint presssure. If the inside sleeve was 4' long or 16", the joint is where the pressure is (sheering ground sleeve). I pinned the cemented ground sleeve down 8" with a cross bolt. This serves to hold the coupler in positon with 8" in the ground sleeve and 8" in the mast. I then filled the coupler with cement and a piece of rebar with end loop to a pull out and to strengthen the couplers sheer resistance. I too used the 2 man method, one balance, one lift & guide but the balancer was atop a sturdy step ladder (little giant). Rigging the aluminum was a piece of cake compared to the 24'X3" steel mast I dropped in without a ground sleeve. That one is in for good!