Older tower structures often experience wear and tear due to movement of the static wire hardware. The clevis spins in the wind and eventually wears out, as does the “eye” opening on the tower, making it challenging for field crews to replace because of wear.

To solve this problem, linemen in New York and in other areas of the country are using the Bo Bushing, manufactured by Advanced Bronze (Lodi, Ohio). Rather than using a compressor to replace the nuts, bolts and steel, the linemen can correct the wear on the tower by installation of this bushing device.

Field Installation

The device is made out of a bronze aluminum alloy, which is designed for a dry surface wear area. It also can be manufactured from stainless steel.

The product is available in three different versions. One of the devices is a full circle with two holes located 180 degrees apart for attachment to the structure. To use this tool, the linemen need to remove the hardware and support the static wire. They would then attach the bushing and replace the hardware using a portable battery-operated drill. The estimated time for installation is 20 to 30 minutes. This includes the hardware change out, grounding and the supporting of the static wire, as well as the drilling of the holes.

If this type of bushing gets worn out in 15 to 20 years, then a lineman simply has to remove the bolts from the bushing and then turn it 180 degrees for a new wear surface. This unit may even outlive the life of the structure.

The second version of the bushing is a half circle and can be installed without removing any hardware. A lineman needs to slide the bushing in and drill and bolt it together. The estimated time for this is less than 15 minutes per application. The hardware may or may not be changed.

The final version is three-quarters of a circle and features an opening that would allow the user to install with the removal of the hardware. This version can be flipped 180 degrees for a new wear surface. The holes in the bushing would be put in at the request of the user. This unit is similar to the whole circle but does not need to unattach the hardware assembly.

Time Savings

The installation of the product is a simple process that can extend the life of the structure by many years. Two linemen in the air can install this unit in a very short period of time.

It would normally take about a day for four to five linemen to use a compressor on a lattice structure because there are usually two static supports on many of the lines. By using the new device, a battery-operated drill and a small hoist to support the wire, two linemen can now complete both jobs in about 30 to 40 minutes. The single static support will take less than half this time.

By installing the device, the linemen are not only creating a new wear surface, but they're also increasing the width of the surface. In most cases, there is plenty of room for the clevis to move forward and sideways.

Moving Forward

About eight of these units on structures have been installed in the last five or six years in New York. So far, the linemen have not noticed any adverse effects. The integrity of the grounding has not been compromised due to the bolt connections as well as the hardware weight pulling down on the bushing.

In an era that is seeing many of the lines being at the end of their life cycle, this device may extend the towers' ability to be secure for many years to come. This is not a permanent solution, but it is an extension of life. Uses for this bushing are also being observed on the tangent structures where the insulator hardware attaches to the tower. More investigation will be needed to determine if this will work in a much heavier down-pull areas.

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Bohdan Fediuk (bfediuk@nycap.rr.com) has worked out of Local Union 1249 for 17 years and has been with a public utility for 21 years. He is currently a line supervisor.