I am running 900-1500 lbs indicated on a stiff Marstrom mast. I use "indicated" because I have tiny rod diamond "wires" and I have never been sure of the accurancy of the gauge.
In practice I simply adjust the bolt left or right, in half turns, depending on the wind. This is written on the mast with an old grease pencil. Periodically, I set the mast to known prebend and call that zero. When I set the prebend, I mostly, measure the tension with the gauge and write that on the gauge.
Yeah, I would figure that the Loos gauges in use out there are not suited for checking tension on rod rigging. I also bet there is some significant variability attributable to the difference between 7x7 wire and dye-form wire with these same gauges.
Bill, do you know what the diameter of the wire is on your diamonds?
We sometimes go up to 800 or 900 lbs of tension on the I20 but I'm nearly certain that could mean death for my a-cat mast. It's currently at 350 pounds of tension and performing well in light to moderate breeze. Is 500 lbs a reasonable upper maximum? I found a website for Applied Composites - I'll check with them too.
