Cupola Installation Method Without Internal Cross Brace – Medium Sized Installation Rods
Cupola Installation Method without Internal Cross Brace – Medium Sized Installation Rods (Vertical Installation Rods)
Requires internal cupola access
Note: Two people are needed for this installation
A medium sized spire (vertical installation rod) is defined as follows: ¾” (~1.9 cm) diameter stainless steel rod with top 10” (~25 cm) reduced to ⅜” (~.95 cm) in diameter.
Standard rod lengths are as follows:
40” (~102 cm)
48” (~123 cm)
60” (~152 cm)
72” (~183 cm)
If your internal cupola vertical length is greater than ~40” (~101 cm) and you are using one of these beveled and reduced rods, we can prepare and send out a rod extension pipe with set screws to increase the spire length. However, we do not recommend having the internal vertical length be too great or you may get some flex in the section of rod inside the cupola when high winds are present.
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| Cupola install - Medium Sized Spire without cross brace Click image to enlarge | Various Length Medium Sized Spires and Extension Pipe Click image to enlarge |
IMPORTANT: In order to send you the correct length spire (vertical installation rod) and spire extension, we need to know the internal distance from the peak of the cupola to the roof below it. That way we can make sure that the correct amount of spire sticks out the top of the cupola to receive the vane sculpture & its components.
If you are in construction now, we can send out the installation hardware as soon as the order has been placed. It can then be installed prior to the roof being sealed off. The sculpture piece itself will follow when completed to slide down over the already installed weathervane hardware.
Tools and supplies recommended for installing your weather vane:
- Drill with a long shanked bit the same diameter as the vane’s spire (vertical installation rod)
- Level
- Medium sized Phillips screwdriver
- Heavy grease (a small tub is included in the price and is sent out with the finished sculpture piece)
- Roof Caulk
- Compass
Instructions for installing your weathervane using the Cupola Installation Method:
1. Drill the correct sized diameter hole in top of cupola roof.
2. From outside, slide spire (vertical installation rod) down into hole in roof with inside access person guiding it into the pipe extension until it stops at rivet.
3. Tighten spire (vertical installation rod) in place using set screw in extension pipe.
4. Using a level, outside person lets inside person know when the spire is plumb.
Note: the rod itself does not turn, only the sculpture piece. NEVER TUG OR PULL ON SPIRE (vertical installation rod).
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| Figure 1: Installed rod sticking up out of cupola Click image to enlarge | Figure 2: Using level to make sure rod is plumb Click image to enlarge |
5. Inside person screws vertical installation rod in flange. Screw flange into mounting surface.
6. Caulk around secured spire (vertical installation rod) to seal the hole.
7. Assemble ring, globes and directionals on spire (vertical installation rod)
 Figure 3: Assembling Harness Click image to enlarge  Overhead view of interlocking directionals Click image to enlarge |
 Note: Some weathervane designs come with the smaller copper globe attached to the sculpture piece. If this is the case with yours, skip last two steps mentioned above. |
8. Coat the section of the spire (vertical installation rod) that will be covered by the vane sculpture piece with grease (Use small tub of grease included with weathervane).
9. Optional Security Device Assembly: Skip this step if your vane does not have a security device
Note: The security device is physically attached to the weathervane sculpture piece and must be added at the time the weathervane is being constructed. It cannot be added after the weathervane has shipped.
Security Devices (Printable PDF)
Standard Security Device Assembly:
- Locate security ring in small parts box.
- Holding the weathervane sculpture piece upside down, dab grease inside mounting tube, push down one pivot ball, then add more grease. Note: The remaining steel ball is a spare in case you drop the first one during the installation.
- Before sliding the weather vane over the vertical installation rod, back off but don’t remove set screw(s) and align the security ring just below the copper mounting tube that extends down out of the weathervane sculpture piece. Make sure security ring’s arm(s) are positioned around the ring soldered to the bottom of the copper weathervane mounting tube. (See above). Don’t bend arm(s).
- Hold your finger over the base of the tube containing the steel ball to keep it from falling out and slide the vane over the top of vertical stainless steel installation rod and gently slide sculpture down. Note: If your stainless steel rod is beveled and reduced from ¾” (1.9 cm) to 3/8” (.95 cm) for the top 10” (25 cm), check to see that the vane clears the beveled section of the spire. If it does not, add the second chrome pivot ball and check again.
- Tighten security device set screw(s).
- Turn weathervane to see that it is not rubbing on the security ring.
- Skip to step 11.
10. Insert ONE steel ball into the mounting tube at the base of the weather vane sculpture piece.
 Figure 3: Assembling Harness Click image to enlarge | (The remaining steel balls are spares in case you drop the first one during the installation.) Holding your finger over the base of the sculpture piece tube containing the steel ball carefully transfer the vane over the top of spire (vertical installation rod). Then gently slide sculpture down. Note: If your stainless steel rod reduces from ¾” (1.9 cm) to 3/8” (.95 cm) on the top 10” (25 cm) of your rod, check to see that the vane clears the beveled reducer section of the spire. If not, add a second ball bearing and check again. |
11. Now slide harness components detailed in #7 above into place and tighten with a screwdriver. See image below for suggested proportions. Use your compass to orient the brass directional letter N to true north. (Depending on how accurate you want your Directionals to be, please see our Magnetic Declination webpage for details on how to precisely orient the directional letters.)
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| Correct Harness Assembly & Placement Directionals are interlocked Click image to enlarge | Incorrect Harness Assembly & Placement Directionals are not interlocked Click image to enlarge |