mike wood wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> I just risked life and limb to lower my Cushcraft A3 tri-bander this PM
> for some much needed maintenance.Once the thing was on the ground, I
> discovered that several of the plastic trap ends are in terrible shape.
> Lots of splits and cracks allowing H2O to get in. (No wonder the SWR
> went ski high)
>
> Can anybody tell me if the plastic caps are available from Cushcraft, or
> am I looking at replacing the traps effected? Nobody answered Cushcrafts
> phone this PM so got to wonder if anybody else had any experience with
> this ant?
>
> 73, mikeYeah Mike, I got one used and all the plastic caps were cracked or
missing. took them all off and used 88t black tape and silcone sealer
on them. Also maintenance-wise; my swr would go bonkers quite often
so when the weather FINALLY cooperated when I had a day off I put
up a new run of rg-213...NO HELP! When the antenna god deemed me
worthy of climbing the roof again I lowered the A-3 to roof level
(its on a RS telescoping mast) and took all elements apart, sanded,
steel wool,the whole thing. There! cold frosty; fire up the icom,
and great. Two days later...same old swr problem back...grrrrr!!!!
Some luck! friend with a-3 selling his. I conned him into borrowing
his traps. Day off, but light rain..oh well..changed the traps on
the driven element, back to the shack (and more cold frosty's)
and DANG!!!! problem still there. Put my traps back in and go
to shack and read about wire antennas.
A day off-the sun is out-no chores! Last chance or its the
dumpster for this soon to be twisted pretzel from hell.
Took the driven element apart,cleaned again,BUT...this time used
two hose clamps at each joint and tightened them hard as possible
with excelite socket set.
Been 1 1/2 months now and its been playing fine. Well gotta run,
hope my experience helps, going to burn some incense at the alter
of the propagation god. 73 Jim
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