Sounds like a good case for a little "penetrox" or equivalent-the first
time:>),
But isn't that what aluminum antennas are for--to frreze your fingers and
fire up the frustration level? Ahh, isn't winter time wonderful -
perfect for antenna work!
7 3
Rod Johnson KA7YOU CN97AK near Issaquah, Wa. 160M thru 1296 MHz
NWQRP#120 ARCI#7251
QRP-L#844
On Sun, 02 Mar 1997 11:01:09 -0800 JIM <kw3u@warwick.net> writes:
>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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