Re: [TowerTalk] Cushcraft XM-240 Shortty-Forty questions

[W0MU Mike Fatchett <w0mu@w0mu.com>]

This!  I have an XM240 and it had problems from the start.  I am sure it 
is a bad connection at the coils.  Also toss their capacitor away and 
use a common mode choke.
I also grounded my reflector.  When not grounded you will get sparking 
between the boom and element whenever storms get close.
W0MU

On 9/12/2020 8:26 PM, Gedas wrote:
> I concur.....AND, the sheet metal screw will come loose and corrode 
> the contact between the wire and the aluminum.
> Gedas, W8BYA EN70JT
>
> Gallery at http://w8bya.com
> Light travels faster than sound....
> This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
>
> On 9/12/2020 9:38 PM, Kim Elmore wrote:
> > I have a genuine pre-MFJ Cushcraft 40-CD2. The loading cools on it 
> > are covers in heat-shrink.
> > Kim N5OP
> >
> > "People that make music together cannot be enemies, at least as long 
> > as the music lasts." -- Paul Hindemith
> > > On Sep 12, 2020, at 6:19 PM, john nistico 
> > > <electric911inc@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > > I just got a steppir with 40 meter add on it I love it.
> > >
> > > Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef>
> > > ________________________________
> > > From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces@contesting.com> on behalf of K9MA 
> > > <k9ma@sdellington.us>
> > > Sent: Saturday, September 12, 2020 7:08:54 PM
> > > To: towertalk@contesting.com <towertalk@contesting.com>
> > > Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Cushcraft XM-240 Shortty-Forty questions
> > >
> > > I had an original Cushcraft A3S, which had trap coils and screws coated
> > > with the hard epoxy. The screws clearly weren't going to turn, and I
> > > never saw any evidence of poor connections, but I suppose the material
> > > could have yielded. Replacement traps I got from MFJ (after insect
> > > damage) had no coating on the traps, loose screws, wires wrapped
> > > backwards, etc. They were junk. I would not recommend buying any MFJ
> > > Cushcraft or HyGain antennas.
> > >
> > > I currently have an old Cushcraft D40, also pre-MFJ. I'm pretty sure
> > > they have shrink tubing over the coils, though there may be epoxy under
> > > that.
> > >
> > > Unless you see evidence of poor connections at the screws, I would 
> > > leave
> > > them as is. If the epoxy looks like it's suffering UV damage, it might
> > > be worth covering it with UV-resistant shrink tubing or tape. I 
> > > wouldn't
> > > think the stray capacitance would be as critical is it is in traps.
> > >
> > > My D40 has been working for over 25 years, though I did have to replace
> > > the center insulators, and the elements aren't quite straight any more.
> > >
> > > 73,
> > > Scott K9MA
> > >
> > > > On 9/12/2020 5:07 PM, RVZ via TowerTalk wrote:
> > > > Hi Guys,
> > > >
> > > > I purchased a Cushcraft XM-240 which was new in the box but was 
> > > > made about 10 years ago.  The label on the box says "Cushcraft 
> > > > XM-240", and doesn't mention MFJ, so perhaps it was made by 
> > > > Cushcraft.   My questions pertains to the 4 loading coils.  I 
> > > > believe the loading coils made by MFJ have heat shrink tubing over 
> > > > the coil, is that correct? The loading coils on this XM-240 don't 
> > > > have heat shrink tubing over them, rather the coil is covered with 
> > > > a thick shiny black epoxy which is very hard.  The epoxy has really 
> > > > sealed up the coils and self tapping screws that connect the coils 
> > > > to the aluminum tubing.  I believe the epoxy would be rather 
> > > > difficult to remove so I'm wondering if I'm likely to have reliable 
> > > > results using the traps "as-is" for a couple years, or if I should 
> > > > remove the hard epoxy from the self- tapping screws now and replace 
> > > > them with screws, nuts, and lock washers?  If I do replace the 
> > > > screws, should I cover them with more epoxy, use heat shrink 
> > > > tubing, or both?  Thanks
> > >   & 73, Dick- K9OMWisconsin
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > >
> > > >
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> > > --
> > > Scott  K9MA
> > >
> > > k9ma@sdellington.us
> > >
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