[NCC] possible Beam problem?

[Jon Kovacs]

Guys

I need your ideas on a beam problem that has just occured.  I have two, stacked 3 element tribanders at 50 and 80 feet.  I am using a WX0B stack match to use both or individually.
Both beams are using baluns, with the bottom beam balun only couple years old and the top one probably 10 years old or more.

The top beam, on 14.020 with 100 watts from the rig has always shown about 85 - 90 watts with swr 1.5,  and as you tune up the band a full 100 watts at or before reaching 14.150.  

While working cw on 14.020, I was shocked this weekend to find power levels of only 35 - 40 watts and swr of 3.1.  Swr was enough to kick on the "high swr" warning on the Mark V.   The funny part is that with rig at full power, and showing 35 watts on 14.020 and 3.1 swr, as I tune up the band by the time I get to 14.300 I am getting 100 watts and 1.5 swr???

It also does the same thing on 15 meters.  35 watts at 21.020 at 2.5 swr, and full 100 watts at 21.250 and 1.2 swr.  

Is this a possible sign that the balun my, or has, taken a crap on me???

Thanks

Jon k8ly