TopBand: CLIPPERTON L PROBLEM

[Tenex Communications]

Hello-I am a newly-joined member of your group but have been on 160 for
awhile.  Until this past summer, I ran barefoot but the urge to raise my
country total above 100 prompted me to purchase an amp.
The Clipperton L works well on all bands but 160.  It looks as if someone in
the past had problemns and rewound the tank coil with #14 stranded(!!)
covered wire.  As soon as I fired it up I realized there were problems.
Power output starts out at about 500 watts and after a few dits and dahs it
drops slowly to about 375-400 watts.  IT DOES THIS ONLY ON 160.  So, I
re-wound the coils using #14 Formvar-coated wire.  The only change is that
for the same plate current as before, power output begins at 600+ watts and
drops.
Obviously, something is heating up, as a slight constant re-tuning of the
plate cap restores power output.  
Could it be the coil?  By the time I get the cover off everything has cooled
down!
Could it be one of the doorknob caps slung across the plate cap (2x200
pf@5kv on the plate which is 250 mmfd)?  Perhaps one of the doorknobs across
the loading cap?
Anybody had a similar problem?
There are no visible or audible signs of anything wrong-no arcing, no
discoloration.
I sure would appreciate suggestions.

Thanks, 73 and Seasons Greetings to all.
Bill, VE3CSK


--
FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/topband.html
Submissions:              topband@contesting.com
Administrative requests:  topband-REQUEST@contesting.com
Sponsored by Akorn Access, Inc & KM9P