[TowerTalk] A3S Refurbishment - Traps == Bug Nests

[Bill Coleman AA4LR]

I was in the process of reassembling the elements of my A3S last night, 
when some bits of debris visible in one of the traps stopped me. After 
trying to fish the debris out of the drain holes, I removed the end caps 
only to find the trap PACKED with bits of dryed grass or other plant 
material.

After that, I pulled all of the traps and found that half of them were 
jammed on either end with the same kind of trash. Out of 12 traps, only 2 
of them didn't have something in them. I can only guess some small wasp 
or other bug entered through the drain holes.

Rather than disassemble the traps, I used compressed air and long needle 
nose pliers to get rid of the debris. It took about an hour to clean all 
the traps.

So, a word to the wise. If you have a trapped antenna down for 
maintainence, thoroughly inspect the traps -- there's most likely 
evidence of some prior insect residents.



Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr@radio.org
Quote: "Boot, you transistorized tormentor! Boot!"
            -- Archibald Asparagus, VeggieTales


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