[Towertalk] Hy-Gain HG-54HD crankup tower cable and TH6DXX problems

[ditzian@alltel.net]

I cranked down my venerable Hygain HG-54HD crankup tower to inspect why my TH6DXX had developed a case of high-swr. There 
are problems enough at the top, but on the way down I looked carefully at the cable (18 years old) and I realized that my problems 
had multiplied; there are about three strands left, in the middle of a major rust spot. This cable is not going to lift this tower again.

Let me please ask two questions, unrelated to each other except for the fact that I must cure both before I can get on the air again.

(1)	Is there a known source of complete HG-54HD cables, with the end hardware, that I can purchase to replace what I have?  
As a lesser alternative, does someone sell all the parts that I need? Can this cable-replacement job be done by someone who has 
never done one before?

(2)	Alas, this time my TH6 problem is not the balun (you guys helped me with that already). I disconnected the balun and 
connected a 3-foot stub of coax directly to the wires from the T-match, and I measured high swr anyway. Here are some 
measurements I took, antenna 20 feet high, from the shack, and I do not think things changed much with the short stub, but I did not 
take notes up there. I am not the kind who deals comfortably with pencil, paper, and MFJ-259 while wearing a belt, even at 20 feet.

F				R				X				SWR
14.116			18				0				2.5
14.0			18				8				2.8
21.0			36				47				2.7
21.5			17				0				2.7
28				51				16				13
28.6			84				0				1.6

I guess it is probably a bad trap, but does this give anyone insight into the likely element? I suppose I will have to take the whole 
antenna down to do anything, so I will inspect and clean them all, but I wondered if there was a rule of thumb.

Thanks,

Jan, KX2A