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

[Bill Hider (N3RR)]

Jan,

I replaced the cables on my HG-52SS after 12 years - long before the rusty
spot became a problem, though there was rust.
I did it myself and one other guy at the bottom of the tower who fished the
cables through the tower maze as I lowered it to him.  I worked on a ladder
up against the top of the tower, with 2x4s holding it up to where I could
get the cables out.  It's not easy and you need to be mechanically inclined,
but it can be done.  I needed a hammer and a center punch to get the
pin-stay out and back in.  This pin holds the pulley upon which the cable
rides (2 each).  I obtained my cables as a complete set, with Nicopress
fittings, from Hy-Gain.  You might try MFJ and see if they still supply
them.

If they don't, you have the cables.  Just take them off and take them to a
local cable shop and see if they can duplicate them.  Industrial cable and
wiring shop can do this.  You'll need to raise your tower up a bit and hold
it in place with wood or other strong supports in order to get the cables
off to take to a shop.  But you'd need to do that anyway no matter where you
obtained the cables.

You might also take the tower manual and drawings to the shop as well so
they can see the application and specs/parts list.

Bill, N3RR

----- Original Message -----
From: <ditzian@alltel.net>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 21, 2002 6:05 PM
Subject: [Towertalk] Hy-Gain HG-54HD crankup tower cable and TH6DXX problems


> 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
>
> _______________________________________________
> Self Supporting Towers, Wireless Weather Stations, see web site:
http://www.mscomputer.com
> Call 888-333-9041 to place your order, mention you saw this ad and take an
additional 5 percent off
> any weather station price.
> _______________________________________________
> Towertalk mailing list
> Towertalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk



#################################################################
#################################################################
#################################################################
#####
#####
#####
#################################################################
#################################################################
#################################################################