[TowerTalk] A3S Problem

[Dave Hough, W7GK]

After you remove the black vinyl caps remove the single screw. Now the only thing holding the coil inside the shield is 4 nylon spacers. The spacers are a press fit but if you hit the trap on a block of soft wood a few times you'll force the coil out. Don't drive the coil towards the "bent piece", drive it in the opposite direction. Comes out fairly hard but I've taken every one of the traps apart on our A4S without a problem. After putting them together, checked the A4S with a MFJ-259 and it performs to factory spec. 

Also check your coils closely to see if there's any evidence of any kind of arc over. Found that in one of our traps and had to do some field expedient repairs to a burned nylon spacer and the black coil wrapping.

All the markings on our traps were gone so it was really important to carefully mark everything so it went back the way it was taken apart.

Cushcraft will sell you a whole trap but not the individual components.

You can see our A4S on the ARRL website by going to "Soapbox" and asking for W7V under 2003 Field Day.

73,
Dave, W7GK
Elko, NV




----- Original Message ----- 
From: <brewerj at squared.com>
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>; <jbigham2 at kc.rr.com>
Sent: 02 September, 2003 10 49
Subject: [TowerTalk] A3S Problem


> Gene,
> 
> Perhaps twenty meters might still be good as on that band as the parallel LC traps (for 10,
> and 15m) are not "seen" on 20m. Water may well have gotten into them and detuned
> them. Hopefully you'll find out after a few days in the sun. I'd not do anything until they
> dry out and see what happens (the drain holes ARE facing down, no?) :-)
> 
> Those trap screws arent pot metal, but they're very cheap zinc plated
> self tappers. I replaced all of them when rebuilding my A4S.  What I'd like to know
> is how you get the trap shield off without breaking the little bent piece of
> the trap cover that's attachhed to those rusty screws. That aluminum is NOT
> very ductile and breaks easily when pushed back out to clear the coil forms.
> 
> John K5MO
> 
> ------------------------------  8><  snip  8><
> --------------------------------------------------------
> I finally installed earlier this spring on a light aluma tower T-150 a =
> Cushcraft A3S triband beam I have owned and had up in several =
> configurations over the past 6 years.  I measured all parameters prior =
> to leaning the tower, rotator and antenna into place.  The SWR was =
> acceptable on all three bands 10/15/20, with slightly higher SWR on 20
> ---------------------------------<snip>--------------------------------------------------------
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 
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> 
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