[TowerTalk] problems tuning a F12 240N Magnum

[Tom_N2SR]

Hello all, 

I'll try and be brief.  I'm having problems tuning the driven element of the F12 240N Magnum.  I've been slowing moving in the right direction because of other problems that F12 has been helping in taking care of, but the following is my latest concern: 

The VSWR is 1.7:1 @ 7.070 MHz, with the element tips at 34 inches.  The hairpin coil is 5T of #10 copper wire, close wound (about 1/4" spacing).   [The coil that was sent to me is a 4T coil, so in order to save time, I just made my own]  

The set up is 1 electrical wavelength of RG-213, and I have taken into account bead balun coax length (the balun is one of those DX Engineering piece of RG-142 coax with 100 beads over it).  The coax length is around 93 feet or so.  The measurements are being made with an MFJ-259B, with an AC adaptor (so there are no low battery problems).  The element is being raise to at least 50 feet in the air, and maybe even as high as 60 feet.  .  The tower is 90 feet of Rohn 45G guyed in two places (39 feet and 79 feet) with 6700# phillystran, so I am pretty sure there is no interaction with the tower guys.  The element at the measuring height sits away from the tower at least 6-8 feet.   

The manual says that the element tips should be around 25 inches.  As I said previously, mine are set for 34 inches (I used the reflector element tips).  They are held in place with electrical tape for the time being.  

Questions.  Should I just continue and tune the element for a 1.1:1 VSWR and leave the tips where they are (and possabily adjust the tips if there is some interaction with tuning the hairpin) ?  

I have spoken with a few people who have had these antennas, and they all tuned each element separately, put the antenna together, and the VSWR was fine.   Force 12 says that I should tune each element separately, then do the final tuning (of the driven element)  with both elements on the boom.  That is not going to be possible, or at least it's going to be extremely difficult.  

Since the coil is currently close wound (1/4" spacing), if I spread the coil a bit, that obviously means that the element wants more inductance.  However, I've never heard of anyone using a 6T coil (except on the Delta version).   

Should I put the element tips to 25 inches and start tuning from the beginning? 

Thanks!

Tom, N2SR