[TowerTalk] How to "lock down" wire rope clamps/clips?

[Roger (K8RI) on TT]

Over the years, I have used  Nylock nuts and found them very handy, BUT 
ALL either failed, or were close to failing where exposed to the 
elements.  Looking into the outside end of the nut, the Nylon was either 
completely gone or nearly so in a year or less.

Nylon Rope, which is smooth and very stretchy when installed, becomes 
rough and quite stiff with very little stretch within just a few days.

I don't know the reason. Acid rain?  We are downwind from a rather 
large, flat land farming area. We are about 120 mile via the prevailing 
winds from the Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo area and about 200 miles from the 
Gary IN and Chicago area.  Prevailing winds are SW only about 30%, with 
the rest spread around the compass relatively even.

UV?  I'm quite sure that it affects the Nylon rope.  A combination of UV 
and acid rain for the nuts?  Probably.

At-any-rate, Nylock nuts do not stand up well around here. I make it a 
practice to never use them on antennas, or anything structural.   I 
don't recall seeing any on new antennas, but I'd replace any that did 
show up along with a note to the manufacturer as to their suitability.
Based on experience, I'd say Nylock nuts on antennas are bad news.  Yes 
they are great and easy to use in high vibration environments.  Now if 
they'd just last!

73

Roger  (K8RI)



On 11/27/2015 10:58 AM, kr2q at optimum.net wrote:
> Over the years, it seems that most antenna manufacturers have moved to using some form
> of Nylock nuts (the nuts with the nylon insert for "high vibration" applications).
>
> I have seen this on my Cushcraft XM series monobanders, on my Optibeams, and most recently
> on my SteppIR (DB36).
>
> With respect to the latter, the cable clips just use a single nut to compress down on the wire
> cable. There is no locking nut, no lock washer, no Nylock, etc.
>
> Why is this?  I have heard from others that this can be, and has been, a point of failure.
>
> What method would you suggest to ensure that these wire rope clamps do not loosen up over time?  Just electrical tape?
>
> RSVP
>
> Thanks
> de Doug KR2Q
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-- 

73

Roger (K8RI)


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