[AMRadio] A saga & reminder

[Barrie Smith]

It's 12 full ounces, that's a lot.
Pepsi started that line when Coke was 8 ounces.

73, Barrie, W7ALW

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Wilhite" <w5jo at brightok.net>
To: "AM Radio Discussion List" <amradio at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2011 12:51 PM
Subject: [AMRadio] A saga & reminder


> Back in the mid 90s I purchased a Rohn HDBX 40 and a Mosley TA 53 beam. 
> The tower came with a Hygain 400 rotor but no thrust bearing for the top 
> plate.  I bought the Yaesu bearing for a 2" mast and put the tower and 
> beam in the air in about 94.
> 
> I moved several times between then and now, each time but one putting 
> the antenna in the air primarily because I like 10 meter AM.  Mosley 
> makes a good beam and it has served well.  When I arrived here I put the 
> antenna up and not too long noticed  unexpected  readings on my 
> wattmeter.  The tower was in a place that getting the beam off and back 
> on the ground was pretty much out of the question without a lot of work.
> 
> I moved again this last summer and found a Taco/Delphi  DMX 64.  I am 
> putting up just 56 ft. of it because of wind load and want this to be my 
> last time to work on anything up top for a very long time.  So I 
> attached my MFJ 259B to the antenna and it led me to the driven element 
> for 20/15/10.  I found that both traps in that element had suffered from 
> a nearby lightning strike causing the form to separate ever so slightly. 
> This resulted in a lowering of the frequency on those three bands.  I 
> also inspected the traps on the 17/12 meter element and found one of 
> them had the same problem.
> 
> Mosley is still in business and I caught them in a business lull and 
> they sent me three new traps.  So now I am fixed, I thought.  I 
> discovered the thrust bearing was harder to turn that I liked.  So I 
> disassembled it and found it full of dirt and the grease was dry.  I 
> don't know if you live near a O'Reilley Auto Parts or not, but right now 
> they are selling a can of Moly grease for .07.  That's right, 7 cents. 
> Seems as if the manufacturer has been bought out and they want to change 
> the label so they are having companies sell the $3.29 can for 7 cents.
> 
> Well after washing and cleaning then relubing the traces the bearing 
> turns freely.  I tell you this story because, like so many people, I 
> just forgot that that bearing needed attention after 15 years of 
> service.  This time my tower will be in a place where I can tilt it so 
> repairs can be made.  I will be watching that bearing because it put 
> additional strain on the rotor.   When you have time check every thing 
> that goes up the tower and refurbish before installation.  Glad I did 
> this time.
> 
> 73
> 
> Jim/W5JO
> 
> P.S. Pepsi Cola hits the spot, just a nickel buts a lot.  Live it up! 
> 
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