[Mobile-Portable] New Mobile set-up, Sealing Hustler Coils?

[Philip, KO6BB]

Hi All,

After wanting to do it for well over a year, ever since I bought the truck, 
(a 2005 Ford F150 Super-Crewcab AKA a "SCREW"), I'm FINALLY getting my 
mobile station set up, with a Kenwood TS-430S transceiver, Alinco DR-140 2M 
transceiver AND a Cobra 29LTD (for when I want to find out why the freeway 
has become a "parking lot".  HF antenna over the right wheel-well, 4 foot CB 
antenna over the left wheel-well (passenger side) and a roof mounted 
fold-over for 2M/440 (planning for future dual bander).

Anyway, Saturday a friend of mine bought me a set of 4 Hustler resonators 
and an MO-1 Mast at a local ham auction.  He paid the princely sum of 20.00 
for the lot and they are like new.  I'd already told him I was planning on 
ordering some new ones about the 18th of the month, and when he spotted them 
at the auction he bought them for me (RM-80, RM-40, RM-20 and RM-15).  Today 
I "ballpark tuned" them on my vehicle and they tuned well.  They're mounted 
on a ballmount/heavy spring on a large, heavy "custom" bracket mounted over 
the right wheel-well ).  That puts the base of the antenna right at 5'2" 
(overall height 13' 2 inches for the 80M version).

I only "ballpark tuned" them for testing because I'm going to continue to 
use his Webster Bandspanner until I get the rest of the parts to complete 
the Hustler install.  I want to put a "Quick disconnect on EACH resonator to 
facilitate resonator changing and minimize thread wear.  I ALSO want to use 
some "Loctite" on the threads to keep the coils from 'falling off' with 
vibration etc. (I understand this is a common problem on the Hustlers).  All 
this has to wait until about the 18th of the month (limited income, all 
things need to be budgeted for).

On-Air tests on 40M showed that the system seems to be working well, at 
least I got good reports from all up and down the West coast, from Southern 
California to the Canadian border (Mid-day tests), so I'm happy.  I WILL do 
a LOT more bonding and grounding before I'm finished though!!!  Just 
grounding the tailpipe at one place dropped the ignition noise with the NB 
OFF from S6.5 to under S3, NONE with the NB on.

ANYWAY, the question of this post is concerning "Sealing Hustler 
Resonators".  As I said, these are like new so the vinyl covering is in good 
condition.  But I've read that a common complaint is that they "suck up 
water" in the rain and then the SWR's go out of sight. NOT a problem here in 
the summer, but could be in the fall/spring months.  Would using some RTV 
Silicone to seal around the top edge of the vinyl covering reduce or 
eliminate this problem?  Inquiring minds want to know ;-)


73 de Phil,  KO6BB
DX begins at the noise floor!

Ten Meter CW Beacon KO6BB/B, 7 Watts 24/7 on 28.248MCs.
THE BEACONEER'S LAIR:   http://www.geocities.com/ko6bb/
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Merced, Central California,    37.3N  120.48W  CM97sh