Yes, I did buy the CT-3 trap from him. I would assume its the newer
model (I have no way of knowing, except that it had black screws in
the center of the trap instead of the dimples). Mine didn't come with
the protective boot, but I had one from by 80 meter add-on I'll never
install. Replaced the CT-3 and still have infinite SWR on 20/30 and 40
meters. Maybe its a problem with the auto-antenna tuner in the rig
(Kenwood 570D) and not the antenna. There is different spacing when
using the new traps 6" and 18" between CT-1 and 2 and CT-2 and 3, from
the original 16" and 16" spacing. As mentioned, old trap was
completely dry with no burn marks, loose connections or carbon buildup.
Everybody mentionms drilling out the dimples, I just tapped the trap
on the stoop pushing the forms inward, and just pulled them out.
reinstalling them would probably require an awl is hard nail to exactly
line up the endpoints.
According to the criptic Email from Cushcraft tech support, the traps
are proabably not interchangable, unless a tuner is used? They were
willing to sell me their R7000TFK for $112+ which proably contains a
new CT-2 and new CT-3 and some tubing.