Quote:
Originally Posted by N4VGY
Larry VE7EA
|
here is where to get the grease AMAZON.COM (( GB OX GARD ))
and if you have the vintage Cushcraft A3.i can send you a printable email for this antenna
IF YOU HAVE THE MODEL WITH THE BN-86 BALUN OR NEED IT ORDER# 242
from MFJ.COM
73 N4VGY[/quote]
A old Hy Gain antenna should have been anodized, hence when you clean the corrosion off it, you also remove the anodize finish which will make it corrode even faster.
I guess the key would be to use all stainless steel hardware and fastners when you first assemble it - that way the only thing you have to contend with is the aluminum - which should last forever - as long as you keep the bugs out of the tubing.
I have a old TET antenna out in the garage that had carbon steel hardware and plastic insulators. The carbon steel rusted and corroded and split the plastic hardware and had to be cut apart to move it from it's previous location.
The owner thought that someone would just walk over and carry it home with them. But with each element of the beam being about 36' long - it would have been impossible to haul on the roof of a truck and I had to bring it home 100 miles.
When my tower gets set up, I will order all new stainless steel hardware - which will probably be worth more then the whole antenna when it was new!
Probably the best thing to do with a old antenna is to donate it to the less fortunate and buy a new one!