We are leaving today for Europe and of course I waited until the last minute to take down my Arrow antenna, which has been mounted outside for about a year. But, when I attempted to unscrew the elements, they would not budge, even after receiving a big dose of WD-40. And the elements are not that solid so it's not possible to use a great deal of force.
Is there some trick to unscrewing these things?
73, Bill NZ5N (soon to be OM9ACA, look for me on AO-7)
Hi Bill,
Allen Lowe warned me that the Arrow Antennas are not weatherproof. He recommended the solid element antennas for permanent outdoor installation.
That being said, I suspect the threaded shaft that holds the two halves of the elements together through the boom has rusted. The only way to get a decent grip is to carefully use a small pliers on the ring right next to the boom. As you've probably already noticed, the aluminum arrow shaft itself will just spin.
Good luck. BTW I also use Arrow Antennas, but bring them into the garage when not in use.
73, John
On Jun 2, 2010, at 8:03 AM, Bill Dzurilla wrote:
We are leaving today for Europe and of course I waited until the last minute to take down my Arrow antenna, which has been mounted outside for about a year. But, when I attempted to unscrew the elements, they would not budge, even after receiving a big dose of WD-40. And the elements are not that solid so it's not possible to use a great deal of force.
Is there some trick to unscrewing these things?
Hello Bill,
The trick is to fill the male threads with a tenacious wheel bearing grease, PRIOR to assembly.
Stan, W1LE Cape Cod
On 6/2/2010 11:03 AM, Bill Dzurilla wrote:
We are leaving today for Europe and of course I waited until the last minute to take down my Arrow antenna, which has been mounted outside for about a year. But, when I attempted to unscrew the elements, they would not budge, even after receiving a big dose of WD-40. And the elements are not that solid so it's not possible to use a great deal of force.
Is there some trick to unscrewing these things?
73, Bill NZ5N (soon to be OM9ACA, look for me on AO-7)
Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
<snip>
We are leaving today for Europe and of course I waited until the last minute to take down my Arrow antenna, which has been mounted outside for about a year. But, when I attempted to unscrew the elements, they would not budge, even after receiving a big dose of WD-40. And the elements are not that solid so it's not possible to use a great deal of force.
Is there some trick to unscrewing these things?
<snip>
I've loosened corroded threads after applying penetrating oil and then *gently* applying torque. Usually I was successful, though I sometimes had to repeat the process.
After disassembling the elements, it might be a good idea to remove the threaded stud and run a tap down the holes at the ends of the shafts to clean them out. I also recommend cleaning the external threads with a wire brush or running a die over them.
If the latter doesn't help, replacement studs might be available at places such as hardware or building supply stores or automotive parts dealers. If not, they could be made by cutting ready rod to length and beveling the ends.
To prevent the threads from binding in the future, there are compounds available just for that purpose. A building supply store might have something like that for threaded pipe. Just dip the external thread in it and screw the element back together.
I hope this helps.
73s
Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL
A little bit of heat wont hurt either.
Then instead of oil or grease I use a copper based anti seize compound. works great and keeps the connection good to because of the copper.
The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com
On 6/2/2010 11:31 AM, B J wrote:
<snip>
We are leaving today for Europe and of course I waited until the last minute to take down my Arrow antenna, which has been mounted outside for about a year. But, when I attempted to unscrew the elements, they would not budge, even after receiving a big dose of WD-40. And the elements are not that solid so it's not possible to use a great deal of force.
Is there some trick to unscrewing these things?
<snip>
I've loosened corroded threads after applying penetrating oil and then *gently* applying torque. Usually I was successful, though I sometimes had to repeat the process.
After disassembling the elements, it might be a good idea to remove the threaded stud and run a tap down the holes at the ends of the shafts to clean them out. I also recommend cleaning the external threads with a wire brush or running a die over them.
If the latter doesn't help, replacement studs might be available at places such as hardware or building supply stores or automotive parts dealers. If not, they could be made by cutting ready rod to length and beveling the ends.
To prevent the threads from binding in the future, there are compounds available just for that purpose. A building supply store might have something like that for threaded pipe. Just dip the external thread in it and screw the element back together.
I hope this helps.
73s
Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL
Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Any body know why LOTW will not accept HO-68 as a sat name?
Larry W7IN
Hi Larry!
Any body know why LOTW will not accept HO-68 as a sat name?
ARRL has not added it to LOTW. Same with SO-67. All work on LOTW was stopped in the push to get the new ARRL web site running, but so far ARRL has not said anything else about adding the new satellites to LOTW. Now that the new web site is up and running (although missing some items like the satellite VUCC leaderboard), now may be the time to renew our requests for the new satellites to be added to LOTW.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/
Contacts through the ISS repeater also do not register
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2010 4:58 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: LoTW & HO-68
Hi Larry!
Any body know why LOTW will not accept HO-68 as a sat name?
ARRL has not added it to LOTW. Same with SO-67. All work on LOTW was stopped in the push to get the new ARRL web site running, but so far ARRL has not said anything else about adding the new satellites to LOTW. Now that the new web site is up and running (although missing some items like the satellite VUCC leaderboard), now may be the time to renew our requests for the new satellites to be added to LOTW.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
It needs to be updated by the LoTW folks. My understanding is that all the IT resources have been occupied with the cutover to the new ARRL web site. It wouldn't hurt to drop a polite note to the LoTW folks. Squeaky wheel and all. ;)
Alan WA4SCA
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Larry Gerhardstein Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2010 4:26 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [amsat-bb] LoTW & HO-68
Any body know why LOTW will not accept HO-68 as a sat name?
Larry W7IN
Bill, A product called Kroil from Kano Labs is the best penetrate I have found. Some heat helps too, but not enough to anneal the aluminum.
Art, KC6UQH
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of B J Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2010 9:32 AM To: Bill Dzurilla Cc: [email protected] Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Arrow antenna will not unscrew, help
<snip>
We are leaving today for Europe and of course I waited until the last minute to take down my Arrow antenna, which has been mounted outside for about a year. But, when I attempted to unscrew the elements, they would not budge, even after receiving a big dose of WD-40. And the elements are not that solid so it's not possible to use a great deal of force.
Is there some trick to unscrewing these things?
<snip>
I've loosened corroded threads after applying penetrating oil and then *gently* applying torque. Usually I was successful, though I sometimes had to repeat the process.
After disassembling the elements, it might be a good idea to remove the threaded stud and run a tap down the holes at the ends of the shafts to clean them out. I also recommend cleaning the external threads with a wire brush or running a die over them.
If the latter doesn't help, replacement studs might be available at places such as hardware or building supply stores or automotive parts dealers. If not, they could be made by cutting ready rod to length and beveling the ends.
To prevent the threads from binding in the future, there are compounds available just for that purpose. A building supply store might have something like that for threaded pipe. Just dip the external thread in it and screw the element back together.
I hope this helps.
73s
Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL
_______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
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Do those red plastic tips come off? If so, you may be able to put some penetrating oil the and wait for it to loosen things up. de Doug KA8QCU ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Dzurilla" [email protected] To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2010 11:03 Subject: [amsat-bb] Arrow antenna will not unscrew, help
We are leaving today for Europe and of course I waited until the last
minute to take down my Arrow antenna, which has been mounted outside for about a year. But, when I attempted to unscrew the elements, they would not budge, even after receiving a big dose of WD-40. And the elements are not that solid so it's not possible to use a great deal of force.
Is there some trick to unscrewing these things?
73, Bill NZ5N (soon to be OM9ACA, look for me on AO-7)
Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
participants (11)
-
Alan P. Biddle -
Art McBride -
B J -
Bill Dzurilla -
Doug Kuitula -
Gary "Joe" Mayfield -
Joe -
John Belstner -
Larry Gerhardstein -
Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) -
Stan, W1LE