Hello Group,

I recently bought a used Cushcraft A3S. The metal parts are in great
shape and show little corrosion or wear. The plastic caps on the ends
of the boom and on either end of each trap are brittle, shrunken and
falling off.
I have emailed Cushcraft to see if they can supply replacements but it
occurs to me that there may be an alternative solution. I don't want to
put it up in it's present condition but I don't want to wait too long
as winter will soon be here.
Can anyone suggest a good replacement option? Thanks!

73,
Kevin, ve1tv

On 25 Nov 2006 14:21:40 -0800, "ve1tv" wrote:

Hello Group,

I recently bought a used Cushcraft A3S. The metal parts are in great
shape and show little corrosion or wear. The plastic caps on the ends
of the boom and on either end of each trap are brittle, shrunken and
falling off.
I have emailed Cushcraft to see if they can supply replacements but it
occurs to me that there may be an alternative solution. I don't want to
put it up in it's present condition but I don't want to wait too long
as winter will soon be here.
Can anyone suggest a good replacement option? Thanks!

Try the local hardware store and see if they have any plastic pipe
caps, or tubing caps in the sizes you'd like.



73,
Kevin, ve1tv
Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

"Roger" wrote in message
...
On 25 Nov 2006 14:21:40 -0800, "ve1tv" wrote:

Hello Group,

I recently bought a used Cushcraft A3S. The metal parts are in great
shape and show little corrosion or wear. The plastic caps on the ends
of the boom and on either end of each trap are brittle, shrunken and
falling off.
I have emailed Cushcraft to see if they can supply replacements but it
occurs to me that there may be an alternative solution. I don't want to
put it up in it's present condition but I don't want to wait too long
as winter will soon be here.
Can anyone suggest a good replacement option? Thanks!

Try the local hardware store and see if they have any plastic pipe
caps, or tubing caps in the sizes you'd like.



73,
Kevin, ve1tv
Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

I capped off the end of my Ringo with stretch tape one year thinking this
would be a temp fix until spring. Well the fix has lasted 10 years and still
looks as good as new.

"ve1tv" wrote in message
ups.com...
Hello Group,

I recently bought a used Cushcraft A3S. The metal parts are in great
shape and show little corrosion or wear. The plastic caps on the ends
of the boom and on either end of each trap are brittle, shrunken and
falling off.
I have emailed Cushcraft to see if they can supply replacements but it
occurs to me that there may be an alternative solution. I don't want to
put it up in it's present condition but I don't want to wait too long
as winter will soon be here.
Can anyone suggest a good replacement option? Thanks!

73,
Kevin, ve1tv


Kevin -

Yes, you have many alternatives.
Cushcraft did offer stainless hardware kit for the older A3 beams (before
A3S) as well as a plastic replacement kit.

What ever you select -- make sure it is UV resistant !!

Other suppliers -

Car Plugs for Tubing -- they have everything for tubing caps !
COF series will likely work !
http://www.caplugs.com/

DX Engineering
http://www.dxengineering.com/default.asp?DeptID=33
Seal the ends of your boom, tubing or pipe with our vinyl caps. Sizes fit
from 1/8 in. to 3 in.O.D. By keeping moisture out, you can reduce corrosion.
For those in colder climates, you can prevent water from collecting in the
tube that might freeze and split the tube.

Made from a strong UV rated material, they will withstand the abuse of
nature and keep your installation safe and good-looking for years.

Good luck with it.

w9gb

How about just filling the tube ends with silicone RTV? You can get a
whole tube of the stuff (for a caulking gun) for a dollar or two.

Scott
N0EDV

ve1tv wrote:
Hello Group,

I recently bought a used Cushcraft A3S. The metal parts are in great
shape and show little corrosion or wear. The plastic caps on the ends
of the boom and on either end of each trap are brittle, shrunken and
falling off.
I have emailed Cushcraft to see if they can supply replacements but it
occurs to me that there may be an alternative solution. I don't want to
put it up in it's present condition but I don't want to wait too long
as winter will soon be here.
Can anyone suggest a good replacement option? Thanks!

73,
Kevin, ve1tv

"Scott" wrote in message
.. .

How about just filling the tube ends with silicone RTV? You can get a
whole tube of the stuff (for a caulking gun) for a dollar or two.

Scott
N0EDV

Caution: Many silicone RTV formualtions have acetic acid -- which will eat
at the metal elements (aluminum). Also unless it is an outdoor (UV
resistant formulation) - it will quickly degrade in outdoor usage.
Just get the correct caps - they are not that expensive.

Many amatuer radio suppliers -- are very slow (to the point of not
responsive) to e-mails.
Pick-up the telephone, call Cushcraft and ask for Ed Hammond (in charge fo
amateur radio sales).
Tell him what you need and tell him you have antenna on ground and need to
get it back up ASAP - before winter. IF he balks, tell him thanks -- but
you will call DX Engineering for those parts.

Then call DX Engineering and they shoud have them shipped out within 48
hours.

w9gb

Thank you to everyone who responded!

I expect that Cushcraft would send the same parts as supplied with a
new beam. They were not very robust.
The traps are 1.625" so it looks like DX Engineering is not an option
based on what I see on the website. If Caplugs do small orders, that
might be the way to go.

73,

Kevin


Kevin -

Yes, you have many alternatives.
Cushcraft did offer stainless hardware kit for the older A3 beams (before
A3S) as well as a plastic replacement kit.

What ever you select -- make sure it is UV resistant !!

Other suppliers -

Car Plugs for Tubing -- they have everything for tubing caps !
COF series will likely work !
http://www.caplugs.com/

DX Engineering
http://www.dxengineering.com/default.asp?DeptID=33
Seal the ends of your boom, tubing or pipe with our vinyl caps. Sizes fit
from 1/8 in. to 3 in.O.D. By keeping moisture out, you can reduce corrosion.
For those in colder climates, you can prevent water from collecting in the
tube that might freeze and split the tube.

Made from a strong UV rated material, they will withstand the abuse of
nature and keep your installation safe and good-looking for years.

Good luck with it.

w9gb

hi,

cushcraft has answered my recent emails fast,
and was quick to ship my replacement parts.

73 james