PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-691

PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly

ISSUE 691

JUNE 2010
PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-691 - Page 24 of 33
45
PS 691
JUN 10
You must keep the connecting areas of
the antenna elements free from corrosion.
To do that, use water-displacing compound
and silicone.
Stuff Eight
Your six antenna feed sockets catch dirt
and moisture that lead to corrosion. Keep
them clean with isopropyl alcohol, NSN
6810-00-753-4993, and a foam swab, NSN
For stubborn corrosion, try using a
small-arms bore brush, NSN 1005-00-903-
1296. Use handle, NSN 1005-01-113-0321,
for a better grip and more twisting force.
Just twist the bore brush down into the
socket and turn it several times. The stiff
±bers loosen corrosion and clean out the
grooves.
Don’t overdo it, though. Too much of
this good thing can wear out a socket.
Treat the feedcone like the fragile piece
of equipment it is. Make the feedcones
one of the last things you store. Stencil the
OE-254 storage bag to warn folks not to
toss things on top of it.
Stuff Seven
The AS-3166 feedcone assembly is the
heart of your antenna. Start your “heart”
PM by giving it a little shake. The magnetic
core in feedcones can break loose. If you
give the feedcone a little shake and hear a
rattle, that’s probably what has happened.
Turn it in and get another feedcone.
Once it passes the shake test, give the
RF connector a close look. Wind whipping
the RF cable can bend out the copper
receptacle pin. A splayed receptacle won’t
make good contact with the cable pin.
If the pin is splayed, a pair of needle-
nose pliers will squeeze it back together.
GENTLY
is the word when using the pliers.
The pin is easily broken.
Look inside the RF connector cap. The
rubber insert should be there. If it isn’t,
replace the cap.
Use the cap anytime the feedcone is not
connected to the RF cable.
Once the contact areas are clean, spray
them with water-displacing compound.
Then give them a light coat of silicone
compound.
Your element PM will be easier if when
the antenna is erected, the elements are
attached hand-tight. Elements that have
been muscled together get damaged when
they’re muscled apart.
First, though, clean the connecting
area of each element with your antenna’s
guy rope.
Loop the rope around the element. Pull
back and forth from both ends of the rope.
The friction created by the rope cleans
the connecting area.
Don’t use a scouring pad to do this
cleaning! Scouring pads wear down the
metal and strip the element.
That’s a whole lot of good stuff, but
the best stuff for you to remember is
the safety stuff. When you’re working
with the antenna, wear a helmet, safety
glasses and gloves and always keep the tip
caps,
NSN
on
the
pointed
ends
of
the
exposed
AB-24
antenna elements.
Give it a shake!
Is pin in center splayed open?
Is rubber
seal there?
Use cap
Keep sockets clean
Keep connections free of corrosion
Back and forth
cleans area
Hand tight
will do it!
Use helmet, goggles, gloves and tip caps
Don’t use that pad!
691.44-45.indd
1-2
5/3/10
2:17:18 PM
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