Over the years, I have used Nylock nuts and found them very handy, BUT
ALL either failed, or were close to failing where exposed to the
elements. Looking into the outside end of the nut, the Nylon was either
completely gone or nearly so in a year or less.
Nylon Rope, which is smooth and very stretchy when installed, becomes
rough and quite stiff with very little stretch within just a few days.
I don't know the reason. Acid rain? We are downwind from a rather
large, flat land farming area. We are about 120 mile via the prevailing
winds from the Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo area and about 200 miles from the
Gary IN and Chicago area. Prevailing winds are SW only about 30%, with
the rest spread around the compass relatively even.
UV? I'm quite sure that it affects the Nylon rope. A combination of UV
and acid rain for the nuts? Probably.
At-any-rate, Nylock nuts do not stand up well around here. I make it a
practice to never use them on antennas, or anything structural. I
don't recall seeing any on new antennas, but I'd replace any that did
show up along with a note to the manufacturer as to their suitability.
Based on experience, I'd say Nylock nuts on antennas are bad news. Yes
they are great and easy to use in high vibration environments. Now if
they'd just last!
73
Roger (K8RI)
On 11/27/2015 10:58 AM, kr2q@optimum.net wrote:
Over the years, it seems that most antenna manufacturers have moved to using
some form
of Nylock nuts (the nuts with the nylon insert for "high vibration"
applications).
I have seen this on my Cushcraft XM series monobanders, on my Optibeams, and
most recently
on my SteppIR (DB36).
With respect to the latter, the cable clips just use a single nut to compress
down on the wire
cable. There is no locking nut, no lock washer, no Nylock, etc.
Why is this? I have heard from others that this can be, and has been, a point
of failure.
What method would you suggest to ensure that these wire rope clamps do not
loosen up over time? Just electrical tape?
RSVP
Thanks
de Doug KR2Q
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73
Roger (K8RI)
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