Cracked coil cores are a very common problem with Mosley traps. I have a TA-33MWARC w/40m and a RV-4C trapped vertical and both have had cracked coil cores. My vertical is a 1968 model and my TA-33M is a 1982 model. Both are repaired and working as new.
Excellent video. I discovered a similar cracked form in a TA-33jr/WARC trap. It was in one of the WARC band traps. Very easy fix. I replaced an entire coil assembly in the same element 20 years ago. In that case the wire was melted. Thanks fir posting.
Good fix on the trap, albeit you will probably have another failure sooner than later. Another issue with traps is the screw on the end loosens up and causes issues. Personally I like trap-less antennas, but they do usually cost more. You had good troubleshooting techniques. I was in the IT Industry for 46 years and it is amazing how many people do not have good troubleshooting techniques. I always told them to start at the source and see if the power cable was plugged into the outlet, is the power cable plugged into the back of the computer, is the network cable plugged in...... A lot of the time it is the most simple issue that causes the problem. And a system reboot cures 99% of the software issue! The biggest problem I have with my trap-less antennas is that I will burn the wires going to the balun up. It basically cooks the wire and the insulation will crack and fall off. But since I am a DXer and a Contester, I usually run full legal power. I have found over the years that what we consider full legal power and the manufacturers consider full legal power are 2 different things. A lot of them consider full legal power to be 1000 watts.
n5pa Thanks for checking it out! Yeah, there's a good chance the problem will return but at least I know where to go with it. I'll probably just order a new assembly next time around. Luckily my roof is pretty flat and the antenna is only about 8’ above, so I can reach it.
You have done the hard part of finding what was causing the problem and you know what to do for a permanent fix. It is a little more difficult when your antenna is 92 feet in the air. Hope you have good luck with it!
Thanks for the tip . I am in the process of setting up a Mosley ta53m and the very first trap I opened was exactly like yours except mine was not dented in just the plastic core was split also mine has Black insulators instead of white . Not sure if they use black or white in earlier models but now I am going to have to go through ALL my traps after seeing this .
@@k2cjbradio Thanks for the reply . Mine where not dented like yours having that flat spot . I don't know what. Caused the break in the insulator it didnt look like overheating or expansion. But I might just call Mosley and ask what could cause a problem like this . It might not be a common problem but was a problem for at least us two . Thanks and if I hear a answer from Mosley I will post it here . 73s K4ASZ
@@k2cjbradio Okay I just got off the phone with Gary at Mosley antenna and great guy great information didn't rush me and answered every question I asked. I talked to him about the splitting insulators and he said it's due mostly to age and tapping them together is the best way to fix those but not to use any type of glue or epoxy to hold them together but to use MEK or methyl ethyl ketone. For the insulation material it works basically like PVC glue it melts the insulator and well fuse them back together and not pop apart again. Also I talked to him about me going through all of my traps and antenna that I'm putting up because it's used I was putting some of the copper anti seize on the connector from the coil to the outside of the Trap and he says that's not a good idea because it can Ark between the screw head and ground of element so I'm going to take the traps that I've already done clean that off and redo them he doesn't suggest anyting on the connection from the coil wire to the outer shell of the Trap but if you clean it real good on both sides of the wire and the trap you can put a little bit of acrylic clear to seal that connection because he said some people have been sealing the caps with RTV and it causes moisture to trap in and other problems with the Trap even with the drain holes on the bottom. Okay there's my letter about my call to Gary at Mosley Electronics
@@k2cjbradio I did tell Gary at Mosley about your coil having flat spots or dents in them just on the coil not on the outer-shield of the Trap and he said he's never seen or heard of that problem but as long as they're pushed together it shouldn't call it a problem but if you want you can call him at Mosley
good to know how to break the traps apart. i am going Friday to pick up a used ts33 thats been sitting for 15 years of course ill pull all the traps apart and clean everything. and even better that mosley is still in business,,
I just got aroud to cleaning my 33 up! what a difference aluminum cleaner makes! But i did have a cracked trap so used p6000 glue but im goi going to get a spare and a few fresh trap caps just in case. Hope you got your move over and antennas up 73
I don't think it was the trap form expansion that caused the problem. I had a similar problem with a Pro-67B, but the real issue was that the aluminum wire that is riveted inside was high resistance (corrosion?). It looked clean, but resistance across the trap was in the megaohms. Your tapping of the form back together simply jarred the rivet into conducting again. It will open up again, soon. A trap that simply expands a 1/4" does not change the inductance all that much, considering it is dozens of turns. My final solution was to drill out the rivet and replace with SS screws, with lots of Penatrox. I did tap the trap forms back together as well, and put small #6 SS screws on the outside, through the tube, (under the trap covers) to hold it in place so it cannot expand again. If you suspect trap problems, measure the resistance across the trap first, it should be zero ohms or close to it. These traps have DC continuity.
Mosley traps do not respond well to CW or Digi for a long period, especially when max power is used. Furthermore many users do not install a BalUn, as Mosley instructions doesn't mention it (Mosley does not sell BalUns...). Feeding a balanced antenna (dipole) with a unballanced feedline (coax) is asking for trouble...
Got a question for you. I just got a used ta-33 disassembled. How can I tell which traps are which , could it be the size? Wish people marked them when they take them apart.
Good question. When I moved I disassembled the antenna and marked every section with a permanent marker using words and not numbers. Maybe a call to Mosley might help?
Hi. Is it possible to get the troubleshooting instruction manual which you used please? I can not find it anywhere in .pdf on internet. Many thanks for help. Petr, OK1RP
Should the elements not hang from the boom instead of the way yours is mounted - above the boom? Just a question, I built a mosley for a friend recently and built it like mines is - mines is a DX33 though, not mosley.
It was some time ago. I believe that’s how the instructions said to assemble it. I forget though. Now that I’ve moved and reassembled it at a new QTH I’ll have to double check!
Interesting. I would like to know how to test the traps individually on the ground, before assembling an old TA-33. I guess opening them up for visual inspection is a start.
Might not be a bad idea while it’s on the ground. I relocated and the antenna isn’t up yet. Before I reassemble it I’m going to check them all and probably glue the broken one.
I got a used mosley ta 33 m warc. The tubing is stuck together and can't get it apart. I can't turn it and that feels like there's gritty sand on the inside of the tubing. Looking for some help KQ4CD Paul ⚓️
I never did. I relocated to CT and disassembled the antenna to move and reassembled when we got here. So far so good. That center plastic form fits really tight and I don’t believe it’s moved since I did this repair.
yes i seen that video you was talking about but it was on a cushcraft antenna. i have a 11m sirio sy27 3 elerment beam and im thinking of making some trap loading coils for it so i can make it work on 20m so ill let you know how i get on grad you sorted the problem ste in west lancishire just outside liverpool m7byf 73
I just brought home this antenna from a friend that gave it to me. What do you use to connect this antenna to coax with? There is no SO239 connector so I am assuming a 1:1 balun?
I simply strip a piece of coax back and put a lug on the center conductor and one on the braid and connect to the antenna. Then I coil the coax with 6 or so turns. Seems to work ok.
@@k2cjbradio Thanks or the reply. That sounds like a great plan. I hope everything is going well for you. I have been collecting items for a permanent ham shack. I am about ready to pull the trigger on getting my free tower and Mosley beam like yours up in the air. I scored a new Yaesu G2800 DXA rotator system that is way overkill for this antenna but It will give me room for upgrades.
CHRISTOPHER... any chance you have the assembling instructions, igot all traps and some pipes etc.. need dimensions to assemble, google shows only 2element versiuon and the M version tku zs2cx
@@k2cjbradio I only use a home made 3 element yagi for 20 mtrs and a 40mt pkw 2 element yagi. both monoband and resident. i never use any tuner. iam on qrz 2E0FSD.
I echo the comments below on this video...a fine fix for a bad trap. In my case, I totally fried one trap on a Mosley TA-33-JR/WARC (my fault, not Mosley's). You can see it at ruclips.net/video/lJWa9mbOKRw/видео.html ...it's worth the price of admission. That said, I see you're using an antenna match for your beam. For the most part, I do not need a match on my MP-33-NW (also roof-mounted)...how far off is your SWR, or do you just use the match to keep it in line? (set it and forget it). Very good video...thank you for posting it and 73! de WX0V
@@edgeorgie1922 yea he will for $65 not happening. i found 4 traps cracked all together and got some industrial glue and pushed the element back onto itself and the coated the whole coil with clear epoxy. works fantastic. we`ll see what it does in a few years ill take one off to inspect it.
Cracked coil cores are a very common problem with Mosley traps. I have a TA-33MWARC w/40m and a RV-4C trapped vertical and both have had cracked coil cores. My vertical is a 1968 model and my TA-33M is a 1982 model. Both are repaired and working as new.
Excellent video. I discovered a similar cracked form in a TA-33jr/WARC trap. It was in one of the WARC band traps. Very easy fix. I replaced an entire coil assembly in the same element 20 years ago. In that case the wire was melted. Thanks fir posting.
Good fix on the trap, albeit you will probably have another failure sooner than later. Another issue with traps is the screw on the end loosens up and causes issues. Personally I like trap-less antennas, but they do usually cost more. You had good troubleshooting techniques. I was in the IT Industry for 46 years and it is amazing how many people do not have good troubleshooting techniques. I always told them to start at the source and see if the power cable was plugged into the outlet, is the power cable plugged into the back of the computer, is the network cable plugged in...... A lot of the time it is the most simple issue that causes the problem. And a system reboot cures 99% of the software issue! The biggest problem I have with my trap-less antennas is that I will burn the wires going to the balun up. It basically cooks the wire and the insulation will crack and fall off. But since I am a DXer and a Contester, I usually run full legal power. I have found over the years that what we consider full legal power and the manufacturers consider full legal power are 2 different things. A lot of them consider full legal power to be 1000 watts.
n5pa Thanks for checking it out! Yeah, there's a good chance the problem will return but at least I know where to go with it. I'll probably just order a new assembly next time around. Luckily my roof is pretty flat and the antenna is only about 8’ above, so I can reach it.
You have done the hard part of finding what was causing the problem and you know what to do for a permanent fix. It is a little more difficult when your antenna is 92 feet in the air. Hope you have good luck with it!
I don't own a Mosley , but I sure enjoyed watching and learning how to fix those Trappes.7 3
Sandra Abarca Glad it helped! It wasn’t as difficult as i thought it would be. 73 de K2CJB
Thanks for the tip . I am in the process of setting up a Mosley ta53m and the very first trap I opened was exactly like yours except mine was not dented in just the plastic core was split also mine has Black insulators instead of white .
Not sure if they use black or white in earlier models but now I am going to have to go through ALL my traps after seeing this .
Gary Vernon So glad this helps! I think that dent is the design of the core. It hasn’t failed since...so far so good.
@@k2cjbradio Thanks for the reply .
Mine where not dented like yours having that flat spot .
I don't know what. Caused the break in the insulator it didnt look like overheating or expansion.
But I might just call Mosley and ask what could cause a problem like this . It might not be a common problem but was a problem for at least us two .
Thanks and if I hear a answer from Mosley I will post it here .
73s
K4ASZ
Gary Vernon Sounds great!!
@@k2cjbradio
Okay I just got off the phone with Gary at Mosley antenna and great guy great information didn't rush me and answered every question I asked. I talked to him about the splitting insulators and he said it's due mostly to age and tapping them together is the best way to fix those but not to use any type of glue or epoxy to hold them together but to use MEK or methyl ethyl ketone. For the insulation material it works basically like PVC glue it melts the insulator and well fuse them back together and not pop apart again. Also I talked to him about me going through all of my traps and antenna that I'm putting up because it's used I was putting some of the copper anti seize on the connector from the coil to the outside of the Trap and he says that's not a good idea because it can Ark between the screw head and ground of element so I'm going to take the traps that I've already done clean that off and redo them he doesn't suggest anyting on the connection from the coil wire to the outer shell of the Trap but if you clean it real good on both sides of the wire and the trap you can put a little bit of acrylic clear to seal that connection because he said some people have been sealing the caps with RTV and it causes moisture to trap in and other problems with the Trap even with the drain holes on the bottom. Okay there's my letter about my call to Gary at Mosley Electronics
@@k2cjbradio I did tell Gary at Mosley about your coil having flat spots or dents in them just on the coil not on the outer-shield of the Trap and he said he's never seen or heard of that problem but as long as they're pushed together it shouldn't call it a problem but if you want you can call him at Mosley
good to know how to break the traps apart. i am going Friday to pick up a used ts33 thats been sitting for 15 years of course ill pull all the traps apart and clean everything. and even better that mosley is still in business,,
Yes they are! We are moving so I took the antenna down. I might go back in and glue that trap form back together before putting in back up
I just got aroud to cleaning my 33 up! what a difference aluminum cleaner makes! But i did have a cracked trap so used p6000 glue but im goi going to get a spare and a few fresh trap caps just in case. Hope you got your move over and antennas up 73
I don't think it was the trap form expansion that caused the problem. I had a similar problem with a Pro-67B, but the real issue was that the aluminum wire that is riveted inside was high resistance (corrosion?). It looked clean, but resistance across the trap was in the megaohms. Your tapping of the form back together simply jarred the rivet into conducting again. It will open up again, soon. A trap that simply expands a 1/4" does not change the inductance all that much, considering it is dozens of turns.
My final solution was to drill out the rivet and replace with SS screws, with lots of Penatrox. I did tap the trap forms back together as well, and put small #6 SS screws on the outside, through the tube, (under the trap covers) to hold it in place so it cannot expand again.
If you suspect trap problems, measure the resistance across the trap first, it should be zero ohms or close to it. These traps have DC continuity.
Good point! So far so good though. Thanks!
great video, this is some great tips for troubelshooting.
Glad it helped!
Paint the bottom of the caps white where the weep holes are. :) had to replace all my traps and still haven’t got it back up. A frame roof
Nice fix. I have a 33jr. 10 and 15 is fine. 20 is above 2.1. Might have to look at this.
Mosley traps do not respond well to CW or Digi for a long period, especially when max power is used. Furthermore many users do not install a BalUn, as Mosley instructions doesn't mention it (Mosley does not sell BalUns...). Feeding a balanced antenna (dipole) with a unballanced feedline (coax) is asking for trouble...
Remember that some of these antennas are over 50 years old so problems to be expected. I was using one way back in 1968 as ZC4MO (Cyprus).
Ian Mcgarrigle This one is about 15 yrs old, so kinda of surprising that it split like that.
TIP: use binoculars to see the holes or any anomalies visually. A closer look may be required.
Got a question for you.
I just got a used ta-33 disassembled.
How can I tell which traps are which , could it be the size?
Wish people marked them when they take them apart.
Good question. When I moved I disassembled the antenna and marked every section with a permanent marker using words and not numbers. Maybe a call to Mosley might help?
Ftdx3000 great radio
Hi. Is it possible to get the troubleshooting instruction manual which you used please? I can not find it anywhere in .pdf on internet. Many thanks for help. Petr, OK1RP
On the Mosley website there is a FAQ section that has a page that talks about troubleshooting traps.
Should the elements not hang from the boom instead of the way yours is mounted - above the boom?
Just a question, I built a mosley for a friend recently and built it like mines is - mines is a DX33 though, not mosley.
It was some time ago. I believe that’s how the instructions said to assemble it. I forget though. Now that I’ve moved and reassembled it at a new QTH I’ll have to double check!
Interesting. I would like to know how to test the traps individually on the ground, before assembling an old TA-33. I guess opening them up for visual inspection is a start.
Might not be a bad idea while it’s on the ground. I relocated and the antenna isn’t up yet. Before I reassemble it I’m going to check them all and probably glue the broken one.
dipmeter,
is this the same antenna what they now named the mosley mini-33-A ?? nice vid! 73 pd2mic from holland
I don’t think so...
These antennas should be 1:1 VSWR if they're 'fine'. They don't need a tuner!
If the beam needs a tuner it is not set up right!
I got a used mosley ta 33 m warc. The tubing is stuck together and can't get it apart. I can't turn it and that feels like there's gritty sand on the inside of the tubing. Looking for some help
KQ4CD Paul ⚓️
Ugh…. Have you contacted Mosley?
Did you order a new trap to replace the broken one?
I never did. I relocated to CT and disassembled the antenna to move and reassembled when we got here. So far so good. That center plastic form fits really tight and I don’t believe it’s moved since I did this repair.
yes i seen that video you was talking about but it was on a cushcraft antenna. i have a 11m sirio sy27 3 elerment beam and im thinking of making some trap loading coils for it so i can make it work on 20m so ill let you know how i get on grad you sorted the problem ste in west lancishire just outside liverpool m7byf 73
weird looking I wonder what caused that???? good thing you got it back working.
No idea. We did have some pretty strong winds blow thru right after the CQWW. Maybe that did it? Seems ok now though.
I just brought home this antenna from a friend that gave it to me. What do you use to connect this antenna to coax with? There is no SO239 connector so I am assuming a 1:1 balun?
I simply strip a piece of coax back and put a lug on the center conductor and one on the braid and connect to the antenna. Then I coil the coax with 6 or so turns. Seems to work ok.
@@k2cjbradio Thanks or the reply. That sounds like a great plan.
I hope everything is going well for you. I have been collecting items for a permanent ham shack. I am about ready to pull the trigger on getting my free tower and Mosley beam like yours up in the air. I scored a new Yaesu G2800 DXA rotator system that is way overkill for this antenna but It will give me room for upgrades.
CHRISTOPHER... any chance you have the assembling instructions, igot all traps and some pipes etc.. need dimensions to assemble, google shows only 2element versiuon and the M version tku
zs2cx
Hmm. I might have a hard copy of it somewhere. They’re not available online?
why are you using a tuner on a resident antenna?
danny park Force of habit to tweak it a little bit. Probably don’t need to.
@@k2cjbradio I only use a home made 3 element yagi for 20 mtrs and a 40mt pkw 2 element yagi. both monoband and resident. i never use any tuner. iam on qrz 2E0FSD.
@@grandpaandlucas7054 Do you mean 'resonant'??
Excelente video saludos XE1WCO
I echo the comments below on this video...a fine fix for a bad trap. In my case, I totally fried one trap on a Mosley TA-33-JR/WARC (my fault, not Mosley's). You can see it at ruclips.net/video/lJWa9mbOKRw/видео.html ...it's worth the price of admission.
That said, I see you're using an antenna match for your beam. For the most part, I do not need a match on my MP-33-NW (also roof-mounted)...how far off is your SWR, or do you just use the match to keep it in line? (set it and forget it).
Very good video...thank you for posting it and 73! de WX0V
I usually just touch it up with the built in ATU.
@@k2cjbradio Ok...thank you for the reply...and for posting this video. 73! de WX0V
it appeared that the aluminum coil wire was broken as well.
Luckily it wasn’t. Just had to press the form back together.
I have many parts of ta33jr , elements and traps. If you need let me know
Jorge Is Good to know!! I don’t know if that coil has split again yet. So far it loads up ok. Thanks!!
does anybody have a trap they want to sell for this antenna? i need the one on the director.
@@edgeorgie1922 yea he will for $65 not happening. i found 4 traps cracked all together and got some industrial glue and pushed the element back onto itself and the coated the whole coil with clear epoxy. works fantastic. we`ll see what it does in a few years ill take one off to inspect it.