BENT 5/8 GROUND PLANE?

[BammBamm]

i WAS GIVEN A 6 MONTH OLD MACA GP IF I TAKE IT DOWN. 1 OF THE GROUND RADIALS ARE BENT DOWN TO ABOUT A 30 DEGREE ANGLE FROM A TREE BRANCH THAT FELL ON IT. WOULD THIS ANTENNA BE DESTROYED BY USING A CONDUIT BENDER TO BEND ALL RADIALS DOWN AT A 30 DEGREE ANGLE? JUST A THOUGHT AS EITHER WAY I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE RADIALS BECAUSE IF THE BENT ONE IS PUSHED BACK UP IT WILL SNAP I'M SURE.

 

[Robb]

Just straighten it.
Should be fine.

 

[kb6led]

Bend it back very slowly, I have worked on a few aluminum antennas that have had bent elements and they tend to kink very easy.

 

[GnG8d]

Don't try to bend it all at once, use the tubing bender to work it at different places along the bend.

 

[BammBamm]

JUST THOUGHT WITH THE RADIALS DOWN WOULD GIVE IT A SMALLER FOOTPRINT AS FAR AS THE NIEGHBORS GO. SOMETHING THAT WOULD RESEMBLE A OVERGROWN M-400.

 

[Robb]

JUST THOUGHT WITH THE RADIALS DOWN WOULD GIVE IT A SMALLER FOOTPRINT AS FAR AS THE NIEGHBORS GO. SOMETHING THAT WOULD RESEMBLE A OVERGROWN M-400.

I wouldn't do that. Changing the angle of the radials will alter the impedance. You don't want that.

 

[hookedon6]

Bend it back very slowly, I have worked on a few aluminum antennas that have had bent elements and they tend to kink very easy.

... or you can fill the tubing with sand,... and slooooooowly bend it back straight

 

[mackmobile43]

... or you can fill the tubing with sand,... and slooooooowly bend it back straight

yup

 

[BammBamm]

OK thanks to all.

 

[wavrider]

Take the radial off the antenna.

Put it in a vise or a pair of vise grips, use a propane torch to heat the element at the bend ( not melt it but heat it) it will bend back straight with a little effort after it is heated.

Use gloves or pliers to bend the aluminum, that propane torch makes it hot to the touch and aluminum conducts heat easily.

 

[HomerBB]

If you can, straighten it out. If it breaks, put a tube around it slightly larger as a splint.

If you do bend them all it will still work. If the impedance changes you'll have to reset the match.

I'd try to straighten it, though.

 

[GnG8d]

I wouldnt heat the aluminum.

 

[GnG8d]

... or you can fill the tubing with sand,... and slooooooowly bend it back straight

I wouldn't mess around with that either. Filling a tube with sand works for making a bend in straight tubing (if it's capped tighly on the ends), but not vise versa.

 

[wavrider]

I wouldnt heat the aluminum.

Why not ? Just curious?

I used to be employed by Alcoa, you know the worlds largest aluminum manufacture, so please explain why you would not heat aluminum?

 

[GnG8d]

Why not ? Just curious?

I used to be employed by Alcoa, you know the worlds largest aluminum manufacture, so please explain why you would not heat aluminum?

Then you know that it precipitation hardens, right?