________________________________________________________________________ 6a. Re: Spacing issue with the ITA and soft touch knobs Posted by: "n1qlm" isham.john@gmail.com n1qlm Date: Fri Jun 19, 2009 7:57 am ((PDT)) --- In Buddipole@yahoogroups.com, "G. Hopper" wrote: > > I'm wondering how others have solved the spacing problem when using the IT Adapter attached to an accessory arm by using a soft touch knob through the center hole (of the ITA) into the accessory arm. > > I'm building up KG6WTF's 3 element 6 meter beam and the knobs bottom out before they snug up against the ITA. It's worse with the spare knob I got that doesn't have the white washer like the RAK knobs do, but it happens for all the knobs. I'm considering hunting down some brass or bronze bushings (actually I have some that fit but need to be cut down on the lathe) but I'd prefer an easier solution. I had good success with the KG6WTF 3 element 6 meter beam in the recent VHF contest. I even got my first taste of sporadic E, with contacts into EM45, EM72, EL87, EL98, and EL86 from FN32 using 50W with the beam on a 16' buddipole mast on top of a 5' deck. I too had the problem with the spacers - I went to my local harwdware store with the pullout shelves of boxes of assorted hardware. If you look, they should have a box for plastic washers. I beleive it's a 3/8" washer. They didn't have them as thick as the ones that come with the soft touch knobs, but a couple of thinner ones did the job. I think one with the buddipole washer, or three on their own (times three joints) did the job. I also had to unscrew the blue plastic coil-clip knob from the top of the versa-tee in order to get the IT adapter attached firmly. I had to be a bit careful to tighten the soft-touch knobs down just right to get the elements aligned properly and to be tight enough to not rotate out of position. 73 de John, N1QLM