M2 KT36XA, Assembly Manual

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5. HF CLAMP PLATE PAIR ASSEMBLY
Locate the 11 element clamp plates, the Balun ‘L’-Bracket, 2-1/2” U-bolt & Saddle, and element clamp cap.
Assemble the plates into six pairs with the radii facing each other using four 1/4-20 x 2” bolts. On one of the
‘alike’-pair combinations, attach the Balun ‘L’-Bracket to the outside clamp plate with the flat side up and higher
than the plates. Install the 2-1/2” U-bolt & Saddle combination on the top side of the ‘L’-Bracket and secure with
5/16” nuts and lockwashers. This assembly will be used for the FRONT DRIVEN ELEMENT. Finger tighten all
the hardware. The ‘oddball’ plate combination of element clamp plate and smaller clamp cap, will be used for
DIRECTOR #2.
6. FRONT AND REAR DRIVEN ELEMENT ASSEMBLY
Take the element clamp plate pair assembly for the FRONT DRIVEN ELEMENT (previous step) and one of the
‘alike’ element clamp pairs, and for both insert a 7/8 x 14-3/4” fiberglass rod through the plates. Orient the four
holes up and make sure the rod is centered. Tighten the four bolts evenly on the clamp plates. Locate the four
7/8” poly disc insulators. Slide a poly disc onto both ends of each 7/8” fiberglass rod and position them right up
against the element clamp plates. If the discs won’t fit onto the rod, try soaking them in HOT water for a few
minutes. Locate four of the 1 x 72” SOE (swaged one end) tubes. Select two to be used for the FRONT
DRIVEN ELEMENT. Locate the two ‘T’-match shorting bars and slide one onto each of the straight ends of the
1” tubes you have selected. The other pair of 1 x 72” SOE tubes will be for the REAR DRIVEN ELEMENT. For
all four 1” tubes, slide the straight ends on both sides of the two fiberglass rods. Align the holes, insert two 1/4-
20 x 2” bolts up through the bottom, and temporarily lay the two assemblies flat. Locate the eight 3/8” clamp
blocks. Spread a little Penetrox on each clamp block face. Slide two clamp blocks with their faces towards one
another onto the 1/4-20 bolt posts on each element assembly and thread on the 1/4-20 locknuts. Do not tighten
the locknuts at this time. Paying close attention to the DIMENSION SHEET, insert the individual element halves
for the FRONT and REAR DRIVEN ELEMENTS into the swaged ends of the 1 x 72” tubes. Secure them with 8-
32 x 1-1/4” screws and locknuts. Make sure the flat part of the ‘L’-Bracket is pointed in the same direction as the
capacitor tube sides of the FRONT
DRIVEN ELEMENT halves.
7. REFLECTOR, DIRECTOR #1, AND
DIRECTOR #3 ASSEMBLY
Locate the remaining six 1 x 72” SOE
(swaged one end) tube sections and the
three 7/8 x 36” aluminum center sleeves.
With the three remaining pairs of ‘alike’
element clamp plates, insert a 7/8” center
sleeve and slide a 1 x 72” tube section onto
both sides of the sleeve. Align the two
holes and secure with 1/4-20 x 1-1/2” bolts
and locknuts. Orient the tubes so that the
locknuts are down and centered. Tighten
the 1/4-20 hardware evenly. A 1” gap
between the two tube sections is normal.
8. DIRECTOR #2 ASSEMBLY
Locate the 1 x 20” SBE (swaged both ends)
center support tube and insert this piece
between the plates of the remaining
‘oddball’ element clamp assembly. Orient the tube holes up, center the tube, and tighten the 1/4-20 hardware.
Now insert the two 3/4 x 48” SOE tubes into both ends of the center support tube and secure with 8-32 x 1-1/4”
screws and locknuts. Add the 1/2” element tip sections to the 3/4” tubes, securing them with 8-32 x 1” screws
and locknuts.
9. BOOM ASSEMBLY
Prior to assembling the boom, inspect each mating surface and holes for any metal chips or burrs. Apply a light
coating of PENETROX to the swaged ends of each piece. Using the DIMENSION SHEET as a guide, lay out
the five 3” pieces as shown. Note that the single straight section is the FRONT end of the antenna. Now
assemble the boom and secure the pieces together with 1/4-20 x 3-1/2” bolts and locknuts. Next insert the two
3/8 x 6” eyebolts through the holes at both ends of the boom. Secure them with 3/8” nuts and lockwashers.
KT36XA ASSEMBLY MANUAL