we could go on all day
Help Antenna
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,891
Likes: 2
From: Baltimore MD
LOL I agreed with you buddy, If the problem is only with the mast - say bent or broken and you want to do a mast replacement it can be doe from the TOP - Down without replacing or even going into the motor housing.
If the antenna will move up and down you can:
Remove the lock nut with the supplied Socket that usually comes with the replacement Antenna, usually the rubber Mast Grommet has to be removed to get the socket over the lock nut.
Once the lock nut IS removed - then you can turn your radio on and the mast will extend up and out of the Antenna Shaft Housing. It's helpful if you have an assistant catch the mast at it extends so that it does not bang along the side of your vette. Also when removing the Antenna, observe how the Nylon Cable was threaded (cable has TEETH on one side only and I believe the TEETH are outboard to the car).
The method usually results in the retaining spring (Looks Like a 1 inch long metal tube with a lip at the top and a couple of side springs), coming off with the antenna. Worst case you may have to use a fine bladed small screwdriver to press in on the side metal spring tabs to remove the retaining spring.
Now here is the tricky part you all have left out - take your old antenna and your new replacement antenna and COMPARE THEM!!!. Is the Nylon cable the same length? If so you will have no problems feeding the new antenna into the motor housing.
When Feeding the new Antenna into the Antenna shaft, feed the nylon cable down until you feel it engage with the gear - (ensure you align the teeth in the same direction as when it was removed).
Have your assistant hold the Antenna loosely and you go back and turn your radio OFF, the cable if it was engaged with the gear, will begin retracting the antenna. Don't worry if it did not go down all the way and you have about 3 or 4 inches of the Antenna raised at this point. Install the new Retainer Spring with the lip UP, replace the lock nut.
Now to deal with the Antenna NOT retracting all the way during your first try. Cycle the radio Off and On a few times - The motor is self-adjusting to a certain extent. After a few tries the Antenna should go up and down as expected.
Cheers
If the antenna will move up and down you can:
Remove the lock nut with the supplied Socket that usually comes with the replacement Antenna, usually the rubber Mast Grommet has to be removed to get the socket over the lock nut.
Once the lock nut IS removed - then you can turn your radio on and the mast will extend up and out of the Antenna Shaft Housing. It's helpful if you have an assistant catch the mast at it extends so that it does not bang along the side of your vette. Also when removing the Antenna, observe how the Nylon Cable was threaded (cable has TEETH on one side only and I believe the TEETH are outboard to the car).
The method usually results in the retaining spring (Looks Like a 1 inch long metal tube with a lip at the top and a couple of side springs), coming off with the antenna. Worst case you may have to use a fine bladed small screwdriver to press in on the side metal spring tabs to remove the retaining spring.
Now here is the tricky part you all have left out - take your old antenna and your new replacement antenna and COMPARE THEM!!!. Is the Nylon cable the same length? If so you will have no problems feeding the new antenna into the motor housing.
When Feeding the new Antenna into the Antenna shaft, feed the nylon cable down until you feel it engage with the gear - (ensure you align the teeth in the same direction as when it was removed).
Have your assistant hold the Antenna loosely and you go back and turn your radio OFF, the cable if it was engaged with the gear, will begin retracting the antenna. Don't worry if it did not go down all the way and you have about 3 or 4 inches of the Antenna raised at this point. Install the new Retainer Spring with the lip UP, replace the lock nut.
Now to deal with the Antenna NOT retracting all the way during your first try. Cycle the radio Off and On a few times - The motor is self-adjusting to a certain extent. After a few tries the Antenna should go up and down as expected.
Cheers
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