radio antenna
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
From: Conway AR
radio antenna
My antenna won't go all the way down. So, I bought a replacement mast. It came with instructions (like in the shop man). Only thing is, I ain't smart enuf to follow them. The new mast came with a sliding piece on the bottom of it. the instructions say to use the old one. I figured after I took off the nut on the top of the antenna base, the old antenna would just power out. Except it don't. Looking at the new part, the sliding part has 3 fingers sticking out to prevent it from coming out of the base.
How do you get that part out? Cut it off, and pull out the other stuff.
Help!
How do you get that part out? Cut it off, and pull out the other stuff.
Help!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,118
Likes: 0
From: St. Charles, MO Route 66 Corvette Club
Arkybill: The mast is somewhat easy to replace if you are willing to spend some time on it. The plastic ribbon that is attached to the mast has some gear teeth on one side. There is a gear inside the antenna motor that drives this ribbon out (mast goes up) or in (mast goes down). The problem is that the ribbon has broken inside the motor. You must remove the motor/mast assembly from the car to remove the old ribbon. The new ribbon is easy to install. This takes some time. I can scan the Helms procedure for doing this and send to you if you wish.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: Ithaca Michigan
Originally Posted by rick lambert
yeah, the year would help. I replaced the mast on my 87 with OEM, PIA, mistake I made was not upgrading.
Thanks, Tom
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
From: Conway AR
Antenna
Thanks for the offer on the manuel. I've got one, and it says you don't have to remove the assembly to replace the mast. the ribbon is part of the mast,and according to the book, you just take off the nut on the top of the assembly and power the antenna out. then you power the new nylon ribbon and mast back in.
I'm curious about how the mast and ribbon comes out.
I'm curious about how the mast and ribbon comes out.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,118
Likes: 0
From: St. Charles, MO Route 66 Corvette Club
Rick Lambert makes an observation that I missed 
. What year of car do you have? Your profile is not completed
. You state: "I've got one, and it says you don't have to remove the assembly to replace the mast." and that is true......assuming the ribbon is not broken into multiple pieces inside the motor assembly. If the ribbon is broken, you can only remove the mast and the remaining piece of ribbon that is attached to it. You must also remove the remaining ribbon inside the motor assembly for the unit to work properly. This is like placing 5 pounds of s--t in a 3 pound bag.
. What year of car do you have? Your profile is not completed . You state: "I've got one, and it says you don't have to remove the assembly to replace the mast." and that is true......assuming the ribbon is not broken into multiple pieces inside the motor assembly. If the ribbon is broken, you can only remove the mast and the remaining piece of ribbon that is attached to it. You must also remove the remaining ribbon inside the motor assembly for the unit to work properly. This is like placing 5 pounds of s--t in a 3 pound bag.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 848
Likes: 1
From: 1992 LT1 6 speed Cayman Islands
On my 92 I had a stripped ribbom that I should have been able to remove the old mast from the top and replace with the new mast and ribbon according to the instructions.
NOT
It was impossible to get the old mast out the top because of the retaining clips, no matter how hard I tried. I had to remove the entire antenna and then remove the antenna tube and remove and reinstall the new one from the bottom using the old retaining clip which stayed inside the tube when I removed the old antenna.
Not good news but I hope this helps.
NOT
It was impossible to get the old mast out the top because of the retaining clips, no matter how hard I tried. I had to remove the entire antenna and then remove the antenna tube and remove and reinstall the new one from the bottom using the old retaining clip which stayed inside the tube when I removed the old antenna.
Not good news but I hope this helps.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 96,443
Likes: 9
From: Fort Knox, KY
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Check the C4 Tech Tips section for the article I wrote on how to remove the power antenna motor, open it up, remove the broken sections of old ribbon, then install the new mast.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
From: Conway AR
Antenna
Yeah, I've got the manuel. Also, the instructions that came with themast. The problem here is the 3 little fingers that protrude from the sliding piece on the bottom of the mast. the only way I can see to remove the old mast is to cut it off above the housing (maybe 3 inches) and then proceed to pull out the remaining stuff inside the sliding piece, you just bend them to the inside and pull them out. Then the ribbon and other parts WILL (I hope) power out. Then you put the new ribbon in and power down.
I think this will work, cause the book says "if the mast does not fully retract or extend, repower the radio several time until it does". this tells me the gear drive is not worried about where the ribbon starts.
My problem is--I really don't want to start tearing up stuff If I don't KNOW that's what needs to be done.
Thanks.
bill
I think this will work, cause the book says "if the mast does not fully retract or extend, repower the radio several time until it does". this tells me the gear drive is not worried about where the ribbon starts.
My problem is--I really don't want to start tearing up stuff If I don't KNOW that's what needs to be done.
Thanks.
bill
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: Ithaca Michigan
I took my antenna out of the car and worked on it on the work bench. I had just an idea what I'd find from experiance with messing with other power antennas, anyway I took three small bolts out and popped the clips off the outside of the housing and opend it up. From there I found a white plastic plug with the ribbon going thrugh it at the bottom of the mast tube, small skrewdriver will go into the slots and back that plug out. That will get you to the point of taking the button off the top of the mast and then just put it all back together. Very simple operation.
Good luck, Tom
Good luck, Tom