Electrical aerial with knackered motor,

[siamblue]

I have just broken the mast on my aerial at the base, Has anyone got a aerial with a broken/seized motor?Or at the extreme another working aerial?

Gary

[TangoDeltaSierra3]

I recently snapped mine & got a smart black aerial from Halfords, its about 15in high not too dissimiliar to a police aerial actually and it was only about a tenner but it aint electric. Will suit a white car better though i think.

[siamblue]

Hi TD,Looks like that might be a option,I have a free £10 voucher to spend there anyway,

Thanks again Gary.

[splatt]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10432&item=4549872702&rd=1

found this...

[siamblue]

Thanks Splatt i will keep a eye on it,

Gary.

[mraldonnelly]

Hi Siam,

I'm assuming yours is electric?

If it's only the mast that's broken then you don't need the full aerial, just the antenna mast.

It has a white plastic coil at the bottom with teeth to feed into the motor. To remove your broken mast get someone to sit in the car and switch the radio on. As the mast rises, pull it straight up, it should just keep on coming in your hand (but watch out when you withdraw the white plastic coil - it'll coil up pretty quickly when removed so watch your eyes).

Note the orientation of the teeth (I think the teeth face the front of the car).

Now insert the coil of the new mast and have your mate switch the radio off so the motor attempts to withdraw the mast. Feed the coil into the motor until it catches.

It may take a few attempts but it's a fairly simple job.

Regards

Andy

[siamblue]

Hi ANdy i stripped mine down yesterday and withdrew the mast,But i cannot find anywhere that sells them,
Anyone know where i can just buy a mast that is for the motorised aerial?

Gary

[mraldonnelly]

Hi Gary,

I know IPD USA sell 'em for under $30 so it'll be less than £15 but then you've gotta add shipping (and potentially import duty although with such a low value item they'll probably not bother).

I've never used IPD but belive they will ship to the UK.

You could also try FCP Groton to see what they offer.

Have you tried your Main Stealer? Or, if you're a member of VOC you could try Nordic.

Regards

Andy

[Justin]

FYI The masts are £30 INC vat from volvo, however you can buy a brand new unit (motor and mast) from Euro for under £25, direct replacement.


I would go down that route Gary, i did :D

[mraldonnelly]

Gary,

Just checked www.ipdusa.com and they have 'em for $26USD.

www.fcpgroton.com have 'e, for $16USD.

Obviously both prices are plus shipping and I don't know whether or not they ship to the UK. May be worth a call though.

The FCP mast is an aftermarket "pattern" product. It's only a mast though so aftermarket shouldn't be a problem.

Regards

Andy

[mraldonnelly]

FYI The masts are £30 INC vat from volvo, however you can buy a brand new unit (motor and mast) from Euro for under £25, direct replacement.


I would go down that route Gary, i did :D

Oh, well £25 for the full thing from ECP is probably a whole lot easier than trying to get a mast from the States.

Makes you wonder though doesn't it. $26USD for an original from the States or £30 for an original from the UK. We're clearly being ripped off.

Regards

Andy

[siamblue]

Thanks lads,I was only looking in the UK for them I get a 10% discount on spares from Volvo, £13 from the States is good but will probably be the same for shipping too,So basically the same price,
I have to go to Volvo as i need a new O ring for my dipstick,That will be a interested price for a little piece of rubber.


Gary

[Pedro Fandango]

sure i only paid about £8 for the complete dipstick from volvo

[nikgallagher]

Gary, that o-ring will cost you pence from a hardware shop. I would take the old one with you and match for size by eye. An o-ring is an o-ring in my book, unless it's doughnut!

[siamblue]

I just took it to a car spares shop and they weren't the same size,Porbably half the thickness of the one on the car,I thought the same a o ring is a o ring.

[mraldonnelly]

An o-ring is an o-ring in my book, unless it's doughnut!

PMSL! It's been a bad day but that lightened it a little for some reason.

[siamblue]

I just thought to myself i am going to try and fix this aerial,So i cleaned it all off and the plastic toothed insert,I used hard as nails,On the piece that was broken but applied it to the whole outter edge of it,So in theory it will still be one whole shaft shorter but attatched to the larger bottom shaft on the aerial,Then i cut 6 inches off the toothed plastic insert,
Will let you know if it works,I had nothing to lose,and the aerial will be shorter but will still work,Plus it won't grind out on my sisters archway now :slap: