It Won't Stay Up

[Ganglin]

I have an original antenna on a 71 Overlander. When you crank on it the leading edge raises about 8 inches but then it suddenly drops back about 5 inches. Crank on it again and it does the same thing.

Any ideas as to what's causing my problem.... Thanks.

[Goin camping]

What a thread title!

So many many jokes I can't make on a family forum.

Don't worry someone who is not a wise acre like me will give you a usefull answer.

[azflycaster]

Yes, the title of the thread is an eye catcher!

The antenna crank is attached to a worm screw which inturn drives a gear that raises the antenna. I suspect that the gear is stripped at the location where it fails. You might want to invest in a new bat wing antenna rather then look for parts for the one you have. At least it doesn't leak!

[garthbf]

you can find the plastic gears at any Airstream dealer or
at Vintage Trailer Supply - Vintage travel trailer parts and supplies!

$10 plus shipping.

[HiHoAgRV]

If the design is the same at the newer "Monument to the flying Nun" types, it's an easy and common fix. Almost any RV dealer will have the two plastic parts.

[LI Pets]

You need to put a little blue pill in the gears

[Ganglin]

Ran out to the c/ground tonight to finish painting the emblems. Quick look at the antenna setup - how do you get to the gears? Do I have to remove it or can I get to them from the inside.

[moosetags]

We all have that problem once in a while.

[dwightdi]

Unfortunately, you can not get at the gears from the inside. You have to take the antenna off the roof and dismantle it. When it happened to mine, I went to a batwing. The amplified version has the amplifier in the head and it therefore much better than the old Clothes hanger type that has the amplifer in the wall of the trailer.

[Airhog1]

Originally Posted by LI Pets

You need to put a little blue pill in the gears

I tried it!!!

Now my antenna is up so high the BBC is coming in like it is right next door!

G

[roy sedgwick]

the old " clothes hanger type " works very well, clean the elements with a brillo pad, eleminate the 300 ohm twin lead, replacing it with RG 6 or better coax and you can forget about needing the amplifier for most reception area's

[Excella CM]

If you change to a new style antenna, remember that the old one is "trade goods."

[Ganglin]

Haven't tackled the job yet. I did inspect it and all the fasteners are rusted so I got all new brass screws - stainless wing nuts, etc.. It has coax patched to ribbon cable above the roof and ribbon cable inside. There's no way to replace with all coax - the ribbon runs out of a cabinet - behind the wall then up to the antenna by the vista view.

I think it just needs some tlc and the new gear set (which I have now - thank you all) - but we will see.

[53flyingcloud]

Originally Posted by LI Pets

You need to put a little blue pill in the gears

AFTER THIS..I nearly broke the handle..it wouldn't come down~!!
THANKS FOR THE SMILE...

[Ganglin]

Just an update here. I didn't get around to removing and rebuilding the original Braund Skyliner antenna last year. But, it worked out OK. This week we found an original Braund Super Skyliner - the seller said it was new. It came today in the original box. It still has all the parts in the packing bag including a spare gear set, the wall amplifier box and a new aluminum roof support for it to rest on. Sometimes you just get lucky....

[rickandsandi]

I just checked our worm gear and it seems ok! There is a bit of a kink, is that OK?

[Becky B.]

My Braund Skyliner reception wasn't too great until my brother, who does dish installations, put new ends on the cable. Viola! It gets great reception now, even way out in the country! I put new gears in the one on my former trailer & it wasn't that big of a deal to do. The roll pin that was in there was the tuffest part for me to remove. Have fun up there!

[Becky B.]

That's really gross!

[Fyrzowt]

Originally Posted by beckybillrae

That's really gross!

Actually pretty funny.

[Ganglin]

Must be a guy thing.