HF Radio Aerial
Submitted: Monday, Jul 23, 2007 at 17:04
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Farrelly
I have a tap type
HF Radio Aerial.
Staying home and not travelling over the last 18 Months I unscrewed my aerial from its base, The spring base has filled with
water and has gone rusty.
I pulled the base apart and tried to clean all the gunk out of the spring. The ends will not come off the spring. ( I don't know how to get the ends off !!) Anyway by poking a screwdriver and rag down the hole in the end of the spring I have broken the little wire in there ( It now pokes out one end) Can this be fixed?? or do I chuck it and buy a new one. Thanks Ian
Reply By: MEMBER - Darian (SA) - Monday, Jul 23, 2007 at 17:27
Monday, Jul 23, 2007 at 17:27
Had one apart quite a few years back - can't recall the intricacies right now - I think its safe to say that it would have been assembled in a straight forward manner at some stage (the coax inner at least had to be soldered in then). It can therefore be disassembled, even if appearing otherwise.....that's what a tech would do if new coax was required........ screw apart would be my guess but as you've found, it might have been torqued up really
well !
AnswerID:
254064
Follow Up By: Farrelly - Monday, Jul 23, 2007 at 17:39
Monday, Jul 23, 2007 at 17:39
Thanks Darian
I have it apart down to the spring and the two end caps in the spring
whenever I try to unscrew the end caps ( By holding one end in a vice and unscrewing the other with a set of multies) the spring tries to uncoil and then snaps back. Maybee I should give it another go as I have only had one attempt so far
FollowupID:
515120
Follow Up By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Monday, Jul 23, 2007 at 19:28
Monday, Jul 23, 2007 at 19:28
Might be worth soaking it in Eucalyptas Oil or Lanotec etc to loosen the thread/s.
Also, if possible at all, I have found that stubborn threads respond really
well to being "hit" with my Shentai impact wrench tool. You may find that the thread is 1/2" and if you can partially insert a short bolt of that size, with a nut already screwed onto it, then use
the nut to tighten the bolt onto the spring base. With the other end secured in the vice, use the Shentai with appropriate socket, to "HIT" the bolt.
Without being there, it's a bit difficult to describe. Hell, you might even have success with following the above instructions and then using a spanner instead of the impact wrench.
Good luck
Roachie
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Farrelly - Monday, Jul 23, 2007 at 21:09
Monday, Jul 23, 2007 at 21:09
Thanks for thr idea
I recon I could do that from both ends .
Only thing is>> by the way it feels it will uncoil about 2 turns before it lets go !!!
I dont wan't to be around when I let go of the spanna
Ian
FollowupID:
515195
Follow Up By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Monday, Jul 23, 2007 at 21:16
Monday, Jul 23, 2007 at 21:16
Yeh, that's why the impact wrench would be better.....it gives it a sudden shock and could just loosen it for you.
FollowupID:
515198
Follow Up By: Farrelly - Monday, Jul 23, 2007 at 21:27
Monday, Jul 23, 2007 at 21:27
Thinking about it ( And my head hurts) an impact wrench won't work on a spring because the spring just absorbs the torque. Therefor you get no net effect,
Impact wrenches only work on something that has a solid mount
Thanks Ian
FollowupID:
515201
Reply By: Member - Navigator 1 - Monday, Jul 23, 2007 at 17:33
Monday, Jul 23, 2007 at 17:33
If you live anywhere near Heathcote, Victoria, contact a fellow called Alec. He works from home building whip aerials. His mobile is 0417 566022
AnswerID:
254066
Follow Up By: Farrelly - Monday, Jul 23, 2007 at 17:40
Monday, Jul 23, 2007 at 17:40
No I,m in Hervey Bay
Good old Sunny QLD
Thanks
FollowupID:
515121
Reply By: Footloose - Monday, Jul 23, 2007 at 18:52
Monday, Jul 23, 2007 at 18:52
Keep an eye on Ebay. New springs pop up all the time.
AnswerID:
254086
Follow Up By: Farrelly - Monday, Jul 23, 2007 at 21:11
Monday, Jul 23, 2007 at 21:11
I've looked nothing at the moment
I'll keep looking Thanks
FollowupID:
515197
Reply By: MEMBER - Darian (SA) - Monday, Jul 23, 2007 at 21:09
Monday, Jul 23, 2007 at 21:09
The neurons are stirring - as I recall, the spring being part of the antenna wire in effect, has a wire up the middle to electrically bridge one spring end piece to the other. The spring would be conductive of course, but unreliably so, re wire length at times. Maybe you could forget the original wire and run another from a plate washer above and below.
Re the spring ends ..... it may be that the spring has been heat fitted to the ends (blacksmith style) - they might not have been designed to ever come free again.
Anyway..... I'm sure a new spring assembly wouldn't cost the earth but blokes in sheds are supposed to tinker (even to the point of time wasting - which it isn't :-o).
AnswerID:
254126
Follow Up By: Farrelly - Monday, Jul 23, 2007 at 21:22
Monday, Jul 23, 2007 at 21:22
I totally know what your on about. We need something to do in the shed . even if it means stuffin the whole job up and costing us more than what its worth it keeps us out of the missus's hair.
GOOD idea might give it a go . If all else fails I found some people in Brisvegas that I might call on next week when I'm there and see if they can help
Thanks again
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