Power Antenna HELP!!!

75sled · #1 (**permalink**) 04-07-08, 02:26 PM

Has anyone here ever taken their antenna apart. I took mine apart from my 75 coupe and cleaned and greased it on the inside. However, i am not sure about gettng the limiter switch assembly back on it and it be in time. I tried just putting it back to gether at first but I broke the little finger on the "dog" that moves the "Limiter switch wheel". I tested the motor. And if i operate the limit swith by hand it stops the motor, so I think it works. It just isn't being operated by the "dog". I can repair that but I am not sure how to get it back together so that it works properly without doing that agian.

Seems as if the switch wheel and the little finger have to go together in a certain "time" so that it stops when it is supposed to.

Old Fleetwood · #2 (**permalink**) 04-08-08, 12:51 AM

You might try to run a search on antenna on this BB.
There was exactly this topic a week or two or three ago regarding this problem and how to fix power antennas.
I think the posts were back on "page 5" or so.
My own power antenna crapped out in my 1995 FWB a little while ago and I'm waiting for comfortably warmer weather to fix it.

75sled · #3 (**permalink**) 04-08-08, 10:48 AM

I did what you suggested. The only one i found was much newer than mine. The description didn't mention anything about the mechanical parts that start and stop it. I have removed my mast drive cord and clean and lubricated that whole part of it. But in putting it back together I think there may be a trick to it.

Old Fleetwood · #4 (**permalink**) 04-09-08, 12:55 AM

Next thoughts:
> Hope ewill drops by and has seen a 1975 power antenna in his shop at some time.

> Join the Cadillac LaSalle Owners Club and hope somebody in the group can come up with the mechanical knowledge of the antenna workings on a car 33 years old.

75sled · #5 (**permalink**) 04-09-08, 09:12 AM

Who is ewill?

N0DIH · #6 (**permalink**) 04-09-08, 11:23 AM

I think the antenna rebuild might have been on the FWD Deville forum, but search all over, you can do a lot with them. I have to do mine, someone just gave me an old one that is stuck up, which is good for me! Someone broke off my mast on halloween last year. Idiots...

75sled · #7 (**permalink**) 04-09-08, 04:37 PM

Well I hunted ewill down and asked his advice. Unfortunately he isn't as familiar with the old school antennas as he is the newer ones. Also, I have scanned about 7 pages of search results with no luck yet...still scanning. So ANY help from ANY body would be huge at this point

Old Fleetwood · #8 (**permalink**) 04-09-08, 08:43 PM

Can you throw in some photos so we can see what you're dealing with?
Grab your camera and have at it.
Maybe, with all the brainpower (

) on this board, we might be able to come up with something.

Old Fleetwood · #9 (**permalink**) 04-10-08, 10:03 PM

While you're beating your brains out with the search as well as photographing stuff, what about the wires leading to the antenna motor?
Would that be a clue as to how the antenna is controlled, i.e.:
>turn on radio, a lead from radio activates "antenna up."
>another lead is ground, leading back to radio or other ground source.
Here, somebody like N0DIH, who is our resident HAM and software guru can be very handy.
So, what have you?

75sled · #10 (**permalink**) 04-11-08, 10:24 AM

Pictures will tell more than I can explain. The way the limit switch works it is purely mechanical. If you operate the antenna with a hot wire using the battery it will run constantly, unless you turn the little mechanical wheel 180 degrees. Then it stops. Then you have to connect your hot wire to another lead on the plug and it runs in the other direction constantly unless you turn the little wheel 180 degrees back. Every part of it works, i just think i have some sort of timing off. I am going to the junk yard tomorrow and see if I can buy another. That way i can take it apart knowing it has to go back together in a certain manner. I will be able to evaluate how it is put together and maybe make repairs to mine. Besides for $6-8 it is worth having a spare.

Old Fleetwood · #11 (**permalink**) 04-11-08, 12:38 PM

I wonder, when all is said and done, if the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) formula is the best way out.
With my old 1960 Mercedes 220 Sb, I simply got a power antenna from JCWhitney, replaced the stock antenna, put a hidden switch UNDER the dash, mounted so it wasn't seen so you had to "braille" your way to find it to make it to make the antenna go up and down but it didn't screw up the looks of the Mercedes interior.
Problem solved.

75sled · #12 (**permalink**) 04-11-08, 04:30 PM

Well mine already has the switch from the factory and I would like to keep as original as possible. Besides, this is old technology and has long since been passed by. However, it intrigues me to see an early form of something that most of us take for granted. Seems as if a lot of thought and effort went into this design....only to be replaced by a simple over current switch. Who'd a thunk?

SedanDeVille75 · #13 (**permalink**) 08-25-09, 12:14 AM

sorry to dig this thread up, but i either can't send a pm or don't know how

did you ever fix the problem with your antenna? i have a 75 Sedan and my antenna is stuck down. i think the motor might be bad because the battery is pretty weak (it needed jumping when we got it off the transport). the switch doesn't work and i need to check the fuse(s) and possibly the connection. but after reading about all the power antenna problems our cars have i'm starting to think it might be the motor.

thanks,
jesse

75sled · #14 (**permalink**) 08-25-09, 12:06 PM

Actually i bought another antenna from the pull a part and had the same problem with it. There is something about the way that limit switch is configured, and I can't seem to get the timing right. Ther is a hub inside that has a stationary pole on one side and a spring loaded pole on the other. I keep breaking the sationary pole.

Yours almost sounds like it is disconnected, which is your first clue that something maybe awry. However, if you remove it, you can use some jumper leds to test it. Connect the negative side of the battery to the housing of the antenna, and the positive side to different poles on the connector. if it doesn't operate at all in this fasion, then your motor is probably shot. However, if it does operate, then you may have a grounding problem. Just make sure, that if you get the mast to go up, to bring it back down to re-mount it.

GOOD LUCK!!!

SedanDeVille75 · #15 (**permalink**) 08-28-09, 11:50 PM

Well, as it turns out, the battery just needed a really good charging. Now the antenna goes up and down when you use the switch, which is a relief. The electric seats still don't work, I hope thats just a fuse. But at least it gives me something else to research on the car.