hi guys i have followed the tech article on how to replace the mast and rope and so far so good. I have got to the end and the tech doc mentions a ferrule that stops the mast from coming all the way out of the body of the car. The problem is I have no idea where this piece is can anyone help me in the right direction. I didn't see this piece when removing the old mast - i'm confused? Any help would be really appreciated. cheers, Ben.
Been quite a while since I done mine but I think the ferrule is a metal sleeve that goes on the end of the mast inside the casing.
but where is it? should a new one come with the new mast is mine now stuck inside the casing - is there a way of getting it out if it is?
The ferrule is a metal sleeve that runs inside the shaft of the aerial mast. You will need to remove the entire antenna assembly and undo the bolt that holds the housings together. Pull it apart and check for any broken bits of rope caught inside the gearset. The aerial stalk should come apart at the same time and the ferrule should slide out the bottom. If the new mast and rope doesnt contain a new ferrule, be sure to re-use it when you slide the new one in. Extend the mast out fully and there should be enough rope to wind onto the gearset to get it started. Re-assemble the antenna. You should be able to check the operation by applying power to it. For memory there's 3 wires. The black one is earth, the aerial should go up when you apply +12V to the other 2 wires. When earth is applied to the black wire and 12V to one of the other 2 wires, the aerial should go down. Either that or try plugging it in and grounding the aerial body and checking it on the car Hope all this is useful
Just did this very job on mine yesterday... Firstly if you bought the Aerpro replacement mast you wouldn't likely have got a "ferrule" with it; have to use the one on the old mast. What they're talking about in the tech article is a threaded brass circular tube which stops the aerial from driving out of the car when it goes up. You'll find it by prising (ie levering) up a black plastic cap that sits on the base of the aerial shaft. Couple of small screwdrivers does the trick. Once you remove that you'll see the brass ring. Unscrew that ( anti-clockwise looking from above) but be careful if you hold it with pliers, it's only a tube and will distort easily. It's got a knurled (ie criss-cross) finish to it so you can almost grip it with your fingers once it's been loosened. With that removed the old aerial will pull out, it should have a piece of metal sleeving on its base that you remove and refit onto the new one. I think it just acts as a guide to hold the aerial a little better in it's housing. Follow the tech article from there and all should be good! Good luck, Andy.:zlove:
The black plastic cap you refer to is actually part of the Retaining Nut that holds the aerial mast in place. IT SHOULD NOT BE PRISED OFF. It has two small notches opposite each other, and is designed to be removed using a "C" spanner. The thin tubular sleeve on the bottom of the mast is designed to slide and then "catch" on the bottom edge of the mast, to stop it pushing right out of the Retaining Nut.:zlove::zlove:
I actually tried it that way (engaging the two notches) first up, but it wouldn't budge:rolleyes2: Still I stand corrected, you learn something every day on here
