Apparently, the antenna motor is not grabbing my smooth corded mast very tightly. I can watch the up and down motion and it's jerky at best. Tomorrow I intend to take the motor assembly out and run the antenna up and down while I'm watching the inner workings.

Anything I should look for?
Thanks in advance.

T

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'82 240D, 215,000 +
Classic White, Regenbogen

You'll find a large take-up wheel inside the antenna housing with a small, spring-loaded pinch roller at about a 7 o'clock angle in relation to the big wheel. The smooth driveshaft is pressed against serrations on the big wheel by the pinch roller, which transfers movement to the mast.

The pinch roller is in a bad place for corrosion and the roller may have seized. The replacement part is NLA, but you can take the roller mechanism apart and replace the roller with a small sealed bearing. Just take it to a bearing shop and they'll be able to match up a replacement.

Wow! I hope you're right. Sound like a well informed response. That's what I love about this site.

I'll give it a look in the morning. Now, one more question. Where does one go to find a bearing shop?

Thank you very much.

__________________
'82 240D, 215,000 +
Classic White, Regenbogen

I couldn't wait, so I brought the motor inside. I see the roller bearing that you mentioned, right where you said it'd be. It looks like that bearing has a rubber circumference that's awfully worn. I wonder if there's just too much wear for the bearing to put proper pressure on the cord. Just some thoughts. I'm also wondering where all that cord goes when it's taken up by the large wheel.

Update: Fixed it! (That is, it works when its on the bench.) What I found was that the roller bearing did not have any rubber on it. What I had seen was merely black grease. Clearly there wasn't enough friction between the cord and the two wheels. What I did was rough up the nylon with 80 grit sandpaper and then I removed the spring and the roller bearing. I filed down the contact point on the holder for the bearing so that the spring presses the bearing closer to the intake wheel. It's brass, so it was very easy going. A few tries and it retracted fully in six clicks. Triumph!

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'82 240D, 215,000 +
Classic White, Regenbogen

Congratulations! I wonder how the roller got so much grease on it.

Maki,

Thanks again. You pointed me right to the area of issue. I was an easy fix, one that makes me thankful for my collection of tools.

Best,
T

__________________
'82 240D, 215,000 +
Classic White, Regenbogen