toothed antenna mast - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JHZR2 · #1 11-30-2009, 10:01 PM

Hello,

can someone comment on how toothed is the OE toothed antenna mast? Pulled mine up, and it was smooth but with very fine serrations on it.

Looking at toothed masts on ebay, Im seeing pictures like this:

I cannot tell from the "toothed" picture on fastlane:

The image of the smooth one isnt very helpful either:

So, is the smooth one truly, totally "smooth", or does the smooth one have very fine "teeth" on it, that just look kind of like the reeded edge of a dime?

Maybe this is really dumb, but mine isnt smooth, nor is it toothed like the pictures Ive shown.

It is OE Hirschmann. 1982 300CD.

DDP · #2 11-30-2009, 10:56 PM

Mercedes has two types of masts, toothed type and smooth type. You will need to replace your mast with same type if you keep the original motor. Yours sounds like the smooth type. Over the years the drive gear probably put the small dime like indentations into yours. My two cents worth.

MercFan · #3 11-30-2009, 11:16 PM

You can probably tell by examining the end of the toothed band - by taking off the spool in the back of it - think you have to remove the shaft and then flip it open to remove the round back container for the toothed band. Mine had actual teeth like the first picture. I still hear those teeth chattering when the antenna mast goes up and down.

If you decide to remove the spool that contains the toothed mast band, you'll need to extend the mast fully to take up all the slack, then re-install the spool and finally retract the mast by spinning the wheel manually to feed the toothed band back into the spool - otherwise it's very difficult to fit the toothed band into the spool. It's not hard to do - it just takes some patience.

By removing it fully, you could examine the end of it and even if the teeth were wore off on most of it the very end should reveal a true nature of it.

You may also be able to tell if there should be teeth on it by examining the sprocket that drives the band up and down to extand/retract the mast - see if the sprocket has teeth that should match those on the toothed band.

GOod luck -
James

DDP · #4 12-01-2009, 02:07 PM

You do not have to take the antenna motor apart or even out of the vehicle. Turn the radio on to partially extend the antenna. Unscrew the retaining nut on top of the antenna. While having someone press the antenna extend button, you pull up on the antenna mast and keep pulling until the antenna cord fully comes out. If yours is the toothed style, make note which way the teeth are facing. If the smooth style, the end may be beveled so make sure to note which way it came out. The new mast will go in the same way. To install the new mast, start the end into the motor. Now have your friend push the antenna retract button and gently feed the antenna cord into the motor and be ready to line up the mast to start into the hole. Your friend can let off the antenna button as needed. Screw in the retaining nut and your done.

I have totally removed my antenna motor and taken it apart only to learn afterward that I did not need to do this to replace the mast. There are small pieces in it that can fall out if you're not careful. Knowing where they belong could be a dilemma.

Here are a couple links to sites that sell masts.
http://www.dieselgiant.com/diesel_parts_for_sale.htm#Antenna_Mast
http://www.**************.com/search/store?filter0=antenna+mast

DDP · #5 12-01-2009, 02:13 PM

The second link didn't come out, so here's another area in the site. If you put in antenna mast in their search area it will show what they have.
http://www.**************.com/taxonomy/term/22,43

DDP · #6 12-01-2009, 02:14 PM

I'll try again
http://www.**************.com/

DDP · #7 12-01-2009, 02:15 PM

www.**************.com

DDP · #8 12-01-2009, 02:16 PM

apparently it does not like mercedes in the link

**************.com

DDP · #9 12-01-2009, 02:17 PM

mercedes source with not space.

JHZR2 · #10 12-01-2009, 03:10 PM

Thanks, I knew the technique and did that last night. The issue is that the mast is not compelling. It does not have large teeth like the pictures show, just fine "reeding" like the edge of a dime...