Hi Guys ;

Working on a few old semi - recalcitrant power antennas this weekend and some appear to be replacement masts but clearly ave sticky spots .

I have cleaned the chrome, what and how to properly lubricate the mast ? .

TIA,

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

For things like this I like "Granddad" old fashioned lubrication oil such as 3 in 1 (I think that's also available in the US of A). The type of light lubricating oil I mean is the type that comes in a can that you need to drip / pour out - avoid the lazy arsed Nintendo generation aerosol sheet...

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

the crafty grandad version is better, which is good old regular ATF, soaked in a rag and the mast wiped down with it

trying to use an aerosol on that mast would be perfect grounds to call out the paddy wagon and be carted away in it.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

The mast on mine was sticking and the top segment made noise a lot of noise when it was retracting. I removed it from the motor and lubed the teeth on the gear with Super Lube. Now it's dead silent.

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Watch him go!!! link

#dontdealwithkahlil

So, ATF or light Motor Oil ? .

How about some aerosol Silicone on a small bit of clean cloth ? .

TIA,

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

my car's antenna is still smooth and shiny with an atf treatment every sunday.

been 4 years on a replacement mast.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

My antenna was bent when I bought the car. I've straightened it as best I can but it isn't perfect. I've been using the specific antenna lube from Kent. Antenna will sometimes work quite well as in it will extend most of the way, and sometimes even retract completely. But most of the time I have to push it down the last few inches to a foot depending on what it's squirley mind makes it do each time I switch off the car.

I recently decided to spray "Remoil" gun cleaning lubricant on it to see if that would improve matters. This based on exceptional results with sticky and tight locks. However it was inferior and this weekend I cleaned it all off again and reverted to the synthetic lube.

I might need to replace the mast in order to get better functionality even though it looks pretty straight.

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

hirschmann has single use lube packets.

they also have a small tube of antenna grease.

i bought some from a guy on ebay. I'm sure you can find them from other vendors.

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1983 300CD Turbodiesel

I think lubing the outside of the antenna mast is mostly wasted time. You can't directly reach the fiction surfaces this way. I think a better approach is to remove the mast and then spray WD40 directly into it, inserting the tube as far up as it will go. WD 40 works more as a cleaner than a lube, so you will have less gummy deposit. It will also clean the contact surfaces. Its a shame the button is swaged to the tip, otherwise the mast could be turned inside out for cleaning.

I dissected my failed antenna on my 240d. I lubed the mast with silicone but it was still sticky. I tore it apart when it finally croaked and it was full of rust in the mechanical section that winds the plastic rack on the spool. Apparently water pooled up inside it and didn't have a way to drain.

On my 300d I just spray and wipe the mast with silicone oil from a spray can. CRC heavy duty from Walmart.

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79 300TD “Old Smokey” AKA “The Mistake” (SOLD)
82 240D stick shift 335k miles (SOLD)
82 300SD 300k miles
85 300D Turbodiesel 170k miles
97 C280 147k miles

we have some great advice from different people. This is the kind of thing that would make a great DIY with pics.

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Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

My '81 300SD came with a small purple cloth for wiping the antenna and directions. I still use it to this day. Have never used anything else. It is not oily at all and have no idea what MB used for cloth treatment. If I remember right, it also says not to put anything else on the antenna stalk.

Indeed - let's hope this doesn't turn into an oil thread!

Perhaps vwnate will try a few options and report back?

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

White Lightning Clean Ride Lube from the bike shop works well.

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78 W116 300SD 'Desert Rose' new as of 01/26/2014
79 W116 300SD 'Stormcloud' RIP 04/11/2022

# 1: My name as signed to each and every post, is Nate .

Cleaning the mast is as important as lubricating it and yes, when you lubricate the chrome parts that's the primary ' stiction ' point .

I'm remiss in keeping up with it as i have multiple vehicles and usually don't touch the antennas until they stop going up/down .

Engine oil, WD40 (FWIW, WD40 is a Solvent and is basically trash), 3in1 oils etc., etc. are not good for antenna lube .

I will begin trying ATF and report back .

It's also important to realize that water seeps down the mast and collects inside the motor housing causing corrosion and eventual failure .

The early models had a nice rubber fitting and woven drain hose that didn't really do much so they deleted it in due time ~ later models will often have perfectly good motors/drives you can swap your old mast and jacket plus brackets over to in order to maintain a nice original Hirshmann M-B power antenna .

I need to polish up and lube a spare used mast I just salvaged and install it to SWMBO's 300TD ~ so much to do, so little time .

I'm off to look for Klima II (1984 W123) HVAC threads ~ the plenums vacuum flappers/diverters etc. are not working in spite of lots of vacuum and a new push button unit .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better