Hirschman: 1 Me: 0 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TylerH860 · #1 03-25-2009, 09:14 PM

Ever spent an hour trying to remove an antenna and was unsuccessful?

Not a great evening for me to say the least. Trigger's early antenna has a screw on cap holding its fancy little gasket in place. Of course, that won't budge. I even ripped out the mast to see if there's any way to get it out the other side, no deal.

Any ideas? Its been soaking in PB blaster for a long time.

I have a lovely fully functional antenna to install when it comes out.

lowriderdog37 · #2 03-25-2009, 09:19 PM

I don't know if there are any other techniques, but I had to use the "man up" technique on mine.

TylerH860 · #3 03-25-2009, 09:24 PM

"Man Up" Does that mean your bending the sheet metal of the car when your trying to remove it, while holding the other end with vice grips so it won't spin.

I don't think strength is an issue here. Idiocy maybe, but strength no.

akimball442 · #4 03-25-2009, 09:28 PM

Hmm, on both my 123 and my 126, once I removed the bracket holding the assembly into the trunk, the entire thing could be pulled down and removed from inside the trunk. It pulls hard, because the gasket or whatever you want to call it attached to the fender holds it tight so it wont leak. But it can be pulled down and should come out that way - especially if you're replacing the entire thing.

::matthew · #5 03-25-2009, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akimball442

Hmm, on both my 123 and my 126, once I removed the bracket holding the assembly into the trunk, the entire thing could be pulled down and removed from inside the trunk. It pulls hard, because the gasket or whatever you want to call it attached to the fender holds it tight so it wont leak. But it can be pulled down and should come out that way - especially if you're replacing the entire thing.

This is how I replaced the gasket on my 85 300D, but Trigger is a TD and is most likely different.

akimball442 · #6 03-25-2009, 09:47 PM

whoops, yup.

TylerH860 · #7 03-26-2009, 12:00 AM

Older Hirschman antennas have a little decorative chrome embellishment that holds the seal for the antenna in. The later models don't.

TylerH860 · #8 03-26-2009, 01:25 AM

Hacksaw wins!

Its very satisfying to destroy something that brings so much frustration.

Anywho... The new fully functional antenna is installed on Trigger, meaning everything works on the car now. EVERYTHING.

Eat your heart out, the Don.

colincoon · #9 03-26-2009, 01:27 AM

Sooooooo......wanna trade?

Just kidding, but hey that's great news! Get trigger prepped and painted now! Nice work, I'm going to have to try and fix Norm's one day.

turbobenz · #10 03-26-2009, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowriderdog37

I don't know if there are any other techniques, but I had to use the "man up" technique on mine.

Ha! And I thought I was the only one using the "man up" technique

JimmyL · #11 03-26-2009, 03:02 PM

Is the wagon antenna different than the sedan I am guessing? I guess the box would be the same but the lower securing bracket and upper connection point at fender are different???

TylerH860 · #12 03-26-2009, 03:18 PM

Not really. There are two different generations of antennas. Ol' Turbo and defiant just have a little piece of rubber, but this 81 sedan I yanked it from has a screw on cap outside the car on the mast, which I had to remove so it would drop out. It was really easy taking it off the sedan, but Trigger had other plans.

I don't understand why this is so confusing. Anyone with 1982 or older cars have this style antenna. 1983 on just drop right out as people are describing.

I've had a cold for the past couple of days, and I woke up this morning sick as a dog. Lovely.