1960s 1961 Antenna Disassembly

[Clewisiii]

My antenna actually works well. But it needs to be cleaned up. And wires replaced.

How do you separate the mast from the motor. I unbolted everything. But I could only get the top cap to actually remove.

It looked like a part of the motor housing was crimped in place.

[Cadman-iac]

  I actually did a thread on rebuilding one of those about a year or two ago, I'd have to look through my old posts to give you an exact date though.
 From memory, if it's still working properly, that domed cap is just pressed on, and once it's removed you can disassemble the drive unit that the mast cable is installed in.
 The mast cap nut has to come off too,it's just threaded onto the top mast section, then it can be pulled down through the other sections of the mast.
 Just make note of the clutch drive unit or whatever the thing is called, it acts like an overrun clutch. Try to reassemble it with the same amount of threads sticking out above the top of the nut holding it together. I'm not positive if it's got any adjustment to it or not, but if so, match it.
  Hope this is helpful.

 Rick

[Cadman-iac]

https://forums.cadillaclasalleclub.org/index.php?topic=166426.0

If I did this right, this should be the link to one of the threads on the antenna.

Rick

[Michael Petti]

http://www.palmantics.com/cadillac/restoration/antenna.html
If I did this correctly, which I probably didn't this is a link to another site about the antenna with good pictures. Watch the 2 little balls and the spring in the clutch assembly so they don't get away from you.

[Clewisiii]

Thank You. Good information.

Looks like unsoldering the antenna lead and removing that cap will be the two main difficulties.

I guess I will wait until I am ready to tackle this project from start to finish.

Those crimps on the caps will take so e time to work out.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Instead of trying to lever the diecast metal away from the cap to release it, better to use a Dremel tool and carefully trim the beveled part away, to allow the cap to easily come off, then to reattach, simply bend another set of bevels in different spots.   This way, by not levering the bevels out, you don't run the risk of cracking the old, possible fragile outer lip.

It can be done in such a way that no judge will ever see it.

Bruce.

[Clewisiii]

The back cap was not hard to remove. It flexed out while working a pair of flat heads around it.

I am leaving this workbench for just the antenna until I work through it all. I should get a lot more done tomorrow.

[Clewisiii]

Alright. Elbow deep into it.

All these parts will need to be properly cleaned.


I hate positioning the rotors over the brushes.

I think this rubber grommet was formed over the wires. I have it soaking in a rubber restorer. I may need to drill out the holes a little to pass the new wires through.

[Cadman-iac]

  I figured out how to use a pair of short formed pieces of coat hanger wire to keep the brushes in place while you drop the armature into place.
 I'll post a picture of these when I get out to the garage later. But basically all they do is hook over the edge of the motor case and then reach down to the brush lead line and keep tension on it until the armature can hold the brushes out.
 It took me a while to figure out exactly how to shape them, but they work for the antenna motor, heater motors, wiper motors, window motors, and A/C blower motors.
 I've gone through all of mine and rewired each one. 4 window, 2 heater, 2 A/C, 1 antenna, and 1 wiper motor. Plus the spares I've got.

 Rick

[Cadman-iac]

 I've been going through my pictures looking  to see if I already have one of those brush holders, but haven't found one yet.
 That said, I realize that I misspoke in my last post. Not all of the motors can be done that way. It depends on where the brushes are mounted in the motor. In my 56 antenna, the brush mounting panel is held in place by the bolts that go through the motor, and kind of float above the windings.
 On the window motors, the brush plate is riveted into the motors rear housing, and it's this type that those brush holders work on.
 I posted the rebuild of my 56 antenna back around September or October of 2021 I think. The pictures are dated about that time if you want to search for the thread.
 In October of 2021 I posted some pictures of the cable drive portion of an antenna like yours. I don't believe that I ever took the motor itself apart, so I'm not positive on exactly how it's built, meaning where the brush plate is located in the motor and how it's mounted in the motor.

 Regardless, I'll get a picture of these brush holders for you and you can see if you can make a pair if they would work with your motor.

 Rick

[Clewisiii]

That was a chore.

There was a small hole in the brush holder by the spring.

I was able to compress each brush then put a pin in the hole to hold the spring back.
That got me most of the way there. Then a dental tool to push each side back the rest of the way to install it.

I have some small crimp components arriving tomorrow. Will put the new wires on then.

[Clewisiii]

It was even a fight getting these wires into the grommet. I had to dig the old wire casing out with a drill bit.


I cannot plate the motor. So I assume I will just paint that. I have a gold cadmium mast I bought from Jason Edge. But the original was clear chromate. I will try to replate these that color and see how they come out. The tube may be go long for my tank.

[Cadman-iac]

  Here's the brush retainers I made for the motors with the brush plate mounted in the end housing.
 
  Rick

[Clewisiii]

Any suggestion on the type of grease I should replace in here.

I assume High temp bearing grease.

[Cadman-iac]

 I would think that a light lithium grease would be better, as it's thin and shouldn't gum up or thicken over time.
 But I don't know what was actually used from the factory.

 Rick

[Clewisiii]

Well I have cleaned up everything that I can.

Now it is just new grease, electrical connection once parts get here, and reassembly.

I could not plate the motor base. So that will be painted. But I have cleaned everything.

[Clewisiii]

I would think that a light lithium grease would be better, as it's thin and shouldn't gum up or thicken over time.
 But I don't know what was actually used from the factory.
 Rick

Thanks. I forgot I had that.

I think there was some grease on the nylon cable. But I think that just migrated.

Any thoughts about grease on the cable. It is just pressure that pushes and pulls the cable. I would think grease might prevent it from grabbing.

[Cadman-iac]

 I don't believe there should be any on the cable since it relies on friction to move it up and down.

[Clewisiii]

Well actually this outer track is where the cable is stored. It is greased. And this is more then migration would be.

[Cadman-iac]

 If I remember right, the cable fits into a separate drum or space for storage when it's down. The grease is just for the gear section, but I'm going from memory a couple years back now. Or I'm confusing my 56 antenna with the one like yours.