Finally got the antenna out, dis assembled and to this point without permanently ruining anything. Planning to replace broken nylon POS with stainless wire,per several other threads. So... What's the best method short of a hacksaw?

 

I dont know the "RIGHT" way... but you could drill out the dimples. Use the smallest bit you can until it pulls out. Then you can just re-dimple the other sides.

Or, cut it off flush, and melt the rest of it out with a torch. Once its all out, use a tapered punch or something to push the dimples back enough to shove the new line in there.

Just a couple thoughts.

Justin

 

Warm the area where the dimples are with a Bic lighter. Plastic will get soft and pull out easily.

 

Many thanks -- thought for a minute the ferrule came off the mast. Heating is the way to go to loosen it up. If you see smoke from my house, though, call the FD!

 

Follow-up:

If anyone else is doing this project, a hot tip: if you place the mast in a vise, and hold an old-school soldering iron against the ferrule for a minute or two, the nylon will slide out easily.

To remove from the "J" hook, place the "J" in a vise and heat with one of those creme brulee torches, playing the heat across it until it stinks like cat pi$$ then give a pull.

Turns out the nylon cable has a tiny steel wire embedded through a portion of the strip. If there are still stubborn bits, they will burn up and fall out. When it cools, ream it out with a pipe cleaner and lacquer thinner to get it ready for the next step.

Good luck!

 

Thanks for the tips. Last weekend I parked my '88 TA in the garage after being at a car show only to hear the whirling sound of the antenna motor continuing to run. So now I'm learning how to replace the nylon cord that I never knew anything about before last Saturday. Please post any photos and other advise as you go.

Thanks!

 

Try this fix and never worry about it again
see this post from another site I belong to

http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/thr.../#post-2938921