The power antenna on my '66 Cat works but sticks sometimes. Sometimes it operates fine both up and down. Other times it sticks at some point going up or going down or both - more often going down. It also seems to occur more when it is cool or cold outside. When it sticks, the motor will continue to turn but it emits the same clicking noise that it puts out when you run the moter after the antenna has fully extended or retracted. Has this happened to others and if so, how did you solve the problem. Is there a way to lubricate it; maybe spray or wipe the antenna mast sections with silicone or WD40? Ken
You can try cleaning and lubing all the mast sections of the antenna with #0000 steel wool and silicone oil to see if that eliminates the problem. If not, the nylon cable is probably sticking or binding in the housing, and the clutch portion of the mechanism cannot overcome the resistance. They were not intended as a repairable item, but you can disassemble and clean them. Usually the lower portion of the housing where the nylon cable coils gets an accumulation of dirt or corrosion in it, from a plugged drain hole, or old age. The '68 shop manual has specific instructions on adjusting the clutch mechanism of a power antenna as do other model years. :TU:
When mine was sticking on the 69 cats, i got a friend to pull straight out on the antenna from the round end knob, with a rag (to protect the antenna) and vise grips or pliers. Once out all the way, steel wool (as mentioned above) or fine scotchbright then lubed it up with WD. I think they are fairly tough so you can pull and push the antenna in conjuction with using the switch. its prob just dried out from intermittant use, Cheers Gord
Thanks for the replies. That's exactly the kind of advice I was looking for. Will try ti clean and lube the antenna first. If that isn't enough, I will check the nylon cable as suggesed. Ken
the nylon cable has lost its flexiblilty that is why is would fail when the weather is cold & work when the weather is warm. eventually the cable will break & the motor may run continuously. i had a 1990 bonneville sse that the power antenna cable broke & the motor kept running. i had to remove the fuse. i also had a 1981 cutlass supreme brougham where the antenna stuck & the motor cycled continuously & killed the battery.
