Aerial issues

Worcester_spoon

Worcester_spoon

Senior member
 Basingstoke, Hampshire
Some bugger has snapped my aerial off (haven't done the stubby yet, so it was a long one) leaving the remains of the threaded screw stuck in the base :thumbsdown:

Going to have to take the whole thing off and replace, but I'm about as mechanical as water, so would value any suggestions or tips from someone slightly more technical than me... :headbang:

Thanks.
 
scum :thumbsdown:

is there absolutely nothing you could grip with pliers?

there as been a post on replacing the base, try a search
 
Tried pliers - not enough to grip onto without digging down and damaging the base, which would kind of defeats the objective.

Will try a search.
 
Worcester_spoon said:
Tried pliers - not enough to grip onto without digging down and damaging the base, which would kind of defeats the objective.

Will try a search.
Click to expand...

You could try and saw a thin but deepish small groove for a flat head screw driver..... obviously using a blade of suitable size for a decent sized flat head.

Or http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/15237_lg.jpg and tap it repeatedly with a hammer/mallet to gradually work it loose like an impact gun.

Hope this helps :)
 
Hi, changed mine for a stubby on Sat, the base material "felt" like an alloy, so once you have used the junior hacksaw to cut a slot in it, either warm the base up (if you have little mechanical knowledge forget that) or use plenty of WD40 or similair, as alloys in contact with steel oxidise making it difficult to unscrew, hope this helps,
Dave :thumbsup:
 
Thanks both - I'll be giving it a try tomorrow. Worse case is I balls it up and have to replace the base, so seems like it's worth a crack... :|
 
You could try drilling it out and tapping a new thread into the existing base, I had to do this with my wifes car when her aerial got snapped off and it's worked fine ever since.
Or drill a small hole and try to use an easy out to bring it out or even a torx key the splines will cut into the broken piece and you might be able to unscrew the remains, IIRC it's only ali so shouldn't be that hard.
 
Agree with RichardG, drill a small hole and use a screw extractor (easy out) http://www.screwfix.com/p/screw-extractor-set/18643

Drill the hole centrally in the broken threaded portion, it will probably need to be approx 3mm max, once the hole is drilled use the screw extractor that fits the drilled hole, and screw in anticlockwise, it should grip and unscrew the broken thread.

Make sure that you protect the surrounding area just in case you slip.
 
I'd agree with the hole drilling method...should have said that myself really lol. Maintenance at work usually deal with that sorta stuff. :crazydude: :violent1:
 
carlosfandango said:
Agree with RichardG, drill a small hole and use a screw extractor (easy out) http://www.screwfix.com/p/screw-extractor-set/18643

Drill the hole centrally in the broken threaded portion, it will probably need to be approx 3mm max, once the hole is drilled use the screw extractor that fits the drilled hole, and screw in anticlockwise, it should grip and unscrew the broken thread.

Make sure that you protect the surrounding area just in case you slip.
Click to expand...


Its not something I'd recommend to a first-timer TBH. Not as easy as it sounds.

You are reliant on the break being fairly level first of all, then you need to centre punch the bit you're drilling so you can get purchase (which could deform the wing) or, worst of all, unless you are very handy with a drill, you could end up with more damage to the wing when it slips off!

My advice to the OP is to get someone to :thumbsup: do it.
 
+1 lacroupade. I'm thinking of the Father Ted episode when he tried to gently hammer out a small nick in his otherwise immaculate old car.
 
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