Need a little antenna help

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by Kansas, Apr 1, 2010.

  1. Kansas

    Kansas Road Train Member

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    aircap, Ks.
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    My truck is a Volvo, so I have limited antenna mount solutions. I purchased one of the perch mounts that replaces a mirror bolt.

    Unfortunately the threads on the perch aren't nearly long enough, and I cant use the backing nut that comes with it. I removed the nut and have wrenched the threaded perch down as snug as I can get it. My heavy Browning antenna ends up getting blown over backwards because the perch wont get tight enough. I have the antenna pointed forward at about 45 degrees, hoping to use the antennas own weight to help keep the perch more snug. Limited success so far!

    What would happen if I used a couple of zip ties in an X pattern around the mirror mount and the base of the antenna itself? Any negative effects from the zips touching the antenna?

    Im quickly running out of antenna mount ideas on this dang truck!
     
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  3. outerspacehillbilly

    outerspacehillbilly "Instigator of the Legend"

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    Where did you put the perch mount? I've never had any problem with my big coil antenna and my perch. I have mine in the top rear mirror bolt and it works great. I'll post a pic of it.
     

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  4. Rat

    Rat Road Train Member

    Go to your local parts store and pickup some loctite. Remove the bolt, apply the loctite to the threads and install the mount. Let sit for a bit so the loctite fully cures and you should be good. Loctite comes in various strengths. Don't get the heaviest as it takes a torch to heat it up to remove the part if so needed in the future. The removable strength should be good enough for your purposes.
     
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  5. Kansas

    Kansas Road Train Member

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    Same hole except passenger side. The son of a gun just wont stay put for me. I really was afraid to tighten the thing down more than what I have.

    I may try what Rat is saying. The only part that bugs me about using loctite would be the perch its supposed to aid the ground plane of the antenna on the truck. Not sure if loctite wouldn't screw that up? I wonder if they have a electrically conductive version of loctite.

    Just went and looked it up on Loctites site. Green Threadlocker can be used with electrical contacts. Guess that's what I need to try then.
    http://www.loctiteproducts.com/products/detail.asp?catid=10&subid=48&plid=695
     
  6. kc0iv

    kc0iv Light Load Member

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    I see no reason you couldn't use zip ties.

    kc0iv
     
  7. Rat

    Rat Road Train Member

    Nope, loctite will not impede grounding capability of the perchmount.
     
  8. outerspacehillbilly

    outerspacehillbilly "Instigator of the Legend"

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    That's why it won't stay in because the wind pressure is pushing it towards the trailer and that is loosening it. I would move it to the driver because then the wind pressure would be pushing it in the tighten direction and problem solved. It also keeps it out of reach of any low hanging limbs on the passenger side that you sometimes find on skinny roads. But that's just me. If you want to keep it on the pass side I would just run a heavy duty zip tie to the mirror bracket and you should be good to go. I don't know if the locktite would do enough good with the constant 65mph or more pressure day after day. Any of the above will probably work for you though.
     
  9. Kansas

    Kansas Road Train Member

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    Yeah, I was thinking about that. I really wanted to leave it on the pass side for a couple of reasons. Since all my runs are relatively short I thought the weight of it would be annoying on the drivers door swinging it all the time. Ill bet I slam that drivers door 30-40 times a day some days. I also wanted to keep it aimed low at 45 degrees, the lower the better for me, as many of the grain elevators I enter have a very low clearance, I get sick of that nails on the chalk board sound it makes when dragging. Antennas don't last that long if you bang them often enough:biggrin_25524:.

    If the loctite don't work, I may just go back to a shorter antenna. I know that will work, but I really like how well that Browning antenna gets out.
     
  10. outerspacehillbilly

    outerspacehillbilly "Instigator of the Legend"

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    I hear ya. That pic is an old one I have mine ####ed at about a 45 degree angle now too. As far as the weight of swinging the door you won't even know it's their.

    10-4 on the antenna banging they don't like that.
     
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  11. Kansas

    Kansas Road Train Member

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    Looks like we have sister trucks. Here is my beast of burden.

    [​IMG]

    This pic was taken before I removed the air dam, I was banging every tree and bridge for miles with that antenna mounted inside the mirror. LOL it was bad. Geeze, its even clean in this photo!!!
     
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