TV Antenna won't go up.

Gulfcoast wrote:
2005 Winnebago Sightseer 30B

My over-the air rooftop antenna is very hard to crank.

Scared I may break it if I try any harder to raise it.

Is it best to repair or replace it?

Oil it with WD-40?

Replace it? (with what antenna)

You guys always know what to do.

Thanks for your help.

Throw the WD-40 away. Go up on the roof and unscrew the black plug on top of the crank up mechanism. Add a couple drops of oil to the gears.

Richard

Yes, throw away WD-40! It is not a lubricant.
You could use spray can of silicone, chain lubricant slide out lube.

enblethen wrote:
Yes, throw away WD-40! It is not a lubricant.
You could use spray can of silicone, chain lubricant slide out lube.

Winegard recommends Silicone lube, not oil, or WD40.

That being said if not lubricated for awhile, it may be hopped up enough you'll have to spray some miracle product in there to break it loose, or tear it apart and give it a good going over.

Do NOT use oil or WD-40. You only want to lube it with a dry silicone spray. You don't even need to take the cap off. Just spray a bit anywhere you see a gap. This should be enough to let you crank the antenna up about 45 degrees. Spray the black gears you can see and crank it the rest of the way up. Spray a bit more and crank it up and down a few times and you are good to go. This should be done about every 6 months.

Thanks

I had a 30B... but with all my RV's, I get up on the roof with a can of silicone spray and spray every moving part.... I usually have the antenna up and then get down and go inside and slowly put down and back up a couple of times. At least once a year, if not twice. You do have the two notches lined up together inside, don't you?

I will check in the morning.

You should have received a manual for the antenna. Might be this one: manual

Great link to the manual. See page 5.

Bill.Satellite wrote:
Do NOT use oil or WD-40. You only want to lube it with a dry silicone spray. You don't even need to take the cap off. Just spray a bit anywhere you see a gap. This should be enough to let you crank the antenna up about 45 degrees. Spray the black gears you can see and crank it the rest of the way up. Spray a bit more and crank it up and down a few times and you are good to go. This should be done about every 6 months.

Darn Bill, now you tell us. Now I'm going to have to throw away my 33 year old Winegard crank up unit, with oil on the gears. Grrrrrrrrrr

Richard