DIY: Fixing TV Antenna in Caravan
A caravan TV antenna needs to be much more dynamic than your regular home set up.
The TV antenna in a regular home is a set and forget scenario. It is mounted on a fixed pole and oriented in the best direction for optimal reception. A caravan TV antenna needs to be much more dynamic. The team at the RV Repair Centre gives us step by step instructions on how to get the job done on a Winegard antenna found on many vans.
A pole sticking up while you are travelling is not a good idea, so it needs to be able to wind up and down. Each time you move to a new location in a van you need to be able to reorient the antenna to find best reception. Being able to elevate and rotate means the antenna mechanism has a few simple moving parts. Regular cleaning and lubricating of these moving parts will keep the mechanism functioning smoothly.
1. Undo the grub screw using an Allen key to remove the elevating handle
2. Remove the elevating handle, spring and directional handle
3. This will expose the elevating shaft and provide access to the retaining nut
4. Insert a socket into the mechanism to enable the retaining nut to be undone
5. Lift the antenna assembly out and rest it on the roof
6. Identify the rotating gear housing seal and put it aside for later
7. Disconnect the antenna lead by undoing the locking nut and pulling out
8. Remove the rotating gear housing disc – note slight concave down orientation
9. Take the antenna assembly off the roof to work on it
10. Use pliers to remove the circlip retaining the elevating arm to the rotating gear housing
11. Remove the retaining pin from the rotating gear housing
12. Remove the elevating arm from the rotating gear housing
13. Undo the elevating shaft plastic threaded retaining cap
14. Remove the elevating shaft plastic threaded retaining cap
15. Remove the elevating shaft
16. Remove the elevating gear from the elevating arm
17. Clean the elevating shaft, elevating gear, rotating gear housing and disc with mild detergent and a soft brush
18. Dry all parts
19. Apply general purpose grease to the worm drive
20. Reinsert the elevating shaft in the rotating gear housing
21. Reinstall the elevating shaft plastic threaded retaining cap and gently tighten
22. Apply general purpose grease to the elevating gear and reinsert in the elevating arm
23. Reinstall the elevating arm assembly to the rotating housing ensuring the elevating gear and worm drive mesh
24. Reinsert the retaining pin into the rotating housing and reinstall the retaining pin circlip
25. Clean the rotating gear housing base plate with mild detergent and a soft brush
26. Clean the rotating gear housing seal with a cloth and reinstall
27. Apply silicon spray to the rotating gear housing base plate and disc - reinstall slight concave down
28. Reinsert the antenna assembly
29. Reinstall the locking nut and washer directional handle, spring and elevating handle
30. Reinsert the antenna cable and gently tighten the locking nut
31. Ensure the antenna cable rubber boot is pushed on snugly
IF IN DOUBT, CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL
Improper maintenance can lead to injury, death or property damage. Maintenance work of this nature should only be undertaken by people with suitable competence. Information provided is general in nature, not comprehensive and should only be taken as a guide. Individual discretion must be exercised and persons undertaking described tasks do so completely at their own risk. Publishers and creators of this content accept no responsibility for loss or damage.
Thanks to Andrew Phillips and the team from the RV Repair Centre for their assistance.