Yet another "weird question" on a 102" whip issue...

[guitar_199]

A number of years ago, my "radio loving" son, Tim, snagged a 102" whip ... used ... from a friend of his... with ME IN MIND.

It was mounted on my truck at the time with a ball mount and always worked really well. Actually did a little DX with it and the Grant XL (that got STOLEN out of that truck....back in 2009!). After that radio was stolen, I SWORE I would not put radio gear in a vehicle again...as LONG AS MY JOB in the medical center held out!!!!! THAT is because I was having to park at the local Park and Ride and "bus in" to the Medical Center. It was the only thing practical.

Well....... I got hit in a layoff Aug 26th... so I don't have to park in the Park & Ride anymore. I am trying the "retirement angle"!!!!!!

With that... I am putting some thought into putting a rig back in my F150 that I have now. (It is 2007 ... so it is "steel" not aluminum!).

That got me to thinking about something.

Since this antenna was used when Tim picked it up.... it has a defect..... it has no little "static ball" on the tip. Just goes up to a smooth rounded off point. It never caused an issue. It always worked great.... tuned up great.

The problem is... I can't pull the tip down to bend the antenna over when going under something. I had to unscrew it and stuff it under the seats in the truck and then put it back on later.

What could I do that would, in effect, REPLACE that static ball???? Has anyone here ever had to solve that problem? I'd love to be able to just pull it down and shut the cord in the window or something.....


ALSO....... I did not have a spring on it when it was on the ball mount. I don't know if maybe the ball mount gave it a little extra length or what... but it always worked. Should I think about a spring IF I MOUNT IT DIFFERENTLY??? (like... on a different type of mount)


Any ideas would be appreciated!
Bob

 

[L2]

Google cb antenna corona ball. You might find what you're looking for.

 

[Wire Weasel]

Why can't you pull the top of the antenna down when going under something just because it doesn't have the little ball on top?

 

[guitar_199]

Why can't you pull the top of the antenna down when going under something just because it doesn't have the little ball on top?

Here is a pic of a clip.
The clamp part clamps on to the rain gutter at the edge of the roof of your vehicle.
What you do is pull the antenna down and stick the static ball through the hole then slide the actual whip up into the slot. When you do that... it is the BALL holding the whip in the slot.

So without that static/corona ball on the tip of the whip... it won't stay in the slot and will come flying out of there!!!

 

[brandon7861]

Braze on a little bit of brass. Make one by sacrificing a little bit of the tip with a TIG welder or oxy/acetylene torch. I tied mine down with some 550 paracord and a 4-wrap prussik in the past. Could even heat the tip with a propane torch and bend a little hook in it.

 

[secret squirrel]

Don't forget the Tennis Ball, from Petsmart. I move mine up and down to tune for best SWR readings- LOL.

 

[whiteastro]

Here is a pic of a clip.
The clamp part clamps on to the rain gutter at the edge of the roof of your vehicle.
What you do is pull the antenna down and stick the static ball through the hole then slide the actual whip up into the slot. When you do that... it is the BALL holding the whip in the slot.

So without that static/corona ball on the tip of the whip... it won't stay in the slot and will come flying out of there!!!

I understand where your coming from because my first mobile antenna was 102" whip with a spring and that's how I tied mine down. How about Silver solder a small SS nut on the end and grind the ears off the nut ?

 

[L2]

Available for a 102 inch whip here https://truckscbsales.com/cb-radio-products/corona-ball-mobile-antenna

 

[Ranch55]

Braze on a little bit of brass. Make one by sacrificing a little bit of the tip with a TIG welder or oxy/acetylene torch. I tied mine down with some 550 paracord and a 4-wrap prussik in the past. Could even heat the tip with a propane torch and bend a little hook in it.

Yep , that's what I did....I used a half round small acorn nut......and brazed it on the tip.....

 

[Wire Weasel]

Here is a pic of a clip.
The clamp part clamps on to the rain gutter at the edge of the roof of your vehicle.
What you do is pull the antenna down and stick the static ball through the hole then slide the actual whip up into the slot. When you do that... it is the BALL holding the whip in the slot.

So without that static/corona ball on the tip of the whip... it won't stay in the slot and will come flying out of there!!!

Hi Guitar. You didn't mention wanting to use one of these clips hold-downs in your opening post. No problem. Do as Brandon suggested and braze on a little ball of brass (brass brazing rod) with a torch. Brass will readily stick to stainless (use flux).
Or attach one of these guys. The fitting won't fit through the hole in the Clip but you can cut a slot in the side of the clip that the top of the whip will fit through rather than going through the provided hole. Available at most any hardware or Home Depot / Lowes. A brass screw-type electrical wire connector.

 

[Greg T]

I gripped mine in a vise, heated it up and peened it over (mushroomed it) so it would grip the little slot in the nylon holder.

 

[midnight special]

one of my whips was threaded and 2 tiny nuts put on