Does this exist?

[SunTzuNephew]

I'm looking for some sort of a guard that I can put underneath an antenna ball mount, that would prevent branches from getting hooked under the antenna and mount.

I am imagining a sort of D-shaped piece of moderately heavy, yet flexible plastic (like a C-collar or SKED is made from), the straight part of the D would be placed as a spacer between the ball and body...and the curved part of the D, with one side cut open (on the trailing edge, for adjustments, etc) that would deflect the branches.

Anyone ever seen anything like this (or another solution)?

Thanks

 

[PhulesAU]

My brain won't give me a good picture, and I've got that type mount here next to me. Maybe a stiff plastic dog chew ball???? cut an opening with 6-8 radial slices and a hole on opposite side for antenna to go through. after pushing over element,spring and base bolt you could zip tie it.????

 

[SunTzuNephew]

My brain won't give me a good picture, and I've got that type mount here next to me. Maybe a stiff plastic dog chew ball???? cut an opening with 6-8 radial slices and a hole on opposite side for antenna to go through. after pushing over element,spring and base bolt you could zip tie it.????

Hmm. Maybe. Or maybe I should attempt to do something that I avoided as much as possible as an engineer: Make a drawing. As a draftsman, I'm a helluva physician.

 

[gary in ohio]

I'm looking for some sort of a guard that I can put underneath an antenna ball mount, that would prevent branches from getting hooked under the antenna and mount.

I am not seeing the issue. The body of the vehicle is under the ball mount,
where are the branches getting into?

 

[SunTzuNephew]

I am not seeing the issue. The body of the vehicle is under the ball mount,
where are the branches getting into?

Between the mount/antenna and body. I had an antenna and spring rip off with a very sturdy branch, had it been deflected, (either outside the ball, or above the spring) it would have not been an issue.

I had to use an easy-out to get the stud out of the two pieces (spring and ball) and make a new stud from threaded rod.

 

[BigJimCruising]

I have not seen anything like you are looking for. However there are light duty springs that would flex much easier and should prevent the kind of damage you're having. I used to stop at the trail head to air down and switch out springs. I'd use the heavy spring for highway travel to keep the antenna up at speed. Then use the light duty spring for trails to help prevent the kind of damage you're refering too. The other option would be to remove the spring altogether and use a light steel whip type antenna. They flex very easy and might solve your problem.

 

[SunTzuNephew]

I have not seen anything like you are looking for. However there are light duty springs that would flex much easier and should prevent the kind of damage you're having. I used to stop at the trail head to air down and switch out springs. I'd use the heavy spring for highway travel to keep the antenna up at speed. Then use the light duty spring for trails to help prevent the kind of damage you're refering too. The other option would be to remove the spring altogether and use a light steel whip type antenna. They flex very easy and might solve your problem.

Thanks, but I've got a big antenna (11' HF whip, counting the fold-over). A small spring wont support it at all.

In thinking about it, I realized that a D-shape would just be hard to fabricate, a somewhat wedge or V-shaped piece of metal would do the same thing and be easier to make. Hmm....got to think about it some more.

 

[BigJimCruising]

Hmmmmmm................. how about some pics? Would help us a lot.

 

[SunTzuNephew]

Hmmmmmm................. how about some pics? Would help us a lot.

The antenna is all fixed now....If I get motivated I may do a sketch of what I'm talking about.

 

[PhulesAU]

Which way is the thing mounted? Straight up, out , on a 90?

 

[SunTzuNephew]

Which way is the thing mounted? Straight up, out , on a 90?

Well, I'd imagine it would have to have the solid edge forward.

 

[PhulesAU]

Well, I'd imagine it would have to have the solid edge forward.

Sorry, I meant the mount. like hood or fender.

 

[93BLAZER]

How about rigging something up SIMILAR to a wire cutter that helicopters use to cut overhead wires if needed.

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...helicopter+wire+cutter&hl=en&gbv=2&tbs=isch:1

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...helicopter+wire+cutter&hl=en&gbv=2&tbs=isch:1


http://images.google.com/imgres?img...&start=18&hl=en&sa=N&gbv=2&ndsp=18&tbs=isch:1

 

[teotwaki]

Hmmm, maybe set up some limb risers but make it a continuous "U" shape and use some insulators rather than metallic contact points. See if the HF auto-tuner could load into it...

 

[SunTzuNephew]

Sorry, I meant the mount. like hood or fender.

Aha. The ball is mounted on the front left side of the pickup box, near the upper rail.